Happy & Free Podcast

I wrote recently about how I was able to help my son - who races go-karts - overcome a physical and mental slump. He dug deep and went on to win a championship. This whole episode got us thinking abou...

We recently took in the Boston Marathon. It's an amazing thing to watch elite runners slice through miles like a knife in hot butter without breaking a sweat. However, the majority of the runners seem...

A Bed & Breakfast still conjures up warm feelings of the past, long before chain hotels, when people checked in for more than a room. They wanted something that felt a bit like home and local tales an...

Your mind is a powerful thing. You can imagine great things and make them happen. You can also worry about things and end up going down a dark hole. What if you were to spend more time focusing on the...

Plants are great for the environment. They produce oxygen and can even purify the air in your home. Beyond those benefits, there are plenty of similarities between plants and your life. On this episod...

We plan for our financial future by putting aside money in a 401k or an IRA. Maybe it's a pension or equity in your big house that you plan to one day cash out. But have you taken a moment to plan for...

Some people excuse a little white lie; others boldly tell untruths. In some cases, it's about brushing off a nuisance, but others take to lying as a way to deceive, to polish an image, or to move ahea...

Falling in love is easy. Living in love is much more difficult. We all make quick and emotional decisions, and then wake up in a relationship that doesn't quite fit. It's like a pair of really nice sh...

  This is the time of year when we start getting all those tax related forms, so we can begin getting our papers in order. April is still a ways off, but it's never too early to start planning for wha...

We all breathe without thinking about it, but there's a special kind of breathing that can help you deal with some of life's everyday problems. For example: stress. You can let it tear you apart from ...

Everywhere we turn, someone is talking about what they don't like. Politics and government are at the top of the list. The shift in Washington has led to a lot of uncertainty and some people have take...

It works for young kids. Why shouldn't it do the same for adults? We're talking about taking a power nap. Kids don't like sitting still and aren't fond of being forced to take a nap in the middle of t...

It's the one day of the week that always seems to get a bad rap. Monday! While everyone seems to celebrate Friday and the beginning of a nice weekend, the other end of getting back to work and the rea...

At one time or another, someone in your family will ask for a loan. It may be just a few dollars or a lot more. Giving loans to family members or close friends can be tricky. First of all, it can lead...

The presidential inauguration takes place this week and Washington will be all abuzz as President Donald Trump officially takes over 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We thought it would be a good time to go ...

We did a podcast last year about the benefits of looking in the rearview mirror. You can learn from mistakes and make course corrections. But in this episode, we're looking at burying the past. Forget...

Did you do it yet? Are you thinking about it? Have you given up trying? What we're talking about is making and of course keeping New Year's resolutions. They typically have something to do with fitnes...

It's the end of a year that saw friends and families divided over politics. There used to be a civil discussion, but 2016 was different. People hit the "unfriend" button and brothers and sisters stopp...

How can you put the real spirit of Thanksgiving back into the holiday? Take a moment to jot down some things that you are thankful for. It doesn't have to be long. It's a good exercise around this tim...

Preparing for retirement is scary – but it doesn't have to be. Here is saving for retirement made simple.  When you think about saving for retirement, what comes to mind? Is it a piggy bank? A 401k? A...

Each stage of raising a child can present its own set of challenges, but the dreaded teen years can be especially difficult. There are so many changes going on inside and so many pressures on the outs...

There is a lot of evil in the world, and children often see the worst of it. Is it possible to push back against the trials our children face in just a single day? It may sound like a tired phrase: "k...

Here are a few personalized and unconventional tips for success.    There are plenty of books, online resources, and seminars that offer up a buffet of keys to success. Some promise an overnight rocke...

Couples don't always get along – but are you doing something small that's ruining your relationship? Find out what it is, and what you can do about it.     There are little things that can grind away ...

Are you one of those people who shows up late to everything? If so, why? Does it have to do with power, risk, or organization? Whatever bucket you fall into, you've got to listen to this week's podcas...

The recent breakup of Hollywood super couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stirred up talk yet AGAIN about celebrities and commitment. Why do we care?  What puts many of these high profile unions at ri...

Can you lose fat without diet or exercise, but just by changing your actions? That statement may not sound politically correct, but it's the way one entrepreneur has drawn attention to a problem he ha...

Things from the past should stay in the past, right? But how can inviting your past into your future help your life and actions now?  We hear so much about forgetting the past. "Put the past behind yo...

Being positive is hard; but here's a roadmap that makes it second nature. It isn't easy to be a constant state of happiness, but some amazing things can happen if you spend more time working on being ...

You want a break from life, but do you even know how? Here is the secret for truly taking a breather. Summer is now in the rearview mirror, but if you were like us, you had the chance to escape for a ...

Should movies go in a different direction, and should celebrities help fight diseases and the stigma surrounding them? Charlie Sheen told the world that he is HIV positive. Now he wants other stars wh...

What's the last concert you attended? Do you attend musical events frequently? Well listen up; dancing around at a concert will not just lead to sweat and perhaps ringing ears, but it could make you m...

TV supposedly isn't good for you – but there's a lot to be learned from the Tiny House concept that can change your daily living. How many of you can't get enough of those Tiny House shows on cable te...

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Whether it's a painful break or just a bump in the road, sometimes you need to hit reset on a relationship. How can you do it successfully, and healthily?   Isn't the honeymoon period such a sweet tim...

Are you ready to fight back against the fear that world events bring?   It seems no place is safe. Violent acts are happening all around the world, and in this ever connected society, we find out abou...

We give to the children of the world to make their lives better – but these children are giving back.   It turns out everyone in the world is not selfish. People with very little income and those with...

Who says you need a gym to get in shape or make yourself feel better? With these techniques, the world is your exercise machine. This is the season where the things that are covered up in winter are e...

Hate is a powerful word. We throw it around when talking about a movie that bombed or a restaurant that served up an unpleasant meal. But look around the world or right down the street and the more tr...

A child being diagnosed with cancer does not inspire hope – not for themselves, and not for others. But this family is flipping the script, and turning a tragic situation into a tool for hope.   No pa...

You know which ones we're talking about… Hearing "most embarrassing moments ever" probably conjures up a few horrible memories for you, but what if there was a way to forget about them? What if there ...

What no doubt comes immediately to mind is the flood of refugees coming from countries like Syria.   That is certainly part of issue, but seeking and giving refuge can happen all around us.   On our p...

A low-wage job doesn't mean a low-level future, especially not for your children. This man has proven that it's not the paycheck that makes the difference. Fred Vautour never attended college; neither...

Do you know what "zen" really is? "Zen" is making a revival, and in the modern age, it's taking on more dimensions than its hippie origins. The urban dictionary describes Zen as a: "total state of foc...

Every day we are bombarded with a hefty dose of negative news. Plane crashes, terrorist attacks, and murders rule the headlines.   Consuming so much negative news is not good for your health. In fact,...

What is R-E-S-P-E-C-T?  It is spelled out, belted out, by the great Aretha Franklin in that old but still fresh hit. We throw that word around a lot, but often times don't treat each other with much r...

Who needs complicated guidebooks when you could change your life for the better with five steps? Learn how today. If you've been making excuses or struggling to figure out the best way to live longer ...

How many times have you felt like throwing in the towel? It may be a difficult relationship or a job – one that was once great, but has quickly gone south. Whatever the challenge, it's human nature to...

Nobody wants to hear a doctor say the C-word. Cancer.  Evenhighly curable forms of the disease can instill fear ina patient. There's so much uncertainty and so manyquestions. People handle adversity i...