Speaking About What’s New…

Tal Ben-Shahar

Thousands of students from more than 90 countries are enrolled in the Certificate in Happiness Studies program through Ben-Shahar’s Happiness Studies Academy (HSA).

HSA is graduating its first cohort of the world's first master’s degree in Happiness Studies.

Robert Biswas-Diener

Biswas-Diener was a 2023 nominee in the Coaching & Mentoring category for the Thinkers50 Distinguished Achievement Awards, which have been described by the Financial Times as the “Oscars of Management Thinking.”

His latest project is a book called Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection, co-authored with Christian van Nieuwerburgh. The book is scheduled for release on March 25, 2025.

Barbara Fredrickson

Fredrickson’s recent work demonstrates the wide-ranging health benefits of co-experienced positive emotions. These benefits include those for mental health and resilience, physical health and longevity, as well as public health and community kindness.

Among the most highly cited scientists, Fredrickson has received recognition for both teaching and research excellence. In 2023, she was honored with Fellow status by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Fredrickson’s free, on-line course on Positive Psychology (available on Coursera) has reached more than 355,000 learners in ~200 countries worldwide.

Ellen Langer

Langer’s latest book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health, is the culmination of decades of revolutionary research that make a convincing case to see mind and body as a single unit, which gives us enormous control over our health and well-being.

She is currently creating The Mindful Hospital, The Mindful School, and The Mindful Sports Camp in different parts of the world.

Her research continues to reveal exciting possibilities regarding health and well-being.

Mark Matousek

Matousek’s latest book is Lessons From an American Stoic: How Emerson Can Change Your Life.

A 21-session series on his Writing to Awaken program will be released this summer on neuroscientist, philosopher, and New York Times best-selling author Sam Harris's Waking Up app.

Matousek is collaborating with author and speaker Caroline Myss on an Emerson course for her CMED platform: Nonconformity, Contradiction, and Getting Real: Timeless Lessons for a Better Life.

James Pawelski and Suzann (Suzie) Pileggi Pawelski

Suzie and James Pawelski's popular Psychology Today blog continues to resonate with people, attracting over 1 million readers. More than half of their blogs were selected by the editors as an “Essential Read” of the day and were featured either on the HOME page or one of the topic pages.

James’s Humanities and Human Flourishing Project, a National Endowment for the Arts designated research lab at the University of Pennsylvania is continuing to explore how the visual arts in Philadelphia and beyond help promote flourishing in individuals and communities.

Suzie is currently working on a follow-up for Audible Originals to Happy Together, their best-selling book that discussed how positive psychology can help improve relationships.

Maria Sirois

In Sirois' latest book, The Generous Exchange: How Attention to Beauty, Goodness and Excellence Restores Us and Our World, she captures the best in humanity through the exploration of a particular strength of character: that of appreciation of beauty, goodness and excellence. Through her essays, the reader may begin to understand the power and the value of its practice to elevate our days, inspire our futures and, perhaps most importantly, ignite our attention toward the protection of our lands, its creatures and ourselves.

Sirois is Chief Wisdom Officer at Wholeleader.com, offering global executive consulting and coaching and remains a consulting fellow at LeaderMom.com.

She is a member of the International Positive Psychology Association.

Tererai Trent

Tererai Trent and her Tinogona Foundation–also known as the Tererai Trent International Foundation (TTI)–have educated 40,000 children in Zimbabwe since 2014.

Trent is assisting rural schools in implementing innovative solar-powered irrigation systems as sustainable business models for ten public schools in Zimbabwe-tackling the adverse effects of climate change on education.

She also teaches at Drexel University where she is in the 12th cohort of her Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Global Health Class. This course unites students from around the world, emphasizing global health interventions and using health indicators to evaluate program effectiveness. It merges theoretical knowledge with practical application in M&E, empowering students to create change in their communities.

Dr. Jessica Zitter

Dr. Zitter’s new film The Chaplain & The Doctor (2025) explores the transformative relationship between a hospital chaplain and a physician challenging the fragmented clinical approach to patient care. The film will be premiering this spring at film festivals.