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Happiness & Wellness Speakers

Solid mental and physical wellbeing in the workplace is the key to improving employee productivity and satisfaction. Our happiness and wellness speakers offer innovative solutions to fostering a culture of health and happiness that will have your employees feeling energized, motivated, and refreshed.

22
Happiness & Wellness
Speakers
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Dr. Kristin Neff

Author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself | Co-founder of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion

Dr. Kristin Neff is a pioneer in the field of inner strength training and self-compassion—the first to empirically study the concepts and create a simple, actionable guide proven to increase motivation, boost resiliance, and improve mental health. Our society teaches us that self-compassion is the enemy of productivity, that to be kind to ourselves is to invite complacency when in fact, the opposite is true—and in the midst of a global pandemic, when near catastrophic burnout is threatening the happiness, success, and productivity of us all, we need self-compassion more than ever.  
 
Cassie Holmes

Expert in Behavioral Decision-Making | Bestselling Author of Happier Hour | UCLA Professor

How do we increase our creativity, happiness, and ability to pay attention? We never seem to have enough time to do it all, but time isn’t only a challenge—it’s the solution. Cassie Holmes has practical, personal, enlightening strategies for how we can take control of time and use this precious resource wisely to make our lives brighter and happier.
 
James Nestor

New York Times Bestselling Author of Breath

Even before the pandemic hit, rates of workplace stress were on the rise. Add to that anxiety about finances, job security, and health, and you’re left with millions of people feeling burned out. Reminders to “breathe” during a time of such uncertainty and isolation run the risk of sounding banal. But according to science journalist James Nestor, it’s actually the key to transforming our lives—more than diet, sleep, or exercise. In his instant New York Times bestseller Breath, Nestor hows us how even slight adjustments to our breathing can profoundly improve our health and happiness.
Lori Gottlieb

Psychotherapist | Bestselling Author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Stories are the way we make sense of our lives—but we’re not always telling the right ones. Thankfully, Lori Gottlieb—therapist, New York Times bestselling author, and Atlantic columnist—is a masterful guide to editing and rewriting the narratives that keep us stuck. Through her massively popular book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone—now being adapted for television by Eva Longoria—and her viral new TED talk, Gottlieb shows us that vulnerability isn’t a weakness, but a compelling leadership tool; that our external circumstances don’t have to dictate our lives; and that we can consciously create meaning anywhere—at work, at home, and in relationships.
Ethan Kross

Leading Expert on the Conscious Mind | Author of Chatter

Tell a stranger that you talk to yourself, and you’re likely to be written off as eccentric—but the truth is, we all have a voice in our head. When we talk to ourselves, we hope to tap into our inner coach, but unfortunately, we often find our inner critic instead. Ethan Kross, an award-winning psychologist and the author of Chatter, studies how the conversations people have with themselves impact their health, performance, decisions, and relationships. His talks help us harness the hidden power of our inner voice and use it to live happier, healthier, and more satisfying lives. 
Johann Hari

New York Times Bestselling Author of Stolen Focus | 80 Million TED Talk Views

“Every human being has basic psychological  needs,” says journalist Johann Hari. “And there is growing evidence that our culture isn’t meeting those psychological needs for many—perhaps most—people.” Hari’s authentic, personal perspective is changing how we treat and what we believe about mental illness and addiction, consistently  bringing audiences to their feet.
 
Tracy Dennis-Tiwary

Bestselling author of Future Tense | Clinical psychologist and researcher | Digital health technology entrepreneur

With stress and burnout spiking, many of us believe that our lives would be better if only we were less anxious. But Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary says our anxiety is actually good for us, even though it feels bad. Anxiety helps us focus, create, and plan. As a clinical psychologist and author of Future Tense, Tracy provides a radical new framework for managing this misunderstood emotion and using it to our advantage. “When we stop rejecting anxiety,” she says, “we will be better able to channel it, manage it, and use it to prioritize what matters to us in life.”
Dan Lerner

Positive Psychologist | Instructor of NYU’S “The Science of Happiness”

Can success and happiness coexist? According to positive psychologist Daniel Lerner, we can all accomplish our career goals and live well. Lerner’s talks teach us to achieve greatness through rediscovering our core strengths and finding meaning in our work. 
Emily Esfahani Smith

Journalist and Author of The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters

Meaning, not happiness, is the key to a good life. That’s the vital message at the core of Emily Esfahani Smith’s book, The Power of Meaning, which outlines four pillars essential to living a life that matters: belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling. 
 
John Kaag

Chair of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts, Lowell | Award-winning author of Sick Souls, Healthy Minds

John Kaag believes philosophy is the “stuff of everyday life.” The Chair of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and an award-winning author of several books, he explores topics important to all of us: our mental and physical health, our happiness and emotional wellbeing, and how we can find our deeper purpose. In the aftermath of a pandemic that brought the world great suffering and collective trauma, Kaag’s work is especially timely, revealing how we can consciously respond to grief and move forward with hope and pragmatism. His talks—intimate, soulful, and wise—teach us how to develop a personal philosophy that will ultimately help us lead better, more fulfilling lives.

 

Alexandra Samuel

Digital workplace expert | Author of Remote, Inc.

Whether you’re working from home full-time or experimenting with the hybrid workplace of the post-pandemic era, you deserve to thrive and excel. That means embracing a brand-new approach to working, says data journalist and remote work professional Alexandra Samuel. In her new book Remote Inc., she helps audiences shift their mindsets to find the joy in work, no matter where they are.
Nathan Pyle

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Strange Planet

How often do we get to see the world as though it were brand new? Rarely, if ever. That’s what makes Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet—an Internet sensation and #1 New York Times bestselling book—so special. Deeply funny and slightly surreal, the comic follows adorable inhabitants of a strangely familiar planet as they act out their favorite traditions, and in the process, holds a mirror to the absurdity of our own behavior. Having gained over 5 million Instagram followers in less than a year, it’s clear Pyle’s work has struck a meaningful chord around the world, and his talks are equally as delightful. With humor and heart, he shows us how to find inspiration and creativity in the fabric of our daily surroundings. 
 
Laurence Steinberg

Leading Expert on Adolescence and the Parent-Child Relationship | Award-Winning Psychologist | Author of You and Your Adult Child

What it means to be an adult in your 20s and 30s has changed dramatically in one generation. Parents of children in this age range are wondering how to parent in a world that is so different from when they were younger—and Dr. Laurence Steinberg has the answers. He’s one of the world’s leading developmental psychologists, and the author of the forthcoming You and Your Adult Child: the first, and only, comprehensive guide for parents of adult children. He shows how young adulthood has changed, and how parents and children can work together to navigate this crucial life stage. 
Laurel Braitman

Bestselling author of Animal Madness and What Looks Like Bravery | Director of Writing and Storytelling at the Stanford School of Medicine

Our stories don’t just give us the power to communicate—they give us the power to heal. New York Times bestselling author and Stanford professor Laurel Braitman is a driving force in bridging the gap between storytelling and the medical world. She works with doctors and medical students—who, like many other frontline workers, are facing record levels of burnout—and proves that the simple act of telling our own stories can help build community, improve mental health, and equip us with the communication skills we need to make a real difference for those around us.
 
Shabnam Mogharabi

CEO and Executive Producer of SoulPancake | New York Times Bestselling Author

In a world of political propaganda, online extremists, and social media clickbait, SoulPancake stands apart. A platform recognized for its positive, uplifting media, it aims to celebrate humanity and explore life’s big questions. As its CEO and Executive Producer, alongside The Office’s Rainn Wilson, Shabnam Mogharabi is responsible for inspiring and growing an online community of over 10 million fans. Her riveting talks explore everything from fostering creativity and finding your authentic voice, to why purpose is the most powerful asset a business can have.
Charles Montgomery

Urban Design Consultant, Award-Winning Journalist, & Author of Happy City

How can we be happier in cities? Charles Montgomery looks for answers at the intersection of urban design and the new science of happiness. In psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics, and in cityscapes from Disneyland to Dubai, he explores the link between the ways we design our cities and the ways we think, feel, and act.  
Francesca Gino

Author of Sidetracked and Rebel Talent | Behavioral Scientist | Harvard Business School Professor

Small, simple, and seemingly irrelevant factors often have profound consequences on our behavior and ability to stick to our decisions. In her talks, Francesca Gino explains exactly why our decisions get derailed and what we can do to stick to the plan—at work, in our personal lives, and as organizations. 
 
Robb Willer

Prof. of Social Psychology & Organizational Behavior at Stanford | Director of the Polarization and Social Change Lab

Our current political climate hasn’t been this polarized since the Civil War, says social psychologist and speaker Robb Willer. The antidote? “Moral reframing,” which teaches opposing groups to advocate for their beliefs through the lens of their opponent’s. Willer’s brilliant, timely talks provide both the wisdom and tools needed to challenge polarization at a time when we need it more than ever.
 
 
David Yeager

Expert in the Psychology of Persistence | Asst Prof. of Developmental Psychology at University of Texas, Austin

To achieve, we need more than inborn ability—we need the right mindset. David Yeager is a leading expert in grit, performance, and the growth mindset: the belief that we can change, adapt, and make progress.
 
Karl Subban

Leadership Speaker, Educator, and Father of NHL Star P.K. Subban | Author of How We Did It

Karl Subban is a former school principal in one of Toronto’s toughest neighbourhoods, and the father of five children, including three NHL players. He’s dedicated his life to helping others reach their potential—to be better at their careers, and as people.
Michael Landsberg

Mental Health Speaker | Founder of #SickNotWeak

Brash and witty, Michael Landsberg has all the charisma of the veteran TV and radio host he is. Landsberg is also one of Canada’s most vocal advocates for mental health awareness. Relating his own struggle with depression, he explains why mental illness isn’t a weakness—and how, together, we can beat stigma, fight back, and save lives. 
Jonathan Fader

Performance Psychologist | Former Director of Mental Conditioning for the New York Giants | Author of Life as Sport

When C-Suite executives, celebrity athletes, and emergency first responders want to improve their performance in high-stakes situations, they turn to Dr. Jonathan Fader. A performance psychologist to the nation’s top business leaders, and the former Director of Mental Conditioning for the New York Football Giants and the New York Mets, Fader applies proven psychological techniques from high-pressure, high-reward scenarios to everyday work and life situations.