Unlocking Happiness with Amy Dix

David Nordel, retired USAF Command Chief Master Sergeant, registered nurse, and emergency manager, served as a medic in areas of operation, including but not limited to the “surge.” In efforts to stem casualties, Nordel developed the Maximum Fabulous organizational attitude that led to a 99.5% survival rate.

Amy Dix talks with Best-Selling Author of Giving Back! Life and Leadership From The Farm To The Combat Zone and Beyond. As a proponent of the sentiment, “knowledge is power, but only when shared,” David Nordel speaks an infinite wisdom on setting the right attitude into action. As a farm raised youth turned to military medic, building a positive attitude is David’s forte.

Vision plus action is what changes the world. One without the other . Paola Knecht talks with Amy Dix about the success mindset starting with confidence and getting past what we offer as external reasons for others success. Its not about the money we start with, or natural talent; its a decision we have to make for ourselves. Success isn’t handed out, it’s up for grabs.

How symbolic is it to have a vocalist speaking as an advocate for owning your voice? Mariama shares her story of touring with the Lion King to the ‘what’s next’ we’re often asked in life.

Her lessons in theatre apply so perfectly to life outside of touring, from the power of community to the benefit of breathing. Amy and Mariama talk about the importance of communication because “once you open your mouth, you share who you are with the world.”

We have lost ourselves in a chase for something tangible, and we’ve forgotten that it’s a feeling we’re all after: love, connection, safety, and acceptance. We fear rejection. How do we chase the feeling and get off the hamster wheel of perpetual disappointment?

Kind companies get more business. When you’re living a more thoughtful life, you’re going to be more fulfilled, happier, and more profitable. But more importantly, you’re making a difference.

Amy Dix and Jill Lublin take a peak inside Jill’s newest book, The Profit of Kindness, as a jump start to practicing kindness to benefit everyone surrounding you in business.

Books:

Musical Director of Hamilton (the globally sensational musical), author of children’s book, Captain Perfection, and just a human being, perfectionism might be rearing its head.

At age 43, Julian suffered a heart attack. Cause? Workaholism and perfectionism.

As a young boy, Julian’s piano teacher was his mom, and playing the right note often felt like the only way to gain parental love. When we strive for perfection as a kid, we set up the rest of our lives for some unnecessary pressure. Julian and Amy talk about Perfect Equilibrium, a balancing act to find the simple bliss of life.

What do you say to a kid being bullied at school by their teachers? Many times, adults are teaching bullying to children. They role model the behavior and preach not to be a bully. Dr. Jennifer Fraser discusses bullying and the dynamic lessons neuroscience has on personal development and cultural change.

Fraser talks with Amy Dix about the advantages we have today in identifying brain damage using brains-scans like we’ve used X-rays to identify broken bones. We have the power to identify and heal. We ignore the physical scars on the brain, leave science behind, and underestimate how much we know.

Born with a unique heart defect, Julianne Williams doctor asked her to take it easier for the rest of her life. Surgery at five years old removed a few restrictions, but a typical childhood playtime was still off the table. Advised not to have children, she parented two. Her husband’s bipolar disorder led her to be a single mother.

Julianne leads with HOPE; heal, opportunity, purpose, and execution. She shares her struggle and climb with Amy Dix.

Financial Mindset starts as early as childhood. We learn tendencies and emotional responses to our financial welfare, which can affect how we perceive happiness.

Dawna Campbell, The Mind Whisperer and financial savant, joins Amy Dix in connecting happiness and financial well-being. Are the two heavily correlated?

Deborah Hawkins asks that you think about gratitude beyond an appreciation for what has happened to you. First, spend some time understanding what it is that you genuinely love. Big things and small things, all included, these thought formations are the foundation of a life you’ll appreciate building.

Amy Dix talks with Deborah Hawkins about gratitude after experiencing a traumatic childhood.

Books:

Were we brainwashed to believe we should all live a magazine-style life? Should we look a certain way, walk, talk, and act with unique…sexual appeal? Do we need to perpetuate the angst of being single versus married?

After a spinal tap at age four and brain surgery at age thirteen, Bishoy Tadros is here to share his legacy as a soon-to-be father. Survival is not the word chosen to share as his wisdom, but instead sharing what his parents taught him about the “three P’s.” Patience. Perspective. Purpose.

Amy Dix talks with the author of Break Barriers, Bishoy Tadros, about what it takes to keep running the race, both literally and figuratively.

When we share our challenges, we permit others to share theirs. This opening up allows the conversation to move, the challenges to resolve, and the relationships to grow.

Rhada Ruparell talks with Amy Dix about her time writing Brave Now while recovering from COVID-19 and how her life changed when facing uncertainty.

Book:

Brave Now: Rise Through Struggle and Unlock Your Greatest Self

Website:

Can an automated text message save a life? At least, can it change a life? If change for the better starts with a simple reminder, why not start today?

Johnny Crowder talks with Amy Dix about mental health struggles from adolescent to adult. Change starts with a decision, and the decision can be counseling, exercise, or finding a happy little daily reminder in your text messages.

Websites:

Let’s ditch some of the counseling cliche talk and take action. Start by doing something for yourself. If you can schedule an appointment, you can schedule some time for yourself.

Faust Ruggiero talks with Amy Dix about some easy actions we can take to make confrontations easier or slow down life’s pace to be happy.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Is perspective a path to a happier life? Krista shares the struggle of raising four kids on her own, or at least without their father. She encourages the maternal push, a driving force that was inspired through her spiritual connection. Today, she talks through those challenges.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Don’t be the corporation that’s going to die on the vine. Sarah Olin talks with Amy Dix about how companies can adapt to benefit everyone within. From understanding special health to leading the basic needs for proper maternity leave, Sarah Olin helps corporations work with parents for integrated success.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Cancer survivor, competitive cyclist, and pickleball athlete David Meine goes to town on leaky gut, eating sugar and the magic of poop. How does this relate to being happy? It’s approaching happiness from the literal message of being happy from the inside out.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

“Iowa Nice” doesn’t mean you have to hide your voice. Beth shares an intimate conversation with her husband from left field. What do you do when everything flips 180 degrees?

Sometimes, the things that are out of your control are the impetus to building your voice.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Is there a right or wrong, or is it the integrity of intent and quality of action? Author, Joni Roberts, talks with Amy Dix about redefining compassion, making relationships more meaningful, and truly understanding the language of emotion.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Has society finally accepted anxiety? The conversation about anxiety continues to grow; accepting and understanding it starts with a conversation. More often than not, we are in positions where we are required to hide our anxiety, but does this not perpetuate the problem?

Amy Dix talks with author Wendy Tamis Robbins about living with anxiety that started very early. Wendy discusses visualizations, or meditations, that keep the anxiety at bay, as well as explaining exposure therapy.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Thanks to social media - celebrities, and royalty have made it acceptable to talk about mental health, but has it become trendy, or has social media worsened our mental health? Who is ok to talk about mental health struggles with, and when is not?

Greg and Amy discuss the attenuation of judgment. “Who am I to judge,” might be the best phrase you repeat to yourself to boost your mental health.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Finding happiness is sometimes a product of reverse engineering rather than making a concerted effort to fix depression. Hindsight helps us highlight some of our decisions influenced by uncontrollable outside sources, such as our parents.

Super Joe and Super Amy discuss Joe’s approach to building on dreams and focussing on the positive. While the past remains in the back of the mind, the focus is on the goals.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Sometimes we need to stop adulting and just play. Mike Branon says that there is more to life than building that balance sheet, but let’s just start with a pause. From dinking to Buddhism, Mike shares some playful, relaxing, and entertaining ways to enjoy everything a little more.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

There are habits of inequality, and that’s where change starts. From the time we’re very young, boys are taught to be brave, and girls are taught to be perfect. What if we’re all just taught the same things?

Laurie Levin talks with Amy Dix about some unconscious inequalities that persist every day in many countries worldwide.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Website:

Discussing mental health with others normalizes anxiety to a manageable place. Carrie Thompson shares her growth after discovering the root of her anxiety.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

What do you say to someone fighting cancer? Donna Deegan, a three-time cancer survivor, shares the story of pacing herself through the fight. She says that making a change is about making a decision, but it’s ok to let yourself feel what you feel.

Now, Donna heads a mission and a marathon to provide financial support and assistance to those living with breast cancer.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

What do a hostage negotiator, book author, hospital administrator, and high-school basketball coach all have in mind? Terry Tucker. With an amputated leg, Terry didn’t stop doing. His simple message is, “keep fighting,” and the reemergence of cancer multiple times is only part of the fight.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Lost in social-media highlights? FOMO? People Pleasing? Nina Obier discusses some ways to jump-start your clarity, like basic journaling prompts.

You’re with yourself the most - enjoy it! A little procrastination can lead to feeling overwhelmed, which perpetuates one’s ability to get motivated. Get started today in the easiest of ways.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

The corporate strategy of the hustle and pushing the rocks uphill is exhausting and unfulfilling. What happens to us when we stop holding back on great ideas in fear of judgment?

Michelle McGlade worked in corporate, busted out of corporate (with a similar corporate mindset and strategy), and then voilà, let’s try something different! Michelle shares the epiphany moment that led to more than just escaping the mundane in today's story.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Website:

Why do we ignore our minds? Your mind is the arbiter of your existence. Everything that happens to us is processed through our minds. John McGrail speaks with Amy Dix about hypnotherapy and preparing your mind for change, which human beings are hardwired to resist. If it’s as simple as living your life to have fun, why not convince yourself that?

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Book:

Dreams evolve; roll with it. Connie talks with Amy Dix about fulfilling your dreams by understanding how they change as we grow. In pursuing your dreams, help someone else - it’s the little things we do for ourselves and others that change the world.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Entrepreneurs aren’t risk-takers; they’re optimists. This aversion to risk-taking is often what stunts business growth. Warren talks with Amy about focussing on a business’s positive impact to drive a business forward.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Podcast: businesses that matter spotlight

Being healthy doesn’t have to be an exhausting chore. Simple tasks can make a more significant impact on our health than most of us believe. Henry talks with Amy Dix about simple ways to improve physical health, like cutting out cold cuts or simply going outside.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

“If you focus on your body at the gym, you’re likely going to come out of that funk.” Laura Khoudari went from hating the gym to gaming the gym for mental clarity. Here’s a story of how a herniated disc led to understanding the science behind exercising for mental health.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

A detox doesn’t stop on the physical side; meditation can go a long way. Rochel talks about her personal exploration and relief after practicing Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medicine that predates all medical practices except primitive herbal medicine.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

Podcast: Blissful Living

What’s the thought connected to the emotion? Ora Nadrich talks with Amy Dix about understanding the simplest form of authenticity and meditation. It isn’t about always being in a great mood but having the tools to identify the feeling and communicate it. “Mindfulness is the informal practice of meditation,” Ora Nadrich.

Tonya Todd shares some of her activities you can use to improve your relationships and, yes, intimacy! It's easy to fall into a pattern, but sometimes it's fun to shake things up. "Love is an exercise; you have to work at it," Tonya says. Not only does Tonya share some activities that work great, but she also shares how some can end in a laugh.

Excuses are easy to find, and struggles are real, but what we do with them is how we define growth. Rodney Burris talks with Amy Dix about breaking free from social expectations. Embrace the healing.

Carla Bass, known affectionately as The Major with the Silver Pen, teaches word sculpting. She says, “the author who best leverages the readers’ time and available space wins.” Bass shares techniques to improve your writing for resumes, grants, scholarships, performance reviews, contract bids, and fiction.

Many of us are guilty of finding joy in the next big raise, the bigger house, the external identifiers. Larry and Amy discuss how joy starts internally. With a painful childhood, Larry shares his story of forgiveness and releasing judgment.

Rene Murata chats with Amy Dix about her experience as a woman in a male-dominated industry. A lot of women might fear their visibility in the workplace as not to compete. However, the answer doesn’t have to be assertiveness without compassion. Being a leader involves both, assertiveness and compassion, without disregarding authority and kindness.

It’s ok to talk about sex. In fact, Anabelle Bugatti even encourages it. Discussing what goes on in the bedroom starts outside of the bedroom and having safety in your relationship. Anabelle and Amy discuss ways to approach the conversation about the birds and the bees without feeling awkward or antiquated.

What are the benefits of being introverted? Often discussed are the challenges of introversion. Steve talks with Amy Dix about understanding who you are and being comfortable in your skin.

In pursuit of happiness, check out the internet’s happiest podcast!

“Cult kids understand cult kids because of what they do to you in the developmental stages.” Lisa Kohn tells Amy Dix about her life as moonie, how her mom was too busy with religion to parent, why dad was called Danny, and learning to love yourself first.

Lisa shares stories of brainwashing, abandonment, and drugs where you’d least expect them but reminds listeners and readers; anyone who feels damaged beyond repair still has hope.

Peter Ruppert poses the question, “what if we approached life with the same fearless wonderment as an eight-year-old boy?” Peter discusses how sometimes taking a little risk is an excellent move for chasing extraordinary. We live with our fears and create limits. Peter and Amy discuss some tools to break down those boundaries.

Moving forward with freedom, Candy Leigh successfully maneuvered her way through being robbed twice, laid off twice, and going through this while recovering from back surgery. Candy speaks candidly with Amy Dix about perspective and finding a new balance with work, passion, and the monetary aspects. Candy also shares the ‘why’ we don’t need to hide all of our shame and how the stories we share can often help others.

What do you do when a doctor tells you that you have six months left to live? Dr. Allen Lycka lives to tell the story. After being inaccurately diagnosed with ALS, Dr. Lycka felt a growing need to share some wisdom about spending all of your days with enthusiasm. What do we have the most control over? -Our attitudes. Enthusiasm is NOT a Monday thing, he says.