Episode #1: Todd Kashdan on Navigating Unpleasantness and Creating Change

This week we talk with Todd Kashdan, author and TEDx speaker about flourishing. 

Key takeaways will be the relationship between your various areas of specialization and human flourishing, including but not limited to: 

- curiousity and openness to experience 

- affective science (specifically pleasantness and unpleasantness or "positive and negative" emotions)

-psychological flexibility done through conversations

Todd Kashdan, Ph.D., received the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Award in 2013 and Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year at George Mason University in 2010. He has published over 210 scientific journal articles on psychological strengths such as curiosity and courage, emotional agility, meaning and purpose in life, social relationships, leveraging stress for optimal performance, resilience, and well-being.

Author of several books, Kashdan’s latest is The Art of Insubordination: How to Dissent and Defy Effectively. His work has been featured on CNN and NPR, as well as media outlets including the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, Fast Company and Scientific American.

He is a TEDx speaker and works with organizations as diverse as Mercedes-Benz, the World Bank, United States Department of Defense, Merck, Hormel, General Mills, Gensler, the Gap, and Standard Chartered Bank. He gives keynotes and workshops to business executives, schools, parents, retirees, scholars, and health professionals.