Happiness, Made Human (with Austin Hill Shaw)

Happiness often feels slippery—too abstract to hold, too dependent on luck or perfect circumstances. We take a different path and lay out a grounded map you can actually use. The conversation with Austin Hill Shaw centers on three core human needs that, together, create a durable sense of wellbeing: connection, contribution, and meaning. Rather than chasing a mood, we practice a rhythm that returns us to what makes life feel alive.

Austin's website: AustinHillShaw.com

We start with connection in its many layers: a kinder relationship with ourselves, a deeper bond with loved ones, and a lived sense of belonging to neighborhood and the natural world. You’ll hear how our “time traveling” minds pull us into the past and future, and how simple attention—breath, body, and presence—brings us back. From there, we turn to contribution as the desire to matter. We explore how to match your real strengths to real needs, why small acts of service change your day’s shape, and how to protect generosity from burnout with clear boundaries and honest pacing.

Finally, we unpack meaning in two parts. There’s the framework that helps life make sense—your philosophy, spiritual path, or guiding principles—and there are those ineffable moments that words can’t hold: birth, grief, awe in nature, music that cracks you open. We talk about inviting awe without forcing it, and about letting meaning guide decisions when the world feels noisy. By the end, you’ll have a simple, memorable model you can act on today: connect, contribute, and cultivate meaning. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a steadier map, and leave a quick review telling us which pillar you’re working on next.

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