Bu With Declan Edwards

"The price of happiness is effort, and the price of genuine connection is inconvenience."In this special monthly edition of The Ripple Effect, Declan Edwards and Ami Rankin are back from the BU Happiness College Immersion Retreat in the Blue Mountains. This episode serves as a "taste test" of the retreat experience, offering a look at the tools, stories, and breakthroughs that happen when we intentionally step away from the "human doing" of daily life to simply be a "human being." Ami shares her honest experience of navigating the "excuses brain" and the anxiety that often precedes prioritising our own well-being. Together, they explore why there is never a "perfect time" to work on your happiness and why choosing to show up for yourself despite the chaos is where the real growth begins. In this episode, Declan and Ami explore:Choice Point Theory: How to move past the first-order discomfort of starting something new to reach the high-yield benefits o

This episode of How to Be Happy is a deep dive into the "human" side of the science of happiness. I’m joined by my long-time friend and BU Happiness College graduate, James Tanner, to explore how his approach to fulfilment has shifted over a fifty-year journey; from chasing external "wins" to finding a much deeper sense of internal peace.James opens up about the pressure of a "win-lose" mentality in his youth and the emotional toll of trying to earn happiness through achievement. We discuss his transition into a "win-learn" mindset and the critical role that curiosity and faith play in building a life that feels purposeful, even when it’s messy.Whether you consider yourself spiritual, religious, or simply curious, James's perspective on "loving God, loving people, and loving yourself" offers a universal roadmap for better connection.In this episode, we explore:The Achievement Trap: Why tying your happiness to external "happenings" is a recipe for

This episode of How to Be Happy: At Work tackles one of the most significant, yet overlooked, challenges in the modern office: the "silent crisis" of workplace loneliness. While we often think of loneliness as a personal issue, research shows it is a deeply embedded workplace experience that predicts everything from reduced commitment to a drop in overall performance.Building on our previous conversation about Clarity, Declan Edwards explores Connection; the second of the 7 Cs of Workplace Happiness. He breaks down why tokenistic efforts fail and how leaders can intentionally foster genuine, human-to-human relationships that drive both wellbeing and business results.In this episode, we explore:The Loneliness Data: Why one in five employees feels disconnected, and why remote or hybrid work isn't the only cause.The "Best Friend" Factor: Why having a trusted confidant at work is a leading predictor of high engagement and retention.The Cost of Disconnection: How a lack of belonging acts as

"Structure gives our life a sense of rhythm, but freedom gives our life a sense of soul." We’ve all had those "free" days that look great on paper but end with us feeling drained, aimless, and stuck in a Netflix scroll. In this episode, I want to challenge the idea that structure and freedom are opposites. The truth is, without a bit of a "frame" for your day, freedom usually just turns into paralysis. I'm sharing how to find that sweet spot in the middle—where you have enough discipline to create momentum, but enough intuition to stay excited. If you’ve been feeling either burnt out by a rigid schedule or completely aimless without one, this is about laying the next "brick" in your happiness toolkit. By the end of this 15-minute listen, you’ll understand:The Paradox of Choice: Why having "too many options" is actually what's making you feel anxious and stuck. Beating Decision Fatigue: How to stop wasting your mental battery on small daily choices so y

What does it look like to practice the science of happiness when life feels heavy and uncertain? In this special "Ripple Effect" edition of How to Be Happy, Declan Edwards is joined by Ami Rankin, Head of Personal Happiness Coaching at BU Happiness College, for an honest look at the reality of navigating major life transitions.Ami opens up about a significant "change of chapter" for her family and shares the exact emotional acceptance and regulation techniques she’s used to lead her household through it. In this episode, Declan and Ami explore:The Power of Emotional Acceptance: Why acknowledging the "heavy" stuff is the first step toward genuine resilience.The Ripple Effect: How practicing happiness skills at home directly impacts a child’s experience and reputation in the classroom.Our "Why": Declan and Ami share the personal origin stories that led them to build careers dedicated to the science of happiness.Audience Q&A: A deep dive into listener questions, including the role of faith in fulfilment and

In this episode of How to Be Happy, host Declan Edwards sits down with the legendary Osher Günsberg for a conversation that moves past the media scripts to look at the daily practice of living well. While many know Osher from the screen, this chat focuses on the philosophies and "micro-actions" that keep him grounded when life gets heavy.They explore the idea that happiness isn't a destination, but a skill cultivated through intentionality and an acceptance of life's "inner garden". The discussion dives into the topics people often avoid; impermanence, the reality of mortality, and why trusting the process is more important than the final result.As taught at BU Happiness College, passive learning only goes so far. This episode serves as a call to move from just listening to practicingEpisode HighlightsThe "One Drop" Philosophy: How every small, intentional choice contributes to the collective "ocean" of happiness.Embracing Impermanence: Insights into sitting wit

"Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind."In this episode of How to Be Happy, I’m diving deep into the first of the 7 Cs of Happy Employees: Clarity. Through my work at BU Happiness College, I’ve seen that the biggest barrier to a thriving team isn't usually a lack of talent; it’s a lack of clear expectations. When priorities are fuzzy, it creates a "low-level hum of anxiety" that chips away at confidence, motivation, and purpose. Today, I’m sharing why clarity is actually a productivity and retention tool, and how you can stop "flying blind" as a leader. In this episode, we explore:The "Everything is a Priority" Trap: Why trying to do 14 things half-heartedly is killing your team's momentum. Clarity vs. Certainty: Why you don’t need all the answers to be a transparent and effective leader. The ROI of Knowing: According to Harvard Business Review, employees with clear expectations are 53% more efficient. The Kindness of Clarity: Why "beating around the bush"

"Willpower is like a phone battery; it drains over the course of the day, and once it’s flat, it’s flat." If you’ve ever started a new habit with high hopes only to watch it fizzle out two weeks later, this episode is for you. In this second instalment of our goal-setting series on How to Be Happy, I’m pulling back the curtain on why "trying harder" is actually a terrible strategy for long-term change.I explore why the problem isn't your discipline, it's your system. Using the principles we teach at BU Happiness College, I share how to stop pushing against the "boulder" of inertia and start building momentum that feels effortless.In this episode, we dive into:The Willpower Myth: Why relying on sheer discipline is a recipe for burnout.Habit Stacking: The simple secret to "piggybacking" new behaviours onto existing routines.The Boulder & Inertia: Why starting tiny is the only way to get the heavy rocks of your life moving.Environment Design: How to "stack

Important announcement: The ‘How To Be Happy’ book is coming and preorders are now open! PRE-ORDER THE BOOK:Get your copy of How to Be Happy here: https://amzn.to/3OieywQWhat does it look like to practice happiness skills in the middle of life’s biggest transitions? Join me and Amy Rankin (Head of Personal Happiness Coaching at BU Happiness College) for a deep dive into emotional regulation, parenting with intention, and the psychology of happiness in life’s challenging chapters.Key highlights in this episode:• Navigating Change: Practical tools for emotional acceptance during transitions.• The Next Generation: How modelling resilience at home impacts the school experience for children.• Happiness Mistakes: Identifying the traps that keep people from feeling their best.• The Role of Faith: Exploring what modern wellbeing science says about faith and trust.• Big News: I am thrilled to announce my book, How to Be Happy, is coming this July.PRE-ORDER THE BOOK:Get your copy of How to Be Happy here: https://amzn.t

Parenting is one of life’s biggest adventures and its biggest challenges. In this conversation with Australia’s trusted parenting expert Dr. Justin Coulson, we explore what it really takes to raise happy, resilient children while also looking after yourself as a parent and partner.Dr. Justin draws on decades of experience, research, and his own journey raising six daughters to share approachable, evidence‑informed insights. We unpack the balance between philosophy and practice, how to nurture emotional strength and connection in your family, and why the skills we develop as parents ripple out into the next generation in a profound way.If you’re navigating the messy, beautiful work of raising kids and want a grounded, thoughtful perspective, this episode will have something for you.

What actually makes people happy at work? And what keeps great people engaged, energised, and performing at their best?In this episode, Declan introduces the seven core ingredients of happy employees. This framework is grounded in wellbeing science, real workplace experience, and years of research into what helps people thrive at work. It sets the foundation for the How to Be Happy at Work series this season, with a deeper dive into each of the seven elements across upcoming episodes.Whether you’re a leader, manager, or someone who simply wants a better experience at work, this episode will help you reflect on what’s working, what’s missing, and where change might be needed.

Not all goals are created equal. Some leave us stressed, stuck, or chasing someone else’s idea of success. In this episode, we explore how to set goals that genuinely boost your wellbeing. You’ll learn what the research says about goal setting and happiness, the common traps to avoid, and how to create goals that feel energising, not exhausting.If you’ve ever set a goal and wondered why it didn’t make you feel any better… this one’s for you.

As the year comes to a close, Declan Edwards and Ami Rankin are sitting down together to reflect, reset and celebrate everything we’ve learned on the How To Be Happy journey.In this special end-of-year wrap-up, we look back at the biggest lessons, the most powerful moments, and the standout conversations that shaped our community this year. From mindset shifts to practical wellbeing strategies, Declan and Ami unpack what truly moved the needle on happiness — both for our listeners and in their own lives.Whether you’ve been here since episode one or discovered the podcast this year, this is the perfect way to reconnect with what matters, acknowledge your growth, and set yourself up for a more intentional, more joyful year ahead.Hit play, reflect with us, and let’s step into the new year with clarity, compassion and confidence.Thank you for being part of the How To Be Happy community — we can’t wait for what’s coming next.

Are your people busy, but not productive?In this episode of How to Be Happy at Work, we explore why focus is becoming the ultimate competitive advantage in today’s workplaces. From the rise of “bullshit jobs” to the epidemic of false urgency, Declan unpacks how modern work culture is sabotaging performance, purpose, and wellbeing: and what leaders can do to turn it around.You’ll learn:✅ Why constant multitasking and responsiveness kill productivity✅ How “if everything’s a priority, nothing is” plays out in teams✅ The neuroscience of focus and deep work (and how to reclaim it)✅ How to prioritise meaningful work over performative busyness✅ 6 evidence-backed ways to boost focus, performance, and wellbeing at work✅ How to shift from fire-fighting to clarity, purpose, and progressThis episode is packed with real-world examples, science-backed insights, and practical tools you can implement with your team today; whether you're a team leader, people & culture professional, or executive looking to create a hi

Feeling overwhelmed, tense, or stuck in constant overdrive? This episode is your reset button.In this science-backed deep dive, happiness researcher Declan Edwards unpacks the psychology of stress, explores why Australia and New Zealand rank among the top 3 most stressed populations globally, and shares practical tools to reduce chronic stress in your daily life.You’ll learn:The 3 types of stress (chronic, acute, and eustress), and why not all stress is badThe shocking Gallup statistic showing that 47% of people report stress as their dominant workplace emotionWhy stress is considered a “silent killer” and how it impacts your physical and mental healthThe Top 5 evidence-based ways to reduce stress; including simple breathing techniques, emotional literacy, movement, connection, and mindset shiftsHow most episodes of this podcast double as stress-reducing tools (and how to revisit them)This is one of the most actionable episodes we’ve released: blending neuroscience, storytelling, and real-world strategies to

Can better communication transform workplace culture?In this episode from the archives, I interview Chris Huet; a former fighter pilot, award-winning poet, and master of leadership communication. Chris combines military precision with poetic insight to help leaders cut through noise and truly connect with their teams.We unpack:What makes communication stickHow stories and metaphors build trustWhy emotional intelligence is essential in modern leadershipChris’s background is one of the most fascinating I’ve come across, and his insights into clarity, empathy, and influence are timeless.

Ever feel like you're constantly fighting against life? Trying to control people, outcomes, or the future and it's exhausting you?In this episode of How to Be Happy, we're diving into why trying to control everything is making you less happy; and how to finally let go without giving up. Learn about the Locus of Control model, explore the power of surrender (including my personal story with The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer), and discover practical tools to help you release the need for control and find peace, purpose, and focus in your day-to-day life.We’ll unpack:Why control is often an illusion (and how it backfires)How to work with your circle of control, influence, and surrenderWhy surrender isn’t weak, it’s a powerful happiness skillHow the “raft and river” metaphor can transform your stressThe surprising link between trust, faith, and wellbeingResearch-backed tools to help you let go and flow with lifeThis is a must-listen if you’re tired of micromanaging life, struggling with anxie

Struggling with silos, miscommunication, and a lack of cross-team connection?You’re not alone, collaboration breakdown is one of the biggest barriers to productivity, performance, and wellbeing in today’s workplace.In this episode of How to Be Happy at Work, happiness researcher and workplace consultant Declan Edwards explores why effective collaboration is a competitive advantage and what leaders and organisations can do to foster a culture of connection, trust, and shared success.

Feel like a fraud? You’re not alone. In this episode of How to Be Happy, we’re unpacking the truth about imposter syndrome, and why that uncomfortable voice in your head might actually be a sign that you're on the right track.

What causes burnout, and how do we fix it at a systemic level?In this powerful conversation from our Working Well podcast archive, I sat down with Hamza Khan: award-winning keynote speaker, best-selling author of Leadership Reinvented, and globally recognised expert on burnout prevention, toxic leadership, and human-centred work.Since this interview, Hamza and I have become great friends, and fellow new dads! But back in 2021, we explored:Why burnout isn’t just a personal failure, it’s a cultural signalHow toxic leadership breeds disengagement and distressWhat hopeful, human-centric workplaces could look likeThis is one of those episodes I keep coming back to and I’m thrilled to bring it back for you here.