Paul J. Zak is a professor at Claremont Graduate University, where he directs the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies. He is ranked in the top 0.3% of the world’s most cited scientists, with over 200 published papers and more than 20,000 citations to his research. Paul’s two decades of research have taken him from the Pentagon to Fortune 50 boardrooms to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. Along the way he helped start a number of interdisciplinary fields including neuroeconomics, neuromanagement, and neuromarketing.

Paul has written four general audience books and is a regular TED speaker. His latest book, The Little Book of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Living Better (2025) aims to show people how to live a longer, happier and healthier life by investing in improved relationships. Zak’s other books are Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and Source of Happiness (2022), Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High Performance Companies (2017) and The Moral Molecule: The Source of Love and Prosperity (2012).

Trust Factor applies neuroscience to efficiently build high-performance organizations by creating a culture of trust. The Moral Molecule received much attention for Zak’s discovery of the key role played by the neurochemical oxytocin to explain virtuous behaviors and happiness. Zak delivered a TED Talk titled “Trust, Morality—and Oxytocin?” in 2011 that has been viewed two million times. He also co-founded the first neuroscience-as-a-service (NaaS) company, Immersion Neuroscience.

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Links:

• Website
• Claremont Graduate University webpage
• Most recent book: The Little Book of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Living Better (2025)
• Other books
• Six: emotional fitness app
• LinkedIn
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• Google Scholar
• “The Neuroscience of Trust,” Harvard Business Review, 2017

Timestamps:

[00:05:08] PlaySpan and human flourishing.

[00:09:46] Investing in relationships.

[00:10:41] Stress and bonding experiences.

[00:18:17] Strategies for improving relationships.

[00:28:55] Six high value experiences daily.

[00:35:35] Optimizing high-value experiences.

[00:39:12] Neuroscience of trust.

[00:46:27] Trust's role in flourishing.

[00:48:27] Strengthening relationships daily.

Michael Mannino, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist, AI expert, educator, and philosopher, whose work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, ethics, neuroscience, and optimal human performance. He holds a Ph.D. in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, an M.A. in Philosophy, and a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Science. He is an adjunct professor, and has taught AI ethics, cognitive psychology, critical thinking, and applied neuroscience.

Michael has led multiple initiatives focused on the responsible development, education, and application of AI, including serving as the Director of AI Center at Miami Dade College, and the Director of Programs at the Institute for Data Science and Computing at University of Miami. He also served as the Chief Science Officer at the Flow Research Collective, founded by Steven Kotler, where he researched the science that underscores ultimate human performance, flow, and well-being.

Michael’s current work integrates brain science, technology, and systems thinking to optimize team performance. What drives his work is a belief in human potential and consciousness – particularly how science and technology can be used to expand it responsibly.

Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com

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YouTube @flourishfmcast

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Timestamps:

[00:01:15] AI and human flourishing.

[00:05:06] Definition of human flourishing.

[00:09:01] AI in mental health therapy.

[00:14:45] AI as a therapeutic tool.

[00:18:34] AI's impact on parenting.

[00:21:38] Human flourishing and AI impact.

[00:28:37] Cognitive offloading.

[00:32:11] Impact of AI on learning.

[00:35:25] AI-assisted personal flourishing plan.

[00:41:52] AI ethics and responsibility.

David Radosevich, Ph.D., is a psychologist and coach specializing in high performance, leadership, and team culture. He is an associate professor of management for the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. He is also co-founder of Flow Prone, a flow and high performance training and coaching organization.

David has published peer-reviewed articles in leading academic journals and chapters in #1 international bestselling books. He works with C-suite leaders of Fortune 500 companies, and coaches individuals and leaders to enhance their leadership, teamwork, and emotional intelligence.

Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com

Follow us:

YouTube @flourishfmcast

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Facebook @flourishfmcast

Links:

• LinkedIn
• Academic webpage
• Flow Lab
• Publications

Timestamps:

[00:02:12] Defining flourishing.

[00:07:16] Psychological strengths and flourishing.

[00:11:49] Protective and promotive strengths.

[00:14:06] Self-efficacy and burnout prevention.

[00:19:06] Flourishing and anti-fragility contrast.

[00:20:27] Anti-fragility in mental performance.

[00:25:04] Self-talk and self-efficacy.

[00:28:56] Assessing optimism in individuals.

[00:31:48] Importance of optimism for flourishing.

[00:33:58] Gratitude-forward exercises.

[00:38:39] Flourishing as a daily activity.

[00:40:41] Psychological strengths in flourishing.