Stories of Impact | Human Flourishing, Compassion & Connection

What helps human flourishing take root when people face loneliness, conflict, uncertainty, or change? And what can compassion, cooperation, and human connection teach us about living well together? Stories of Impact explores the science of human flourishing through conversations with researchers, thinkers, and people whose experiences bring that science to life. We often look for answers to human wellbeing in personal happiness alone, yet flourishing also depends on our relationships, communities, and the ways we care for one another. We may also turn to inspiring stories without understanding what research can tell us about why hope, kindness, and cooperation matter. This podcast brings those approaches together, connecting real human experiences with research on human flourishing. Join writer Tavia Gilbert and journalist Richard Sergay as they travel the world and explore how people build compassion, practice mindfulness, find purpose, and strengthen human connection. Through stories of resilience, altruism, positive psychology, spirituality, and evidence-based hope, the show examines what supports human flourishing in everyday life and across communities. The conversations also sometimes reach beyond the human world, exploring diverse intelligences and what other forms of life and intelligence might teach us about cooperation, connection, and flourishing. From cooperation during crises to the role of spiritual practices in belonging, each episode offers another perspective on the science of human flourishing. Discover stories that make human flourishing more than an abstract idea—and invite us to rethink how we understand ourselves, one another, and the wider living world. Popular Episode Topics Include: Human Flourishing, Science of Human Flourishing, Compassion Science, Human Connection, Cooperation, Altruism, Positive Psychology, Wellbeing Science, Evidence-Based Hope, Mindfulness, Spirituality, Science and Spirituality, Prosocial Behavior, Purpose and Meaning, Resilience Research, Empathy Research, Global Wellbeing, Community Belonging