Flourish FM: a podcast for the good life

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Flourish FM: a podcast for the good life

Conversations to help you flourish 🎧 What does it take to flourish?

We started Flourish FM to share cutting edge research from world experts on how to thrive, so you can take away big ideas and practical steps to enhance your life and the lives of others, and make the world a better place. We’re your hosts, Dr Jon Beale and Dr Nick Holton, and in collaboration with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, we bring you FlourishFM: a podcast on how to live a good life.

19/11/2025

Did you catch our newest episode with Dr. Joanna Moncrieff yet?

Dr. Moncrieff is a professor of critical and social psychiatry at University College London and a consultant psychiatrist for the NHS and this episode dives deep into the complexities of mental health, particularly focusing on the myths surrounding psychiatric drugs and the nature of depression and how we might think and respond to it a bit differently.

Here's a few of the key takeaways from the guy's sit down with Joanna...

🔐 Rethinking Depression: Dr. Moncrief challenges the conventional view that depression is solely a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. Instead, she emphasizes that emotional states like depression are reactions to our life circumstances. Understanding emotions as signals for change can empower individuals to address the root causes of their feelings rather than relying solely on medication.

🔐 The Role of Suffering in Flourishing: We discussed how experiencing and recovering from difficult life events can contribute to personal growth and resilience. Dr. Moncrief cautions against the over-prescription of antidepressants, which can numb emotional sensitivity and hinder the learning process that comes from navigating life's challenges.

🔐 Finding Purpose: One of the most profound insights from Dr. Moncrief is the significance of purpose in our lives. She highlights that a lack of purpose can lead to feelings of sadness and despair. In our fast-paced, often secular society, it’s crucial to seek out what gives our lives meaning, whether that’s through helping others, pursuing personal goals, or engaging in activities that resonate with our values.

Catch the rest of Joanna's insights by listening to the full conversation.

Available anywhere you get your favorite podcasts.

19/11/2025

Our newest episode of Flourish FM is out!

In this episode Jon and Nick welcome Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, a professor of critical and social psychiatry at College London and a consultant psychiatrist for the NHS. Dr. Moncrieff shares her insights on the history and philosophy of psychiatry as well as what she believes the research on reveals. She discusses her latest book, "Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth," and reflects on the complexities of our relationship with unpleasant emotions, our environment and our mental health.

Joanna and the guys explore the potential for understanding these issues beyond pharmaceuticals, emphasizing practical approaches to flourishing and mental well-being.

Tune in for a deep conversation that challenges conventional views on depression and languishing.

Now available wherever you get your podcasts.

.nickholton

17/11/2025

New episode week!

We're releasing our 80th episode tomorrow and are excited to share Nick and Jon's sit down with Dr. Joanna Moncrieff. They dug into experiences on other end of the flourishing spectrum, such as .

Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, M.D., is Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London, and a consultant psychiatrist for the NHS in London. She studies the effects, action, use and representation of psychiatric drugs, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, and has also written about the history and philosophy of psychiatry.

Joanna has published several books, the most recent of which is Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth (2025). Her previous books include The Myth of the Chemical Cure, The Bitterest Pills and A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs.

Joanna has written for The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Conversation, Literary Review, was profiled in The Spectator and has been interviewed for Channel 4’s Ways to Change the World Podcast, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s Feel Better, Live More podcast, The Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast and the Evening Standard’s Tech and Science Daily, among others.

Catch Flourish FM's 80th episode tomorrow, wherever you get your podcasts.

11/11/2025

In our latest newsletter, we discuss recent fascinating episodes on the science of happiness, psychological richness and immersive experiences, with recent expert guests Dr. Laurie Santos, Dr. Judith Joseph MD, Dr. Paul J. Zak and Dr. Shigehiro Oishi 📰

Our forthcoming guests include world-leading happiness expert Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, and psychiatrist and leading figure in the "critical psychiatry" movement, Dr. Joanna Moncrieff 🎙️

Read & subscribe: https://flourishfmpodcast.com/so/68Pfnu3k6?languageTag=en

04/11/2025

Out today! Flourish FM's newest episode on the science of with Dr. Laurie Santos!

Dr. Santos covered a range of topics during her sit down with Nick and Jon, but here are just a few of the highlights and insights:

🔐 Understanding Happiness: A Dual Perspective

Dr. Santos emphasizes that happiness can be understood through two lenses: being happy in your life (the emotional aspect) and being happy with your life (the cognitive aspect). The emotional aspect relates to the balance of positive and negative feelings we experience daily, while the cognitive aspect involves our overall life satisfaction and sense of purpose. This dual perspective is crucial because it reminds us that happiness isn't just about feeling good in the moment; it's also about how we perceive our lives as a whole.

🔐 The Misconceptions of Happiness

One of the most enlightening parts of our conversation was discussing common misconceptions about happiness. Many people believe that happiness is solely determined by external circumstances, such as wealth or success. However, Dr. Santos points out that while circumstances do play a role, they are not the primary drivers of happiness for most people. Instead, our mindset and behaviors significantly influence our happiness levels. This insight encourages us to focus on what we can control, our actions and thoughts, rather than getting caught up in the pursuit of material possessions or societal expectations.

🔐 The Importance of Connection and Purpose

Throughout the episode, Dr. Santos highlights the importance of social connections and finding meaning in our lives. Engaging with others and contributing to the well-being of those around us can lead to greater happiness. In a world where many young adults are feeling increasingly isolated and anxious, fostering relationships and seeking out purposeful activities can be powerful antidotes to unhappiness.

You can dive deeper into these insights from Dr. Santos and learn a lot more about the science of happiness by checking out the full conversation.

Available today, wherever you get your podcasts.

03/11/2025

This one took persistence due to the (deserved) popularity and demand of this week's guest, but it we had to make it happen. No self-respecting podcast about the good life could be complete without at least one deep dive into the science of happiness with the wonderful, brilliant, and generous

In the end, it was MORE than worth the wait and effort to be able to sit down with Laurie to chat about , and a whole lot more. We can't wait to share the conversation with you tomorrow!

Dr. Laurie Santos is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and one of the world’s leading experts on the science of happiness. She is also an expert on the evolutionary origins of human cognition and the ways our minds lie to us about what makes us happy.

Laurie’s course at Yale, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students how the science of psychology can help us make wiser choices and live a happier and more fulfilling life. It’s the most popular class ever taught at Yale, with almost one out of four students enrolled. It has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, [and] NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, GQ Magazine and Slate. The publicly available online version of the class, called “The Science of Well-Being,” has attracted more than 4 million learners worldwide.

Laurie has won numerous awards, both for her science and teaching. She was recently voted one of Popular Science Magazine’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named in Time Magazine as a “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, is a top-3 Apple podcast which has attracted over 100 million downloads.

Catch the conversation with Laurie tomorrow, wherever you get your podcasts.

21/10/2025

What if we, or someone we care about is languishing, but doesn't show the usual signs?

In this week's episode of Flourish FM: a podcast for the good life, Jon and Nick sit down with to explore one of the most prevalent examples of this type hidden languishing - what she calls "high functioning depression".

Dr. Judith Joseph MD, MBA is a world-renowned, board-certified psychiatrist and researcher specializing in mental health and trauma. She is the founder and chief investigator at New York City’s premier clinical research base, Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York University, and chair of the Women in Medicine Board at Columbia University.

Judith conducted the world’s first peer-reviewed clinical research study on high functioning depression in her laboratories. She recently published her instant national bestselling book based on her findings from this study, “High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy” (2025). She has become the world’s leading voice on high functioning depression.

Judith received a 2023 Congressional Proclamation from the US house of representatives for her social media advocacy and research in mental health. She has received several awards, including Share Care Awards in 2020 and 2023 for her MedCircle series on PTSD and a Good Morning America investigative special on ADHD. In 2025, Judith was featured as a Mental Health Thought Leader on CNN’s Game Changers series.

Judith has written for or been quoted in media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post and Forbes, and has been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Oprah Daily and more.

Catch the guys' conversation with Judith tomorrow, wherever you get your podcasts.

07/10/2025

It's new episode week and we've got a long awaited guest for you on this one.

Jon and Nick sat down with Dr. Shigehiro Oishi from University of Chicago to talk about and its relationship to happiness, meaning, and of course, flourishing.

What followed was one of the most interesting and practical conversations the show has had, so we're excited to share it with you tomorrow.

Shigehiro Oishi, Ph.D., is the Marshall Field IV Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, and a leader in the study of happiness, psychological well-being, the experience of a meaningful life and cultural psychology. He has published over 200 journal articles and book chapters with over 100,000 citations. He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and won the 2017 Society of Experimental Social Psychology Career Trajectory Award, the 2018 Carol and Ed Diener Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and the 2021 Outstanding Achievement Award for Advancing Cultural Psychology.

Shigehiro’s research focuses on culture, social ecology, and well-being. His most recent book is Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life (Penguin Random House, 2025). His research lab is particularly interested in investigating questions about the concept of well-being, such as “What is a good life?”, the predictors of well-being, such as “What are the predictors of a good life?”, and the consequences of well-being, such as “Are there benefits to a happy/meaningful/psychologically rich life?”. He is also interested in how the concepts, predictors, and consequences of well-being might differ across cultures.

Shigehiro’s research also explores socio-ecological conditions that are detrimental or conducive to well-being, such as income inequality, residential mobility, and walkability. Currently, he is focusing on the effects of economic inequality and residential mobility on the well-being of individuals and communities.

24/09/2025

What a conversation we've got for you this week!

In the newest episode of Flourish FM: a podcast for the good life, Nick and Jon had the opportunity to sit down with one of the world's most highly cited scientists, Dr. Paul J. Zak, to chat about two massive predictors of well-being:

1. Immersive experiences.
2. High quality relationships

Paul J. Zak is a professor at Claremont Graduate University, where he directs the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies. He is ranked in the top 0.3% of the world’s most cited scientists, with over 200 published papers and more than 20,000 citations to his research. Paul’s two decades of research have taken him from the Pentagon to Fortune 50 boardrooms to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. Along the way he helped start a number of interdisciplinary fields including neuroeconomics, neuromanagement, and neuromarketing.

Paul has written four general audience books and is a regular TED speaker. His latest book, The Little Book of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Living Better (2025) aims to show people how to live a longer, happier and healthier life by investing in improved relationships. Zak’s other books are Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and Source of Happiness (2022), Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High Performance Companies (2017) and The Moral Molecule: The Source of Love and Prosperity (2012).

Trust Factor applies neuroscience to efficiently build high-performance organizations by creating a culture of trust. The Moral Molecule received much attention for Zak’s discovery of the key role played by the neurochemical oxytocin to explain virtuous behaviors and happiness. Zak delivered a TED Talk titled “Trust, Morality—and Oxytocin?” in 2011 that has been viewed two million times. He also co-founded the first neuroscience-as-a-service (NaaS) company, Immersion Neuroscience.

Dropping tomorrow, wherever you get your podcasts.

24/09/2025

Did you catch this week's episode with Dr. Paul Zak, yet? It's packed with great, science-backed insights on relationships, trust, high-value moments and, of course, flourishing.

Here's just a few of the gems Paul dropped in .nickholton and 's sit down with him.

Catch the rest wherever you get your podcasts.

23/09/2025

Our latest newsletter, focusing on AI and flourishing, based on our most recent episode, in which we discussed this topic with AI expert Dr. Michael Mannino 🎙️

Also includes info on our next episode, out today on all podcast channels: how immersive experiences lead to flourishing, with one of the world's most cited scientists, Dr. Paul J. Zak 🎧

Newsletter link: https://flourishfmpodcast.com/so/5cPauv5BR?languageTag=en&cid=846abe04-d39f-4cd2-a6ee-c73253d7759c

Episode: https://flourishfmpodcast.com/michaelmannino

Enjoy!

04/09/2025

The most recent episode of Flourish FM is out and its packed with insights on the potential impact of artificialintelligence on human flourishing, courtesy if this week's guest, Michael Mannino, MA, PhD

We're sharing of a few of the highlights, but you catch the rest of Michael's thoughts and expertise in the full episode.

Available wherever you get your podcasts.

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