This week’s conversation is with Eric Barker, a former Hollywood screen-writer turned author whose dedicated following of over half a million readers look to Eric for his (often counter-intuitive) insights and research-backed
advice on how to be great at life.
In 2017, Eric penned his Wall Street Journal bestseller Barking Up the Wrong Tree, which reveals the extraordinary science behind what actually determines success and most importantly, how anyone can achieve it.
However, over the last several years Eric pivoted to taking a deep dive into the science of relationships, and recently published his newest bestseller, Plays Well with Others: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Relationships Is (Mostly) Wrong.
And that’s why I was so excited to sit down with Eric – if you’ve been following this podcast, you know I’m a big believer that relationships are foundational to exploring potential and achieving our very best… no one does it alone… through relationships, we become.
So, it was a joy to speak with Eric about all things relationships – what we’re getting wrong, the antidote to loneliness, how to cultivate deep friendships, love, communities, and so much more. I hope you leave this conversation with a new perspective on what a healthy relationship feels like, and maybe even inspired to re-examine how you approach them.
Harvard Business Review: Emma Seppälä & Nicole K. McNichols
Research shows that leaders who prioritize relationships with their employees and lead from a place of positivity and kindness simply do better, and company culture has a bigger influence on employee well-being than salary and benefits. When it comes to cultivating happiness at work, it comes down to fostering positive relationships at work. Citing research from the field of social psychology, the authors outline five core principles that make all relationships, personal or professional, thrive: 1) transparency and authenticity, 2) inspiration, 3) emotional intelligence, 4) self-care, and 5)
values.
This conversation is with Dr. Melanie Joy, a Harvard-educated psychologist specializing in relationships, communication, and social change.
Melanie is best known for her groundbreaking theories on the psychology of violence, nonviolence, and building healthy relationships.
Her analyses have helped explain why people engage in “nonrelational” behaviors—behaviors that harm other people, animals, the planet, and themselves—as well as how to change this pattern.
Melanie's mission is to raise awareness of the obstacles preventing people from interacting in ways that create a sense of mutual connection.
With awareness, we are better able to think freely and act compassionately, to create healthier and more fulfilling relationships and a more equitable and sustainable world.
