How to translate outside of the ivory tower-- being the bridge

In this episode, I have a candid and fun conversation with Drs. Nick Holton and Jon Beale who are antifragility and flow researchers, respectively, with an overall emphasis on flourishing or, living the good life. To that end, they are intentional educators who aim to distill deep philosophical questions and empirical data to determine how you might apply these concepts in your own life. They do this, in part, as co-hosts of Flourish FM podcast.

 

Other specific highlights of the conversation include:

• Acknowledging that flourishing is a broad concept
• Flourish FM is great fun for them—they have a deep desire to talk about science and make it accessible
• Through the show and conversations, audience members can choose what level of academic rigor makes sense for them. They warn us against becoming “Podcast intellectual”—don’t trust everything you hear; you have a role as the recipient
• Their goal is to be “data driven, but not data dependent” and discern “anecdata and me search”
• Share science that is accessible, make it tangible so people can increase probably of living good life; doesn’t mean feeling pleasant and good all the time
• What do we mean by resource intensive: Books, time and money are all finite resources, so Flourish FM aims to make this science more accessibly: “Podcast can democratize”
• There is no perfect way to get knowledge, no perfect study. But come from a lens of “do no harm”
• Scientism – excessive believe in the power or value of science. Not anti-scientific but yes, anti-scientistic. For example, there are benefits of science and arts and humanities. None of different values   
• Only do a PhD if you have an intellectual itch; getting a PhD “should humble the hell out of you, tiny little bit about tiny little field, study of a gnat’s ass”
• Flourishing might include: (1) key areas of life are going well: close relationships, work/education, health (both mental and physical) and personal development; (2) your perception that those 4 domains map to reality; (3) leading a meaningful life; (4) morally good life; (5) fulfillment (potential and sense of life satisfaction; and (6) how much your community
• Flourishing is top down, bottom up, outside in...Top down: Thinking about your thinking (mindset, expectancy, gratitude, benefit finding); Bottom up: physical sensations and the mind-body connection; Outside in: you don't flourish in a vacuum...attitudes, mindset, etc. all influenced by our environment.
• Don’t focus too much on “achieving” flourishing —just be aware and flow

Links:

• LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook @drjonathanbeale
• Instagram 
  • @flourishfmpodcast
  • @jonnybeale
  • @dr.nickholton

Flourish FM links:

• https://www.flourishfmpodcast.com/
• LinkedIn & Instagram @flourishfmpodcast 
• Facebook & Twitter @flourishfmcast 

Measures of flourishing:

• https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/