Figuring It Out

Today’s episode shows the link between trust and decision-making, and how we can use that information to create extraordinary experiences in our life. You’ll learn about how oxytocin affects trust and morality, why all our brains are a little weird, and the secret behind creating and enjoying truly immersive experiences.

Dr. Paul Zak is a scientist, entrepreneur, and author of several books such as “The Moral Molecule” and “Trust Factor: The Science of Building High-Performance Organizations.” He was part of the team of scientists that first made the connection between oxytocin and trust – his TED talk on the topic has received more than 1.4 million views. Paul researches and teaches at Claremont Graduate University, and is the founder of Immersion Neuroscience, the first Neuroscience-As-A-Service platform. His newest book is called “Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and Source of Happiness.”

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Today’s episode explores a fundamental question: is love a choice?

And if so, how do we find more of it, build it to last, and learn to let it go when it’s time?

Addiction in any form can impact decision-making in more ways than you may think. What would you do if forced to choose between the life you know vs. the life you could have?

Research has shown that addictive behaviors are symptoms of decision-making processes that fail to take into account long-term consequences of actions. These thinking errors can create unwanted challenges for finding clarity and making healthy choices. This episode features the story of author and recovery advocate Ed Kressy, who entered long-term recovery after a history of battling drug addiction. We discuss the impact of addiction on decisions and how his choice to find sobriety led him to a place he never could have imagined.

Interest in sabbaticals and nomadic living has surged in recent years. How do you know if it’s the right next step for you?

In this episode, we’ll talk with happiness expert Alienor Salmon about her decision to leave a successful career researching happiness at the UN to find and practice her own joy through dance.

We’ve entered an era where the pursuit of personal growth is prompting some people to question the nature of family and other long held relationships.

Deciding who we keep in our life can have a direct impact on happiness, but it doesn't always feel like the decision is ours to make. In some parts of the world, this is starting to change. In this episode of Figuring It Out, we explore one of the toughest decisions of them all - what to do when a close personal relationship no longer serves you. I’m speaking with entrepreneur and composer, Joachim Brackx, who talks about his decision of whether or not to continue speaking with his mother.

In this episode, we’ll hear from people who decided to leave their homes in Ukraine to seek safety, and those who opened their doors to offer it.

Over the last few months, the world came together to support those impacted by the war in Ukraine. And yet four months in, millions of refugees and asylum seekers continue to reckon with how to find work, learn new languages, pay for housing, and support their family at home.

Our story begins with Lilia and Nikol, two young women who left Ukraine for safety. Today they balance worrying for their family back home with the unexpected sense of adventure that comes from exploring a new land. We’ll also also hear from Yoithi and Sally-Anne, who sprang into action to turn their homes into safe spaces of refuge. Finally, we’ll hear from Chi, a student who traveled from Nigeria to Ukraine to pursue his dream of education, only to have to leave 2 months after arriving.

We’ll learn the surprising ways fighting for survival can impact decision-making, and what helping others in their moment of need can teach us about ourselves.

For more ways you can help, visit these resources recommended by today’s guests:

You know that feeling when you’re stuck on a decision and can't seem to find the answer? You might be trying to answer for the wrong thing.

On the first episode of Figuring It Out, we’ll begin our journey by understanding why decision-making is so hard to begin with…and what we can do about it. We’ll explore the reasons why we get stuck, and which tools can help us get ahead.