The Connection Effect with Bill Groner

Flourishing Online (with Josh Howard)

What if social media isn't the problem — it's how we're using it? In this episode of The Connection Effect, Bill Groner sits down with Josh Howard [http://linkedin.com/in/joshwhoward], social media strategist, LSU adjunct professor, and MAPP alumnus, whose research makes a case you don't hear often enough: that social media, used with intention, can be a genuine tool for human flourishing. Drawing from his MAPP capstone on social media and well-being, Josh applies Seligman's PERMA framework to our digital lives — exploring how platforms we scroll through every day can foster real relationships, deepen meaning, build a sense of belonging, and even spark joy. His argument isn't that the dangers aren't real. It's that the conversation has been lopsided, and the possibilities largely ignored. Josh offers a simple reframe to take with you: turn doom scrolling into gratitude scrolling. Because there's another human on the other side of that screen — and how we show up online matters more than we think. Connect with Josh Howard * Website: https://www.joshwhoward.com/ [https://www.joshwhoward.com/] * Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/joshwhoward [http://linkedin.com/in/joshwhoward] * Instagram: @joshwhoward https://www.instagram.com/joshwhoward/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/joshwhoward/?hl=en] * X (Formerly known as Twitter): @joshwhoward https://x.com/joshwhoward [https://x.com/joshwhoward] Connect with The Connection Effect * Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack [http://connection.net/substack] * Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net [podcast@connection.net] Topics of Discussion: 00:00 Welcome and Setup 01:34 Josh's Positive Psych Origin 02:44 Why Study Social Media 04:37 Capstone Goals and Hunch 05:53 Anxious Generation Debate 06:47 Contrarian Gray Thinking 07:31 Personal Social Media Habits 09:19 Flourishing Thesis Overview 10:29 PERMA Relationships Power 13:57 Meaning and Online Faith 15:23 Mattering Through Culture 18:11 Belonging and Campus Life 18:47 Belonging Through Social 19:34 Achievement Online Stories 21:14 Positive Emotions Gratitude 23:32 Boundaries and Filters 26:36 Three Tips To Flourish 28:31 How Social Changed Josh 32:31 Hope Belief For Humanity 35:27 Host Wrap Key Takeaways

The Aftershow: You Are Not the Emotion (with Lawrence Edwards)

In this aftershow episode of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamgroner/] reflects on his recent conversation with Dr. Lawrence Edwards. Bill is joined by three of his classmates from the University of Pennsylvania Master of Applied Positive Psychology program: Harry Hofer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-hofer-clu-clf-mapp-a5323b4/] (Executive Coach), Gaia Uman Borrero [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaia-uman-borrero/] (Operations Manager), and Sahar Emambakhsh [https://www.linkedin.com/in/saharemambakhsh/] (Director of Operations and External Affairs, PCI). While the main episode explored the science and philosophy of meditation — from mindfulness as a starting point to the deeper meditative state — this conversation brings it home to the everyday barriers, personal struggles, and small commitments that make a practice real. Together, the group explores the honest challenges: * What actually pulls our awareness away throughout the day, and whether we even notice when it happens * The difference between awareness and consciousness, and why that distinction changes how we meet our emotions * Whether a regular meditation practice is something we build proactively, or only reach for when we're already struggling In this aftershow, we reflect on: * The light and the room: Lawrence's metaphor for awareness versus the contents of the mind * How Susan David's emotional agility framework [https://www.susandavid.com/] connects to what Lawrence taught * The gap between knowing these tools and remembering to use them in a heated moment * A 20-day meditation challenge the group commits to, live on air This conversation closes with a memory: a sunrise on a Miami beach, the four of them meditating together years before this podcast existed. It's a quiet reminder that connection and practice have a way of finding each other. Topics of Discussion: 00:00 After Show Kickoff 01:24 Meeting Laurence Edwards 03:32 Mindfulness Versus Meditation 05:24 Everyday Distractions 11:32 How Mindful Should We Be 16:22 Awareness Light Metaphor 22:07 Uncle Charlie Hypothetical 31:52 Training The Breath 34:24 Can Society Transform 41:54 Boundless Love Takeaways 43:20 Commitments And Closing Connect with The Connection Effect * Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack [http://connection.net/substack] * Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

You Are Not the Emotion (with Lawrence Edwards)

What if the thoughts and feelings flooding your mind aren't actually who you are? In this episode of The Connection Effect, Bill Groner sits down with Dr. Lawrence Edwards — retired licensed psychotherapist, Jungian therapist, board-certified neurofeedback therapist, and founder of Anam Cara Meditation — who has practiced and taught meditation for over 50 years. Drawing from both Western science and Eastern contemplative tradition, Edwards explains the critical difference between mindfulness and meditation, and why that distinction changes everything about how we practice. Connect with Lawrence Edwards * Website: thesoulsjourney.com [http://thesoulsjourney.com] * Anam Cara Meditation on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnamCaraMeditation [https://www.youtube.com/@AnamCaraMeditation] * Anam Cara Meditation: anamcara-ny.org [http://anamcara-ny.org] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-edwards-meditationdoctor/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-edwards-meditationdoctor/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACMeditation/ [https://www.facebook.com/ACMeditation/] Books (The Soul's Journey, Gently Falls Her Rain Of Light * Collected by Kalidas, and more): https://www.thesoulsjourney.com/publications-old-too/ [https://www.thesoulsjourney.com/publications-old-too/] Resources From The Episode * How to Connect by Thich Nhat Hanh (Book) Connect with The Connection Effect * Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack connection.net/substack [http://connection.net/substack] * Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net [podcast@connection.net] Topics of Discussion: 00:00 Welcome and Big Idea 01:35 Meet Dr Lawrence Edwards 03:32 Meditation vs Mindfulness 05:14 Mindfulness Basics 13:07 How Often to Practice 14:47 Benefits and Relaxation Response 19:13 Stress Triggers and Awareness 24:07 Preparing for Difficult People 29:43 Stress Floor and Resilience 33:25 Defining the Meditative State 37:58 Prison Meditation Transformation 41:34 Science Meets Spirituality 44:38 Hope and Accessibility 48:19 End of Show 50:31 Bonus Conversation Begins

Reflections: How We Show Up For Each Other

The inner work doesn't end with us. It shapes how we show up for everyone around us. In this second reflection episode of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamgroner] and co-host Sahar Emambakhsh [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahare] revisit moments from their early conversations with Mónica Guzmán, Scott Barry Kaufman, Todd Kashdan, and Andrew Sether — exploring what it actually takes to connect across difference, disagreement, and the assumptions we carry into every conversation. This is the second of two reflection episodes. The first explored the inner conditions for flourishing. This one turns outward. Voices featured in this episode: * Mónica Guzmán [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xBr93zYwjxBS7iMGed5zG?si=eoO_RZANTpSY0oTHHGayiA] — journalist and bridge-builder * Scott Barry Kaufman [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7au1cl1gmr2nWDRgAJD363?si=XHR8a-BbQjqxzmBVqOxkHA] — psychologist, researcher, and author * Todd Kashdan [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1shlcHJKHHuNgWZzHFx7CJ?si=3QtEFiMORmWU38nhLcyG5A] — curiosity researcher and professor * Andrew Sether [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cbylyJak5Kr27SqMr8de1?si=0iZM7kStRtytZgR9lC8tlA] — peak performance expert Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:25 Assumptions Before Talk 05:05 Not Enough Nuance 08:03 Cross Aisle Friendship Story 10:35 Set Conversation Intentions 14:27 Acknowledge Pain Not Agree 19:05 Friendships Beyond Ideology 25:41 Regulate Stressful States 29:24 Takeaways 31:04 Closing and Next Steps Connect with The Connection Effect * Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack: connection.net/substack [https://connection.net/substack] * Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net

Reflections: Building a Better Relationship With Yourself

Before we can connect well with others, we have to build a better relationship with ourselves. In this first reflection episode of The Connection Effect, host Bill Groner and co-host Sahar Emambakhsh revisit the most resonant moments from the show's early conversations — with Andrew Sether, Scott Barry Kaufman, Todd Kashdan, Fred Luskin, and Mónica Guzmán — and trace a thread that runs through all of them: a progression, almost like a map, of what it takes to truly connect to ourselves. This episode is the first of two reflection episodes. Next time, we turn outward — to the relational conditions for connection. Voices featured in this episode: * Andrew Sether [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cbylyJak5Kr27SqMr8de1?si=0iZM7kStRtytZgR9lC8tlA] — peak performance expert * Scott Barry Kaufman [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7au1cl1gmr2nWDRgAJD363?si=XHR8a-BbQjqxzmBVqOxkHA] — psychologist, researcher, and author * Todd Kashdan [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1shlcHJKHHuNgWZzHFx7CJ?si=3QtEFiMORmWU38nhLcyG5A] — curiosity researcher and professor * Fred Luskin [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jJi2Lg2Uoiu3LAQQ3nu8u?si=Neeh6AvbThi9FOmmwk_TKw] — founder of the Stanford Forgiveness Project * Mónica Guzmán [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xBr93zYwjxBS7iMGed5zG?si=eoO_RZANTpSY0oTHHGayiA] — journalist and bridge-builder Resources: * Learned Optimism [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26123.Learned_Optimism] by Martin Seligman Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to The Connection Effect 02:06 What is Flourishing? 02:34 Andrew Sether - Breathwork 10:46 Scott Barry Kaufman - North Star 19:19 Todd Kashdan - Curiosity 27:53 Fred Luskin - Adversity 38:49 Monica Guzman / One Last Reflection Connect with The Connection Effect * Join the community and conversation on The Connection Effect Substack: connection.net/substack [http://connection.net/substack] * Questions? Guest inquiries? Email: podcast@connection.net