Live Happy Now

The Hidden Power of Musical Daydreaming With Elizabeth Margulis

This week, as part of the Live Happy Summer Reading Program, host Paula Felps sits down with Elizabeth Margulis, a professor of music at Princeton University and director of the Music Cognition Lab, to talk about her book, Transported: The Everyday Magic of Musical Daydreams.  Elizabeth explains why our minds naturally wander when we listen to music, how those imaginative journeys shape our sense of self, and why these experiences are far more meaningful — and scientifically important — than we realize. Listen as she reveals how reconnecting with this simple, often overlooked way of listening can deepen our relationships, boost our mental health, and bring us back to the joy that first made us fall in love with music. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why unfamiliar songs can trigger similar imagery across listeners. * How music helps us process memories. * Why daydreaming to music may be essential for creativity and emotional well‑being.

Walking Through the Fire With Deborah Santana

The Live Happy Summer Reading Program continues this week as host Paula Felps sits down with author and activist Deborah Santana to talk about Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom, her powerful memoir about identity, courage, reinvention, and choosing a life aligned with your spirit. In this episode, Deborah candidly shares how she found the strength to leave a life that no longer reflected who she was, the spiritual practices that guided her, and the generational resilience that shaped her path. Listen as Deborah shares how stepping into your truth can transform not only your life, but the lives of those around you. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How Deborah found the courage to leave a life that no longer aligned with her spirit. * The role generational strength, family history, and activism built her identity — and continue guiding her work today. * What it means to “walk through the fire” in your own life, and how to recognize misalignment, reclaim your voice, and choose a path rooted in integrity and self‑reflection.

Breaking the Rumination Loop With Donna Jackson Nakazawa

For Week 2 of the Live Happy Summer Reading Program, award‑winning journalist and author Donna Jackson Nakazawa sits down with host Paula Felps to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist. Donna explains that rumination is an evolution‑wired survival response that has gone rogue in modern life, trapping us in negative “mental movie reels” fueled by the brain’s default mode network. Using neuroscience, personal insight, and research‑backed tools, she shares how we can transform rumination into clarity, creativity, and a renewed sense of belonging. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why rumination happens and how the brain creates vivid “movie reels” of old stories, future fears, and intense emotional and physical reactions. * How the MIST framework works — and how to use it to interrupt rumination and reduce stress chemistry. * How to turn rumination into insight, using neuroscience‑based strategies that help you rewrite outdated beliefs, reclaim your voice, and use your mental energy for more meaningful, joyful pursuits.

Thinking About Death for a Better Life With Jodi Wellman

This week on Live Happy Now, we launch our Summer Reading Program with Jodi Wellman, whose book You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets invites us to rethink how we spend our days and start living with fewer regrets. Jodi joins host Paula Felps to explain how embracing the reality of our limited time can actually make life feel richer, more vibrant, and more meaningful. Drawing from personal experience, positive psychology research, and her signature humor, she explains why we’re so prone to postponing our lives — and how small, intentional choices can help us feel more “astonishingly alive” every day. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why the concept of memento mori can be a powerful motivator for living more fully. * How Jodi’s personal wake‑up call shaped her mission to help others stop postponing their lives. * Simple, accessible ways to feel more alive — without a dramatic life overhaul.

Introducing Live Happy’s Summer Reading Program With Chris Libby and Paula Felps

Summer is here, and so is our very first Live Happy Summer Reading Program. In this episode, Live Happy Now Host Paula teams up with Senior Happiness Editor Chris Libby to unveil six weeks of books designed to inspire, uplift, and spark real‑world joy. From science‑backed guides to deeply personal memoirs, they walk through each pick, explain why it made the cut, and tell you how to join the fun. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How the Live Happy Summer Reading Program works — and how to follow along each week * What’s on this year’s reading list and why these books were chosen * The new book‑lover goodies coming to Live Happy, including Shelf Care and Shelf Care for Kids