Action for Happiness

Designer and author Ingrid Fettel-Lee joins Mark to explore how our surroundings shape emotions and how small, repeatable moments of joy build resilience. Drawing on design, psychology and practical exercises, Ingrid guides listeners through "joy spotting," micro-rituals and simple environment changes—color, light, plants and shapes—that make daily life more uplifting.

The episode offers actionable tips for creating and sharing joy, balancing grief and care for others, and using tiny practices to reset stress and strengthen wellbeing. Resources mentioned include a free "50 Ways to Create Joy" guide and joyful conversation starters for home and work.

In this episode Mark Williamson speaks with Dr. Michael Steger, founder of the Center for Meaning and Purpose, about reclaiming meaning and purpose amid modern life’s chaos.

They explore three pathways to meaning—significance (mattering), coherence (making sense of life), and purpose (motivated action)—and offer practical tips for cultivating each, including savoring, storytelling, community connection, and healthy boundaries.

Listeners are invited to reflect on their life chapters, support others’ sense of meaning, and act kindly to create a more meaningful, connected world.

Dr. Sian Williams interviews Dr. Mark Williamson, CEO of Action for Happiness, about his new book Make Life Happier: 23 Practical Ways to Feel Better, Find Meaning and Make a Difference. They explore practical happiness experiments - mindful breathing, self‑compassion, social fitness, listening skills, and realistic optimism - to discover what works for each person.

The episode also covers how to connect with others, turn grief into action, and use your strengths to make a positive difference in your community, with live audience questions and tips for everyday habits that boost well‑being.

Get your copy of Make Life Happier here: https://geni.us/MakeLifeHappier

Mark Williamson interviews Dr. Jessamy Hibberd, chartered clinical psychologist and author of The Overthinking Cure, about how overthinking can spiral into low mood and anxiety and why it often feels like control when it isn’t.

Jessamy outlines a simple five-step approach: notice your overthinking, shift your mood (mindfulness, body-based strategies, distraction), challenge unhelpful thoughts, accept what life brings, and take action to face fears. The episode includes practical tips for nighttime rumination, neurodiverse minds, and supporting loved ones with compassion.

In this episode Mark speaks with Professor Bob Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, about what 85 years of research reveal about happiness. They explore how close relationships, generosity, attention, and purpose strongly influence both emotional well‑being and physical health.

Bob offers practical tips - reach out to someone you miss, practice “social fitness,” cultivate radical curiosity in familiar relationships, and join shared activities or volunteering - to build a more meaningful, happier life at any age.