Episodit
-
I had such a rich and energising conversation with Andrew Soren on my podcast a couple of weeks ago.
While we've been enjoying co-designing our upcoming workshop for IPPA, this was a chance to zoom out and explore the bigger picture - from Andrewâs journey into the world of Positive Psychology to the exciting future he's shaping with Eudaimonic by Design.
One of the highlights was diving deeper into Andrewâs passion for Carol Ryffâs six dimensions of psychological wellbeing - including purpose, personal growth, and autonomy - and how they guide his thinking and work. It was thoughtful, reflective, and full of insight.
If youâre curious about how wellbeing can be intentionally designed into our lives, work, and systems - this episode is for you!
-
In this episode, I take you on a personal journey - quite literally face-first into the ground! After an unexpected fall while hiking, I found myself reflecting on the incredible ways our brains and bodies respond to physical and emotional shocks. From the immediate reflexes that protected me during the fall to the strange gap in memory that followed, I unpack what the science tells us about how we cope with trauma, pain, and recovery.
I talk about the brainâs tendency to catastrophise, the power of catching negative thoughts, and the strange experience of not being able to smile - or cry - and how that impacted my mood. I explore the facial feedback hypothesis, the emotional impact of not expressing our feelings, and how even simple physical actions, like smiling or moving, can influence our psychological state.
Thereâs also a fascinating piece of research on how our perception of time can affect the speed of physical healing - and I share how I used that insight to (possibly!) speed up my recovery.
If you've ever had a tough week, a bad fall, or just felt emotionally âoff,â this episode might offer you both a laugh and some useful science-backed strategies to help you bounce back.
Whatâs one small thing you do - physically or mentally - that helps you reset after a rough patch? I would love to hear from you, so feel free to share your thoughts or takeaways after you listen!
-
Puuttuva jakso?
-
I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Dr Fiona Gray at the Wellbeing Symposium at the British School of Jakarta last year where she spoke about biophilic design, which is a philosophy that weaves the wonders of nature into our built environment.
Fiona and her team blend creativity with scientific rigour, and craft spaces deeply imbued with wellness, harmony and regenerative principles. I found her talk fascinating as she shared lots of research around the difference it makes when you have space around you that connects with nature.
Fiona is incredibly passionate about her work and the difference it makes to our wellbeing, productivity, and a sense of belonging and it was a delight to have Fiona join me on my podcast.If you are curious about how the spaces we live and work in can nurture wellbeing, boost productivity, and foster belonging, please tune in here.
-
I always treasure the chance to connect with Michelle â our conversations are thoughtful, energising, and real. Weâve worked alongside each other for many years, and every so often we join forces for our Collective Insights events. Itâs always a joy when our paths cross again.
Michelle has made a strong impact in the Positive Psychology space, and Iâve always admired her ability to bring the science to life in practical, relatable ways.
In this conversation, we explored not just the corporate work sheâs known for, yet also the personal journey thatâs been shaping her next chapter. She shared some powerful insights on navigating big life changes and how those experiences are now informing the future direction of her business.
It was honest, meaningful, and full of wisdom â Iâm so pleased we got to have this conversation!
-
20 March marked World Happiness Day - and the release of the much-anticipated World Happiness Report.
In this episode, I dive into the 2025 rankings, unpacking what truly drives national happiness. What makes one country top of the list while others fall behind? The answers might surprise you.
-
It was great to speak with Julia Rucklidge recently. It was a very insightful conversation and supports much of what Iâve shared before around our microbiome and the impact of what we eat.
We talked about the importance of micronutrients, the impact on anxiety and depression, ADHD, and new research around pregnant mums. Julia also shared the importance of having micronutrients during pregnancy to help with pre-natal depression as well as birth outcomes.
We looked at the impact of having to change the âwhole systemâ as we now have highly processed diets that are causing us a lot of challenges and how we really need to change things, whether itâs advocating for change we need from top down as in Government change, to highlighting the challenges of what we eat. As well as of course our own grass roots level of choosing what we eat and consciously removing ultra processed foods from our diets.
All of this really supports the discussions Iâve shared before and it was wonderful to hear how Julia is really trying to advocate for change given our diets are causing us both mental health and physical challenges.
https://thebetterbrainbook.com/julia-j-rucklidge
https://profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Julia-Rucklidge
https://tedxchristchurch.com/julia-rucklidge
-
There are a few things going on in my head at the moment, and one thing in particular stems from my fabulous conversation with Reuben Rusk earlier this year that centred around 'systems and systems thinking'.
When I moved to Byron Bay a few years ago, I set up a 'system' that made it easier to create healthy habits for me. I am aware a recent part of my 'system' has changed, and it was interesting for me to reflect on this and get curious, because I had not thought of my habit as being part of my system.
This has made me reflect on the importance of systems and the ones we have in place, both around healthy habits and perhaps not so healthy ones. It is also interesting to understand how mental models and societal values impact these habits as well!
What systems do you have in place to support your habits? What other systems could you add to better support your healthy habits?
-
Every time I chat with Denise, the conversation flows in the most energising way. This latest one was no exception!
We discussed the future of work, unpacking how organisations need to rethink leadership and wellbeing - not as buzzwords, yet as foundations for real, sustainable change. From reimagining the systems that shape our workplaces to the role of positive psychology in driving performance and care.
Denise also shared powerful insights from her own podcast and the incredible conversations she's having with todayâs leaders. I'm really excited we're teaming up for an upcoming leadership series - our first collaboration together â watch this space!
-
Towards the end of last year, a few things happened that triggered my thinking around how we tend to make assumptions about others and about things around us.
One of these things was the 'hell yes / f*ck no' mantra, which I believe may lead to losing opportunities that may intiially not seem like a 'hell yes', though may become one later.
Thanks to Todd Kashdan, I have picked up five criteria, which I find useful when deciding what opportunities to pursue!
Similarly, there have been a few things that triggered my strength of counterpoint, particularly around categories and fitting in.
I would love to know your thoughts, what assumptions do you make? What categories do you put yourself in?
-
I recently had the pleasure of hosting Dan Weijer on my podcast, and it was a fabulous conversation.
We delved into deep and thought-provoking topics, exploring philosophy, wellbeing, determinism, and free will. The discussion was both wide-ranging and profound, touching on questions that shape how we think about life.
At the same time, we kept things engaging and practical, weaving in some fun practicalities that made the conversation both meaningful and enjoyable. It was a fascinating exchange, and I canât wait for you to hear it!
-
Death is a very interesting topic, especially when looking at it through a positive psychology lens.
In 2024, there were a number of positive psychology researchers that passed away, including Felicia Huppert, Paul Wong, and Phil Zimbardo, and in this episode, I reflect on their lives, contributions and their deaths. I reflect on the impact of grief and loss, and how this can come in different ways at different times. Positive psychology looks at death acceptance, approach acceptance, escape acceptance.
Acceptance of death is very important, how do we engage with death in a way that gives us a sense of meaning, purpose and legacy?
-
It was wonderful to have Robert Biswas-Diener join me for another live âIn Conversationâ with my Learn with Sue Community.
This time we had the opportunity to hear from Robert on his newly launched book Radical Listening, co-authored with Christian van Nieuwerburgh. It was interesting to hear Robertâs thoughts on the important concepts such as intention when listening, and some of the motives we have when listening, whether internal or external, and some of the skills involved.
I really enjoyed our conversation, and I am delighted to share a snippet of it with you all!
-
Earlier this month, Mohsen Joshanloo joined me as a special guest on one of our live sessions as part of the Learn with Sue community.
Mohsen is a personality and cross-cultural psychologist, and a hugely prolific researcher doing some amazing work which focuses on mental wellbeing, culture, personality traits, emotions, and successful aging.
I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and Iâm delighted to share a snippet of it with you all!
-
I am so happy to share another great conversation I had with Lisa Davias, the CEO of PESA (Positive Education Schools Association). Their goal is really about empowering more Australians for a better future through Wellbeing Education which is wonderful.
She talked a bit about her background and what led her to this role and also what she hopes for the future of Wellbeing Education in a more holistic form. So not just positive education yet a more holistic wellbeing education from a whole school approach which I thoroughly endorse.
We talked a little about their conference thatâs coming up in September this year and the importance of educating teachers particularly increasing educating educator capability when there are so many people leaving the profession yet wellbeing is going to become more and more important.
-
I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Reuben. I really respect the research paper he did with Lea Waters in 2013 titled Tracing the Size, Reach, Impact, and Breadth of Positive Psychology which I still refer to. I took the opportunity to ask him if he is going to write another given we are now ten years on and Iâm very pleased he said he has been thinking about it!
I loved our conversation around future and where we hope it will go and both Rueben and I are involved in a couple of things like the Wellbeing Economy Alliance and the Wellbeing System Science Coalition to try and change the world!
https://langleygroup.com.au?wpdmdl=68907&ind=1741759358531
-
Di is a wellbeing policy advisor for the Centre of Policy Development. She gave us insights into new things that are coming and a bill thatâs being put before parliament by an independent to try and put wellbeing at the front of the agenda. We talked about the importance, like we did previously with Lord Gus OâDonnell, that the Governments job is support the wellbeing of its constituents â that is its ultimate job.
Federal Measuring What Matters â https://treasury.gov.au/policy-topics/measuring-what-mattersâ
Wellbeing Economy Alliance
â https://weall.org/â
Wellbeing Systems Science Coalition
â https://www.heliotropiawellbeing.com/
-
What are you hoping to get out of the year ahead?
We are well and truly into 2025 now, and in this episode I reflect on the year that has passed and the things I hope to achieve in the year ahead. We have so many incredibly cool things to come from Langley Group, the Helping Hands Program, the Water Works Program and Langley Group Institute!
It is also intriguing to understand the differences between our 'dream lives', especially when we only see snippets! What is your dream? Who do you want to be?
-
Mette Miriam Böll describes herself as a concerned global citizen, which is why she does her work! Listen along as Sue and Mette discuss compassionate systems, systems awareness, and the consequences of reductionistic science.
-
Dr Lucy Ryan has recently won awards for her book, 'Revolting Women', which started with Lucy's PhD research studying women like her. Listen along as Lucy and Sue discuss her research journey and the learnings along the way!
- Näytä enemmän
