The Happier Life Project

Sound has the power to shape our emotions, influence how we feel in our bodies, and offer new ways to process experiences that can be difficult to put into words. From the music that brings memories rushing back to the sound of the natural world, we are constantly responding to what we hear. But what happens when we begin to work with sound more consciously? And how might our own voices help us understand our emotions and reconnect with ourselves? In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby Sanderson is joined by Jasmin Harsono, an intuitive wellness guide, multi-sensory artist, author and founder of Emerald and Tiger, for an exploration of sound healing, the power of the voice, and the relationship between sound and emotional wellbeing. With more than 15 years of experience across meditation, Reiki, sound healing and other wellbeing practices, Jasmin has developed an approach that brings together ancient rituals and contemporary living. Her work has been shaped by a lifelong relationship with music and sound, as well as personal experiences of grief and trauma. The author of Self Reiki, published by DK, Jasmin has collaborated with organisations including the BBC and was invited to open Glastonbury Festival’s Woodsies Tree Stage in 2024 with a live audiovisual sound meditation. Her second book, The Power of Sound and Voice, explores the transformative potential of sound and vocal practices and is published by Hachette on 5 November 2026. Jasmin reflects on how sound became a language through which she could understand her feelings from an early age, and how her own search for healing eventually led her towards Reiki and energy work. She explains her perspective on the relationship between sound, vibration and the body, exploring why music, voice and different soundscapes can evoke such powerful emotional responses, and why our experiences of sound are deeply personal. Host Gabby and Jasmin also explore the voice as a tool for emotional expression and self-connection. From the sounds we make instinctively to the words we choose to speak, Jasmin considers how becoming more aware of our voices can help us recognise and express what we are feeling. She shares her seven steps to unlocking the power of the voice, alongside simple practices involving breath, sighing and humming that listeners can experiment with in their own lives. The conversation also looks at the role of sound in relaxation and deep rest, including its relationship with the nervous system and different states of awareness. Jasmin discusses the importance of intention in sound healing, why there is no single approach that works for everyone, and how to find practices that feel supportive rather than overwhelming. Whether you're curious about sound healing or simply want to understand yourself a little better, this conversation invites you to pay closer attention to the sounds that surround you, the voice you carry within you, and the ways sound might help you feel more present, connected and in tune with your emotional world. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself For all things Jasmin Harsono: https://bio.link/emeraldandtiger Emerald and Tiger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeraldandtiger Jasmin Harsono Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminharsono/ To purchase The Power of Sound and Voice book: https://linktr.ee/ThePowerofSoundandvoice

When life gets difficult, many of us find ourselves searching for answers, reassurance, or simply a sense that we're not alone. We might turn to Tarot cards, seek guidance from a psychic, or wonder whether it's possible to connect with someone we've lost. But what are we really looking for in these experiences? And how do we make sense of the things we can't always explain? In this Halloween-week episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby Sanderson is joined by Linda Rauch, an internationally recognised psychic medium, Tarot reader, Wiccan priestess and author of the bestselling memoir The Psychic's Way, for a thought-provoking exploration of spirituality, intuition, and our search for connection, comfort and meaning. With more than 40 years of experience reading Tarot, Linda draws on her lifelong relationship with the unseen world. Using Halloween as a starting point, she explains the true meaning of Samhain, the ancient Gaelic festival marking the transition from autumn into winter. Traditionally associated with honouring the dead, Samhain is rooted in the belief that the boundary between the living and spirit worlds becomes thinner at this time of year. This opens the door to a wider conversation about spirit communication, as Linda shares her perspective on the possibility of connecting with loved ones who have passed and why these experiences can feel so significant for those who have them. Host Gabby and Linda explore the relationship between love, grief and consciousness, and consider why experiences that challenge our understanding of the world can hold such profound meaning. From spiritual guides and synchronicities to questions about the soul and what may exist beyond physical life, Linda reflects on some of the mysteries that have fascinated humanity for centuries. This isn’t a conversation about proving or disproving psychic abilities. It's about understanding why people seek these experiences, what they find in them, and how to approach them with both openness and critical thought. Linda discusses the ethics of mediumship, how to recognise a genuine spiritual practitioner, and the importance of developing our intuition while remaining discerning about the guidance we choose to trust. She also talks about the idea of living at a higher vibration, including how the people we spend time with, the environments we inhabit, and the choices we make can influence our energy and overall sense of wellbeing. It's an invitation to reflect on what helps us feel connected, grounded and resilient, particularly during life's more uncertain moments. Whether you're drawn to spirituality, curious about the unexplained, or simply interested in why we seek reassurance and meaning during difficult times, this conversation invites you to approach life's mysteries with curiosity, openness and a healthy sense of discernment. Disclaimer: This episode explores spiritual beliefs and personal experiences relating to mediumship, Tarot and spirit communication. The views expressed are those of the guest and do not constitute medical or mental health advice, nor are they a substitute for professional support. If you are struggling with grief or your mental health, please seek support from a qualified medical professional. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself Linda Rauch’s Website: https://www.lindarauchmedium.com/ To sign up to Linda’s Witchcraft & Magic Masterclass live course: https://www.lindarauchtraining.com/witchcraft-masterclass-uk To book a reading with Linda: https://calendly.com/lindarauch Linda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindarauchmedium Linda’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindarauchmedium Linda’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindarauchmedium

Have you ever dreamed about someone you’ve lost and woken up feeling as though you’d truly spent time together again? Perhaps they were laughing, healthy and completely themselves, or perhaps the dream was harder, full of searching, illness or a goodbye you never got to say. In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby is joined by Dr. Joshua Black to explore one of the most mysterious, comforting and sometimes painful parts of grief: dreams about the people we’ve lost. Joshua is a grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, educator and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. He holds a master’s degree and a PhD in Psychology, and his research has explored dreams and waking experiences of deceased loved ones, continuing bonds, bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and bereavement in the context of homelessness. He is also the co-director and co-producer of the documentary No Fixed Address: The White Cart Memorial, which sheds light on grief among people experiencing homelessness, and is dedicated to raising awareness of the needs of bereaved people who may not have access to support and resources after a loss. Gabby and Joshua begin with the basics: what grief dreams actually are, how common they are, and why our minds might bring a relationship back to us while we sleep. Joshua shares the personal experience that first drew him to this work, a dream about his dad that became a turning point, and reflects on what years of research and conversations with bereaved people have taught him. He also shares a surprising finding from his research: dreams of deceased loved ones are often positive, bringing feelings of comfort, love and connection. The conversation turns to visitation dreams and the big questions that come with them. Are these experiences visits from the people we’ve lost, or the mind finding its own way to process grief? Joshua explains how he approaches this question as a researcher while honouring how profound these experiences can feel, and explores what difficult dreams and nightmares might reveal about grief, including the relationship between trauma and our experiences of loss. Gabby and Joshua also discuss continuing bonds, the idea that our relationships with loved ones don’t end when they die but change shape. They explore how grief research has moved away from the old belief that healthy grieving means detaching and letting go, and what can happen when we try to suppress, avoid or deny our grief. This is a warm, honest and deeply human conversation about grief, dreams and the enduring nature of love. Because losing someone doesn't mean losing the bond we share with them. Sometimes, that connection finds its way back to us in our dreams. Whether you're curious about the psychology of dreams, trying to make sense of an experience of your own, or hoping to better understand grief and the people around you, this episode is for you. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself Joshua’s Website: https://www.griefdreams.ca/ Joshua’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefdreams Listen to The Grief Dreams Podcast with Dr. Joshua Black in all the usual podcast places.

What does it mean when ideas about gender that once seemed to belong to the past begin gaining momentum again? From the manosphere and looksmaxxing culture to the growing popularity of tradwife content, social media is filled with increasingly rigid ideas about what men and women should look like, how they should behave, and what their relationships and lives should be. But beneath the aesthetics and carefully curated videos are deeper questions about identity, belonging, certainty, power and our psychological wellbeing. In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby speaks to Anda Solea, a Senior Lecturer in Cybercrime and PhD Candidate at the University of Portsmouth, and a Fellow of the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism. Anda researches how extremist ideologies and online subcultures are disseminated and normalised through social media, specialising in incels, looksmaxxers and manosphere influencers, and the role of short-form content in spreading misinformation, propaganda, online radicalisation and gender-based violence. Together, Gabby and Anda explore why momentum is building around these ideas, why an idealised version of the past can feel increasingly appealing, and how social media algorithms can take seemingly harmless content and lead people towards increasingly rigid or extreme worldviews. They look at the psychological pressures created by looksmaxxing and incel culture, including appearance, masculinity, rejection and dehumanisation, as well as the appeal of tradwife culture and its promise of traditional femininity, domesticity and clearly defined gender roles. But this conversation isn't only about the people who come to believe these ideas. What happens to our mental health when we're repeatedly exposed to them without necessarily buying into them? How can they affect our self-worth, relationships, expectations of other people and understanding of gender? And as debates around misogyny, gender, power and sexual violence continue to play out both online and in the real world, what can we do to challenge harmful narratives, build healthier communities and protect our psychological wellbeing? Tune in to explore whether these seemingly opposing movements are responding to some of the same underlying psychological needs, and what their growing popularity reveals about the world we live in. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself For more on Anda and her research: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/anda-solea

Panic attacks can feel terrifying, but for some people, the fear of having another one can become just as debilitating as the panic itself. Over time, this fear can lead to avoidance, safety behaviours and agoraphobia, gradually shrinking a person's world. In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby Sanderson is joined by BABCP-accredited psychotherapist Joe Parkins to explore panic disorder, agoraphobia, the cycle that can keep anxiety going and how to finally break free from it. Joe explains what actually happens during a panic attack, why our fight-or-flight response can create such intense physical sensations, and how one frightening experience can develop into a fear of panic itself. He also breaks down the connection between panic disorder and agoraphobia, and how avoidance and safety behaviours can unintentionally reinforce anxiety. The conversation examines what recovery can involve, including acceptance, exposure and challenging catastrophic interpretations of bodily sensations. Joe shares his perspective on medication alongside therapy, the lifestyle factors that can help or hinder recovery, practical ways to respond when panic strikes, and how loved ones can offer support without reinforcing avoidance. Joe Parkins is a BABCP-accredited psychotherapist and former anxiety sufferer. After experiencing severe panic disorder and agoraphobia throughout his teens and early twenties, he eventually recovered and went on to train as a psychotherapist. Joe now works as a High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist for NHS Talking Therapies and runs a private practice specialising in the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia. Having experienced severely debilitating anxiety disorders firsthand, Joe combines his personal experience with his knowledge of evidence-based treatments to help sufferers recover from anxiety efficiently and effectively. Joe also runs the Instagram account Freedom From Panic, where he shares content primarily focused on panic disorder and agoraphobia. He has created a four-episode mini-series exclusively for the My Possible Self app, exploring panic disorder, agoraphobia, common misconceptions and the steps towards recovery. Details can be found below. Whether you've experienced panic attacks yourself or want to better understand and support someone who has, this conversation offers practical insights, reassurance and hope that recovery is possible. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself Joe’s Website: https://freedomfrompanic.com/ Joe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedom_from_panic/ Joe’s online course: https://www.anxietyfitness.com/community/marketplace/freedom-from-panic-a-step-by-step-guide-to-overcoming-panic-disorder