The Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari Podcast

Ever walked into a conversation with the best intentionsonly to walk out with a broken relationship? 

The cost of emotional avoidance in the workplace is massive, and invisible. Most people dont fail at communication because theyre cruel. They fail because they never learned how to do it without causing damage.

In todays Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Carole Robin, co-author of Connect and co-founder of Leaders in Tech, explore how small changes in how we communicate can lead to big breakthroughs in how we connect and make exceptional relationships, both at work and in life. 

Drawing from decades of experience teaching Stanfords legendary Interpersonal Dynamics course, Dr. Carole shares practical tools that help individuals move beyond surface-level interactions to build deep, meaningful, and resilient connections.

And lets just say, what Dr. Carole shared might make you rethink every We need to talk youve ever had.

Things you will also learn from this episode:

What separates exceptional relationships from average ones

How to give feedback that connects instead of divides

The power of If you really knew me for team connection

Why 15% outside your comfort zone is the sweet spot for growth

The OILs model: a better way to structure tough conversations

Its time to move from knowledge to practice. Tune into our full episode and spark real connections, one courageous, vulnerable conversation at a time.

Resources:

Leaders in Tech (Co-founded by Carole Robin): https://leadersintech.org/

Connect - Building Exceptional Relationships: https://connectandrelate.com/ 

Interpersonal Dynamics Course: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/experience/learning/leadership/interpersonal-dynamics 

Transforming Through T-Groups by National Training Laboratories (NTL) Institute for Applied Behavioral Science: https://www.ntl.org/transforming-through-t-groups-tttg/ 

Film Reference: Inside Out (Pixar)

Books:

Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues (Co-authored by Carole Robin): https://a.co/d/67ZqL3B 

Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/5aGRDgh

We live in a world that glorifies hustle, high performance, and constant doing. We rarely pause to ask what truly drives us or what it might cost to keep going without pause. Success demands work, but what if it's not always about pushing harder? While it might not sound like it, slowing down, looking inward, and rediscovering your purpose can redefine your performance and growth.

In this powerful episode of The Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Alison Tetrick to explore what it really means to find joy, purpose, and performance—on and off the bike.

Alison Tetrick is the President and Co-Founder of Saga Ventures, an entrepreneur and former professional cyclist and World Championship medalist known for her bold leadership and storytelling. With a background in science and a master’s in psychology, she brings a unique blend of athletic grit, strategic thinking, and purpose-driven advocacy to everything she does.

From her beginnings on a California cattle ranch to racing at the highest levels of sport, Alison opens up about how she navigated identity shifts, rediscovered joy through gravel racing, and now helps others—especially women—find their footing through grit, grace, and community.

Here are the things you will learn in this episode:

• Redefining peak performance as alignment of mind, body, and spirit—not just output.

• Creating space for curiosity as a nonjudgmental leadership superpower.

• Knowing when to push and when to pause: the real power of grit and grace.

• Shifting focus from results to effort to build resilient, motivated teams.

With stories that span from Olympic training centers to launching bandana-funded scholarships for girls in sport, Alison reminds us that success isn’t always about pushing harder. Sometimes, it’s about pulling back, staying grounded, and listening to what makes your heart flutter.

Get ready to feel inspired! Tune into this powerful episode now.

Resources:

• Alison Tetrick’s website: https://www.alisontetrick.com/ 

• National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA): https://nationalmtb.org/ 

• NICA’s GRIT Program: https://nationalmtb.org/grit 

• The Move: A Cycling Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVxvkgh82tFopMoCcV4AgNqvgeBj2JfPq&si=HKvYgn_Jb0d-e82j 

• The Happiness Project: https://www.thehappinessproject.global/home.html 

• The Cycling Independent article featuring Alison Tetrick: https://cyclingindependent.com/bandanas-for-bikes-with-saga-ventures-alison-tetrick-is-giving-back/ 

• Alison Tetrick on the Cheeseboard Snacking Bar: https://www.cheeseboardsnacking.com/about 

• Alison Tetrick, Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame: https://www.gravelcyclinghof.com/hall-of-famers-2023/alison-tetrick 

• Saga Ventures: https://saga-ventures.myshopify.com 

• Alison Tetrick at

Sometimes, it feels like work wasn't designed with us, humans, in mind. Human suffering at work is becoming far too common in our tech-driven world of work. It’s burning us out, disconnecting us, and draining our energy. We’ve lost sight of the one thing that truly powers progress: people. 

But there's a way to break that mean cycle. A better way to redesign work to fuel joy, not exhaustion. In this inspiring Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Rich Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller of Menlo Innovations, talk about how to radically reimagine work to end human suffering in the world of technology.

Richard Sheridan is the co-founder, CEO, and "Chief Storyteller" of Menlo Innovations, a software and IT consulting firm renowned for its innovative and joyful workplace culture. Disillusioned by the chaos of the tech industry, Rich co-founded Menlo in 2001 with a mission to end human suffering in the workplace. His passion for creating joyful work environments led to his bestselling books, Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer, and he has shared his insights through over 1,000 talks worldwide.

It’s time to redesign your tech organization into a place where people feel more alive.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Pair programming as a tool for collaboration and continuous learning

• Replacing fear and micromanagement with clarity and trust

• How laughter, energy, and joy signal a healthy workplace

• Ending tech burnout through intentional systems design

• The ROI of flourishing: higher quality work, retention, and impact

If you’ve ever questioned whether work has to be painful to be productive, this conversation offers a hopeful, proven alternative. 

Tune into this epic episode now.

Resources:

• Menlo Innovations: http://www.menloinnovations.com/ 

• Menlo Innovations Case Studies: https://menloinnovations.com/stories 

• Richard Sheridan on X: https://x.com/menloprez 

• Get to know Richard Sheridan: https://richardsheridan.com/meet-rich 

Books:

• Joy Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love by Richard Sheridan: https://a.co/d/6C4HJbe 

• Books from Richard Sheridan: https://richardsheridan.com/books

• Chief Joy Officer by Richard Sheridan: https://a.co/d/7F4t8HA 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome-ebook/dp/B0BCXDCLX1?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Many leaders today are emotionally dysregulated, and that shows up in the way they lead, communicate, and coach others. If you think emotional intelligence is just a “soft skill,” this one’s your wake-up call.

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Dan Docherty, President of Braintrust and Neurocoach, to expose the hidden cost of emotional dysregulation at work.

They discuss how neurocoaching helps turn emotional intelligence from a theory into a repeatable daily practice, why self-regulation is non-negotiable in today’s high-stress environments, and how building a coaching climate starts with your own internal work.

Dr. Dan Docherty is a pioneer in neurocoaching with 25 years of leadership experience in pharma sales, marketing, and operations. He holds a PhD in Management from Case Western Reserve University, where his research focused on the neuroscience of coaching, engagement, and performance. Dan is the co-author of the upcoming book NeuroCoaching, blending science and practice to help leaders build high-impact, emotionally intelligent teams.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Emotional Intelligence Is Common Sense, But Uncommon Practice

• The Four Domains and Twelve Competencies of Emotional Intelligence

• How Unchecked Emotions Can Hijack Your Leadership

• Why Emotional Intelligence Is Declining in a Hyper-Connected World

• The Building Blocks of Neurocoaching: Vision, Mission, and Real Conversations

• Science-backed Practices to Reset the Nervous System and Improve Emotional Regulation

If performance starts with emotional regulation, this episode will show you how to get there. Tune in now and learn to lead with greater impact.

Resources✅:

• Braintrust Growth: https://braintrustgrowth.com/dan-docherty/ 

• Dr. Dan Docherty’s website: https://dandocherty.com/ 

• Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI): https://www.eiconsortium.org/measures/eci_360.html

Books✅:

• Dr. Dan Docherty’s upcoming book “NeuroCoaching”: https://braintrustgrowth.com/neurocoaching-the-book-2/ 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/ 

Other books mentioned in the episode:

• Primal Leadership by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/atZGzoD 

• Helping People Change by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/bIyrV1X 

• The Science of Change by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/2sxNlVT 

• Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman: https://a.co/d/70ZQvwV 

• The New Emotional Intelligence by Travis Bradberry: https://a.co/d/70ZQvwV 

• How Will You Measure Your Life? By Clay Chistensen: https://a.co/d/8LVugK1

Our workplaces are full of smart, capable people who are stuck in survival mode. They’re overwhelmed, constantly busy, and unsure how to sustain high performance. Meanwhile, organizations continue to default to control-based leadership, even though it's no longer effective in a fast-changing, “loosely coupled” world.

Does this mean consistently driving high performance while maintaining personal well-being is impossible today? Not when you have the right tools.

In this Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari sits down with Angus Ridgway, former McKinsey partner & co-founder of Potentialife, to unpack the SHARP framework: a research-backed system that helps leaders and teams flourish through Strengths, Health, Absorption, Relationships, and Purpose.

Angus Ridgway is a seasoned leadership expert with a 20-year tenure at McKinsey & Company, where he held senior roles, including leading the Strategy Practice across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He co-founded Potentialife with Tal Ben-Shahar to democratize leadership development, making it accessible and impactful at all organizational levels.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Strengths: Rediscovering What Makes You Shine

• Health: Why The Real Problem Isn’t Stress But Lack of Recovery

• Absorption: Monotasking Is the New Superpower

• Relationships: The Power of Being Positively Authentic

• Purpose: The Final Lever for Flourishing

If you’re ready to become an up to 10X more effective leader, don’t miss this epic episode. Tune in now.

Resources:✅

• Potentialife: https://www.linkedin.com/company/potentialife/

• Kagan’s Theory of Adult Development: https://medium.com/@NataliMorad/how-to-be-an-adult-kegans-theory-of-adult-development-d63f4311b553

• Owning the difference you make to the world | Angus Ridgway | TEDxIEMadrid: https://youtu.be/o-tdmbiQ-yE?si=x9owGL-5QQyNons9

Books:✅

• The Joy of Leadership by Angus Ridgway & Tal Ben-Shahar: https://a.co/d/8BFQHGz

• 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: https://a.co/d/3sAJi0d

• Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg: https://a.co/d/6A5Bzur

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/asM0o0c