Episodes
The Problem with Generalizations
June 22, 2022
Generalizations help us make sense of a complex world; generalizing is a fundamental human function. Most of the time, our generalizations serve us well. But, when we make generalizations errors, bad things happen, such as s…
The Cage of Your Assumptions
June 8, 2022
Assumptions are necessary for getting through the complexity of life. However, some of our assumptions, when untested, can hinder flourishing. In this episode, Craig discusses assumptions, how they're formed, why they're so …
Controlling Your Emotions through Emotional Regulation
May 25, 2022
Being able to control your emotions to minimize unnecessary suffering, and to maximize positive feelings is important to your flourishing. In this episode, Craig discusses emotional regulation and provides some strategies fo…
Emotional Contagion
May 11, 2022
Emotions, like viruses, can be contagious. In this episode, Craig discusses emotional contagion and its effects, and offers some advice on how to use emotional contagion to make the world a little better. Live Well and Flour…
The Power of Small Things: The Small Wins Strategy of Change
April 27, 2022
In this episode of Live Well and Flourish, Craig discusses the small wins strategy of change, which involves breaking big changes into a series of smaller changes such that each of the small changes has its own value. This i…
The Power of Small Things: The Between Times
April 13, 2022
We mark the progress of our lives through big events, but most of life occurs in the between times, the times that lie between the big events. In this episode, Craig discusses the importance of the small events that occur be…
The Power of Small: Micro-Kindness
March 30, 2022
Do you want to make the world a better place? Try a little kindness. In this episode, Craig discusses the power of micro-kindness, small acts of kindness, which are small sincere and voluntary acts and attitudes, intentional…
Practice, Habit and Being
March 16, 2022
In the final episode of the mini-series on Self-Leadership, Craig discusses Aristotle's practice-habit-being method of developing virtue. He focuses on the role of habit, and describes how habits are built and broken. Listen…
Living Well through Reflection
March 2, 2022
The world is often a chaotic, puzzling place. Reflection is how we can make sense of the world and our place in it. As the Jesuits at Boston College put it, “Reflection is the way we discover and compose the meaning of our e…
Living Well Through Mindfulness
Feb. 16, 2022
Do you ever feel like you’re going through life on autopilot? Most of us have, but life doesn’t have to be that way. Join Craig as he describes what is mindfulness, an active conscious process where you’re more open to the p…
Living a Life of Purpose
Feb. 2, 2022
The theme music for Live Well and Flourish was written by Hazel Crossler, hazel.crossler@gmail.com.
The Pillars of Self-Leadership
Jan. 19, 2022
Do you want to take control of your life? Do you want to live a more meaningful life? If so, this episode of Live Well & Flourish is worth your time. In this episode, Craig discusses an approach to self-leadership he develop…
Benjamin Franklin's Method of Self-Improvement
Jan. 5, 2022
Whether you realize it or not, who you are is under your control. You get to decide the sort of person you are and the virtues you exhibit. In this episode, I discuss Benjamin Franklin's "... bold and arduous project of arri…
New Year, New Name
Jan. 1, 2022
The Rational Ignorance Podcast is now Live Well & Flourish. If you're already subscribed to the podcast, you shouldn't have to do anything at all to keep listening, although you might notice our new artwork. Thank you!
Grief and gratitude
Dec. 8, 2021
Grief comes from loss. But gratitude should accompany grief. Listen as Craig reflects on the puzzling relationship between grief and gratitude, and how a deeper understanding of how they interact can help you deal with grief…
Pleasure and Utility
Nov. 24, 2021
We often hear of utility, usually as it relates to economics or usefulness. But there is a different view of utility, one that focuses on pleasure. In this episode, Andrea and Craig discuss this view of utility as pleasure, …
Overcoming Negativity Bias
Nov. 10, 2021
Humans are hardwired to pay more attention to negative events than positive events. This proclivity is known as the negativity bias. Thankfully, a large number of good events can overcome the effects of a small number of ba…
How #Caturday helps us flourish
Oct. 27, 2021
Craig’s favorite day of the week is Saturday, not just because it’s recording day, but also because it’s #Caturday! (It really is a thing.) Fun, seemingly silly activities like posting or viewing cat pictures (or dog pics, o…
Can a hermit Flourish?
Oct. 13, 2021
Recently, a listener posed an interesting question in response to Episode 9 on Human Flourishing. In that episode we said that a hermit might be happy living alone in the woods, but that s/he wouldn't really living a flouri…
Outrunning Depression with Nita Sweeney
Sept. 29, 2021
Andrea and Craig welcome Nita Sweeney, an author, distance runner, writer and meditator who shares her tale of overcoming depression and anxiety through long distance running with her dog Morgan. She details the first basic …
Flourishing and Spirituality with Dr. Bernadine Lewis
Sept. 15, 2021
Many of us have a faith, but how is that different from spirituality? Is spirituality like food in the sense that we need it to care for our bodies (or in this case, our soul), something that every person by the nature of be…
Flourishing through music with Bryan Toney
Sept. 1, 2021
Music is synonymous with emotion and beauty and is a vital part of life. This week Andrea and Craig welcome musician Bryan Toney as he gives us insight on how music can help us flourish. He explains why it’s important to fin…
Grace and Grit with Filmmaker Sebastian Siegel
Aug. 18, 2021
In this episode Andrea and Craig welcome Sebastian Siegel, a British-American director, producer, screenwriter and author to talk about some of the themes and experiences from his new film, Grace and Grit , based on the book…