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Living From Happiness

The Happiness Doc, Dr. Melanie Harth, and guests share thought-provoking convos every week on Living From Happiness. From mindfulness and neuroscience to positive psychology and creativity, the show's all about living well in transformational times.
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Now displaying: 2020
Jun 9, 2020

Dr. Wendy Johnson is the guest in this fasten-your-seat-belt episode. She's an M.D., with a Master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins. She's worked on health projects in Mozambique, Vietnam, the Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Haiti, and several South American countries.

Currently, Wendy Johnson is the medical director for La Familia Medical Center in Santa Fe.

Wendy's story helps illustrate the beauties and challenges of change at the public health level. Did you know that the community health center movement grew out of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, emerging out of South Africa? Melanie didn't. But Wendy does.

She and Melanie talk about the social determinants of health, that people can't be healthy when ecosystems aren't well, and what sort of mindset change is needed to shift our thinking.

The place of happiness in such times as these is also discussed, along with the power of creative exploration and creative processing.

Wendy's got a big mind, with an incredible richness of international experience in public and community health. It's a rich show, as a result.

La Familia Medical Center website here

Melanie Harth website here

Jun 2, 2020

Popular guest Doug Lynam continues to offer terrific ideas and creative solutions about dealing with our money in challenging times.

Doug is an investment advisor, financial expert, and author of the book From Monk to Money Manager. He and Melanie talked about a recent New York Times article about financial anxiety.

Other topics include catastrophic thinking, personal financial opportunities in the pandemic, connections between money and happiness, and the "Holy Trinity of Financing".

As always when Doug's the guest, it's a fun, fast-paced, and informative episode.

Doug Lynam website here

Melanie Harth website here

New York Times article on financial anxiety here

May 26, 2020

Dr. Jose Luis Stevens has been teaching shamanism for many years. He holds a doctorate in counseling psychology, is a licensed clinical social worker, and the author of several books.

Jose shares teachings from indigenous traditions that can be helpful in challenging times. Ancient ideas about controlling one's minds and thoughts, and the importance of balance and creativity and flow are just part of this episode.

Earlier episodes with Jose can be downloaded from the podcast list.

Jose Stevens' website here

The Power Path Facebook page here

Melanie Harth website here

Melanie's Facebook page here

May 19, 2020
Dr. Katherine Ortega Courtney is back, this time with Dominic Cappello, co-directors of the Anna Age Eight Institute.

Both guests are long-time advocates for childhood safety and health, working within the system. They’re very much about data-driven solutions for such things as childhood trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and building strong resilient communities.

Katherine and Dominic have co-authored two books, Anna Age Eight, and 100% Community: Ensuring 10 Vital Services for Surviving and Thriving.
 
100 Community is more than a book, however. It’s a book, a course, an initiative, and a movement. 
 
Issues discussed include:

~~ What are the “surviving services”?

medical care, behavioral health care, safe housing, secure food and transport to vital services

~~ What about the “thriving services”?

parent supports, early childhood learning programs, community schools, youth mentors and job training

Recorded early in the Covid-19 pandemic, in this episode we also talk about vulnerability and hope, and the ways in which we might use this time as a collective re-set button.

What are our priorities? What matters the most? Who matters?
 
 
 
May 12, 2020

Dr. JoAnne Dodgson returns for another thoughtful discussion ranging from the need for safe spaces and safe people, to what happens when we hold onto all of our emotions.

JoAnne earned a doctorate in Counseling Psychology and Holistic Health. She's also a published author, college instructor, community activist, and an initiate into the Eastern Andes shamanic lineage of Ka-Ta-See.

The shamanic lineage of Ka-Ta-See has much for us to learn, including our interconnectedness, and remembering the beauty of who we really are.

This episode builds on previous ones with JoAnne, which can be found in the Podcast listings.

watch the video of the show here

JoAnne Dodgson's website is here

Melanie Harth's website is here

 

Apr 28, 2020

The wonderful JoAnne Dodgson is today's guest. JoAnne earned a doctorate in Counseling Psychology and Holistic Health, and is a published author, college instructor, community activist, and an initiate into the Eastern Andes shamanic lineage of Ka-Ta-See.

In this episode, JoAnne and Melanie talk about:

  • the Ka-Ta-See shamanic lineage and,
  • how it might help us cope as the world turns upside down;
  • the gifts of eldering;
  • the sacred act of letting go;
  • what might be opening up for us as humanity faces this transformative moment.

JoAnne Dodgson website here

Melanie Harth website here

Apr 21, 2020

How to ...

  • make basic financial decisions,
  • keep your head above water,
  • invest in a highly unstable stock market, and
  • understand PTSD triggers in a pandemic,
  • collective and individual trauma, the psychology and spirituality of surviving a crazy world ...

 ... yep, we cover a lot of ground.

Doug Lynam, financial advisor, national media financial expert, and author of From Monk to Money Manager: A Former Monk's Financial Guide to Becoming a Little Bit Wealthy -- and Why That's Okay, turns the table on Melanie and asks her some questions in this episode.

How to deal when the world has turned upside down? Good question. Check out all the episodes in this series for some answers. And listen for the monthly updates from Doug on Living From Happiness, No Matter What!

Doug Lynam website here

Doug Lynam Facebook page here

Melanie Harth website / free guided meditation here

Melanie Harth Facebook page here

Apr 14, 2020

Money guy, Doug Lynam, returns for this thought-provoking series created to address a few of the unprecedented financial, psychological and spiritual issues that are showing up because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Doug, author of From Monk to Money Manager: A Former Monk's Financial Guide to Becoming a Little Bit Wealthy -- and Why That's Okay, riffs on how to survive a dark night of the soul.

Melanie offers her take on how to stop "fighting the facts" as one tool to use in coping with those inevitable dark times that most people experience ... especially when the world has turned upside down.

Doug Lynam website here

Doug Lynam Facebook page here

Melanie Harth website / free guided meditation here

Melanie Harth Facebook page here

Apr 6, 2020

This exciting new four-part series is devoted to understanding some of the psychological, spiritual and financial aspects of living in a global pandemic.

Doug is a money manager, former Benedictine monk, national media financial expert, and author of From Monk to Money Manager: A Former Monk’s Financial Guide to Becoming a Little Bit Wealthy — and Why That’s Ok.

The second episode starts with Melanie sharing some of her personal issues with asking for help, how a contemplative spiritual practice can help us get through a dark night of the soul, and so much.

Watch the video of the show here, on Doug's Facebook page.

Doug Lynam's website here

Melanie Harth's website here

Mar 30, 2020

Doug Lynam and Melanie go deep in this four-part series devoted to understanding some of the psychological, spiritual and financial aspects of living in a global pandemic.

Doug is a money manager, former Benedictine monk, national media financial expert, and author of From Monk to Money Manager: A Former Monk’s Financial Guide to Becoming a Little Bit Wealthy — and Why That’s Okay.

Melanie and Doug riff on the physiology and psychology of trauma, with some surprising, and very personal sharing from both of them. And much (much) more.

note: please excuse the at-times funky audio as we figure out how to stay safe and keep the show's coming to you

Watch the video of the show here, on Doug's Facebook page.

Doug Lynam's website here

Melanie Harth's website here

Mar 24, 2020

In part 2 of this special interview, recorded on-site with Cynthia Jurs, hear more about the "little clay pots" that are, in fact, sacred Earth Treasure Vases, Buddhist deities such as Tibetan Tara, and Cynthia's Gaia Mandala work.

Cynthia is a Buddhist teacher, trained by the beloved international Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

She's also a practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism, and was initiated as a Lama in Nepal, in recognition of her many years of dharma practice and dedication to the work of global healing through the Earth Treasure Vases.

Cynthia is the founder of Alliance for the Earth, and is the Executive Director of the Earth Treasure Vase Global Healing Project. And she's the guiding teacher at the Open Way Sangha in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Please, come along with us as Cynthia shares some of her personal experiences as a lifelong spiritual seeker, teacher, and hear about her fascinating work creating the sacred Earth Treasure Vases.

This is Part 1 of 2.

Cynthia Jurs website here

Melanie Harth website here

Mar 17, 2020

This is a special show, recorded on-site with Cynthia Jurs. Cynthia is a Buddhist teacher, trained by the beloved international Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

She's also a practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism, and was initiated as a Lama in Nepal, in recognition of her many years of dharma practice and dedication to the work of global healing through the Earth Treasure Vases.

Cynthia is the founder of Alliance for the Earth, and is the Executive Director of the Earth Treasure Vase Global Healing Project. And she's the guiding teacher at the Open Way Sangha in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Come along with us as Cynthia shares some of her personal experiences as a lifelong spiritual seeker, teacher, and hear about her fascinating work creating the sacred Earth Treasure Vases.

This is Part 1 of 2.

Cynthia Jurs website here

Melanie Harth website here

Feb 18, 2020

Pasha Hogan continues last week's convo. Extraordinary Reiki Master Teacher and practitioner, yoga and meditation coach, author and three-time cancer survivor, Pasha has been walking the walk for a long time.

She helps listeners understand what it means when we transform our relationship with the unknown into a deeply intimate relationship with all of life. And how "laying down the ideas, beliefs, and stories that no longer serve you can transform your life in ways you never could have imagined."

Pasha Hogan website here

more information about, and a guided meditation from Melanie Harth here

Feb 11, 2020

Pasha Hogan, author, yoga and meditation teacher, and renowned Reiki Master teacher and practitioner, shares her thoughts on how often we settle for the crumbs and miss out on the joy.

Pasha and Melanie talk about Pasha's Irish roots, and healing, and how to navigate the waters of these chaotic times by staying open to "the magic of the vast, wild and alive landscape of our minds, hearts and souls."

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman

Pasha Hogan website here

Melanie Harth website here

Feb 4, 2020

Yes, it's light-hearted. Yes, there's plenty of laughter. And yes, whip-smart, artist-trained personal stylist Kitty Ault and Melanie have a rousing time together.

Social group identity, ageism, why it's important to show up in the world on our own terms, breaking the rules, going grey vs. coloring our hair -- all sorts of cool, fun, and helpful things.

Kitty Ault's website is KAStyleSantafe.com.

Kitty Ault on Instagram: @kastylesantafe

Kitty Ault on Facebook: KAStyle Santa Fe

Melanie's free guided meditation is here.

Jan 30, 2020

Death and dying and happiness? Yes, please. Rev. Hollis Walker, an ordained minister who's "passionate about death," and Celia Owens, activist, artist and volunteer coordinator at Casa Cielo in Santa Fe, are in the studio with Melanie.

It sounds heavy, no? It isn't really, not when you're talking with folks who understand the sacred nature of dying a good death.

We talk about:

  • the mystery and the joy that can be part of death and dying;
  • what a "good death" means;
  • our culture's denial about dying;
  • the "magnificent uncertainty" that's a part of the process;
  • the ways in which our entire life can be a preparation for death.

When Death Comes

When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measle-pox;

when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth,
tending, as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world. Mary Oliver

information about Casa Cielo here

more about Dr. Melanie Harth here

 

Jan 23, 2020

Yay, Arte (Artemisio) Romero y Carver is back for one more show before he heads off to the wilds of a semester in Napa Valley, Cali.

Melanie loves the fast-paced, youth-oriented, artistic, and activist points of view that Arte shares so eloquently.

Talking points include:

  • what art brings to the table;
  • how artists are critically important to social change movements;
  • the national climate activist group, the Sunrise Movement and the Democrats;
  • why adults aren't stepping up about the climate crisis.

Cree Indian Prophecy

Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.

powerhouse book recommendation from Melanie: The Overstory, by Richard Powers

YUCCA (YouthUnited4ClimateCrisisAction) website here

the national Sunrise Movement here

more about Dr. Melanie Harth here

Jan 16, 2020

Executive producer of the PBS Ageless Living Series, George Cappannelli, returns for another in-depth conversation.

Some of the questions?

We spend billions of dollars in this country every year trying to pretend we're not getting older or ever going to die .. what do we lose in the total denial of aging and eldering?

How do self-responsibility and self-empowerment fit into aging?

What's the real truth about aging?

Why is it important that ageism continues to be challenged?

Are we, as a collective, prepared for what we're facing?

As usual, it's provocative, fast-paced, informative.

more information about the PBS Ageless Living Series here

more information about Dr. Melanie Harth here

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