Live Happy Now

Hope isn’t a soft emotion; it’s a powerful, science‑backed strategy for navigating stress, uncertainty, and the challenges of modern life. In this episode, resiliency expert Dr. Robyne Hanley‑Dafoe joins host Paula Felps to discuss strategies from her new book, I Hope So: How to Choose Hope Even When It’s Hard. Dr. Robyne explains how cultivating a hope practice can calm the nervous system, strengthen resilience, deepen connection, and help us show up more fully for ourselves and others, even in difficult times.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why hope is different from optimism — and why it’s a more sustainable tool for resilience.

How hope physiologically shifts your brain and body, helping you think more clearly and make better decisions under stress.

Simple daily practices to build a “hope habit,” from morning rituals to community‑building conversations that elevate your emotional well‑being.

We know we need friends, but finding “our people” can be hard! In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with therapist and author Anna Runkle about why so many of us struggle to build meaningful friendships, how covert avoidance keeps us from true connection, and what practical steps help us identify the relationships that genuinely support who we’re becoming.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why finding your people matters more than simply having people.

How to recognize red flags, energy drains, and covert avoidance.

Practical steps and mindset shifts that make adult friendship easier and more authentic.

As we kick off International Friendship Month, it’s the perfect time to talk about what it means to be a friend in a world that often feels disconnected. Join host Paula Felps as she sits down with award‑winning filmmaker and author Barnet Bain to explore the surprising origins of his fascination with friendship, the “bubble” we all live inside, and why genuine connection requires presence, curiosity, and courage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why friendship is a skill — not something we simply “fall into.”

How to create safety, consistency, and presence in your closest relationships.

A simple 24‑hour practice that can transform how you see and respond to others.

We all have a deep desire to matter, but do we know why? In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with philosopher and author Rebecca Newberger Goldstein to explore the “mattering instinct” and why it shapes everything from our personal fulfillment to our political divides. She explains our longing to feel significant influences our choices, our relationships, and even our conflicts — and how reframing our own mattering projects can lead to a more meaningful, connected life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why the need to matter often drives us more powerfully than the need to be happy.

How different “mattering projects” shape our behavior and our relationships.

What we can do — individually and collectively — to create a world where everyone feels they count.

If you’ve been hearing everyone talk about the vagus nerve but aren’t totally sure what the buzz is about, this episode is your shortcut to understanding it. Trauma therapist, author, and polyvagal expert Rebecca Kase joins host Paula Felps to break down what the vagus nerve actually does, why it affects everything from your stress levels to your relationships, and how simple daily practices can help you feel calmer, more connected, and more resilient.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why the vagus nerve plays such a central role in both physical and emotional well-being.

How breathwork and other everyday practices can strengthen vagal tone.

What your nervous system has to do with connection, compassion, and healthier relationships.