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.

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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.

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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.

Matthew Lee, Ph.D., is a Research Associate at the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, a member of the Global Study of Human Flourishing research team, and Director of the Human Flourishing Program's Flourishing Network. He is Professor of the Social Sciences and Humanities at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University and a Distinguished Visiting Scholar of Health, Flourishing, and Positive Psychology at Stony Brook University’s Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics, as well as a Visiting Scholar at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Matthew’s current research explores topics such as well-being and flourishing, benevolent service to others, and the integration of social science and the humanities. He is co-editor of Measuring Well-Being: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from the Social Sciences and the Humanities and Leadership for Flourishing, both published by Oxford University Press, as well as, Transcending Crisis by Attending to Care, Emotions, and Flourishing (Routledge, 2023).

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Timestamps:

[02:49] Global Flourishing Study overview.

[08:18] Understanding flourishing through context.

[00:12:43] Flourishing vs. Resilience Debate.

[00:17:01] Wholeness amidst adversity.

[00:22:20] Harmonizing well-being across outcomes.

[00:27:01] Negative relationship between GDP and flourishing.

[00:32:08] Japan's unique societal challenges.

[00:36:45] Spirituality and community impact.

[00:42:06] Lifelong effects of childhood experiences.

[00:44:31] Researching human flourishing data.

Dr. Alison Jane Martingano is a social psychologist at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, where she leads the Social Research Lab dedicated to investigating empathy and perspective-taking. She has published her research in leading academic journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Social Psychological and Personality Science, and Popular Media.

Alison hosts the fortnightly Psychology & Stuff podcast, chatting with psychologists and Green Bay locals about topics ranging from sports to false confessions. In addition, she blogs for Psychology Today, translating cutting-edge psychology research into clear, relatable insights.

As an immigrant and military wife, Alison appreciates the difficulties and opportunities that communicating with those dissimilar from ourselves can bring. She is a passionate educator and TEDx speaker and hopes to inspire her students, and others, to nurture empathy in a changing world.

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Links:

• Website
• Academic webpage
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Google Scholar
• Psychology Today blog
• Psychology and Stuff podcast
• TEDx Talk: “How to train your empathy muscles”

Timestamps:

00:01:51 - Defining Empathy and Perspective Taking 00:03:08 - Types of Empathy and Research Disagreements 00:07:07 - Negative Effects of Mirroring Negative Emotions 00:11:01 - Empathy Without Negative Emotional Mirroring 00:15:10 - Is Empathy Always Good? 00:17:47 - The Paradox of Empathy and Helping Behavior 00:18:42 - Compassion as a Buffer Against Burnout 00:20:41 - The Warm Glow of Helping Others 00:25:25 - Chosen Suffering and Antifragility 00:26:15 - The Upper Limit of Compassion 00:27:21 - Empathy and Burnout: Positive and Negative Connections 00:30:27 - Practical Strategies for Developing Empathy 00:32:29 - Recommended Books for Building Empathy 00:34:06 - Summary of Empathy Types and Benefits 00:35:03 - Practical Strategies to Avoid Burnout While Building Empathy 00:35:36 - Controversial Tip: Eavesdropping to Build Empathy 00:36:46 - Children Learning Empathy Through Observation 00:37:14 - Safe Settings for Practicing Perspective Taking 00:42:09 - Role-Playing and Social Networks in Empathy Development 00:42:55 - “Toxic Empathy”: Misunderstandings and Clarifications

We’re delighted to host two guests on today’s show, both of whom are expert psychotherapists and counselling psychologists: Dr. Ritika Suk Birah – AKA “Dr. Ritz” – and Dr. Victoria Uwannah.

Ritz is a counselling psychologist specializing in guiding high-performing individuals toward profound self-awareness and transformative growth. She studied neuroscience and psychology at King’s College London and has a Ph.D. in psychotherapeutic and counselling psychology. With over 12 years experience in the clinical field, she delivers sought-after mental health and well-being programs rooted in neuroscience.

Ritz balances her time between individual therapy, giving keynote talks, delivering workshops and developing bespoke programs for workplaces. Her work focuses on mental health, resilience, and the power of reflection, delivering actionable strategies that inspire and motivate.​

Ritz co-hosts the Therapy Floor podcast with our second guest, Dr. Victoria Uwannah.

Victoria is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with a Ph.D. in psychotherapeutic and counselling psychology. She’s been working in mental health for over 15 years, including for the UK’s National Health Service and in education, providing therapeutic and consultation services.

Victoria is trained in several therapy modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, mentalization-based therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy. Her experience has covered working with individuals at all stages of life, as well as more specialist areas such as group therapy, relational work with couples and families, schools and corporate environments. Her aim across all these individuals and groups is the same: to bring clarity, compassion and understanding to people to propel them towards change and help them lead fulfilling lives.

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Ritz links:

• Website
• Reflect with Dr. Ritz
• Podcast: The Therapy Floor
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• YouTube
• Facebook

Victoria links:

• Website
• Podcast: The Therapy Floor
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Timestamps:

00:01:22 - Welcoming Dr. Ritz and Dr. Victoria 00:01:57 - Main Struggles Preventing Flourishing 00:04:18 - The Role of Authenticity in Flourishing 00:07:03 - The Dark Side of Constantly Striving to Flourish 00:08:32 - Understanding Authenticity 00:10:31 - The Importance of Somatic Awareness 00:12:57 - The Role of Intuition 00:14:21 - Practical Strategies 00:17:04 - Cultivating Trust in Yourself and the Process 00:23:44 - Strategies for Building Resilience and Emotional Regulation 00:34:16 - The Bi-Directional Nature of Emotion Regulation 00:40:47 - Acceptance and Distress Tolerance 00:44:49 - Final Thoughts on Flourishing

Dr. Satchin Panda is a world-leading expert in circadian rhythm research. He’s an Associate Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a Pew Scholar, and a recipient of the Dana Foundation Award in brain and immune system imaging.

Satchin is the author of two best-selling books, The Circadian Code and The Circadian Diabetes Code.

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Links:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Book: The Circadian Code: Supercharge Your Energy and Sleep Well Every Night (2018)
• On Time Health

Timestamps:

[00:06:29] Circadian rhythms and health.

[00:09:35] Circadian rhythm disruption examples.

[00:18:01] Shift work and health risks.

[00:27:49] Circadian rhythm and body clocks.

[00:34:36] Eating timing and sleep quality.

[00:39:05] Balancing social and physical health.

[00:45:31] Sleep-wake cycle and caffeine.

[00:50:49] Sleep's impact on daily function.

[00:54:31] Circadian rhythms and diabetes.

Stephanie Harrison is an expert in the science of happiness, author of the international bestseller New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World that’s Got It Wrong (2024), and creator of the new happy philosophy.

In New Happy, Stephanie argues that the secret to happiness is helping others, and that by adopting this philosophy in our lives, we will be able to solve the world's toughest problems.

Stephanie leads an international movement devoted to spreading the New Happy philosophy. Her organization, the New Happy, reaches millions of people around the world every month, offering award-winning art, a podcast, a newsletter, articles, and unique tools for building happiness.

Stephanie speaks about happiness, culture, and leadership at companies around the world, and has been featured in publications including the New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes, Fast Company, Oprah Daily, Harvard Business Review, BigThink, and more. She is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies and has been recognized as one of the top 25 global leaders in mental health.

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Links:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• TikTok
• YouTube
• Substack
• Book: The New Happy: Getting Happiness Right In A World That’s Got It Wrong (2024)

Timestamps:

[03:55] Old happy and its beliefs.

[07:21] How worldview shapes happiness.

[11:10] Paths to happiness.

[18:14] Old happy vs. new happy.

[21:28] Helping as the core of happiness.

[28:54] Individualism and its consequences.

[32:36] Autonomy and social connection.

[34:44] Self-acceptance and perfectionism strategies.

[38:01] Self-acceptance and personal growth.

[42:49] Self-acceptance vs. perfectionism.

[46:47] Happiness is shared.

Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author who is passionate about helping people with all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. His early educational experiences made him realize the deep reservoir of untapped potential of students, including bright and creative children who have been diagnosed with a learning disability. He is among the top 1% most cited scientists in the world for his research on intelligence and creativity.

Scott is a professor of psychology at Columbia University and director of the Center for Human Potential. He has also been a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and NYU. He hosts The Psychology Podcast which has received over 30 million downloads and is widely considered among the top psychology podcasts in the world.

Scott’s writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review, and he is the author and editor of 10 books, the most recent of which is Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential, published in April 2025.

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Links:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• The Psychology Podcast
• Books

Timestamps:

[00:01:34] What is a victim mindset?

[00:03:52] Vulnerable narcissism in culture.

[00:10:30] Honest love vs. victim mindset.

[00:12:54] Victim mindset and self-actualization.

[00:17:44] Victim mindset and empowerment.

[00:20:43] Victim to self-esteem issues.

[00:27:20] Collective victimhood and empowerment.

[00:30:24] Malevolent intent in ambiguity.

[00:34:07] Victim mindset in everyday life.

[00:39:28] Virtuous victim mindset.

[00:41:29] Final thoughts on human potential and growth.