Everyday Better with Leah Smart

We’re dedicating Black History Month to Black voices who inspire excellence in all of us. You're going to hear honest stories and guidance from four women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence.This is our final episode of our four-part series. Dr. Mariel Buqué is a trauma psychologist and author of the book "Break the Cycle." With over a decade of experience in the field, Dr. Buqué specializes in healing intergenerational trauma and helping people rewrite their narratives. She is dedicated to making trauma healing accessible to all and empowering individuals to create positive change in their lives. Dr. Buqué joins Leah Smart to discuss the impact of trauma and how it is passed down through generations. She explains that trauma is not limited to major events but can also result from everyday traumatic experiences. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and acknowledging trauma in order to begin the healing process, and also provides practical tools and practices for healing, which can help regulate the nervous system and promote better stress responses Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Mariel Buqué on LinkedIn Learn More on Break The Cycle

February is Black History Month so we’re dedicating it to Black voices who inspire excellence. In this four-part series, you'll hear women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence. This week Hello Monday’s Jessi Hempel hosts Everyday Better podcast host Leah Smart, to reflect on her career journey and the roadblocks she has overcome to reach her current position at LinkedIn. She shares her experiences of navigating through different roles, making difficult decisions, and trusting her gut instincts. Leah discusses the importance of finding purpose in work, managing anxiety, and embracing personal growth. She also highlights the power of synchronicity and the role it has played in her career. Through her story, Leah encourages listeners to trust themselves, be open to new opportunities, and set conditions for personal and professional success. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn

February is Black History Month. We're dedicating it to Black voices who inspire excellence. In this four-part series, you're going to hear honest stories and guidance from four women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence. This week Leah Smart sits down to talk with beloved Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin about trusting that everything that’s for you will come exactly when it’s supposed to, how to keep showing up when life doesn’t go your way, and the internal “drumbeat” we can all follow. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Tunde Oyeneyin on Instagram

February is Black History Month. We're dedicating it to Black voices who inspire excellence. In this four-part series, you're going to hear honest stories and guidance from four women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence. The series kicks off with Jenee Desmond-Harris, the current Prudie and writer behind Slate's beloved Dear Prudence advice column. She joins Leah Smart to share her story and insights on the importance of self-discovery, navigating obstacles, and the significance of taking risks. From her initial doubts about her role to becoming a prominent advice columnist, Jenee's journey exemplifies the power of surrounding oneself with the right people and making choices aligned with personal fulfillment, defining your desires and pursuing your passions. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Jenee Desmond-Harris

This is the final episode of our series, “The Better Blueprint for Your 2024,” focused on spiritual health. Dr. Deepak Chopra, a pioneer in blending Eastern wisdom with Western medicine, joins Leah Smart to talk about his 94th book, 'The Quantum Body: The New Science of Living a Longer, Healthier, More Vital Life.' In it, Dr. Chopra, along with physicist Jack Tuszynski and endocrinologist Brian Furtig, explores the world of quantum science and its potential to transform well-being, potentially eradicating disease and helping us live healthier for longer. In this conversation, Dr. Chopra shares innovative research and prescriptive exercises aimed at enhancing our understanding of how to improve spiritual well-being. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Deepak Chopra on LinkedIn

John and Julie Gottman are top relationship researchers, psychologists, and the power couple behind the new book, “Fight Right." They joined Leah Smart to share eye-opening perspectives on conflict management and resolution. We’re all familiar with those tense moments at home or office disagreements. The Gottmans reveal that these aren't just hurdles to overcome; they're valuable opportunities to strengthen bonds with family, colleagues, and even yourself. The Gottmans highlight the transformative power of the simple shift from criticizing to making complaints, give their take on and reveal the three styles of handling conflict that can change your perspective on disagreements. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow The Gottman Institute on LinkedIn Listen to the previous conversation with The Gottmans

Ali Abdaal is an author and one of the world's most followed productivity experts. He is known for his YouTube channel, where he shares research-backed content on productivity, study techniques, and personal development. His book, "Feel Good Productivity," explores how to do more of what matters to you. Ali explains the three main blockers to productivity: uncertainty, fear, and inertia, and provides practical strategies for overcoming them, including removing judgment and thinking of ourselves as a system. Ultimately, Ali emphasizes the importance of finding joy in the process of work to make it sustainable for long-term success. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Ali Abdaal on LinkedIn Read more about Feel Good Productivity

Annie Grace is the author of "This Naked Mind" and an educator on changing your relationship with alcohol, and offers a unique approach to understanding and transforming our subconscious beliefs and habits. Annie joins Leah Smart to discuss the concept of liminal thinking and how it can be applied to change our relationship with any behavior we want to transform. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity and self-compassion in this process. By examining our beliefs and experimenting with new behaviors, we can make informed choices that align with our well-being goals. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Annie Grace on LinkedIn Read more about "This Naked Mind"

This is the first episode of our four-part series, The Better Blueprint for Your 2024, focused on training your mind by building stronger internal resources. Dr. Michael Gervais is a high-performance psychologist who has worked with top athletes, sports teams, Olympians, and executives and is the author of Finding Mastery. He joins Leah Smart to unravel the concept of FOPO (Fear of Other People's Opinions), teaching practical strategies to stop worrying about external judgments. Michael shares the principles of high performance and shows listeners how to define a personal philosophy they can live by every day. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Micheal Gervais on LinkedIn Read more about The Fist Rule of Mastery

Daron K. Roberts is a former NFL & college coach and the founding director of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation at the University of Texas. In this conversation Leah and Daron talk about the abundant opportunity in the emerging creator economy and embracing discomfort as a professional growth tactic. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Daron K. Roberts on Linkedin

The Danish prepare for their cold, dark winters by leaning into hygge, which loosely translates to “coziness.” To understand how hygge and happiness are linked, Leah sits down with Meik Wiking, founder and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen – and author of the books The Little Book of Hygge and the new My Hygge Home. They dive into the art of hygge and how connection – and simple pleasures – are key to happiness. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Meik Wiking on LinkedIn

Almost everyone has experienced burnout in the past few years – and if you didn’t personally, you probably know someone who did. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that results and hyperproductivity define our value. But what if resting is actually the key to maintaining an ambitious life? Author Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith joins Leah to dig in to the 7 (yes, 7!) different types of rest, and why we need to reframe how we think about taking a break and taking care of ourselves. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Saundra on LinkedIn

Ron Shaich is the former CEO of Panera Bread, Au Bon Pain, and recently author of the book "Know What Matters: Lessons from a Lifetime of Transformations," which combines his personal philosophies with professional guidance from his years of work and prioritizing what has meant the most to him. Ron joins Leah Smart to introduce the concept of a "pre-mortem," which involves defining what matters most to us and how to get there. Ron emphasizes the importance of being rigid in our vision but flexible in our execution. He breaks down the pre-mortem into four areas of life to focus on and shares personal stories and insights on how to create a meaningful life and a successful business. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Ron Shaich on LinkedIn

Dr. Wendy Suzuki, dean at New York University, neuroscientist and professor of neural science and psychology returns to talk about everyday anxiety as it relates to social experiences. She emphasizes the importance of putting in effort to build social connections despite your nerves and offers tips for overcoming everyday social anxiety from her book “Good Anxiety.” Instead of fearing imperfections and awkward moments in social interactions, Dr. Suzuki encourages us to expect them.Ultimately, she says anxiety is a tool for learning and growth that helps us appreciate the contrast between negative and positive experiences. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Wendy Suzuki on LinkedIn Read more about Good Anxiety

Shasta Nelson, an expert on friendship and healthy relationships and Author of Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness, sits down with Leah Smart to dive into the three components every relationship needs to be healthy and how to nurture connections that truly last. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Shasta on LinkedIn

Sara Kuburic aka “The Millennial Therapist” and author of the book 'It's On Me', joins Leah Smart to discuss the experience of navigating from self-loss to self-discovery. Sara reflects on the shared human experience of living non-linear paths filled with surprises and discoveries. As someone whose self-loss was instigated by living through the trauma of multiple wars, she emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for our own lives. Sara gives practical insights and tools for making genuine choices and finding meaning along the way. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Sara Kuburic on LinkedIn Learn more about “It’s On Me” here

Paco de Leon is the founder of the Hell Yeah Group and the author of "Finance for the People." With a background in finance and personal financial planning, Paco is on a mission to help people improve their relationship with money and find their own power. Paco joins Leah Smart to discuss how to make progress with money, and why we need to confront our own beliefs and behaviors around it. She emphasizes that knowledge alone is not enough and that we must challenge our limiting beliefs and recognize our own power. Follow Leah Smart on LinkendIn Follow Paco de Leon on LinkedIn Learn more about the Hell Yeah Group

April Rinne is a futurist, author, and change navigator. She is a world economic correspondent, a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, and was ranked one of the top 50 leading female futurists in the world by Forbes. April helps individuals and organizations navigate change and uncertainty, and she is the author of the book "Flux." April joins Leah Smart live from Linkedin’s Talent Connect to discuss how to navigate uncertainty and live with more ease. She shares how her personal story of loss, and love for language and culture shaped her work in helping others handle the unknown. April encourages us to see ourselves and the world differently by embracing uncertainty and choosing optimism. Follow Leah Smart on Linkedin Follow April Rinne on LinkedIn Learn more about April Rinne Get April's Book "Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change."

Ellen Langer is a renowned Harvard professor and psychologist who has been studying mindfulness for over 40 years. She is the first woman to be tenured in psychology at Harvard and has conducted extensive research in her lab. She is also known as the “The Mother of Positive Psychology.” Langer is the author of numerous books, including her recent work, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health. Langer joins Leah Smart to discuss the power of mindfulness in improving our health and well-being. By being mindful, we can enliven our brains, improve our physical health, and live longer. Langer's research has shown that simply noticing and being present can reverse signs of aging, enhance healing, and improve our overall well-being. She encourages us to embrace uncertainty, as it opens us up to new and interesting possibilities. Langer believes that our ills can be cured by practicing mindfulness and recognizing that everything is constantly changing. Follow Leah Smart on Linkedin Learn more about Ellen Langer

Kat Cole, President and COO of Athletic Greens, joins Leah Smart to share her personal journey and insights on how she has navigated major decisions in her life. She emphasizes the importance of following your intuition while staying honest and optimistic. She also talks about the significance of tough moments in relationships and how they can strengthen the bond. Kat encourages regular check-ins and open communication to maintain a strong partnership. Follow Leah Smart on Linkedin Follow Kat Cole on Linkedin

Nedra Tawwab, New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace, and relationship therapist joins Leah Smart to talk about why boundary expectations and needs help you feel safe and comfortable in your relationship. Nedra’s philosophy is that a lack of boundaries and assertiveness underlies most relationship issues. You'll hear how freedom is on the other side of healthy boundaries, what might be stopping you from setting them, and the practical steps to doing so in all of your relationships. Follow Leah Smart on Linkedin Follow Nedra Tawwab on Instagram

Step into the world of neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki, the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at NYU and author of Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion. She sits down with Leah Smart to help us understand the impact of what she calls, everyday anxiety, on our lives. Dr. Suzuki emphasizes that we can leverage this often misunderstood emotion to our advantage with practical tools. Her emphasis on the evolutionary purpose of anxiety will clarify how it actually guides you to see what you truly value. Follow Leah Smart on Linkedin Follow Dr. Wendy Suzuki on Linkedin Read more about Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion.

Bobby Berk, design guru from 'Queer Eye' and author of 'Right at Home: How Good Design is Good for the Mind,' sits down with Leah Smart to explore the intricate relationship between home design and well-being. In this enlightening conversation, they delve into the must-haves for more functional living spaces, the art of embedding joy into your home, and why your living environment acts as an emotional barometer for your overall wellness. Discover how to curate spaces that fuel positivity and foster support. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Bobby Berk on LinkedIn Bobby Berk’s new book Right at Home: How Good Design Is Good for the Mind is available at bobbyberk.com/book/.

Everyday Better is your essential podcast for leveling up in personal development, life, and career success. Hosted by Leah Smart, an educator in self-improvement and positive psychology, this podcast offers transformative conversations with influential experts, real-life success stories, actionable insights, and research-backed tips. Elevate your mindset, gain clarity, and unlock your potential as you journey toward becoming 'Everyday Better.' Whether you're at a crossroads or simply seeking more daily clarity, every episode leaves you inspired, empowered, and ready for more. Find new episodes of Everyday Better, right here, every Tuesday. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn

This week, Leah sits down with Amy Chan, author of Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Heart and creator of the first weekend retreat for working through heartbreak. They dig into why we get our hearts broken, and the science behind cultivating a healthier relationship with our circumstances, ourselves and other people. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Amy Chan on LinkedIn

Leah Smart talks to Tim Tamashiro, author of “How to Ikigai” about finding your purpose. As an ongoing student and teacher, Tim shares the tools to find your ikigai, where most people get stuck, and how we tend to go wrong with purpose. Follow Leah on Linkedin Follow Tim on Linkedin Attend Tim Tamashiro's Class on Skill Share

World-renowned teacher and student in the field of happiness studies, Tal Ben-Shahar, taught the largest course at Harvard on "Positive Psychology", and authored Happier, No Matter What: Cultivating Hope, Resilience, and Purpose in Hard Times. He joins Leah Smart to examine how we can stay motivated, what to know about growing after trauma, and how his SPIRE method can help us achieve happiness in our day to day life. Follow Leah on Linkedin Follow Tal Ben-Shahar on Linkedin

Alexandra Cole, Human Design Coach, Author, and Co-Founder of Purpose Generation, joins Leah Smart to unravel the intricacies of human design types and their impact on our lives. Cole, known for her in-depth understanding of this system, guides listeners through the fundamental concepts of human design, shedding light on how it can provide valuable insights into our personalities, relationships, and lives. Follow Leah Smart on Linkedin Follow Alexandra Cole on Linkedin Book a Human Design session with Alexandra

Anya Von Bremzen, triple James Beard Award winner, renowned food writer, and author of the latest book National Dish, joins Leah Smart to explore the intersection of food, culture, and identity. They delve into her research and personal experiences that remind us of the power of food to evoke emotions, challenge our assumptions, and build bridges between cultures; by embracing the complexities of food and identity, we can foster a more inclusive and understanding world. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Anya Von Bremzen on Instagram Read more about National Dish

Katherine May, internationally bestselling author of Wintering and Enchantment, joins Leah Smart to talk about awakening wonder, rediscovering joy and experiencing awe in our everyday lives. Katherine emphasizes that enchantment can be found when we reconnect with our childhood fascinations and let ourselves be drawn to what restores us. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Katherine May on Instagram

Tammy Lung, ASMR expert, and founder of Tingles Bar joins Leah Smart to discuss the health benefits of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). They dive into the feelings of relaxation brought on by different experiences, such as visual, auditory, or tactile triggers, and how physical touch can make you feel better day to day. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Tammy Lung on LinkedIn

Sara Auster, world-renowned sound therapist, meditation teacher and author, leads us in a sound bath experience to deepen the connection between sound, mind and the body. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Sara on Instagram

Sara Auster, world-renowned sound therapist, meditation teacher and author, joins Leah Smart to share her journey into the world of sound healing and the transformative power of sound baths. They discuss the connection between sound, mind and the body, the role of stillness and slowness in a fast-paced world, and why sound baths enhance well-being and deepen your connection to yourself, and the world around you. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Sara on Instagram

Francine Shore, Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor, co-founder and Creative Director of NYCs first Laughter Club promoting health and wellness, joins Leah Smart to discuss how laughter can be a healing tool, especially during challenging times. They dive into the health benefits of laughter yoga and how through laughter, we can find connection, joy, and a way to cope with trauma. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Francine on LinkedIn

Dr. Rachel Herz, neuroscientist and a world-leading expert on the psychological science of smell, joins Leah Smart to discuss the importance of our sense of smell, and its impact on our identity, relationships, and emotions. They explore the connection between smell and memory and how consciously engaging with it can enhance our overall well-being and quality of life. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Rachel on LinkedIn

Mike Evans couldn’t have predicted his success: he founded Grubhub because he wanted a snack and to pay off his student loans, and stayed with the company through a wildly successful IPO. But it’s what he’s done since that’s differentiated him from other startup founders: first, leaving Grubhub to take a transcontinental bike trip, and also his new company, Fixer, which aims to do social good even as it turns a profit. Leah and Mike get into all of that - and the story told in Mike’s new memoir, Hangry: A Startup Journey - in this rousing conversation in the arena. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Mike on LinkedIn

Leah Smart guides you through a meditation practice meant to help you tap into radical empathy. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn

Jennifer Ackerman, award-winning science writer and New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds and What an Owl Knows joins Leah Smart to talk about why finding solace in nature can help us reset, reduce stress, and they explore ways we can incorporate nature into our day-to-day lives. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Jennifer on Instagram

Shasta Nelson, an expert on friendship and healthy relationships and Author of Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness, sits down with Leah Smart to dive into the three components every relationship needs to be healthy and how to nurture connections that truly last. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Shasta on LinkedIn

Rainn Wilson is most known for his role in The Office as Dwight Schrute, but away from the screen, he’s the co-founder of SoulPancake and the recent author of Soul Boom. Today he joins Leah Smart to share his mission to explore the possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution, a “Soul Boom,” to find a healing transformation on both a personal and global level. Rainn emphasizes the importance of connecting to yourself, each other, and something greater than us. Follow Leah Smart on Linkedin Learn more about Rainn Wilson and Soul Boom Learn more about SoulPancake

Madeleine Dore, author of I Didn’t Do The Thing Today, joins Leah Smart to help us broaden our definitions of a day well spent. They dive into ways we can drop our “shoulds” by analyzing, interpreting, and defining borrowed wants and expired wants to reveal our real wants. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Madeline Dore on Instagram

Catherine Price, award-winning science journalist Author of The Power of Fun and How to Break Up With Your Phone joins Leah Smart to talk about how her work can take you from mindless scrolling to being more intentional with your time. She’s now introducing the often elusive qualities of fun, so we can incorporate it into our work and everyday activities. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Catherine on LinkedIn Learn More About Catherine Price Learn More About Screen / Life Balance

Deborah Rozman, Founding Executive Director of HeartMath Institute joins Leah Smart to talk about the importance of harnessing your heart power, and how your heart sends signals and information to your brain, influencing what you do. Deborah’s here to teach us the tools to get in tune with our heart's intelligence and how to be more practically intuitive in our day-to-day life. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Deborah on Linkedin Learn more about HeartMath Institute

Financial Educator and New York Times Best Selling Author of Get Good with Money, Tiffany Aliche joins Leah Smart to talk about how to repair your relationship with money, why letting go of financial shame can be healing, and why learning your core values can help you better choose how to intentionally use it. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Tiffany on LinkedIn Learn more on The Budgetnista

In the chaos of everyday life, we sometimes forget to stop and take stock of how we’re doing in all facets of our life. Listen in to a real coaching session, as Leah uses the Wheel of Life to help producer Michele O’Brien get clarity on how and where to make a change. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow In The Arena on LinkedIn

This week, Pulitzer Prize winning science writer and Author of An Immense World, Ed Yong, brings the experiences of other animals to life by showing how their senses differ from ours and guide them through the world. In this conversation, he challenges us to build more reverence for all the living beings on this planet by going beyond our own perceptions and immersing ourselves in the richness of life through their eyes. Follow Leah on Linkedin Learn More about Ed Yong

Michelle Thaller, Astronomer, Research Scientist, and Assistant Director for Science Communication at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, joins Leah Smart to talk about science and spirituality, how you are a bit of the universe made conscious briefly, and why being grateful and in awe is the key to everyday life. Follow Leah on Linkedin Learn More about Michelle Thaller

Cheryl Strayed, the bestselling author of Wild, Tiny Beautiful Things and host of the Dear Sugars podcast, joins Leah Smart to open up about how vulnerability allows us to tap into universal themes and emotions, how it has played a crucial role in her writing journey, and why it’s powerful to embrace your vulnerability and tell your story with courage and authenticity. Follow Leah on Linkedin Follow Cheryl Strayed on Instagram

World-renowned teacher and student in the field of happiness studies, Tal Ben-Shahar, taught the largest course at Harvard on "Positive Psychology", and authored Happier, No Matter What: Cultivating Hope, Resilience, and Purpose in Hard Times. He joins Leah Smart to examine how we can stay motivated, what to know about growing after trauma, and how his SPIRE method can help us achieve happiness in our day to day life. Follow Leah on Linkedin Follow Tal Ben-Shahar on Linkedin

Leah Smart sits down with Yung Pueblo—author, meditator, and one of social media’s leading voices on the topics of healthy relationships and knowing ourselves. They discuss his new book Lighter, and explore self-awareness practices that can help us experience the world around us in crisp and vibrant ways. Follow Leah on Linkedin Follow Yung Pueblo on Linkedin