Psych & Spirit: The Positive Psychology and Spiritual Growth Podcast

Larissa Seay Dashjian, Ph.D.
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Spirituality

Growing one awareness at a time. Deepening our understanding of ourselves and living in the present, with a hint of psychology research and theory in the mix. This podcast blends spirituality and psychology, and each episode provides practical tips to be more present with yourself and live a more meaningful life, from the perspective of a psychologist with a background in Eastern philosophy and modern spirituality. Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5n25rkQY4iSPBysUo0N2w/ Interested in the music featured in any of the episodes? Visit: https://www.musicglue.com/the8thhouse

  1. Jul 27

    #23: Awe (Wonder for Well-Being)

    Have you ever experienced a feeling that you were very small in a vast world, and your mind was blown by what you either saw or learned, almost like shock, but in a humbling and positive way? If you have, you experienced a phenomenon called “awe.” How can awe benefit us? How can we experience more awe in our lives? Join me as we discuss the powerful emotion of positive awe. CITATIONS FROM THIS EPISODE: Allen, S. (2018). The science of awe [White paper]. Greater Good Science Center. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Awe_FINAL.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiE5_exnOeVAxWGKDQIHcv5Ni8QFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2hUoT4RV7k_5Jr2tCXmLWw  Chen, S. K., & Mongrain, M. (2021). Awe and the interconnected self. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(6), 770-778.  Jiang, T., Hicks, J. A., Yuan, W., Yin, Y., Needy, L., & Vess, M. (2024). The unique nature and psychosocial implications of awe. Nature Reviews Psychology, 3(7), 475-488.  Jiang, L., Yin, J., Mei, D., Zhu, H., & Zhou, X. (2018). Awe weakens the desire for money. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 12, e4.  Keltner, D., & Haidt, J. (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. Cognition and emotion, 17(2), 297-314.  Monroy, M., Amster, M., Eagle, J., Zerwas, F. K., Keltner, D., & López, J. E. (2025). Awe reduces depressive symptoms and improves well-being in a randomized-controlled clinical trial. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 16453.  Monroy, M., & Keltner, D. (2023). Awe as a pathway to mental and physical health. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18(2), 309-320.  Piff, P. K., & Moskowitz, J. P. (2018). Wealth, poverty, and happiness: Social class is differentially associated with positive emotions. Emotion, 18(6), 902.  Rudd, M., Vohs, K. D., & Aaker, J. (2012). Awe expands people’s perception of time, alters decision making, and enhances well-being. Psychological science, 23(10), 1130-1136.  Schaffer, V., Huckstepp, T., & Kannis-Dymand, L. (2024). Awe: A systematic review within a cognitive behavioural framework and proposed cognitive behavioural model of awe. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 9(1), 101-136.  Stellar, J. E., Gordon, A., Anderson, C. L., Piff, P. K., McNeil, G. D., & Keltner, D. (2018). Awe and humility. Journal of personality and social psychology, 114(2), 258.

  2. Jul 1

    #22: Happiness Saboteurs

    What are the things that get in the way of feeling happy? What blocks our happiness? I’ve seen several things in practice with clients and in depression research as well as happiness research, so let’s talk about the top 10, along with a few honorable mentions at the sociocultural level. RELATED REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE: Allen, A. R. (2022). Meaninglessness, depression and suicidality: A review of the evidence. Existential Concerns and Cognitive-Behavioral Procedures: An Integrative Approach to Mental Health, 261-281.  Bonfanti, R. C., Melchiori, F., Teti, A., Albano, G., Raffard, S., Rodgers, R., & Coco, G. L. (2025). The association between social comparison in social media, body image concerns and eating disorder symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Body image, 52, 101841.  Erzen, E., & Çikrikci, Ö. (2018). The effect of loneliness on depression: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 64(5), 427-435.  Gardner, M. & Marasini, S. (2026). At least 88 profitable U.S. corporations paid zero federal income tax in 2025. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. https://itep.org/88-profitable-corporations-paid-zero-income-tax-in-2025/  Helliwell, J. F., Layard, R., Sachs, J. D., De Neve, J. -E., Aknin, L. B., & Wang, S. (Eds.). (2026). Executive summary: Happiness and social media. Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford. https://www.worldhappiness.report/ed/2026/executive-summary-happiness-and-social-media/ Peçanha, A., Silveira, B., Krahe, T. E., & Landeira Fernandez, J. (2025). Can social isolation alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders?. Frontiers in psychiatry, 16, 1561916.  Shelton, J. N., Yip, T., Eccles, J. S., Chatman, C. M., Fuligni, A. J., & Wong, C. (2005). Ethnic identity as a buffer of psychological adjustment to stress. Navigating the future: Social identity, coping, and life tasks, 96-115.  Schmitt, M. T., Branscombe, N. R., Postmes, T., & Garcia, A. (2014). The consequences of perceived discrimination for psychological well-being: A meta-analytic review. Psychological bulletin, 140(4), 921.  U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). Poverty in the United States: 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/p60-287.html

  3. Jun 4

    #21: Happiness

    This episode tackles happiness: what it is, what makes up the parts of happiness, how to become happier, and how happiness from within can be subversive or rebellious. Do you deserve to be happy in the face of chaos and suffering? Youtube link for this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSS0jWR7zC8 The official podcast page: https://bridgeviewpsychologicalservic... Interested in the music featured in the intro/ending of the podcast episodes? Visit: www.musicglue.com/the8thhouse CORRECTIONS: *Killingsworth et al. did not necessarily find that happiness plateaued at around $500k, but very few sampled demonstrated incomes above that threshold. *The U.S. was 23rd in the World Happiness Report in 2026, not 15th. CITATIONS: Helliwell, J. F., Layard, R., Sachs, J. D., De Neve, J.-E., Aknin, L. B., & Wang, S. (Eds.). (2026). World happiness report 2026. Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford. https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2026/ Killingsworth, M. A., Kahneman, D., & Mellers, B. (2023). Income and emotional well-being: A conflict resolved. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(10), e2208661120. Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9, 111–131. Seligman, M. (2002). Authentic happiness. Free Press. Zion, T. (2021). Be your own medical intuitive: Healing your body and soul. Writelife Publishing.

  4. 12/21/2024

    #20: Spiritual Bypassing & Unfinished Business

    What does it mean to engage in spiritual bypassing? How might it stymie growth for the person doing it and how might it affect others? Join me as we discuss choosing the harder but more rewarding path of growth as an alternative to escapism and avoidance that includes healing old emotional wounds, or "unfinished business." REFERENCES: Ahmad, S. S., McLaughlin, M. M., & Weisman de Mamani, A. (2023). Spiritual bypass as a moderator of the relationships between religious coping and psychological distress in Muslims living in the United States. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 15(1), 32. Fox, J., Cashwell, C. S., & Picciotto, G. (2017). The opiate of the masses: Measuring spiritual bypass and its relationship to spirituality, religion, mindfulness, psychological distress, and personality. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 4(4), 274. Reed-Gilbert, P. (2023). Wounding Words: A Phenomenological study of how individuals experience receiving spiritual bypass [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. LIberty University. Welwood, J. (1984). Principles of inner work: Psychological and spiritual. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 16(1), 63-73. OTHER: Music featured in this episode: "The Song that Feels So Familiar," by Larissa Seay Dashjian (under the moniker The 8th House). Purchase music from the podcast here: https://www.musicglue.com

  5. 10/06/2023

    #19: Grief

    What is grief, and what do we grieve in life? Is it just about losing a loved one, or can we grieve change and other types of losses? Join me as I discuss how my own grief process reflects Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' theory of grief, as do other experiences in life. Music featured in this episode: "The Song that Feels So Familiar," by Larissa Seay Dashjian (under the moniker The 8th House). Purchase music from the podcast here: https://www.musicglue.com

  6. 04/24/2023

    #18: Living vs. Surviving

    What does it mean to just "survive" vs. actually living a more present and meaningful life? How do we live more and get out of survival mode? Join me as we discuss survival mode and living. Music featured in this episode: "The Song that Feels So Familiar," by Larissa Seay Dashjian (under the moniker The 8th House). Purchase music from the podcast here: https://www.musicglue.com

  7. 01/02/2023

    #17: Year End Lessons

    I'm kicking off season two of Psych & Spirit with an end-of-the-year reflection! What has the past year been like for you? What lessons have you learned? Life often humbles us so that we can understand ourselves better. Join me as I get personal and share some of my own lessons and ask you questions to reflect on lessons from 2022 and create a clean slate for 2023. Music featured in this episode: "The Song that Feels So Familiar," by Larissa Seay Dashjian (under the moniker The 8th House). Purchase music from the podcast here: https://www.musicglue.com

  8. 10/24/2022

    #16: Surrender

    What does this esoteric term in spiritual circles really mean? Why is it so difficult to put into practice? And how can we take steps toward surrender in our lives? Join me as I answer your burning questions about surrender. Music featured in this episode: "The Song that Feels So Familiar," by Larissa Seay Dashjian (under the moniker The 8th House). Purchase music from the podcast here: https://www.musicglue.com

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Growing one awareness at a time. Deepening our understanding of ourselves and living in the present, with a hint of psychology research and theory in the mix. This podcast blends spirituality and psychology, and each episode provides practical tips to be more present with yourself and live a more meaningful life, from the perspective of a psychologist with a background in Eastern philosophy and modern spirituality. Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5n25rkQY4iSPBysUo0N2w/ Interested in the music featured in any of the episodes? Visit: https://www.musicglue.com/the8thhouse

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