Hacking Happiness: Rewire Your Brain, Lead with Purpose, and Thrive with Ashish Kothari

What if everything you’ve been chasing—success, wealth, recognition—turned out to be the very thing standing in the way of your true happiness? What if the relentless pursuit of ‘more’ is keeping you from discovering that the joy you seek has been within you all along?

Today, on Superhumanize, we dive deep into these questions with a guest who has not only asked them but found answers—Ashish Kothari. Ashish is the founder of Happiness Squad and the author of Hardwired for Happiness. After spending 25 years in consulting, including nearly two decades as a partner at McKinsey & Company, Ashish made a radical pivot toward what really matters: teaching individuals and organizations how to rewire for happiness from the inside out. His goal? To touch over a billion lives and democratize happiness for all.

In this conversation, we’ll explore the art and science of thriving in a world designed for survival. We’ll talk about emotional mastery, how purpose-driven leadership transforms businesses, and why true happiness isn’t about accumulating but about aligning—with yourself, your values, and your community. Whether you're an individual looking for deeper fulfillment or a leader aiming to build a happier organization, this episode offers insights that can change the way you live, work, and lead.

Episode highlights:

01:11 The Science and Practice of Happiness

03:09 Integrating Mindfulness into Daily Life

13:28 The Power of Gratitude

22:59 Organizational Happiness: A New Metric for Success

31:43 Exploring Human Compassion Beyond Humanity

32:49 The Need to Evolve Beyond Human

34:23 The Role of Technology in Human Evolution

35:16 Balancing Technology and Mental Health

37:06 The Impact of Technology on Social Connections

39:15 Practical Tips for Managing Technology Use

53:26 Redefining Success and Personal Metrics

01:00:25 Finding Stillness and Inner Peace

01:02:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources mentioned:

The Happiness Squad website

Hardwired for Happiness book

Guest's social handles:

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube

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When we help heal One, we help heal All.

Much gratitude and love.

Yours,

Ariane