257 episodes

If you believe as we do that by uncovering tested, practical ways to help people move from functioning to flourishing at work, we can better navigate the incredible challenges and opportunities our world faces, then this podcast is for you. Our goal each week is to give you access to the world’ leading positive psychology, positive organizational scholarship and neuroscience researchers and practitioners to explore their latest research findings on how you can improve wellbeing, develop strengths, nurture positive relationships, make work meaningful and cultivate the grit to accomplish what matters most. If you want evidence-based approaches to bringing out the best in yourself and others at work, then consider this podcast your step-by-step guide.

Making Positive Psychology Work Michelle McQuaid

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 65 Ratings

If you believe as we do that by uncovering tested, practical ways to help people move from functioning to flourishing at work, we can better navigate the incredible challenges and opportunities our world faces, then this podcast is for you. Our goal each week is to give you access to the world’ leading positive psychology, positive organizational scholarship and neuroscience researchers and practitioners to explore their latest research findings on how you can improve wellbeing, develop strengths, nurture positive relationships, make work meaningful and cultivate the grit to accomplish what matters most. If you want evidence-based approaches to bringing out the best in yourself and others at work, then consider this podcast your step-by-step guide.

    Making Positive Psychology Work - Afterparty with Chelle, Paige and Michelle

    Making Positive Psychology Work - Afterparty with Chelle, Paige and Michelle

    In this week's episode - join us for a chat and a laugh as we reminisce about the highs (and lows!) of 250 episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work. 
    Thanks for listening! MPPW Podcast on Facebook Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
    Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!
    You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
    Thank you!

    • 31 min
    Do You Have A Wellbeing Strategy? with Dr. Peggy Kern

    Do You Have A Wellbeing Strategy? with Dr. Peggy Kern

    Dr. Peggy Kern is an associate professor at the Centre for Wellbeing Science within the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education. Originally trained in social personality and developmental psychology, Peggy's research focuses on understanding, measuring, and supporting wellbeing across the lifespan. She works with schools and workplaces to examine strategies for supporting wellbeing and bridging gaps between research and practice and has published three books, over 100 peer-reviewed articles and chapters, and most recently the wonderful and freely available Palgrave Handbook of Positive Education.
    In this week's podcast - our very last one ever – we explore what we’ve learned from 250 episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work and the best of these insights can be used to support wellbeing strategies in workplaces, schools, and communities."
    Connect with Peggy Kern:
    https://www.peggykern.org/ You’ll Learn: [03:55] - Peggy reflects on the evolution of the field of positive psychology and what it means practically for workplaces, for schools, for communities, when it comes to caring for our wellbeing. [09:04] - Michelle shares her reflections on how the application of positive psychology has evolved in workplaces, schools, and communities in recent years. [13:33] - Peggy explains why workplaces, schools, and communities are prioritizing the need for wellbeing strategies. [15:26] - Peggy recommends some of the key factors workplaces, schools, and communities might want to include in their wellbeing strategies. [19:47] - Michelle shares a case study of how large organizations pivot their wellbeing strategy to embrace thriving and struggle and what this has meant practically in terms of the changes they have made. [26:02] - Peggy reflects on the importance of building wellbeing literacy and having a shared – non pathologized – language to talk about how we are feeling. [29:47] - Michelle and Peggy reflect on how we can use the science of positive psychology wisely to help – rather than unintentionally harm – others. [34:17] - Michelle explains how she positions the science of positive psychology to clients in an effort to acknowledge its limitations and do no harm. [36:21] - Michelle shares new research on the benefits of combining wellbeing and mental health approaches in workplaces. [38:42] - Peggy and Michelle reflect on what’s next for the field of positive psychology. [45:27] - Peggy begins the lightning round! Thanks for listening! MPPW Podcast on Facebook Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
    Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!
    You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
    Until next time, take care!  Thank you, Peggy!

    • 50 min
    Can You Unlock The Leader Within? with Halla Tómasdóttir

    Can You Unlock The Leader Within? with Halla Tómasdóttir

    Halla Tómasdóttir is the CEO of the B Team, a group of courageous business and civil society leaders working together to transform business for a better world. Halla started her leadership career in corporate America, working for Mars and Pepsi-Cola. She was on the founding team at Reykjavik University, where she established the executive education department, founded and led a successful women's entrepreneurship and empowerment initiative, and was an assistant professor at the business school. She was the first female CEO of the Iceland Chamber of Commerce and later went on to co-found an investment firm with a vision to incorporate feminine values into finance. The company successfully survived the infamous economic meltdown in Iceland, and in 2016, Halla was an independent candidate for the president of Iceland, where she entered a crowded field of candidates and finished as the runner-up with nearly 30% of the vote.
    In this week's episode, we explore why we need to throw out the old leadership playbooks and unleash the authentic and principled leaders that can be found within each of us.
    Connect with Halla Tómasdóttir:
    https://bteam.org/ You’ll Learn: [03:04] - Halla shares why she is on a quest to empower and inspire authentic, gender-balanced, and principal leadership. [08:39] - Halla explains why so many leaders remain stuck in a crisis of conformity despite the scientific and business evidence that supports authentic, gender-balanced, and principled leadership. [12:38] - Halla offers some practical tips to help us unlock the leader inside ourselves, regardless of our job title. [19:29] - Halla explains why we need to broaden our definition of success in order to create thriving organizations. [26:28] - Halla shares her hopes for what might be possible after the global pandemic if leaders were ten times bolder in how they led and the impact this could have on workplace wellbeing. [32:44] - Halla shares how Reset Dialogues can help our workplaces and communities be braver, bolder, and more integrated as we create a healthier and more successful future. [38:21] - Halla begins the lightning round! Thanks for listening! MPPW Podcast on Facebook Think Again by Adam Grant Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, pleaseshareit using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
    Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!
    You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
    Until next time, take care! Thank you, Halla!

    • 43 min
    Do You Need A Wise Intervention? with Greg Walton

    Do You Need A Wise Intervention? with Greg Walton

    Greg Walton, who's an associate professor of psychology at Stanford University. Much of Greg's research investigates psychological processes that contribute to major social problems and how wise interventions that target these processes can address such problems and help people flourish even over long periods of time. Dr. Walton's research has been recognized with awards from numerous organizations, including the American Psychological Society's Rising Star of the Year Award. And has been published in leading journals and covered in major media outlets all over the world. He's the co-editor of the Handbook of Wise Interventions: How Social Psychology Can Help People Change, and we are so honored to have him here with us today.
    In this episode, we explore how wise interventions - simple shifts to the way we make meaning of what's happening in the world around us - can have a big impact at work.
    Connect with Greg Walton:
    https://www.wiseinterventions.org/ You’ll Learn: [03:05] - Greg explains what makes an intervention wise. [06:30] - Greg shares how wise interventions can improve our sense of belonging at work. [11:37] - Greg explains how wise interventions can leverage our need for accuracy. [13:32] - Greg shares our wise interventions can leverage our need for integrity. [18:00] - Greg explains when wise interventions are most likely to succeed. [25:39] - Greg begins the lightning round! Thanks for listening! MPPW Podcast on Facebook Biased by Jennifer L. Eberhardt PhD Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
    Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!
    You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
    Until next time, take care!  Thank you, Greg!

    • 31 min
    What Do You Most Desire & Why? with Luke Burgis

    What Do You Most Desire & Why? with Luke Burgis

    Luke Burgis, who's the entrepreneur in residence and director of programs at the Ciocca Centre for Principled Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of America, where he also teaches business and develops new education initiatives. Luke's co-created and led four companies in wellness, consumer products, and technology. He is the founder and director of Fourth World Ventures, an incubator for people and companies that contribute to the formation of a healthy human ecology. And Luke's new book Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life has just been released.
    In this week's episode we explore how desire impacts our wellbeing and the simple steps we can take to positively shape our desires for the good of ourselves and others.
    Connect with Luke Burgis:
    https://lukeburgis.com/ You’ll Learn: [02:39] - Luke explains why understanding what shapes our desire is an important part of caring for our wellbeing. [04:07] - Luke explains what mimetic desire is and how it influences our motivation. [06:49] - Luke helps us understand the social nature of desire and how different role models influence us. [08:56] - Luke offers tips for how we can keep our relationships with our role models healthy. [11:57] - Luke explains the difference between thick and thin desires. [14:10] - Luke discusses how having a hierarchy of values can help us navigate conflicts around thick desires. [16:45] - Luke helps us understand the positive and destructive cycles desire can energize. [19:15] - Luke explains how destructive cycles of desire can lead to toxic relationships and toxic cultures. [21:51] - Luke shares an example of how we can short circuit destructive cycles of desire. [24:53] - Luke offers some tips for how we can create positive cycles of desire in workplaces. [27:14] - Luke begins the lightning round! Thanks for listening! MPPW Podcast on Facebook Sherry Turkle 'Alone Together' TED Talk Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
    Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!
    You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
    Until next time, take care!  Thank you, Luke!

    • 32 min
    Could You Be A Positively Energizing Leader? with Kim Cameron

    Could You Be A Positively Energizing Leader? with Kim Cameron

    Kim Cameron is a professor of management and organizations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. He’s co-founder of the Centre for Positive Organizational Scholarship and professor of higher education in the school of education at the University of Michigan. Kim is recognized as among the top 10 organizational scholars in the world and his work on virtuousness, downsizing, effectiveness, corporate quality culture, and the development of leadership excellence has been most frequently downloaded on Google. He has also published more than 140 academic articles and 15 scholarly books, the most recent of which is Positively Energizing Leadership, which is due for release in August this year.
    In this week’s episode, Dr. Paige Williams talks to Prof. Kim Cameron about Positively Energizing Leadership.
    Connect with Kim Cameron:
    https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/ You’ll Learn: [03:47] - Kim explains the inherent tendency in all living systems that underpin positively energizing leadership [06:05] - Kim explains how the heliotropic effect translates into leadership and organizations [09:14] - Kim describes how we might recognize positive energy at work [10:42] - Kim describes how positively energizing leadership differs from other types of leadership [12:55] - Kim explains why we may not be a positive energizer for everyone [16:33] - Kim shares research that shows the impact positively energizing leadership has [21:47] - Kim shares examples of positively energizing leadership in action [27:29] - Kim explains how team members can help their leaders be more positively energizing [31:55] - Kim lets us know of the cautions and caveats we need to be aware of as we work to be a positively energizing leader [35:52] - Kim completes the lightning round! Thanks for listening! MPPW Podcast on Facebook Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
    Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!
    You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
    Until next time, take care!  Thank you, Kim!

    • 41 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
65 Ratings

65 Ratings

savvy_entrepreneur ,

Practical inspiration in every episode

Making Positive Psychology Work brings together great conversation and tips that tie wellbeing to leadership and culture. There’s always a gem or two of inspiration I take from every episode, and Michelle is a GREAT host.

meliznopol ,

Insights worth spreading!

This podcast is great for positive psychology lovers or those who want to hear scientific ways to improve wellbeing in workplaces.
Michelle is very engaging and invited the best guests! I look forward to new episodes weekly

Lizzie LaRock ,

This podcast is so helpful to me!

I absolutely love Michelle’s podcast. Even the episodes that were from before it was a podcast, like the Barbara Frederickson interview I listened to from a few years ago - that one was fantastic. Michelle is such an insightful interviewer, she asks all of the questions that I would be raising my hand to ask of each expert. And the summary downloads from each episode are such a valuable resource to me. I’m a positive psychology practitioner and this is one of my most favorite go-to resources for staying up to date on the field of positive psychology and how to continue to apply the concepts in the workplace. Thank you for creating and continuing to create this podcast, it is one of my favorites.

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