School For Good Living Podcasts

Tal Ben-Shahar is the best-selling author of Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, Being Happy: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Lead a Richer, Happier Life, and other books which have been translated to 25 languages. He is also the Co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of the Happiness Studies Academy. Tal is a leading expert in happiness studies who taught two of the most popular classes in Harvard University’s history: Positive Psychology and The Psychology of Leadership. As a speaker, lecturer, and consultant, Tal delivers lectures worldwide to people of all walks of life, from the executives of multi-national corporations to vulnerable populations. Tal joins me today to discuss the lessons he learned about happiness and how we can be happier. He shares his experiences as a squash player and illustrates how winning the Israeli National Championship led him to pursue happiness studies. He describes how we can grow and learn from traumatic experiences and explains why anxiety an

Beth Comstock is the author of Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change. Beth served as NBC Universal’s President for Integrated Media as well as the General Electric Company’s Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, where she led efforts to promote growth and innovation. In her book, Imagine it Forward, Beth draws lessons from her 30-year career as a change-maker and offers her wisdom on cultivating courage, resilience, and creativity to spark innovation. Beth joins me today to share her insights and wisdom on fostering creativity, innovation, and connection in an organization. She explains why she wrote her book and illustrate the process and challenges she experienced while writing it. She defines what social courage means and describes how she cultivated it. She explains what an agitated inquiry is and how you can use conflict and opposing perspectives to nurture innovation. She also discusses how fear prevents people from writing a book and shares her advice on promoting your w

Steve Pavlina is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and the author of Personal Development for Smart People: The Conscious Pursuit of Personal Growth. After an arrest on charges of grand theft auto in 1991, Steve made a conscious decision to turn his life around. He founded Dexterity Software, a computer game development company that focused on nonviolent puzzle games. He has served as Vice President and later President, of the Association of Software Professionals. Seeing himself as an explorer and perpetual student, Steve closed his software company and started a personal development blog and website to create more meaningful ripples in the world. Steve has blogged over 2 million words of content and released the copyright encouraging people to take his work and merge it with their own. As a result he is co-author of at least 200 books. Steve joins me today to talk about how he gets his ideas for his blog posts. We talk about his many personal experiments and passions including polyphasic sleep, vege

Isaac Bentwich is a practitioner and teacher of yoga and meditation, and the author of Gita: A Timeless Guide For Our Time, a poetic translation of the Bhagavad Gita. A medical doctor by training and entrepreneur by profession, Isaac has founded several tech companies, including Quris Technologies, Ripples Technologies, and CropX LTD, each leading disruptive revolutions in the fields of medicine, genomics, and environmental conservation. At the core of Isaac’s life work is his inner spiritual journey – touched by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom and his mission to share it with people. Isaac joins me today to share his journey in writing Gita: A Timeless Guide For Our Time. He explains what the Bhagavad Gita is and illustrates how it’s a guide to help us define the meaning of life. He discusses the poetic nature of the Bhagavad Gita and shares some verses that impacted him. He also shares his thoughts on the creative process of writing a book as well as the joys he finds in meditation retreats.

Dandapani is a Hindu priest and creator of the Unwavering Focus and Introduction to Meditation courses, as well as the Dandapani: Learn to Focus app. Before spending ten years of his life as a monk under the tutelage of the guru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Dandapani graduated from university with a degree in Electrical Engineering. In addition to his priesthood, Dandapani is an entrepreneur who has worked with athletes and organizations such as the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Nike. Additionally, he is also a speaker whose TEDx Talk, Unwavering Focus, has garnered over 3 million views on YouTube. Dandapani empowers people all over the world by teaching them how to cultivate focus and concentration through the techniques that have been used by Hindu monks for thousands of years. Dandapani joins me today to discuss the power of focus and concentration. He explains how concentration is something everyone is told to do but not taught how to do and underscores the importance of understanding the mind. He sha

Maryanne Wolf is the author of Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain, Tales of Literacy for the 21st Century, Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain as well as over 160 scientific articles. She is a scholar, teacher, and Director of the newly-created Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at UCLA. Maryanne began her work in Cognitive Neuroscience and Psycholinguistics at the Department of Human Development and Psychology at Harvard University, where she also completed her doctorate. A staunch advocate for children and global literacy, Maryanne designed the Rave-O, reading intervention for children with dyslexia and co-founded Curious Learning, a global literacy initiative. Maryanne joins me today to discuss the neuroscience of reading. She explains how the act of reading creates circuits in our brains and allow us to gain a deeper perspective and cultivate empathy. She illustrates how the modern reader’s tenden

Dr. Bob Nelson is the bestselling author of multiple business management and employee engagement books, including 1,001 Ways to Engage Employees, Recognizing & Engaging Employees for Dummies, and 1,001 Ways to Reward Employees. He is the world’s leading expert on employee recognition, motivation, and engagement and has sold over 5-Million copies of his books, which have been translated into over 30 languages. Bob is a long-time collaborator and confidante of Dr. Ken Blanchard, the co-author of The One Minute Manager. He has earned notable recognition and awards, including the 2019 Top 20 Global Management Guru Award by Global Gurus. He has presented keynote speeches, webinars, and presentations on topics related to employee recognition, management, motivation, and engagement and has been featured in mainstream media publications, including The New York Times, CNN, 60 Minutes, Inc. Magazine, Fortune Magazine, and BusinessWeek. Dr. Bob Nelson joins me today to discuss what it was like having Peter Drucke

John Leland is the author of Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old, Hip: The History and Why Kerouac Matters: The Lessons of “On the Road” (They’re Not What You Think). John is also a public speaker and an award-winning journalist for the New York Times, where he writes features for the Sunday Metropolitan section. Before his work at the New York Times, John served as a senior editor for Newsweek and worked at other publications, including Details, Newsday, and Spin. John joins me today to discuss why older people may be happier than younger people and the benefit of being selective with who you surround yourself with. He shares what it truly means to be storyteller, how to know if your story is worth telling, and how to bring your work to completion. John also highlights where the strength of a sentence lies and the power of truth-telling as a writer. “Getting older is another way of living. Aging and living are the same thing.”  – John Leland This week on The

John Leland is the author of Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old. He is also a public speaker and an award-winning journalist for the New York Times where he writes features for the Sunday Metropolitan section. Before his work at the New York Times, John served as a senior editor for Newsweek and worked at other publications, including Details, Newsday, and Spin. In addition to his latest book, John has authored two other books entitled Hip: The History and Why Kerouac Matters: The Lessons of “On the Road” (They’re Not What You Think). John joins me today to discuss the renewed perspective on aging he has gained in the process of researching for his latest book. He shares the importance of living a full life rather than just a long one and how the way we frame our lives impacts our mindset and emotional experience, especially as we age. John also highlights the limiting perspectives that many of us who haven’t aged have developed about getting older and whether it is po

Deemed “Most Innovative CEO” by the San Francisco Business Times, Chip Conley is an award-winning hospitality entrepreneur, business and psychology thought leader and New York Times best-selling author. Chip is the Strategic Advisor for Hospitality and Leadership for Airbnb, and formerly served as the company’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy. He is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy, as well as Joie de Vivre Hospitality, where he served as CEO for 24 years.  Chip is on the Stanford Center for Longevity’s advisory board and has written five books, including Wisdom@Work, Emotional Equations, and PEAK.   Chip joins me today to discuss retirement, purpose, and how your mindset on aging can add years to your life. He explains the difference between getting older and becoming an elder as well as the common feelings that often accompany transitions. He shares insights into his writing process, how he shapes and structures his books, and his ideal chapter length. Chip also highlights how book marketi

Chip Conley is an award-winning hospitality entrepreneur, business and psychology thought leader and New York Times best-selling author, deemed “Most Innovative CEO” by the San Francisco Business Times. Chip is the Strategic Advisor for Hospitality and Leadership for Airbnb, and formerly served as the company’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy. He is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy, as well as Joie de Vivre Hospitality, where he served as CEO for 24 years.  Chip is on the Stanford Center for Longevity’s advisory board and has written five books, including Wisdom@Work, Emotional Equations, and PEAK.   Chip joins me today to share his insights on embracing elderhood, aging, and life satisfaction. He highlights the distinction between elders and the elderly, when adolescence became coined as a term and life stage, and the more recent concept of “middlescence.” He explains how our perspectives change as we age and how he defines the ‘u-curve of happiness.’ Chip also shares the strengths that dif

Mark Divine is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of USCrossFit, SEALFIT, Unbeatable Mind, and NavySEALs.com. Mark spent twenty years with the Navy SEALS as an officer and commander. He is an expert in the human performance arena and has tested his training techniques on special operations candidates with a 90 percent success rate. Mark is a New York Times bestselling author and has written books including The Way of the SEAL, 8 Weeks to SEALFIT, Kokoro Yoga, Unbeatable Mind, SEALFIT Training Guide, and most recently, Staring Down the Wolf. Mark joins me today to discuss the contents of Staring Down the Wolf and the importance of self-awareness and facing your fears and shadows. He shares the distinction between principles and commitments and how committing to excellence and embracing a growth mindset as a leader can help your team experience accelerated growth. Mark also highlights how relationships play a role in our lives and why you should lead with togetherness and heart rather than ego.

Established in the field of philanthropy and passionate about the topic of giving, Jenny Santi is the author of The Giving Way to Happiness: Stories and Science Behind the Life-Changing Power of Giving and the founder of philanthropic advisory firm, Saint & Partners. Before this role, Jenny served as the head of Philanthropy Services for UBS in Southeast Asia. In addition to her work in the philanthropic sector, Jenny is a painter who believes in art’s ability to heal and has studied at the Art Students League of New York and the Florence Academy of Art. Jenny joins me today to discuss how to find greater fulfillment in giving and the power of self-reflection and gratitude. She describes her struggles with mental health and her journey to allowing her truth to co-exist with her brand as an author. Jenny also highlights the importance of understanding why you are giving and how saying no can open us up to say yes to the things that truly matter. “Don’t give until it hurts but give until it feels grea

Jenny Santi is an established professional in the field of philanthropy and the author of The Giving Way to Happiness: Stories and Science Behind the Life-Changing Power of Giving. She is the founder of philanthropic advisory firm Saint & Partners and formerly served as the head of Philanthropy Services for UBS in Southeast Asia. Jenny is a painter who believes in art’s ability to heal and has studied at the Art Students League of New York and the Florence Academy of Art. Jenny joins me today to discuss the power of giving and the impact that giving can have on the giver. She shares the importance of giving in ways that resonate with our genuine interests and passions and how it can allow us to experience more purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Jenny also highlights her work in the philanthropic sector and the insights she gained through the process of interviewing people for her book. “We all have the same amount of time. It is up to us to decide how much or how little of that time we devote in service

Mark Nepo, deemed one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit, is a poet, teacher, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have, which sold over one million copies. Mark has written twenty-two books translated into over twenty languages and also writes regularly for Spirituality & Health Magazine. He has been featured on OWN TV’s Super Soul Sunday and interviewed by Robin Roberts on Good Morning America. His work focuses on helping others through inner transformation. Mark joins me today to discuss his relationship with feelings and how he allows fear to exist without drowning in it. He shares why we can’t be all things to all people, and why we need to take the time to intentionally clear our minds and not give in to a “fill it up” world. Mark also highlights his relationship with poetry and how poems are his teachers and the building blocks of his work. “Great love and

In this final episode of our special podcast series, Bryan focuses on Life’s Best Practices – Outcomes, and how writing down what we want to accomplish in the future will lead us to our best selves. As part of the episode, Bryan walks you through why this is the beginning step in his program and why it’s not a selfish process. You can reach out to Bryan and let him know what your goals are, or ask him any other questions on your mind, by emailing him at bryan@bryaniller.com Resources Mentioned:Life’s Best PracticesMedical staff flying to New York to fight Covid-19QuarARTine All-Ages Art Show Subscribe, Rate & Share!Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the School for Good Living Podcast, with your host, Bryan Miller. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And be sure to share your favorite episodes wit

In this episode of our special podcast series, Bryan focuses on Life’s Best Practices – Perspective, and how understanding our position in the universe can help us live a better life. As part of the episode, Bryan talks shares details on the cosmic calendar and how small humanities footprint actually is in it, as well as what brings him hope on this day. You can reach out to Bryan and let him know what brings you hope, or ask him any other questions on your mind, by emailing him at bryan@bryaniller.com Resources Mentioned:Life’s Best PracticesCosmic Calendar Subscribe, Rate & Share!Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the School for Good Living Podcast, with your host, Bryan Miller. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And be sure to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on s

Mark Nepo is a poet, teacher, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have, which sold over one million copies. Mark, who has written twenty-two books translated into over twenty languages, was deemed one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit and writes regularly for Spirituality & Health Magazine. His work focuses on topics surrounding inner transformation, and his accomplishments include being interviewed by Robin Roberts on Good Morning America and being featured on OWN TV’s Super Soul Sunday. Mark joins me today to discuss how nearly dying of cancer opened him up to the miraculous aspects of life. He shares the role of inner discovery in book writing, and why you should be open to receive, rather than merely “making use” of writing material. Mark also highlights the power of expression, creativity, artistry, staying close to the pulse of life, and why what you perceive

In this episode of our special podcast series, Bryan focuses on Life’s Best Practices – Move, Breathe, and how pausing to properly breathe can improve every aspect of your day. As part of the episode, Bryan talks about his current feelings on the current situation and being ready for this season of quarantine to conclude. Bryan also walks you through a simple example of how to breathe. You can reach out to Bryan and let him know what brings you hope, or ask him any other questions on your mind, by emailing him at bryan@bryaniller.com Resources Mentioned:Life’s Best PracticesExtending social distancing guidelines.Olympics being held in 2021 Subscribe, Rate & Share!Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the School for Good Living Podcast, with your host, Bryan Miller. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedI

In this episode of our special podcast series, Bryan focuses on Life’s Best Practices – Energy, and how to gain the motivation to live a healthy and rewarding life. As part of the episode, Bryan talks about how his father’s death gave him a new perspective on what a fulfilling life should look like, and he also shares his hope after hearing of a new Covid-19 test that purports to just take five minutes for a result. You can reach out to Bryan and let him know what brings you hope, by emailing him at bryan@bryaniller.com Resources Mentioned:Life’s Best Practices5-minute Covid Test Subscribe, Rate & Share!Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the School for Good Living Podcast, with your host, Bryan Miller. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And be sure to share your favorite episodes with your frien