The Positive Psychology News Interviews

For a few years, Positive Psychology News hosted interviews with interesting contributors to the field of positive psychology.

George Vaillant

The REAL Difference between Happiness and Joy

George E. Vaillant, M.D. is a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital.  Dr. Vaillant has spent his research career charting adult development and the recovery process of schizophrenia, heroin addiction, alcoholism, and personality disorder.

Dr. Vaillant spent  35 years as Director of the Study of Adult Development at the Harvard University Health Service.  The study has prospectively charted the lives of 824 men and women for almost 70 years.  His published works include Adaptation to Life, 1977, The Wisdom of The Ego, 1993, The Natural History of Alcoholism-Revisited, 1995, and Aging Well, 2002, Spiritual Evolution, 2008 and Triumphs of Experience, 2012

Sean Doyle

Webinar with Sean Doyle: Mud and Dreams

Sean Doyle is driven by his belief in the goodness of people, that there is beauty all around us, and that there is reason for hope. David Pollay, the best selling author of “Law of the Garbage” called Sean the “poetic voice of positive psychology”. Sean’s essays and stories are invitations to inject a little more hope, affection and meaning into the world. They are about recovering a reverence for being and creating a culture of kindness. A long time lawyer and psychology professor, Sean studied philosophy at Rutgers, received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University-New Orleans, and his Masters of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. A husband and father of three, Sean lives and writes in North Carolina. For more, or to reach Sean, please visit www.JohnSeanDoyle.com

Christine Duvivier

How to Unleash Hidden Genius

Christine Duvivier is an international speaker, author, and positive change mentor. She has guided thousands to new levels of success, confidence, and happiness.

Author of What I’d Say if You Wouldn’t Roll Your Eyes…love notes to my child and “Appreciating Beauty in The Bottom 80™,” Christine builds on her experiences as a Fortune 50 leader, positive psychology master, and mother. With her laser focus on the hidden genius, leadership and true potential in each of us, she refutes the “not good enough” myth and replaces it with her model that holds our spirit and well-being at its core. Christine holds a MBA (Cornell) and MAPP (UPenn).

Karen Warner

The Sudden Caregiver’s Paradox

Karen Warner, MAPP ’13, became a sudden caregiver in October of 2014, when her late husband, Joel Kurtzman, was diagnosed with incurable stage IV cancer. Seeking, and not finding, a roadmap to guide her caregiving experience and decision-making, she was determined to create one in Joel’s honor.

When Joel passed away in April 2016, she began writing The Sudden Caregiver: A Roadmap for Resilient Caregiving, published in 2021. With encouragement from the medical community and the support of a MAPP Alumni Association grant, she is also building an online community for caregivers.

Suzann (“Suzie”) Pileggi Pawelski

awelski holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a freelance writer and well-being consultant specializing in the science of happiness and its effects on health and relationships.   She gives “Romance and Research” (TM) workshops around the world with her husband James.

 James Pawelski, Ph.D., is Professor of Practice and Director of  Education in the Positive Psychology Center at The University of Pennsylvania where he co-founded the world’s first Master of Applied Positive Psychology Program with Martin Seligman. As an international keynote speaker. James has also presented in more than 20 countries on 6 continents, including “Romance and Research” (TM) workshops with his wife Suzie.

 

Alex Goldfayn is the CEO of Evangelist Marketing Institute, LLC., a revenue growth consultancy for clients who want to grow quickly. Alex’s average client grows by 15-20% in their first year of working with him.
He is among the top-rated and most requested sales speakers in the world, motivating sales teams, managers, executives and owners to take simple action which will grow their business.
Alex’s latest book is called Selling Boldly: Applying The New Science of Positive Psychology To Dramatically Increase Your Confidence, Happiness & Sales.