Happy Side Of Neutral: Recent Episodes
Marcy Ostberg
After working seemingly around the clock to keep up with a high pressure work environment and family and career responsibilities, I burned out. I'm now on a journey in search of methods, and practices that lead to a happy life. I'll be reviewing books and interviewing inspiring women further along on this journey in hopes of learning how they maintain balance amidst the chaos and find ways to live life on the happy side.
In this final episode of the season, we reveal the ultimate recipe for happiness! Well… at least a summary of what we are taking away from all the brilliant women we heard from this season. I’m joined by my sister Heather Johnson who has been behind the scenes helping me process what we are hearing and was happy to chat about her own conclusions.
If you have been following along you will know that I said this would be the final episode. Well, another episode emerged that I think you will love. In this week’s episode, I interview one of the matriarchs of my family Jackie Ostberg. Nana is turning 95 in a few months and during this interview, she shared stories ranging from her childhood to what she’s currently reading and everything in between. Through these stories, we get a glimpse of the things that have continued to hold meaning and what has left her feeling happy as she looks back at her life.
Influencers mentioned:
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
This week I’m joined by Corey Zehngebot. Corey is an urban designer, architect, and planner. She has worked in both government and the private sector. I know Corey from her time at the City of Boston, where she was one of the creative, outside-of-the-box thinkers that I gravitated to. But in this episode, we flipped the script and Corey mostly interviewed me. Corey has recently decided to take a sabbatical of her own. We got to talking about the value of taking this time and how to make the best use of it.
Influencers discussed:
- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
- Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
- Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
- Civilla, a non-profit design studio reimagining public institutions https://civilla.org/
- What Is Life Like When We Subtract Work From It? by Joe Pinsker The Atlantic May 23, 2022
We are taking a one-week break from the release schedule. So, while you are anxiously waiting for the next episode to drop, I would love to hear your thoughts. A few questions I have for you:
- What has resonated with you from episodes you have listened to so far?
- What themes have you heard across multiple guests?
- Any other thoughts you want to share?
Here are a few ways you can collaborate:
- For folks listening on Spotify or Anchor, you can respond to the Q+A.
- Put your thoughts in this form here https://bit.ly/happysidethoughts
- Or drop me a line at Marcy.Ostberg@gmail.com
Alex Lawrence has worked in both the public and non-profit sectors in roles aimed at making systems and services work better for the people they are meant to serve. She recently stepped into a big role on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s cabinet and is energized by the role. Alex has held many hard jobs and in her assessment of what made some life-giving and others draining she described three key ingredients to feeling fulfilled in her work. Hear from Alex about being busy and balanced and how unique the equation of finding happiness is to each individual.
Alex’s recommend influencers:
- The Practice of Adaptive Leadership by Ronald Heifetz
This week on the Happy Side of Neutral I speak with Tamara Roy, a Boston-based architect, and her daughter, Via Boley, an up-and-coming artist about the challenges of being women in their fields and hear a mother/daughter perspective on searching for balance. Listen in as Tamara shares some pragmatic parenting tips born out of necessity and pushes against the idea of balance altogether.
Tammar and Via’s recommended influencers:
- The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore
- The Matrix by Lauren Groff
- The Great Women Artists Podcast by Katy Hessel
- Funny Weather: Art in An Emergency by Olivia Laing
Other things mentioned:
- The Distance I Can Be From My SonbyLenka Clayton
- Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff
Natalia Chase is a vocal instructor, singer-songwriter, founder of a non-profit called Unified, and mother of three. In this episode, she describes a personal and professional life constantly in motion. As new opportunities come her way it requires her to make creative adjustments to her life. Listen in as she shares her key balance indicators and strategies to fight for not only a sense of balance but also continued enjoyment in her work.
Stream Natalia's music on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/2rsodGWvOBhp4a6RZUdOoX
Natalia’s recommend influencers:
- Rick Warren
- Francis Chan
Hillary Fenrich had her dream job, but soon the long hours caught up to her and left her in poor health. This wake-up call taught her to be extremely vocal about prioritizing her own health. She’s come up with a recipe to stay balanced that we can all learn from. She also shares her reflections and research on the “sustainability” of the social and environmental movement – and how organizations can better provide for their staff. Read the full list of Organizational Support for Rest and Rejuvenation here: bit.ly/OrgSupport4RR Hillary’s recommended influencers:
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff “Still Water” and “You Can’t Rush Your Healing” Songs by Trevor Hall
Meena Kothandaraman is an expert in human-centered research who has a fascination with the human experience and cares deeply about people's stories being told. In this episode, she shares moments of joy and hardship and expresses how the power of shifting perspective has left her feeling gratitude and an overall sense of balance in her life. She will leave you questioning: How might a shift in perspective to our approach to others, ourselves, and our lives leave us feeling more content.
Meena’s recommended influential books:
- The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
- Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg
Ayla Gavins is an exceptional educator and leader working to support the growth and development of children and believes healthy balanced adults make joyful children. In this episode, Ayla shares moments in her journey when she felt out of balance as she pursued this work, as well as factors that helped her maintain balance while in demanding roles, and most importantly what she learned along the way. She will leave you questioning: What does it mean to be strong? What is your definition of success? Who is your community of supporters?
Ayla’s influential reads:
- Buddha Is as Buddha Does by Surya Das
- My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Want to know the secrets to unlocking the stress cycle, building a well-lived life, and becoming a wild woman? Listen in as Heather Ostberg, Tess Forrester and I discuss how three books have framed our thinking about finding balance and living on the happy side.
If this conversation left you wanting to read more, you can find the books here:
- Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski https://www.burnoutbook.net/
- Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans https://designingyour.life/the-book/
- Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés https://www.clarissapinkolaestes.com/
Welcome to the first episode of the Happy Side of Neutral. This season is about a journey to find balance amidst the chaos and discover ways to live life on the happy side. In this first episode, I’ll be sharing my personal story of burnout and the questions I was left trying to answer.
Are you someone who struggles to find balance in your life? I certainly am. In this season, I'll share my own struggles with burnout and my search to find methods, and practices that lead to a happy life. I'll be reviewing books and interviewing inspiring women further along on this journey in hopes of learning how they maintain balance amidst the chaos and find ways to live life on the happy side.