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Mental Health Speakers

 

The stigma about mental health may be slowly fading away, but there is still much work to be done. Lavin’s mental health speakers approach this important issue with sensitivity, respect, and new perspectives on what we can—and should—be doing personally and as businesses.

 

22
Mental Health
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

 Our society teaches us that self-compassion is the enemy of productivity; that to be kind to ourselves is to invite complacency. But in fact, the opposite is true, says Dr. Kristen Neff. A pioneer in the field of inner strength training and self-compassion, Neff is the first person to empirically study the concepts and create a simple, actionable guide proven to increase motivation, boost resilience, and improve mental health. As we emerge from the pandemic, when burnout is threatening the happiness, success, and productivity of us all, she shows us why we need self-compassion more than ever.
 
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 shows us how even slight adjustments to our breathing can profoundly improve our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
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.
Dan Lerner

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

Can success and happiness coexist? According to positive psychologist Daniel Lerner, everyone can accomplish their career goals and live well at the same time. Drawing from his “Science of Happiness” course—the most popular elective at New York University—and his cutting-edge research into high-performance professionals, Lerner’s talks show us how to create a life of well-being and excellence, at work and at home.
 
Jamil Zaki

Empathy Expert | Author of The War for Kindness | Director of Stanford's Social Neuroscience Lab

Cynicism—the belief that people are selfish—has been rising for decades. Stanford psychology professor Jamil Zaki can help us fight back against this trend. He’s a world leader in the science of human connection, and he’s tackling cynicism in a new way, as he laid out in a TED Talk that earned over a million views: cynicism is a “trap” that we fall into. When we think cynically, we are more likely to compete, suspect, and alienate others, bringing out the worst in them and spreading cynicism even further. Jamil shows us how to build anti-cynical workplaces that take intentional steps to promote cooperation and trust, and to create healthier, more successful cultures. 
 
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.” In his New York Times bestselling books and the talks drawn from them, 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.”
Ethan Kross

Leading Expert on the Conscious Mind | Author of Chatter

We all struggle to avoid overthinking in our work and our personal lives from time to time—but after a year of crisis and uncertainty, negative self-talk is on the rise like never before. Award-winning psychologist and author of the instant national bestseller Chatter, Ethan Kross studies how the conversations we have with ourselves shape our lives in surprising ways, from our health and our job performance, to our relationships and decision-making. His accessible, science-based talks reveal how we can harness our mind to improve productivity and well-being in our own lives, as well as help us become wiser leaders to others.
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.
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 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.
 
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.

 

Jonathan Metzl

Physician | Director, Department of Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University | Author of Dying of Whiteness

Can racial resentment have an impact on public health? In his explosive book Dying of Whiteness, psychiatrist, sociologist, and award-winning author Jonathan Metzl revealed how right-wing policies, rooted in white supremacy, have had destructive, often fatal consequences on our well-being. As the lopsided effects of the pandemic once again illuminate our inequities, he steers us toward a path of empathy, cooperation, and better health for all. Insightful and provocative, Metzl’s talks are a sorely needed intervention for a society confronting its biases and rebuilding anew.  
Jayson Greene

Author of Once More We Saw Stars, a Memoir

How do you overcome unimaginable grief to find meaning again? In his astonishing memoir, Once More We Saw Stars, JAYSON GREENE reckons with tragedy—the accidental death of his two-year-old daughter, Greta—and offers a testament of his family’s unwavering optimism in the face of loss. In profound talks based on this “intensely moving, life-affirming story” (Rolling Stone), Greene, speaks about grief, resilience, love, and above all, hope. 
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. Not one to shy away from anything, 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.  
Vijay Gupta

Founder of Street Symphony | 2018 MacArthur Fellow | TED Senior Fellow

Vijay Gupta is a violinist and educator whose efforts to merge music with mental health are changing the world, note by note. Gupta is the founder of Street Symphony—a musical advocacy program that empowers citizen-musicians by engaging with communities experiencing extreme poverty, incarceration, and homelessness. The results have been extraordinary.
 
Britt Wray

Science Writer and Author of Rise of the Necrofauna

Our climate change anxieties have never been more overwhelming—but they’re also the key to saving the planet. Britt Wray shows us how to embrace our complicated, messy emotions about the climate crisis. Her revolutionary scientific research on the psychological toll of climate change—outlined in her brilliant book Generation Dread—reveals a surprising truth: that acknowledging and dealing with climate anxiety helps us find purpose, avoid burnout, and solve both mental health and ecological problems.
 
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.
Michael Norton

Harvard Business School professor and researcher on the power of rituals | Co-author of Happy Money

From pre-game traditions to team-building exercises, rituals are intertwined in every facet of our lives. Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton, author of the forthcoming book The Ritual Effect, proves that rituals can help us in our everyday lives: from eating healthy to building connections to staying calm before a big presentation. Michael helps us harness the power of rituals to build stronger teams, improve our mental health, and find meaning in every aspect of our lives. 
Andrew Marantz

New Yorker Writer | Author of Antisocial

Social media has hijacked the global conversation. We face an informational crisis that is radicalizing youth, sowing confusion, and shaking democracy to its core. For his book, Antisocial, Andrew Marantz spent four years with the two groups who increasingly control the internet: the founders of social media platforms, and the conspiracists, trolls, and white supremacists who use them to advance their toxic agendas. With clarity, courage, and humor, Marantz explains how we got into this mess—and how we can get out. 
John Elder Robison

Author of Look Me in the Eye and Switched On

John Elder Robison grew up with Asperger’s Syndrome, and was undiagnosed until the age of 40. He has nevertheless lived an incredible life. In his new book Switched On, he describes how a powerful brain therapy has allowed him to sense other people’s feelings and claim a newfound emotional intelligence. A leading voice on autism, he implores audiences to find strengths where others see weaknesses. 
Candy Chang

Urban Space Artist Behind the "Before I Die" Walls

World-renowned artist and urban designer Candy Chang engages communities to share everything from their greatest hopes to their deepest anxieties in public. In her captivating and intimate talks, she demystifies the creative process, inspires personal reflection, and provokes new ideas for community and well-being.  
 
Adam Alter

New York Times Bestselling Author of Drunk Tank Pink and Irresistible

What makes us obsessively scroll through our phones, or binge-watch Netflix? There’s a fascinating psychology behind our addictive, tech-based behaviors, says Adam Alter. A New York Times bestselling author and Associate Professor of Marketing at NYU, Alter investigates the hidden forces shaping our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In talks, he explains what makes certain experiences irresistible, what consumers really think, and how we can navigate the attention economy.