Host Dan Morrison interview guests about finding joy through the process of growth. If we wait until we are on the other side of a goal, achievement or milestone to be happy, we won't find lasting fulfillment. How do we stay connected and content in the moment without trying to rush through our lives? This podcast explores the universal meaning behind "happy, not satisfied" and how people interpret and embody the phrase differently in various chapters of their personal and professional journeys.
And we're back! The Happy, Not Satisfied podcast was on a brief (not so brief) hiatus.
A few months ago, we were convinced we needed to move.
What started as a search for a different house eventually became a much deeper lesson about stress, perspective, and the hidden cost of constantly trying to optimize our lives.
In this episode, Ellie and I unpack the experience of putting our home on the market, why we thought a move would solve our discomfort, and what we learned when we ultimately decided to stay. We discuss how easy it is to mistake a difficult season for a permanent problem, why "I'll be happy once..." thinking can be so seductive, and how stress can distort the way we see the things that matter most.
We also explore the tension between ambition and contentment, the difference between building a better life and endlessly searching for one, and how to recognize when you're making decisions through what we call "foggy glasses."
If you've ever found yourself convinced that a new job, a new house, a new city, or a major life change would finally make everything feel right, this conversation might help you pause long enough to ask an important question:
Am I seeing this clearly?
Topics include:
• The hidden cost of constant optimization
• Why difficult seasons often create misleading conclusions
• The danger of "I'll be happy once..." thinking
• Stress, perspective, and decision-making
• Learning to appreciate what you already have
• How to know when it's time to make a change—and when it's time to wait
Substack article: https://happynotsatisfied.substack.com/p/looking-at-life-through-foggy-glasses (https://happynotsatisfied.substack.com/p/looking-at-life-through-foggy-glasses)
15 May 2025
#036 - Do It Anyway
Dan and Ellie Morrison unpack the moments when we don’t feel ready, motivated, or confident—and why those are the moments that matter most. From creative ruts to personal roadblocks, they explore how doing it anyway isn’t just an act of discipline—it’s a rebellion against fear, perfectionism, and playing small.
22 Jan 2025
#035 - UNDENIED
HNS Founder Dan Morrison was denied admission to every business school he applied to, including the one he ultimately attended. Hear his story of how he became UNDENIED!
www.happynotsatisfied.com (www.happynotsatisfied.com)
HNS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/happy.notsatisfied/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,398
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
17 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
16 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
49
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
51
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Guest appearances
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