Flourishing Edge Podcast with Ashish Kothari

What if our obsession with being “happy all the time” is actually what’s keeping us from true wellbeing? We’ve been chasing happiness as a fixed state, a finish line we’re supposed to reach and stay at. But that’s not how life works. Real flourishing isn’t about constant positivity, but learning to move with life’s rhythm through the highs and the lows. Because when the world gets hard, the question isn’t how to stay happy — it’s how to keep flourishing anyway.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Michelle McQuaid, to explore why flourishing isn’t about being happy all the time — it’s about learning how to rise with confidence, compassion, and courage when life knocks us down.Dr. Michelle McQuaid, Ph.D. is an award-winning researcher, best-selling author, and workplace wellbeing teacher who translates positive psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies for leaders and teams. She is an honorary fellow at Melbourne University’s Centre for Wellbeing Science, hosts the Making Positive Psychology Work podcast, and has helped organizations globally to build psychological safety, strengths-based cultures, and more resilient workplaces. This episode teaches how leaders and individuals can cultivate true flourishing not by avoiding discomfort, but by embracing it as a path to deeper growth, purpose, and human connection.Things you will learn in this episode:• Why happiness alone isn’t the true measure of flourishing• The power of confidence in navigating life’s highs and lows• How embracing imperfection fuels learning and growth• Why self-compassion is a leadership advantage• The neuroscience behind psychological safety at work• How to shift from chasing happiness to building inner strengthListen to the full episode now and discover practical tools you can use to redefine what it means to flourish.✅Resources:• How to make flourishing your competitive edge by Ashish Kothari on TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRV-2C-fkNg&t=146s • michellemcquaid.com  (Company)• thewellbeinglab.com  (Company)• permahsurvey.com  (Free Wellbeing Survey)• Dr. Michelle McQuaid on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chellemcquaid • Seligman’s PERMA+ model: https://positivepsychology.com/perma-model/ • Oxytocin shot tool: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6949379/ • Carole Dweck’s The Power of Yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-swZaKN2Ic ✅Books:• Your Wellbeing Blueprint by Dr. Michelle McQuaid: https://a.co/d/8mLoSHr • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/ftKT8SZ

Technology promised us progress, and it delivered. But it also left us disconnected, distracted, and disheartened at the same time. With AI advancing faster than human adaptation or regulation, will it erode our humanity, or can it become the very tool that helps us flourish?In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Tamara Lechner to explore how AI can bridge the gap between what we know and what we practice in the pursuit of human flourishing.Tamara Lechner is a happiness expert, author, and global speaker. As Chair of the AI & Human Flourishing Working Group at Harvard, she helps leaders and organizations apply the science of flourishing to create meaningful, human-centered futures.In the conversation, Ashish and Tamara unpack how AI can either harm or uplift us, and what it will take for leaders, organizations, and individuals to put humans at the heart of this powerful technology.Things you will learn in this episode:• Why AI is both friend and foe depending on how we use it.• The three ethical AI pillars: productivity, protection from harm, and fairness.• The overlooked dimensions of flourishing AI must support• Why organizations—not just individuals—must own responsibility for burnout and culture.• How to shift from audience to activist in shaping the future of technologyJoin us in building a future where technology enhances humanity rather than diminishes it. Tune in now to hear how we can harness AI to truly help humans flourish.✅Resources:• How to make flourishing your competitive edge | Ashish Kothari | TEDxGreenhouse Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRV-2C-fkNg • AI for Human Flourishing: https://www.aiforhumanflourishing.com/• The Human Flourishing Program: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/ai-human-flourishing • Reframing employee health: Moving beyond burnout to holistic health by McKinsey Health Institute: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/reframing-employee-health-moving-beyond-burnout-to-holistic-health• Conscious Capitalism Movement: https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/ • IEEE 7010: A New Standard for Assessing the Well-being Implications of Artificial Intelligence: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2005.06620 ✅Books:• The Happiness Reset: What to do When Nothing Makes You Happy by Tamara Lechner: https://a.co/d/gZY7eXu • Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/9LWxYmV

What would it look like if organizations were intentionally designed for human flourishing instead of mere survival? Most workplaces today are leaking energy—burnout is rising, workers are underpaid, and leaders are still chasing profits at the expense of people.We’ve never had more knowledge about wellbeing, yet we remain starved for practice, with millions stuck in jobs that deny them dignity, security, and purpose. But today, that changes.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Andrew Soren to explore how to design organizations where people can flourish using the ancient Greek concept of Eudaimonia—living a life of purpose, growth, and virtue.Andrew Soren is the founder and CEO of Eudaimonic By Design, a global network of facilitators, coaches, and advisors who partner with organizations to design systems that enable people to flourish. For more than 20 years, he has worked at the intersection of positive psychology, organizational design, and leadership development, helping companies around the world embed purpose, meaning, and wellbeing into the heart of work. Andrew also teaches in the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program, sharing the science and practice of human flourishing with the next generation of leaders.Things you will also learn in this episode:• The meaning of Eudaimonia and how it differs from Hedonia.• Why modern society is disconnected from nature and what it means to “suffer well.”• The role of decent work (freedom, equity, security, dignity) as the foundation for flourishing.• The business, competitive, and moral cases for designing organizations where people thrive.• Practical ways leaders can create cultures of care, growth, and purpose at work.Tune in now and learn how ancient wisdom and modern science can help us bring virtue and flourishing back into our workplaces.✅Resources:• Eudaimonic by Design: https://www.eudaimonicbydesign.com/andrewsoren • Eudaimonic by Design: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eubd/ • Confuscian and Aristotelian Philosophy: https://bigthink.com/thinking/confucius-aristotle/ • Changemaker Wellbeing Index: https://wellbeingindex.ca/ • Column: U.S. Surgeon General: Loneliness Is at Heart of Growing Mental Health Crisis: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/publication/column-us-surgeon-general-loneliness-heart-growing-mental ✅Books:• The Case for Good Jobs: How Great Companies Bring Dignity, Pay, and Meaning to Everyone's Work by Zeynep Ton: https://a.co/d/f8OmSfT • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/8qWGfEU 

Great leaders pour themselves into serving others, sometimes until they burn out. But if you want lasting impact, understand that it requires balance. When service comes without self-care, burnout follows. And when self-care comes without service, your leadership’s meaning fades. That’s why the key is learning to hold both, so you can thrive while helping others flourish.In this episode, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Tenzin Dadul explore how leaders can build a flourishing life by aligning service with self-care, gratitude, and continuous growth.Dr. Tenzin Dadul is a Clinical Associate Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology and Director of Educational Research at the University of Detroit Mercy. He is also the founder of "Wild Flower," a mission-driven organization that, since around 2009, has provided free medical, dental, and cancer care and educational support to underprivileged children and Himalayan refugee communities. In 2022, he was awarded the Agere ex Missione Award by Detroit Mercy for his outstanding service and other honors from institutions in the U.S. and abroad.His story is a powerful reminder that true leadership and flourishing begin when we care for ourselves as deeply as we care for others.Things you will also learn in this episode:• Why service without self-care leads to burnout• How Dr. Tenzin transformed failure and hardship into a flourishing life of purpose• The importance of mentorship and education as a “golden ticket” for generational impact• Insights on preventing burnout in healthcare and leadership• How Eastern and Western philosophies can be integrated for resilience and wellbeingTune in now to hear how you can lead a flourishing life with both service and self-care at the center.✅Resources:• Michigan Ross: michiganross.umich.edu• Dr. Tenzin Dadul's website: tenzindadul.org/ • Cancer Medical Dental Organization founded by Dr. Tenzin Dadul: https://www.tenzindadul.org/mission • His Holiness The Dalai Lama: https://www.dalailama.com/• Sadhguru: https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/sadhguru • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: https://www.unc.edu/ • University of Detroit Mercy: https://www.udmercy.edu/• Saveetha Medical College: https://www.smc.saveetha.com/ • Andrews University: https://www.andrews.edu/index.html • University of Michigan Center for Positive Organizations: https://michiganross.umich.edu/terms/center-positive-organizations ✅Books:• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/

Small and medium businesses make up nearly half of all employment and GDP, yet they often struggle to compete against the scale, brand power, and resources of large corporations. Too often, the advice given to them is to “play bigger”—but that’s a losing battle. What if the real advantage lies in embracing their underdog status?In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Sri Kaza, Advisory Board at Markaaz and author of the upcoming book UNCONVENTION: A Small Business Strategy Guide, to explore how SMBs can thrive by leaning into what makes them different: positioning, proximity, and purpose. They discuss why small doesn’t mean weak, and how founders can unlock resilience, loyalty, and growth by playing their own game.Sri Kaza is an entrepreneur, investor, and former McKinsey consultant with a career spanning engineering, consulting, finance, and startups. He has helped scale visionary companies like Viking Cruises, co-founded ForwardLine to provide innovative financing for small businesses, and worked closely with entrepreneurs across industries to unlock growth. Ashish and Sri unpack inspiring stories, actionable insights, and practical strategies that will change the way you think about leading and growing a small to medium business. Tune in to discover how to turn your size into your greatest strength.Things you will learn in this episode:• The three Underdog Principles—Positioning, Proximity, and Purpose—and how to apply them• Why focusing on your core customers builds resilience during crises• How closeness to employees and community becomes a competitive edge• How AI can serve as a growth engine for SMBs rather than just a cost-cutting tool• Practical ways to stay grounded as a founder and align every decision with purposeIf you want to discover how small and medium businesses can outcompete giants and make flourishing their competitive edge, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.✅Resources:• How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit by Alex Edmans: https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2020/10/01/how-great-companies-deliver-both-purpose-and-profit/ ✅Books:• Unconvention: A Small Business Strategy Guide by Sri Kaza: https://a.co/d/aYYfD8w • The Experimentation Machine by Jeff Bussgang: https://experimentationmachine.com/• Hardwired for happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/ 

What truly drives people to thrive at work isn’t perks or programs, but the culture leaders create every single day. But when the day-to-day culture at work is marked by fear, unclear roles, and pressure from the top, people disengage no matter how many benefits you offer. Leaders often miss this because they’re chasing quarterly targets or process checklists, leaving human potential untapped. Grace Zuncic’s journey from small-town roots to Chobani, Cotopaxi, and now Manna Tree Partners shows a different path.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Grace Zuncic explore how flourishing comes when work itself is designed around courage and kindness.Grace Zuncic is a seasoned executive and board member with deep experience in scaling purpose-driven companies. She has held leadership roles at Chobani, Cotopaxi, and now serves as Partner at Manna Tree, a private equity firm focused on improving human health through investment in food and wellness businesses.In the conversation, Ashish and Grace highlight why the answer isn’t to bolt wellbeing programs onto broken systems but to build workplaces where flourishing is the operating model—unlocking both human potential and business performance.Things you will also learn in this episode:• Why fear is the biggest barrier to flourishing at work• How Chobani became a model of human-centered leadership during COVID• The role of courage and kindness in effective leadership• Why private equity has more influence on culture than it realizes• How board service shapes perspective on building enduring, purpose-driven companiesDon’t miss this episode—an urgent call for leaders to lead with courage, act with kindness, and create workplaces where people can truly flourish.✅Resources:• How to Make Flourishing Your Competitive Edge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRV-2C-fkNg • What Does a Compassionate Workplace Look Like? With Jane Dutton and Monica Worline: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_does_compassionate_workplace_look_like • The Cotopaxi Foundation: https://www.cotopaxi.com/pages/our-impact?srsltid=AfmBOoqOcdspf6JmJREdKix62bge5cFMOpEioKkGK1xVMs76EY1mrIUg • Women on Boards: https://www.womenonboards.net/• Tugboat Institute: https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/ ✅Books:• Shift by Ethan Cross: https://a.co/d/8ioBnAM • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: https://a.co/d/aj9Uubw • Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman and Raj Sisodia: https://a.co/d/4AWqNws • Ray Dalio’s Principles: https://a.co/d/5wfMHzQ • Another Way by Dave Wharton: https://a.co/d/gPnSTGC • You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh:

Work doesn’t have to be a grind. In fact, the smallest acts of care, recognition, and empowerment can spark extraordinary transformation in how people show up and thrive. Yet too many leaders still chase big programs and sweeping changes, overlooking the everyday moments that actually matter most. What if the secret to flourishing at work has been in front of us all along?In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Gretchen Spreitzer, Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, to explore how leaders can empower teams to flourish through meaning, competence, autonomy, and impact. Together, they uncover the science of positive organizations and how leaders can create workplaces where people come alive.Gretchen Spreitzer is a pioneering scholar in the field of positive organizational scholarship. At the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, she has spent decades researching and teaching topics such as thriving at work, leadership development, and empowerment. Her work has shaped how leaders and organizations around the world design conditions for people to flourish and succeed. If you’ve ever wondered how to truly unleash your people’s full potential at work and create a positive organization, this conversation will change the way you approach leadership and people empowerment.Things you will also learn in this episode:• Why small acts of leadership can have a bigger impact than grand gestures• The four dimensions of empowerment and how to apply them in your team• How recognition and authentic feedback can transform workplace culture• Why managers—not just executives—hold the key to reducing burnout• The role of empowerment in the age of AI and organizational change• How to spot and spread the “bright spots” of flourishing inside your companyTune in now to discover how you can start building a workplace where people flourish—not someday, but today.✅Resources:• Center for Positive Organizations: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/ • Reflective Best Self Exercise• McKinsey: A holistic approach for employees: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/reframing-employee-health-moving-beyond-burnout-to-holistic-health • Conscious Capitalism: https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/✅Books:• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: https://a.co/d/0HDetDR• Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman: https://a.co/d/5niWg2c • Another Way by Dave Whorton: https://a.co/d/j6GUo1E • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/1aWVYEx

Leaders often assume transformation comes from learning new skills or following the latest management trend. But real change begins when we confront our own beliefs, reflect deeply, and choose to step out of victimhood into agency. That inner work is what lays the foundation for lasting growth in how we lead and live. Only then can leaders create change that resonates far beyond the workplace.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Shawn Quinn talk about the deep reflection leaders need to build their own reality and move from victimhood to agency in life and leadership.Shawn Quinn is the Managing Partner of Lift Consulting and Faculty Director of the Positive Leadership program at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. A leading voice in positive leadership and organizational transformation, he has advised global companies including GE, Coca-Cola, American Express, and the U.S. Army. Shawn is also co-author of Leading Innovation: How to Jumpstart Your Organization’s Growth Engine.Shawn and Ashish explored how transformation doesn’t come from another training, another framework, or another leadership fad. It happens when we pause, reflect, and face the beliefs that hold us back.Things you will also learn in this episode:• Breaking free from a victim mindset• Why belief shifts matter more than skills in true transformation• The power of small experiments, reflection, and awareness to spark change• How leaders at any level—not just executives—can create meaningful impact• How workplace behaviors ripple outward into family, children, and community• The challenge of systems and people resisting changeTune in now and see for yourself how this shift unlocks the kind of transformation no trend or tactic can deliver.✅Resources:• Related episode: (Robert Quinn) https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1b7c5df6-06e1-4929-83d3-5849caa6b9b5 • Strengthsfinder by Gallup: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx • A Fundamental State of Leadership Approach: https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1444&context=jvbl • Charles Snyder’s Hope Theory: https://www.mindtools.com/aov3izj/snyders-hope-theory • The Sunflower Model: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ee784c9c-cf26-48df-b07f-b4c0dcc638f3 • The Sunflower Model: https://happinesssquad.com/the-sunflower-model-career-transition-guide-with-ashish-kothari/ • The Power of the 5:1 Ratio: https://michiganvirtual.org/blog/the-power-of-the-51-ratio-in-the-classroom-how-fostering-positive-interactions-can-transform-student-learning/ • Martin Seligman’s Learned Helplessness:

For years, companies have relied on credentials and rigid job structures that filter out talent instead of developing it. But in a world where roles are shifting fast, especially with AI, those old models are holding organizations back and leaving employees frustrated. It’s time for organizations to unlock human potential by rethinking talent development for the future of work.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Stacey Dietsch—former McKinsey partner and senior executive at Liberty Mutual— to explore how skills-based practices, leadership investment, and responsible AI adoption can help organizations empower people and close the talent gap.Stacey Dietsch is Executive Vice President of Talent Pipeline at Liberty Mutual Insurance, where she leads the end-to-end talent lifecycle—including strategic workforce planning, talent attraction, onboarding, learning and development, performance management, and career growth across 45,000 employees globally. Before joining Liberty Mutual in January 2024, Stacey spent nearly two decades as a Partner in McKinsey & Company’s People & Organizational Performance Practice, helping organizations align their talent, culture, and operating models to drive sustainable performance and meaningful work.Stacey emphasizes that building thriving organizations requires deliberate choices—simplifying structures, developing leaders at every level, and giving people ownership of their growth and impact. Tune in now and learn what unlocks your team’s real potential.Things you will learn in this episode:• Why empowered workplaces outperform bureaucratic ones• The role of purpose, autonomy, and trust in employee flourishing• The shift from credential-based to skills-based hiring and promotion• The promise of STARS (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) in widening talent pipelines• Using AI responsibly: not just for cost savings, but for growth and workplace transformation✅Resources:• Liberty Mutual Insurance: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liberty-mutual-insurance/ • STARS (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) framework: https://www.opportunityatwork.org/stars • Positive Organizational Scholarship: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/an-introduction/ ✅Books:• Multipliers, Revised and Updated: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman: https://a.co/d/cgjo5ij • The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success by Angela Jackson: https://a.co/d/awtKbEP • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/fpmucOP

Most organizations aren't blind to the rising stress, burnout, and quiet quitting at work. They're just implementing workplace well-being programs that don't work. Leaders are left wondering why their people are disengaged despite offering meditation apps and mental health webinars. The real issue is that wellbeing isn't built into the business strategy.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Julie Rust-Bodenmann, former Global Head of Wellbeing at Credit Suisse, reveal what it takes to embed wellbeing into the DNA of a business, even during a crisis. Drawing from her time at McKinsey, Credit Suisse, and UBS, Julie walks us through how she designed and rolled out a global wellbeing strategy, secured C-suite buy-in, and mobilized a 500-person wellbeing champion network across the organization.Learn how you can make wellbeing a strategic lever, not just a benefit.Things you will learn in this episode:• Why most wellness programs fail to move the needle• How to shift from treating wellbeing as a benefit to a business strategy• The critical role of role modeling and middle managers• How storytelling and regulatory pressure can win executive support• Why starting small and scaling what works beats big, flashy initiatives• Julie’s own wellbeing practices, and why leaders must start with themselvesTune in now and walk away with a practical blueprint and the conviction that flourishing workplaces aren’t just possible, they’re profitable.✅Resources:• Julie Rust-Bodenmann’s website: https://www.rust-bodenmann.com/ • Oxford University Research: https://hubstaff.com/blog/employee-satisfaction-and-productivity/ • Me-Search by Tal Ben Shahar: https://podcast.wellevatr.com/me-search-the-journey-to-happier-living-with-tal-ben-shahar • Michael Landsberg’s Sick Not Weak movement: https://www.sicknotweak.com/about/# • “This Is Me” Campaign (London): https://www.thelordmayorsappeal.org/news-and-events/events-calendar/1198/this-is-me-2023-event/ • World Economic Forum Study: https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Thriving_Workplaces_How_Employers_can_Improve_Productivity_and_Change_Lives_2025.pdf • Addressing Employee Burnout: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/addressing-employee-burnout-are-you-solving-the-right-problem • ✅Books:Hardwired for Happiness: https://a.co/d/eoPlwdE

We’ve got more tools, more tech, and more opportunities than any generation before us. On paper, we should be thriving. So why is it that, despite all this progress, work still feels exhausting? Why have our workplaces become places of stress and burnout even though we've never been more prosperous?In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Joseph Loizzo and Elazar Aslan, co-authors of Boundless Leadership, join Ashish Kothari to talk about how you can move from survival mode to truly flourishing by activating boundless leadership.Joseph Loizzo, MD, PhD, is a renowned human flourishing consultant, meditation researcher, and contemplative psychotherapist. He founded the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science and co-developed the Boundless Leadership program, integrating rigorous scientific research, deep meditation practice, and compassionate psychotherapy.Elazar Aslan, MBA, CPC, is an accomplished author, speaker, and executive coach who has pioneered the field of Conscious Leadership, guiding leaders in cultivating clarity, compassion, and embodied presence. As Director of Boundless Leadership at the Nalanda Institute and founder of Caterfly Solutions, Elazar empowers organizations to shift from stress-driven survival to purpose-driven flourishing.What does it mean to be a boundless leader? Learn how to rewire your mind, heart, and body so you can lead with clarity, compassion, and energy, and turn from survival mode to flourishing.Things you will learn from this episode:• Why workplaces keep us stuck in survival mode—and how to break free• The leadership risk of AI if we don’t use it with intention• The three disciplines of Boundless Leadership: mind, heart, and body• How self-awareness helps you lead with more clarity• Why compassion is a leadership superpower, not a soft skill• How somatic practices shift your energy and presence• Simple ways to start flourishing—wherever you are right nowWe got all the expert insights you need in this episode. Tune in now!Resources:• Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science: https://nalandainstitute.org/ • Boundless Leadership Program: https://nalandaboundlessleadership.org/ • Vipassana Meditation: https://www.dhamma.org/ Books:• Boundless Leadership: The Breakthrough Method to Realize Your Vision, Empower Others, and Ignite Positive Change by Elazar Aslan and Joseph Loizzo https://a.co/d/a6FB83v • More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead by Rasmus Hougaard: https://a.co/d/4O3poBf • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/6MKT87e 

On paper, everything looks right: your team is talented, your strategy is solid, and your goals are clear. So why does it still feel like progress is harder than it should be?Often, the real barrier isn’t a lack of strategy. It's because your people don't feel safe to bring their best selves to work. The issue is in your culture, which may have been shaped by years of fear and pressure. And in trying to fix things, it’s common to reach for more structure: more meetings, tighter KPIs, added pressure. But that rarely works. That only feeds the cycle of stagnant growth, silent disengagement, and widespread burnout. The missing ingredient isn’t strategy. It’s trust.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Michelle Poole unpack the trust-first, people-first leadership approach that transforms cultures and leads to company breakthroughs.Michelle Poole is a seasoned consumer and footwear leader with over three decades of experience, most notably as Brand President at Crocs where she spearheaded a cultural and financial turnaround. She champions authentic, people-first leadership, fostering psychological safety, inclusivity, and trust to drive high-performing, engaged teams.Things you will learn in this episode:• How life experiences shift priorities from achievement to well-being• Gender balance at work and feminine leadership energy• Turning around a struggling brand into a market leader• How inclusivity and belonging drive performance• Three key practices for building trust in times of changeIf you feel your results are stagnant, it’s time to stop pushing harder and start leading differently.Tune in now and change the trajectory of your team and your business.Resources:• Crocs: https://www.crocs.com/stories/come-as-you-are.html • StrengthsFinder (now CliftonStrengths): https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx• How employers can create a thriving workplace: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/thriving-workplaces-how-employers-can-improve-productivity-and-change-livesBooks:• Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware: https://a.co/d/eAO9RYv • My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future by Indra Nooyi: https://a.co/d/cBY3kES • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/bPWHmUG

Organizations love to talk about well-being. But scratch beneath the surface, and it’s the same old perks: gym discounts, meditation apps, an extra day off. All while work itself remains exhausting.Leaders, you need to wake up!Only 20% of employees are thriving.More than 60% report daily stress.And the economic cost of poor workplace well-being is an estimated $12 trillion.It’s time to fix the way we work.It’s easy to slap “well-being” on a poster. Harder to design work that doesn’t drain people in the first place. In this special solo episode of Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder and CEO of Happiness Squad, explores why flourishing at work must be a strategic imperative for leaders and organizations. Drawing on decades of research and lived experience, Ashish makes a clear case for why organizations that invest in well-being don’t just support their people, they outperform the rest. Things you will also learn in this episode:• A 5-question diagnostic to assess if you're truly flourishing at work• How traditional wellness programs fall short—and what to do instead• Why organizations must move from treating symptoms to redesigning work• The science-backed PEARL model and Human Potential Index for building resilient, high-performing teams• A practical playbook for implementing flourishing as a scalable organizational strategyFlourishing isn’t reserved for top performers or well-funded companies. It’s a way of working, and leading, that any team and leader can choose.Tune in now to discover how to unlock workplace flourishing, not just for the bottom line, but for the people who make it possible.Resources: • Pioneering work on the economics of happiness and wellbeing by Jan‑Emmanuel De Neve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV1ks-TLYoMBooks:• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/gML83VJ • Why Work Wellbeing Matters by Jan-Emmanuel: https://a.co/d/aQdXmE3 • Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations by Jane Dutton and Monica Worline: https://a.co/d/3onS12d • Connect by Carole Robin: https://a.co/d/gKFbtgH • How Will You Measure Your Life by Clay Christensen: https://a.co/d/1zN1vCt • The Win-Win Workplace by Dr. Angela Jackson

If a factory machine breaks, leadership responds within hours. If a system glitch halts production, it’s triaged immediately.But when a team’s morale is tanking, the response takes 6–12 months—if it comes at all. How did we get to a point where our physical assets get more respect than our human ones? We've spent years treating burnout like a solo thing to fix when it’s actually an organizational problem.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Jennifer Moss tackle this problem head on, and discuss what it truly takes to build happy, healthy organizations.Jennifer Moss is an award-winning journalist, international speaker, and workplace culture strategist. She co-founded Plasticity Labs and is the author of Why Are We Here?, and The Burnout Epidemic (Harvard Business Review Press, 2021), which was named one of the 10 Best New Management Books by Thinkers50 and shortlisted for the 2021 OWL Literary Award. A regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and Fortune, she’s renowned for reframing burnout as an organizational rather than individual issue.In the conversation, Ashish and Jennifer unpack the evolution of happiness at work, from early “choose happiness” mantras to a more nuanced understanding of systemic well-being.Things you will also learn from the episode:• Rethinking the phrase “Happiness is a Choice”• How both individual practices and organizational design influence happiness• The problem of blaming individuals for burnout instead of fixing workplace environments• Understanding the concept of the “continuum of well-being”• The Role of AI in Happiness and the Future of WorkStop waiting for the next annual survey. Start investing like your people matter, because they do.Resources: ✅• Jennifer Moss’ website: http://www.jennifer-moss.com/ • Burnout Is About Your Workplace, Not Your People (article by Jennifer Moss): https://www.jennifer-moss.com/writing/burnout-is-about-your-workplace-not-your-people • Mercer Trends study: https://www.mercer.com/en-ca/insights/people-strategy/future-of-work/four-day-workweek-the-cure-for-burnout/#:~:text=If%20you%20feel%20exhausted%2C%20you,industries%2C%20making%20work%20more%20intense. • Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory Of Motivation-Hygiene: https://www.simplypsychology.org/herzbergs-two-factor-theory.html • World Happiness Report: The Lost Wallets Experiment: https://worldhappiness.report/news/world-happiness-report-2025-people-are-much-kinder-than-we-expect-research-shows/ Books: ✅• The Burnout Epidemic by Jennifer Moss: https://a.co/d/bVuMU9G • Why Are We Here?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants by Jennifer Moss:

When an organization is trapped in survival mode, it doesn’t just face external pressure. It suffers an internal collapse of energy, creativity, and coherence. Chronic stress becomes the culture, innovation dries up, and people burn out trying to keep the lights on. But just as individuals can heal from trauma, so can organizations, if leaders are willing to shift from constant doing to conscious being. In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Mieke Jacobs explore how energy mastery and systemic intelligence can help leaders break free from the freeze response, reconnect to purpose, and restore wholeness to their teams and systems, unlocking the kind of flourishing that outlasts any crisis.Mieke Jacobs is a Belgium-based leadership advisor serving as Transformational Faculty and Senior Executive Coach at Mobius Executive Leadership. Drawing on two decades at DuPont in operations and large-scale change, she now guides executive teams worldwide with systemic intelligence and energy mastery. Mieke is also the author of Poet Assassin and co-author of Emergent: The Power of Systemic Intelligence to Navigate the Complexity of M&A.This episode is your invitation to lead differently by slowing down, tuning in, and trusting that wisdom lives not in doing more, but in being fully present.Things you will learn in this episode:• What happens when leaders create space for silence and stillness• Practical energy mastery tools for leaders and facilitators• Why systemic intelligence is essential for modern leadership• Rituals to shift team energy—songs, silence, and charged fields• How to spot invisible dysfunctions hidden in your company’s “order”• Ways to create workplaces that energize rather than depleteStop chasing productivity and start leading with presence, energy, and wholeness. Take a pause and check out this episode.Resources:• On Children (Poem) by Khalil Gibran: https://poets.org/poem/children-1 • ‘Stop Treating Well-being as a Side Hustle’ with Ashish Kothari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij4WcZWFMTg Books:• Poet Assassin by Mieke Jacobs: https://amzn.eu/d/aPfsENl • Emergent by Mieke Jacobs: https://amzn.eu/d/1To2DOK • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://amzn.eu/d/1To2DOKBooks mentioned:• The Prophet by Khalil Gibran: https://a.co/d/3pPl6Ea • Hiring the Heavens by Jean Slatter: https://a.co/d/4waFDhI • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: https://a.co/d/4oRfck8

The happiness we used to know was like a reward, something that shows up once life finally goes our way. But what if that moment never comes? What if life hands you unimaginable loss instead, and you're left trying to piece together who you are and what comes next? The truth is, happiness isn’t a finish line. It’s a conscious choice, and a lifelong practice. And no one embodies that truth more powerfully than Karen Guggenheim.Karen Guggenheim is the founder and CEO of WOHASU®, the organization behind the World Happiness Summit. A leading voice in global well-being, she is recognized for turning personal adversity into a powerful mission: helping individuals and organizations thrive through science-based strategies for happiness. Most recently, Karen led the expansion of WOHASU to the United Nations and global cities, advancing the conversation on mental health and well-being at the highest levels. Karen is the author of Cultivating Happiness: Overcome trauma and positively transform your life.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Karen Guggenheim, explore what it means to treat happiness not as a fleeting emotion, but as a conscious, lifelong practice.Things you will also learn in this episode:• Defining happiness as a framework, not a feeling• The misunderstood nature of happiness• The urgent need for systemic change in how we lead, work, and educate• Why forgiveness is the most challenging but transformational pillar of personal growth• What every leader, parent, and teacher needs to hear about happinessThis episode will remind you that happiness is not something you wait for, but something you build, even in the aftermath of heartbreak. Give it a listen, and you’ll never think about happiness the same way again.Resources:• Karen Guggenheim: http://karenguggenheim.com/ • World Happiness Summit: https://worldhappinesssummit.com/• Wellbeing Leadership Certification by World Happiness Summit: https://worldhappinesssummit.com/wellbeing-leadership-certification/ • World Wellbeing Policy Forum: https://wohasu.com/portfolio/world-wellbeing-policy-forum/ • Conscious Entrepreneur Summit: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-conscious-entrepreneur-summit • The Bridge to Happiness by Karen Guggenheim at TEDxMiami: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcgJo9IGxxk • World Happiness Summit on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mbWbPUjzHCVQ0iU3rmCsQ • Dr. Fred Luskin - Forgiveness and Happiness from WOHASU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaklxaKGWNU&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD • Truth and Reconciliation Commission with Desmond Tutu: https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/stories-library/desmond-tutu/ Books:• Cultivating Happiness by Karen...

We often treat money as the finish line. We chase it, measure ourselves by it, and let it shape our choices. But in doing so, we lose sight of the real question: What are we trading our money for—and is it making us truly flourish?As we live in a world that often celebrates achievement, it's easy to build wealth while unintentionally bankrupting other parts of our lives, such as our time, our energy, and our relationships. In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Tom Shepard to unpack the frameworks and habits that can transform how you relate to money, not just to grow your wealth, but to help you flourish.Tom Shepard is the Founder and CEO of Shepard Financial and author of Money Isn’t Everything, Everything Is Money. With over two decades of experience, Tom brings a human-centered approach to financial planning, helping individuals align their money with what truly matters. His book introduces the Seven Financial Natures framework—a practical guide to transforming your relationship with money by valuing not just wealth, but also time, energy, and connection.Many of us follow money patterns inherited from the past, without ever pausing to ask if they align with the future we hope to create. That's why even though we live a life that looks "successful," it doesn't really feel fulfilling.Today, you can change that. Tune in to learn how to stop letting money control your story, and start using it to write a more fulfilling one.Resources:• Money Isn’t Everything, Everything Is Money: https://tomshepardeverythingismoney.com • Shepard Financial’s website: https://www.shepard-financial.com• Currency Camp: https://www.currencycamp.com/ Books:• Money Isn't Everything, Everything Is Money: A Personalized Approach to Valuing and Trading Time, Energy, Relationships and Money by Tom Shepard : https://a.co/d/h69psqf • The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks: https://a.co/d/5FBeEpE • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/8Lj9uZy

We often talk about strategy, technology, and profit as the engines of success. And in times of rapid change and uncertainty, it’s easy to double down on those levers. But what if we’re missing the most important one?In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Niren Chaudhary, former CEO of Panera Brands, joins Ashish Kothari to share a leadership philosophy rooted in something many leaders overlook: love and care for people. Because at the end of the day, companies aren’t machines, they’re human systems. And when we treat people like family, they show up with heart, commitment, and a desire to go above and beyond.Niren reflects on lessons from decades at Tata, Yum! Brands, and Panera, breaking down how to build cultures where values are lived, not laminated, and how leaders can turn care for people into a competitive advantage. He also opens up about how the loss of his daughter Aisha Chaudhary profoundly reshaped how he sees leadership, success, and the legacy we leave behind.What you’ll also learn in this episode:• Why business is fundamentally a human-to-human experience• The leadership model that starts with love and leads to profit• How to hire for attitude and train for skill• Why success begins with the right people, doing the right things, the right way• The butterfly effect of investing in your people• Why resilience, curiosity, and generosity are non-negotiables in business and lifeThis conversation is a reminder that in business and in life, what matters most is how we show up for one another.Tune into the full episode to hear Niren’s powerful stories and practical wisdom on what it really means to lead with love.Resources:• Smile A Lot by Thich Nhat Hanh: https://www.awakin.org/v2/read/view.php?tid=168 • The Sky is Pink (Aisha Chaudhary): https://youtu.be/OnBN5b48HBc?si=_FcybEn8N_yhatF9 • Black Sunshine Baby (Aisha Chaudhary): https://youtu.be/Hkf7n7m_KgY?si=THIQQMkGNUE3_-9c • The Power of Well-being at Work by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4OWg12Xl5E • CORE Meditation: https://get.hyperice.com/core Books:• My Little Epiphanies by Aisha Chaudhary: https://a.co/d/2E4vtQx • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: https://a.co/d/2CvRJSu • How Will You Measure Your Life by Clay Chistensen: https://a.co/d/jkZPwb5 • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/gML83VJ

What if the success stories you believe, the leadership advice you follow, and the wellness rules you swear by are built on shaky evidence—or no evidence at all? Even well-meaning ideas like grit, purpose, and diversity can cause harm when taken at face value. So, we challenge you to think critically before embracing feel-good narratives.In today’s Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Alex Edmans expose the dangers of misinformation in the pursuit of happiness, well-being, and leadership. Alex Edmans is a British economist and Professor of Finance at London Business School, renowned for his work on responsible business and corporate governance. He authored the influential book Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit, which argues that businesses can achieve sustainable success by creating value for all stakeholders—not just shareholders. This book was named a Financial Times Book of the Year in 2020 and has been translated into nine languages .In addition to Grow the Pie, Edmans co-authored the 14th edition of Principles of Corporate Finance and released May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – And What We Can Do About It in 2024.In the conversation, Alex reveals how many popular beliefs are based on flawed data, biased research, and confirmation bias. Ashish and Alex discuss how critical thinking is the most underrated skill in the age of instant advice.Things you will also learn in this episode:• How confirmation bias shapes what we want to believe• The unproven hype behind Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why”• The shaky science behind the 10,000-hour success rule• The confusion between correlation and causation in diversity studies• The overgeneralization of grit as a universal success factor• How to build smarter organizations through dissent and inclusionDon’t let bad data shape your decisions. Learn how to think critically. Explore these lessons and more in the full episode.Resources:✅• Related episode with Alex Edmans: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans • Alex Edmans’ website: http://www.alexedmans.com/   • Growth the Pie website: http://www.growthepie.net/  • TED Talk: The Pie-Growing Mindset https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_edmans_the_pie_growing_mindset  • TED Talk: The Social Responsibility of Business  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5KZhm19EO0 Books:✅• Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit• May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – And What We Can Do About It: https://a.co/d/4ZSp6Up • Principles of Corporate Finance ISE by Alex Edmans: https://a.co/d/aglrrnu • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: a...

Ever walked into a conversation with the best intentions…only to walk out with a broken relationship? The cost of emotional avoidance in the workplace is massive, and invisible. Most people don’t fail at communication because they’re cruel. They fail because they never learned how to do it without causing damage.In today’s Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Carole Robin, co-author of Connect and co-founder of Leaders in Tech, explore how small changes in how we communicate can lead to big breakthroughs in how we connect and make exceptional relationships, both at work and in life. Drawing from decades of experience teaching Stanford’s legendary Interpersonal Dynamics course, Dr. Carole shares practical tools that help individuals move beyond surface-level interactions to build deep, meaningful, and resilient connections.And let’s just say, what Dr. Carole shared might make you rethink every “We need to talk” you’ve ever had.Things you will also learn from this episode:• What separates exceptional relationships from average ones• How to give feedback that connects instead of divides• The power of “If you really knew me…” for team connection• Why 15% outside your comfort zone is the sweet spot for growth• The OILs model: a better way to structure tough conversationsIt’s time to move from knowledge to practice. Tune into our full episode and spark real connections, one courageous, vulnerable conversation at a time.Resources:• Leaders in Tech (Co-founded by Carole Robin): https://leadersintech.org/• Connect - Building Exceptional Relationships: https://connectandrelate.com/ • Interpersonal Dynamics Course: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/experience/learning/leadership/interpersonal-dynamics • Transforming Through T-Groups by National Training Laboratories (NTL) Institute for Applied Behavioral Science: https://www.ntl.org/transforming-through-t-groups-tttg/ • Film Reference: Inside Out (Pixar)Books:• Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues (Co-authored by Carole Robin): https://a.co/d/67ZqL3B • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/5aGRDgh