Live Happy

What if sensitivity was actually your greatest strength? In this episode, psychiatrist and author Dr. Sasha Hamdani explains the often‑misunderstood world of sensitivity — what it is, why it shows up the way it does, and how it can become one of our greatest strengths. Listen as she breaks down the science behind deep feeling and offers a fresh perspective on why sensitive people often thrive once they understand their wiring.

Michael Yang, founder of the online comparison-shopping company mySimon.com, has plenty of achievements to his name. He is an entrepreneur, tech pioneer, adventurer, and now author. In his debut memoir, Coming Alive on the Ride, he tells the story of a life defined by ambition, adversity, and self-discovery, against the backdrop of thousands of miles traveled on two wheels. But this isn’t just the story of a successful businessman riding motorcycles with his friends.

A favorite T-shirt has gone missing. Now the meltdown begins, and the world is coming to an end. Every parent has been there! Finding the T-shirt might solve the problem for now, but misplaced belongings can create a larger source of stress for families, leaving parents carrying the mental load. Fortunately, you don’t need a picture-perfect, Marie Kondo-approved home to make family life run more smoothly.

Back‑to‑school season isn’t just a transition for kids; it’s a major emotional and logistical shift for parents and other caregivers, too. In this episode, therapist Robin Hamilton talks about the invisible mental load caregivers carry, why this time of year feels so overwhelming, and how to create calmer, more intentional routines for yourself and your family.

For people experiencing homelessness, much of life can feel defined by circumstance. Isolation and stereotypes often overshadow talents and dreams. At Father Joe’s Villages in San Diego, a creative writing workshop is helping change the narrative by giving participants something powerful: a chance to be seen as artists. The workshop’s roots trace back to 2023, when grant writer and theater educator Aleta Barthell launched a playwriting program thanks in part to funding from California Humanities.

Back‑to‑school season looks fun in commercials, but for many kids and teens it brings anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional strain. In this episode, Dr. Bonnie Mitchell, clinical director of the Mental Health Treatment and Stabilization Center of Sacramento, explains why the transition is so challenging and what families can do to help children feel grounded and supported.

This week, Live Happy Now visits the mountains — not to climb them, but to learn from them. Alpinist and award-winning author Michael Schauch joins us to explore how nature, intuition, and the practice of “non‑self” can help us navigate a world that feels increasingly fast, loud, and divided. His stories from the Himalaya and his new book Anatta: Heart of Wisdom offer a grounded, hopeful way to move through troubled times with more clarity and compassion.

There are some stories kids request be read to them over and over (and over) again. The Café at the Edge of the Woods is one parents may just find themselves hoping their kids choose for the hundredth read. Written and illustrated by BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mikey Please, the picture book immerses readers in an expansive, cinematic-feeling world, featuring elaborate hand-drawn illustrations on each page.

Even in a world overflowing with tension, we are biologically wired for cooperation and connection. This week, Dr. Jeremy Pollack, a leader in conflict resolution and author of Wired for Peace, shares how we can keep disagreements from escalating and learn to regulate our nervous systems even during the most challenging discussions. Listen in to discover his practical tools for regulating our nervous system, staying curious, and building trust even in difficult relationships.

Stress has become so normalized in modern life that many people no longer recognize how overwhelmed they truly are. We live in a culture that rewards overworking, overcommitting, overthinking, and overstimulating ourselves. We answer emails while eating lunch. Scroll while watching television. Worry while trying to sleep. We push through exhaustion because there is always one more responsibility, one more obligation, one more crisis demanding our attention.