Flourishing in the World Podcast

About Flourishing in the World Podcast

An exploration of human flourishing and living a worthy life. markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com/s/flourishing-in-the-world-podcast?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Mark Bonica

Category

education · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Oct 2023

Latest episode

28 Sept 2025

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Sept 2025

   Toward a Worthy Life, with NotebookLM

   Today’s guest is the free Google AI app, NotebookLM. A colleague introduced me to the app earlier this week, and I was intrigued. I uploaded four podcasts and sixteen essays from my Flourishing in the World project that I thought were representative and asked it to make a summary podcast, which is one of its several capabilities. I was blown away with how well it integrated, summarized, and really seemed to see the throughline of my project. It actually gave me some insights that I hadn’t thought of yet and will be writing about more in the future. I’d love to hear your feedback on the app’s work and of course on the project itself. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   13 Apr 2025

   A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Journey with Kevin Watson

   Welcome to Episode #12 of Flourishing in the World. In this episode I have the honor of interviewing Kevin Watson (https://www.kwbjj.com/kevin-watson-head-instructor.html), the owner and senior instructor at Kevin Watson Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. If you read my newsletter, you might recognize his name, as this is where I have been training in BJJ for the last two years. I wanted to talk to Kevin because, as a student of organizational culture and leadership, I have been impressed by the warm, welcoming culture he has created in his martial arts school. I think Kevin efforts embody the three C’s of Meaning (https://open.substack.com/pub/markbonica/p/toward-a-worthy-life?r=9tum8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false) that I often write about that contribute to a worthy life - Competence, Connection, and Contribution, and while we don’t explicitly discuss these during the podcast, they come out pretty clearly in our conversation. Kevin talks about how his jiu-jitsu journey has helped him become a better version of himself, helping him to overcome anxiety and other challenges. As an instructor, he seeks to help other people on their own journey toward being a better version of themselves. Flourishing in the World is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Links: Kevin Watson Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (https://www.kwbjj.com/) https://www.kwbjj.com/ (https://www.kwbjj.com/) Kevin Watson’s Bio (https://www.kwbjj.com/kevin-watson-head-instructor.html) https://www.kwbjj.com/kevin-watson-head-instructor.html (https://www.kwbjj.com/kevin-watson-head-instructor.html) Marcelo Alonso Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (https://www.mabjj.com/) https://www.mabjj.com/ (https://www.mabjj.com/) Listen and Subscribe to the Podcast on: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Thanks for reading Flourishing in the World! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   5 Jan 2025

   Playful (and joyful) learning with Dr. Kim Nesbitt

   Welcome to Episode #11 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to share this interview with my colleague, Dr. Kim Nesbitt (https://chhs.unh.edu/person/kimberly-nesbitt). Dr. Nesbitt is a psychologist and associate professor in the department of Human Development and Family Studies here at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Nesbitt and I discuss her research on playful learning, a pedagogical approach that seeks to incorporate play to achieve educational goals. As we discuss in the podcast, playful learning is an approach that tries to tap into children's natural curiosity to create meaningful and joyful learning experiences. Thanks for reading Flourishing in the World! This post is public so feel free to share it. Also listen and subscribe to Flourishing in the World on * Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flourishing-in-the-world-podcast/id1722849238) * Spotify (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/flourishing-in-the-world/) Links: UNH Receives $2.3M in Grant Funding to Improve Early Childhood Learning in NH and Beyond (https://chhs.unh.edu/blog/2024/03/unh-receives-23m-grant-funding-improve-early-childhood-learning-nh-beyond) https://chhs.unh.edu/blog/2024/03/unh-receives-23m-grant-funding-improve-early-childhood-learning-nh-beyond Making Schools Work: Bringing the Science of Learning to Joyful Classroom Practice (https://amzn.to/3DwOubN) https://amzn.to/3DwOubN Investigating the contributions of active, playful learning to student interest and educational outcomes (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691823001592)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691823001592 Making schools work: An equation for active playful learning (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00405841.2023.2202136)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00405841.2023.2202136 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

4. 

   15 Sept 2024

   Aquinas and De Regno with Dr. Susan Siggelakis

   Welcome to Episode #10 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to share this interview with my colleague, Dr. Susan Siggelakis (https://cola.unh.edu/person/susan-siggelakis). Dr. Siggelakis is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science here at the University of New Hampshire, as well as the director of the UNH Justice Studies program. In this podcast, Dr. Siggelakis and I discuss St. Thomas Aquinas’s short book, De Regno ad Regem Cypri, or in English, On Kingship to the King of Cyprus. We also discuss the importance of Aquinas as a transitional figure between the late Medieval period and the Early Renaissance, and the value of studying an 800 year old text on political philosophy. Also listen and subscribe to Flourishing in the World on * Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flourishing-in-the-world-podcast/id1722849238) * Spotify (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/flourishing-in-the-world/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

5. 

   26 May 2024

   Thrive! The Psychology Behind Achieving Professional Success with Dr. Jim Jawahar

   Welcome to Episode #9 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to share this interview with Dr. Jim Jawahar (https://professorjimjawahar.com/), Professor and Chair of the Department of Management (https://business.nmsu.edu/academic-departments/management/index.html) at New Mexico State University. Dr. Jawahar is the author of the new book, Thrive! The Psychology Behind Achieving Professional Success, which is the subject of our interview. Jawahar explores eight important theories that help individuals thrive in their work and personal lives in a series of narrative vignettes, which makes this a very readable but deep book. Also listen and subscribe to Flourishing in the World on * Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flourishing-in-the-world-podcast/id1722849238) * Spotify (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/flourishing-in-the-world/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   5 May 2024

   Change and Continuity in Childhood with Dr. Julia Rodriguez

   Welcome to Episode #8 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to share this interview with my colleague Dr. Julia Rodriguez (https://cola.unh.edu/person/julia-rodriguez), Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Rodriguez specializes in the study of Latin American History and the History of Science and Medicine. She has recently developed a course at UNH called Global History of Childhood and Youth, and in this podcast we discuss change and continuity in our conceptions of childhood. Some of the books/articles we reference: * Huck’s Raft: A History of American Childhood ( https://amzn.to/4a1G46W (https://amzn.to/4a1G46W) ) * The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls ( https://amzn.to/44rSbZC (https://amzn.to/44rSbZC) ) * Our World in Data, Child and Infant Mortality ( https://ourworldindata.org/child-mortality (https://ourworldindata.org/child-mortality) ) Also listen and subscribe to Flourishing in the World on * Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flourishing-in-the-world-podcast/id1722849238) * Spotify (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/flourishing-in-the-world/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

7. 

   7 Apr 2024

   Negotiations and Trust with Dr. Rachel Campagna

   Welcome to Episode #7 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to share this interview with my colleague Dr. Rachel Campagna (https://paulcollege.unh.edu/person/rachel-campagna), the Chair of the Management Department here at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Campagna is a scholar of trust and negotiation, and in this podcast we discuss what trust is, what it means to be trustworthy, how we negotiate constantly throughout our lives, and the importance of negotiation for a flourishing life. Thanks for reading Flourishing in the World! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Some of her papers we reference: * How to Negotiate at Work: From Job Offers to Raises (audio) ( https://amzn.to/3PU6u3n (https://amzn.to/3PU6u3n) ) * After the deal: Talk, trust building and the implementation of negotiated agreements (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597811000045 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597811000045) ) * Strategic consequences of emotional misrepresentation in negotiation: The blowback effect. (https://unh.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=2015-56316-001&site=eds-live (https://unh.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=2015-56316-001&site=eds-live) ) * The (mostly) robust influence of initial trustworthiness beliefs on subsequent behaviors and perceptions (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00187267211002905 (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00187267211002905) ) During the podcast, we talk about a particular episode of the British game show, Golden Balls. A YouTube link to the video is here: Radio Lab later interviewed the two contestants about this wild outcome. You can find the episode here: https://radiolab.org/podcast/golden-rule (https://radiolab.org/podcast/golden-rule) Also listen and subscribe to Flourishing in the World on * Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flourishing-in-the-world-podcast/id1722849238) * Spotify (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/flourishing-in-the-world/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

8. 

   4 Apr 2024

   Voice Over: willing good for others

   Substack is suggesting writers consider doing a voice over of their newsletters as a different way of engaging subscribers. This probably won’t work with RWL, and I’m not sure it will always work with the Flourishing in the World newsletter, but I thought this week’s newsletter (https://markbonica.substack.com/p/willing-good-for-others) is relatively readable, so I thought I would give it a shot. Let me know what you think. If you like it, I’ll keep doing it. It will probably come out a few days after the newsletter if I make it a regular thing. Please click the like button or comment to let me know if you would like me to turn this into a podcast feed. OK – here we go… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

9. 

   28 Jan 2024

   "You're not who you were, be who you are" with David Krempels

   Welcome to Episode #6 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. Today’s guest is David Krempels, The founder of the David Krempels Brain Injury Center (https://kbicenter.org/). In this podcast, David shares his story of surviving a traumatic brain injury and finding his way to recovery, and eventually founding the Krempels Brain Injury Center to help other people who have suffered an acquired brain injury to discover who they are as a brain injury survivor. The son of an Evangelical minister, he was raised to believe that he had an obligation to do something meaningful with his life, which he has done, despite the setbacks he faced. During the podcast we talk about his slogan, “You're not who you were, be who you are”, and what that means to him. His story is powerful and inspiring. ** If this story moves you, please consider making a donation to the KBIC (https://kbicenter.org/support/ways-to-give/) ( https://kbicenter.org/support/ways-to-give/ (https://kbicenter.org/support/ways-to-give/) ) ** Also available to listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flourishing-in-the-world-podcast/id1722849238) Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6GvI7Qo9p407UeqrC0CXQI?si=93075fa037c24b2c) ** Thank you for reading Flourishing in the World. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

10. 

    24 Dec 2023

    Mentorship and Developmental Networks with Kathy Kram

    Welcome to Episode #5 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. Today’s guest is Kathy Kram (https://www.bu.edu/questrom/profile/kathy-kram/), PhD, professor emeritus of Management and Organizations at Boston University. Dr. Kram is a world-renowned researcher best known for her foundational work on mentoring in the workplace. In this interview we talk about how she came to study mentorship and later developmental networks, what it means to be a mentor, building developmental networks, and she gives me a little mentoring on how to be a better mentor to my students. Among her many books and publications, we discuss a few: Mentoring at Work: Developmental Relationships in Organizational Life (https://amzn.to/4ay72EM) Peer Coaching at Work: Principles and Practices (https://amzn.to/3GVnIZm) Kram & Higgins, A New Mindset on Mentoring: Creating Developmental Networks at Work (https://www.bumc.bu.edu/facdev-medicine/files/2016/10/Kram-Higgins_A-New-Mindset-on-Mentoring.pdf) Shen, Cotton, & Kram Assembling your personal board of advisors (https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/assembling-your-personal-board-of-advisors/) (gated) ** Also available on * Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/episode/04i6jrsmlOKzadasb71QkW?si=TO7d27t5TwKUAJL1bMIXsg) * Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentorship-and-developmental-networks-with-kathy-kram/id1722849238?i=1000639586381) Thank you for reading Flourishing in the World. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

11. 

    12 Nov 2023

    Making Better Humans with Coach Marc Hubbard

    Welcome to Episode #4 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to share this interview with my colleague (and neighbor), Coach Marc Hubbard, the head coach (https://unhwildcats.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/coaches/marc-hubbard/1940) of the University of New Hampshire Men’s Soccer Team (https://unhwildcats.com/sports/mens-soccer). Since taking over as head coach in 2015, the team has risen through the ranks to be rated one of the top men’s teams in the country. He also has brought the school its first four America East Tournament championships (2018, 2019, 2020 & 2022) and six straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022). In this podcast I ask him about what it takes to lead a team to excellence. His response was that he focuses his efforts on helping each of his young men become better humans. This is an inspiring conversation with a remarkable leader. And, as of this posting, the Wildcats will be playing for their sixth America East championship later today. We wish Marc and his team a big win! UNH Men’s Soccer (https://unhwildcats.com/sports/mens-soccer) Coach Hubbard: https://unhwildcats.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/coaches/marc-hubbard/1940 (https://unhwildcats.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/coaches/marc-hubbard/1940) Also listen and subscribe on * Spotify (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/flourishing-in-the-world/episodes/Making-Better-Humans-with-Coach-Marc-Hubbard-e2bqkto/a-aajo9pl) * Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-better-humans-with-coach-marc-hubbard/id1722849238?i=1000639586713) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

12. 

    8 Oct 2023

    Romantic Relationships with Dr. Tyler Jamison

    Welcome to Episode #3 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to share this interview with my colleague Dr. Tyler Jamison (https://chhs.unh.edu/person/tyler-jamison). Tyler is an associate professor in the department of Human Development and Family Studies and specializes in the study of romantic relationships. In this podcast we discuss romantic relationships and emerging adults, and then talk more generally about behaviors that help romantic relationships thrive through the years. We discuss Dr. Jamison’s blog, Assembly Required on Psychology Today. We specifically discuss her posts 3 Things We Should Learn from Our Past Relationships (https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/assembly-required/202110/3-things-we-should-learn-our-past-relationships) and The Most Important Part of a Thriving Relationship My previous interview with Dr. Jamison is here on the Health Leader Forge, Tyler Jamison, PhD, UNH Human Development and Family Studies This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

13. 

    8 Oct 2023

    Ancient Rome, Stoicism, and Seneca with Dr. Scott Smith

    Welcome to Episode #2 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to share this interview with my colleague Dr. Scott Smith (https://cola.unh.edu/person/r-scott-smith). Scott is the Chair of the department of Classics, Humanities and Italian Studies at the University of New Hampshire. Scott is a philologist, and a scholar of the ancient world. In this podcast we discuss Ancient Rome, and specifically the Stoic philosopher and politician Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, and his writings. We discuss selections from Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic in the podcast. We make passing reference to Seneca’s tragedies (https://amzn.to/48Iuxd4), as well as his essay, On Anger. I also recommend Romm’s biography of Seneca, Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero which I read to prepare for this interview. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

14. 

    8 Oct 2023

    Sociology and Religion with Dr. Michelle Dillon

    Welcome to Episode #1 of Flourishing in the World, a podcast exploring topics related to personal and professional growth, and working toward living a worthy life. I am excited to start this project with an interview with my colleague Dr. Michele Dillon (https://cola.unh.edu/person/michele-dillon), the UNH Class of 1944 Professor of Sociology and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at UNH. Dr. Dillon is an internationally renowned scholar on the sociology of religion. In this podcast we talk about her research on religion and spirituality through the life course, as well as institutional change in the Catholic Church. While we speak at length about the Catholic Church, I think the conversation generalizes well to not only other religions, but other social organizations. Books we reference: Dillon and Wink, In the Course of a Lifetime Dillon, Catholic Identity: Balancing Reason, Faith, and Power Dr. Dillon asked me to note that today’s conversation represents her work as a researcher and not her role as Dean. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markbonica.substack.com (https://markbonica.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.