Laina Richards
As seen in:
Thrive Global
✏️ Writer with a focus on mental health narratives
📚 Columbia University MFA ‘22
🌲 Dartmouth ‘14
Articles by Laina Richards
Why Limited Screen Time Is so Important to Golden State Warriors Star Andre Iguodala
Last May, amidst a successful season with the Golden State Warriors, 33-year-old shooting guard and small forward Andre Iguodala took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington for the Thrive Global Podcast with iHeartRadio. Iguodala is an investor in Thrive Global and has experienced first-hand the impact that well-being can have on performance.
How Reading Can Literally Improve Your Well-Being
Whether you swear by self-help books, find solace in your book club, or truly believe reading can be a form of medicine, you’re far from alone in feeling that books can improve your life in a variety of ways. If you’ve ever experienced the gut-wrenching feeling of turning the last page on a book or series you were deeply invested in, you know that the worlds created by authors can become very real escapes, and characters can feel like friends.
How Reading Can Literally Improve Your Well-Being
Whether you swear by self-help books, find solace in your book club, or truly believe reading can be a form of medicine, you’re far from alone in feeling that books can improve your life in a variety of ways. If you’ve ever experienced the gut-wrenching feeling of turning the last page on a book or series you were deeply invested in, you know that the worlds created by authors can become very real escapes, and characters can feel like friends.
One of Our Favorite Shows, “Younger,” Just Shouted Out Thrive’s Mission Against Negative Thinking
Many of Thrive Global’s staffers are fans of the sharp, funny, feel-good hit “Younger,” so we were excited to see that the show’s writers return our affection. The writing staff worked us into the script of last night’s episode to celebrate one of Thrive’s main missions -- helping people amp up their positive thinking in order to thwart stress and boost well-being.
I Tried to Get People Talking About Mental Illness-With a Necklace.
I spent the last week wearing an anxiety necklace everywhere, interested to see how, in our culture of (often unspoken or unaddressed) anxiety and stress, people would react to seeing the word “Anxiety” dangling around my neck. Prayer and worry beads have been used to promote inner reflection and calm the mind for millennia, but this is an entirely different sort of anxiety jewelry, nearly indistinguishable from a standard nameplate necklace.
How Fashion Icon Joanna Coles Is Inspiring Us to Wear What We Love-Again and Again
If you follow Joanna Coles, Hearst Magazines’ chief content officer, on Instagram (and if not, you probably should) you might have noticed the blazer. The bold, patterned, very recognizable, green blazer. Coles has posted images of herself wearing it again and again —at SXSW, hosting the Hearst 100 luncheon, and more. Last month, she shared a throwback shot of her green-blazered self at The Girlboss Rally.
Uber's Chief Brand Officer Bozoma Saint John on How She Adjusted to Motherhood
On the most recent episode of The Thrive Global Podcast with Sleep Number as the exclusive sponsor and iHeartRadio as the official producer and media partner, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington, an Uber board member, sat down with Bozoma Saint John, the Chief Brand Officer at Uber. In a wide-ranging conversation, Huffington and Saint John spoke about everything from her relationship with sleep to overcoming loss and grief.
Here’s What Uber's Chief Brand Officer Bozoma Saint John Finds Annoying in Meetings
On the most recent episode of The Thrive Global Podcast with iHeart Radio and Sleep Number, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington, an Uber board member, sat down with Bozoma Saint John, the Chief Brand Officer at Uber. In a wide-ranging conversation, Huffington and Saint John spoke about everything from her relationship with sleep to overcoming loss and grief. Saint John is active on social media, with more than 129,000 Instagram followers and nearly 50,000 on Twitter.
Mark Zuckerberg Explains His ‘Big Mistake’
As Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before Congress for the first time, experts are watching to see what the repercussions will be for Facebook, the tech industry, democracy and the world at large. About a week after Facebook announced that the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica acquired data of up to 87 million users, Zuckerberg answered questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill pertaining to Facebook’s failures to protect its users’ privacy.
Instagram Is Officially Making Its Users’ Well-Being a Priority
In theory, social media gives us ways to share our stories, make meaningful connections, and feel good about ourselves. But in practice, of course, that’s not always the case. A number of experts—from psychologists to tech leaders themselves—are increasingly speaking out about the association between social media use and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and negative body image.
What Ancient Spiritual Traditions Can Teach Us About Modern-Day Thriving
This is a spiritual week across multiple religions. The Christian Holy Week includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, all leading up to Easter Sunday. Many Muslims around world will celebrate the the birthday of Hazrat Ali on Friday, and followers of the Judaism will observe Passover starting on Friday evening. For many, this means that religious and spiritual practices are more present than usual in thought and conversation.
Arianna Huffington and Adam Grant Have a Secret Matchmaking List-and Andy Cohen Is “Down”
On the most recent episode of The Thrive Global Podcast with iHeart Radio and Sleep Number, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington sat down with Andy Cohen, the executive producer of The Real Housewives, host of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, and the first openly gay American late-night talk show host. In a wide-ranging conversation, Huffington and Cohen spoke about everything from his love life to the benefits of taking 20-minute naps.
Andy Cohen Gets Candid About What He Learned From His BFF Anderson Cooper
On the most recent episode of The Thrive Global Podcast with iHeart Radio and Sleep Number, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington sat down with Andy Cohen, executive producer of The Real Housewives, host of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, and the first openly gay American late-night talk show host. In a wide-ranging conversation, Huffington and Cohen spoke about everything from his Insta-famous dog to how 20-minute naps have kept him from crashing.
What Andy Cohen Has in Common With Winston Churchill and Bill Clinton
On the most recent episode of The Thrive Global Podcast with Sleep Number as the exclusive sponsor and iHeartRadio as the official producer and media partner, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington sat down with Andy Cohen, executive producer of The Real Housewives and host of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live.
New Thrive App Video Shows You How to Take Back Control of Your Life and Technology
A new video featuring the Thrive App, produced by ATTN: in partnership with Thrive Global and Samsung, explores how we can take back control of our relationship with technology and truly connect with ourselves, others and the world around us.
Why Producer Brian Grazer Makes Eye Contact With Everyone He Meets
To kick off Season Two of The Thrive Global Podcast with iHeart Radio and Sleep Number, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington sat down with Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer, whose film and television credits include Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Arrested Development, Parenthood, and many more. In a wide-ranging conversation, Huffington and Grazer spoke about everything from how to have a good conversation to Grazer’s relationship with his phone.
Hollywood Producer Brian Grazer on Why He Doesn’t Exaggerate
To kick off Season Two of The Thrive Global Podcast with Sleep Number as the exclusive sponsor and iHeartRadio as the official producer and media partner, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington sat down with Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer, whose film and television credits include Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Arrested Development, Parenthood, and many more.
Mindvalley Founder Vishen Lakhiani on How a Meditation Class Changed His Life and Career
Growing up in Malaysia, Vishen Lakhiani—CEO and founder of the Malaysia-based edutech company Mindvalley—admired his mother’s work as a teacher. But, as he explained in an interview with Malaysia Tatler, he felt pressure to study computer engineering. He struggled when the dot-com bubble ended and eventually discovered he had chosen the “wrong path.” At a low point in his life, he was working unhappily in telemarketing in Silicon Valley. Then he took a life-changing meditation class.
Here’s What Some of the World’s Most Influential People Are Saying About the Future of Healthcare
The third annual Fortune Brainstorm HEALTH conference kicked off today in Laguna Niguel, California, bringing together leaders from a range of industries to share ideas and insights on “the revolution that is underway in 21st century healthcare.” The two-day event will take an expansive approach to healthcare and examine what it truly takes for individuals, communities, companies and countries to flourish in today’s world.
The Mission to Treat the World’s Mental Health Crisis
Mental health and substance use disorders are the world’s leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Globally, over 300 million people suffer from depression alone. At the 2018 Fortune Brainstorm HEALTH conference in Laguna Niguel, CA on Monday, a panel of experts--Deborah DiSanzo (general manager of IBM Watson Health), Amy Powell, (president of Paramount Television and Digital Entertainment), and Bernard J.
How Olympians Practice Well-Being to Optimize Performance
American snowboarder Red Gerard may have been lauded for winning gold despite staying up late and sleeping through his alarm, but at the Olympic Winter games in PyeongChang, there are far more examples of athletes prioritizing well-being and focusing on mental health in addition to physical fitness. Staggering talent aside, how do these men and women—humans just like you and me—avoid burnout and compete under such pressure?
Gayle King on Being Vulnerable, Even on Social Media
To kick off Season Two of The Thrive Global Podcast with iHeart Radio, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington sat down with CBS This Morning co-host, O Magazine editor-at-large and media icon Gayle King. In a wide-ranging conversation, Huffington and King spoke about everything from King's social media habits and morning routine to self-acceptance and the possibility of an Oprah presidential run.
Gayle King's Hilarious Way of Dealing With Social Media Trolls
To kick off Season Two of The Thrive Global Podcast with iHeart Radio, Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington sat down with CBS This Morning co-host, O Magazine editor-at-large and media icon Gayle King. In a wide-ranging conversation, Huffington and King spoke about everything from King's social media habits and morning routine to self-acceptance and the possibility of an Oprah presidential run. King explained that with social media, it’s easy to let yourself focus on the negative.
Kate Middleton's Heartfelt Mission to Improve Children's Mental Health
Kate Middleton, one of the world’s most prominent mental health awareness advocates, kicked off Children’s Mental Health Week in the UK with an emphasis on combating low self-esteem, People reports.
Kate Middleton’s Heartfelt Mission to Improve Children’s Mental Health
Kate Middleton, one of the world’s most prominent mental health awareness advocates, kicked off Children’s Mental Health Week in the UK with an emphasis on combating low self-esteem, People reports.
Has Death Become a Fad?
In a recent long read from The Guardian, writer Marisa Meltzer explores the rising interest in all-things death-related, and discusses the possibility that “dying well has become a defining obsession of our time.” Meltzer writes about death trends ranging from cemetery yoga to death doulas to eco-friendly burial methods and ultra-personalized funerals. While Meltzer’s assertion that “death is hot right now” might sound odd to some, others would argue that it is a natural and positive subject.
Key Takeaways From Kaiser Permanente’s Discussion on Mental Health at Davos
This year, the nonprofit Kaiser Permanente (KP) sponsored a panel on mental health at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Fortune’s Clifton Leaf reports.
Apple CEO Tim Cook Says Constant Use of Technology is Not Success
Speaking at Harlow College in England, Apple CEO Tim Cook said schools should limit the use of technology in the classroom and that he doesn’t want his nephew to use social media, The Guardian reports. “I’m not a person that says we’ve achieved success if you’re using [technology] all the time,” Cook said. “I don’t subscribe to that at all.” Cook visited the school for the launch of Apple’s Everyone Can Code curriculum and said he believes deeply in the importance of teaching coding.
A New Study Links Screen Time to Unhappiness in Teens
Problematic phone use among young people is a hot topic right now. A new study, led by San Diego State University professor Jean M. Twenge, found that, on average, teens who spend more time on their phones—and on screens in general—are significantly unhappier. Looking at historical trends, the researchers found that teen happiness began to drop steeply around 2012. As Twenge points out, that’s the year that smartphone ownership among Americans went over 50 percent.
Britain Appoints Minister for Loneliness
British Prime Minister Theresa May has appointed the country’s minister for sport and civil society Tracey Crouch to “lead on issues connected to loneliness” and “head a government-wide group with responsibility for policies connected to loneliness,” The Guardian reports. The appointment addresses a recommendation from a report on loneliness by the Jo Cox Commission. The commission, chaired by Labour MP Rachel Reeves and Seema Kennedy, was set up to honor Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered in 2016.
I Tried the App That Helps You Take Control of Your Screen-Time and I Want More
Ever since reading about the THRIVE App, which gives you the tools to take a break from your phone, I could tell it was something I needed. I began to notice my problem with smartphone “hygiene” (read: extreme overuse) long before joining Thrive Global. Yes, full disclosure, I work for the company that created this app. But I started only recently, and had nothing to do with building the app. So I promise a brutally honest evaluation.
Apple Acknowledges Shareholders’ Concerns Over Youth Phone Addiction
Apple has responded to an open letter from two major shareholders requesting that the company focus more on phone addiction among children, Business Insider reports. Among other things, the shareholders—Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers' Retirement System—urged Apple to “offer parents more choices and tools to help them ensure that young consumers are using your products in an optimal manner." Their request has evidence behind it.
Facebook Overhauls Its News Feed to Improve User "Well-Being"
In a post on the platform, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the social media giant plans to change its algorithm in ways that will prioritize its users’ well-being, in part by making Facebook usage a more active experience. It’s a sign of how much the conversation about technology has changed that Facebook, with over 2 billion users, feels the need to do this.
Why Limited Screen Time Is so Important to Golden State Warriors Star Andre Iguodala
Last May, amidst a successful season with the Golden State Warriors, 33-year-old shooting guard and small forward Andre Iguodala took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington for the Thrive Global Podcast with iHeartRadio. Iguodala is an investor in Thrive Global and has experienced first-hand the impact that well-being can have on performance.
Why Millennials Struggle With Perfectionism More Than Previous Generations
There’s a story that my family loves to recount whenever the topic of perfectionism comes up around the dinner table. When I was in fourth grade, my family had one computer that lived in an alcove outside of my parents’ bedroom. Once, around one or two in the morning (well past my nine-year-old bedtime), my mother woke to the tapping of the keyboard and found me perched at the screen in my pajamas, having snuck down from my bedroom to do more homework after she put me to bed.
Suicide at iPhone Factory Puts Foxconn Under Scrutiny Yet Again
According to International Business Times, China Labor Watch (CLW)—an organization for Chinese workers’ rights that is based in the US—reports that a worker died on January 6 after jumping off of a building at a Foxconn iPhone factory Zhengzhou, China. The labor organization also posted video footage of the scene and says that the man, 31-year-old Li Min, worked at Foxconn through an agency for about two months before his death.
Two Shareholders Are Pushing Apple to Focus on Smartphone Overuse
The conversation about our relationship to technology and the potential dangers of our addiction to technology has hit a new level. The Wall Street Journal reports that two major Apple shareholders, Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (Calstrs), have sent an open letter to Apple urging the company to exercise more responsibility for the impact of its products, especially on children and teens.
12 Books Barack Obama Loved in 2017
As part of our new section, Thrive Library, in which we discuss books that have inspired us and given us strength and wisdom, we’ll be sharing reading lists from people all over the world. We know that books can significantly change our lives.
Tony Robbins Shares the Secrets of His Success
When then-President Bill Clinton was facing impeachment, a 31-year-old Tony Robbins got the call. “They’re going to impeach me in the morning, what should I do?” Robbins remembers Clinton saying. Since then, Robbins has coached a wide range of powerful people through very difficult times, often at a moment’s notice. In conversation with Dr. David B.
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