Positivity Matters

Amy Smith: The Art of Playing with Our ThrownnessPorcelain is so unforgiving that potters say throwing it is like working with cream cheese. Ceramic artist Amy Smith has built a life around that material, and this conversation moves from clay to something larger: how we embrace what we're given — the temperament, the circumstances that shape us — as material to work with, and even to play with. At its center is one durable idea, that we might speak to ourselves the way we would to a good friend, and keep play close all our lives.Find Amy's work at https://amysmithporcelain.com, and learn more about the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts at https://khncenterforthearts.org.Recorded: June 25th, 2026

Annick Janson: Now (Strengths) & Next (Practical Hope) Recorded June 22, 2026, this conversation features Dr. Annick Janson — positive psychologist, social science researcher, and co-founder of the Fast Track Inclusion Trust. Drawing on her work with families of differently-abled children through programs like Pictability and Now & Next, Annick shares how parents move from feeling overwhelmed to having agency, right here and right now, with what they already have.Her VIA signature strengths come through in every minute: Perseverance (Grit), Love of Learning, Hope, Zest, and Leadership — the same strengths she helps others discover and put to work toward the goals that matter most to them.

David Thomas: On Becoming a Playvolutionary for FunDave's CliftonStrengths: Ideation | Strategic | Intellection | Input| MaximizerDavid Thomas hosts the podcast The Fun Question and co-founded Professors at Play — the nearly-1,000-member "Playvolution" remaking higher education — and co-author, with John Sharp, of Fun, Taste, and Games (MIT Press, 2019). His work argues that play isn't ornamental or adjacent to serious work. It's a distinct aesthetic with its own structure: ludic form, ambiguity, and set-outsidedness. Recorded: Friday, May 8th, 2026

Retired police lieutenant and positive psychology practitioner David Berez, MAPP, DRE joins us to discuss how we can transform trauma into a catalyst for growth. David shares his journey from a 20-year career in law enforcement—where "resilience" meant simply bouncing back—to his development of "Courageous Optimism," a framework that empowers first responders to become "anti-fragile" in the face of chaos. By blending the science of human flourishing with the gritty reality of police work, David illustrates how storytelling and vulnerability can break the stigma of silence and save lives.David Berez’s VIA Strengths: Honesty | Kindness | Curiosity | Perspective | Social IntelligenceAudio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com)Recorded: January 7, 2026

Grant Stonebraker: Building a Pay-It-Forward CultureSpeaker, coach, and author Grant Stonebraker shares how his signature strengths of honesty, kindness, and love fuel both his entrepreneurial work and his grassroots kindness movement, Operation: Pay It Forward. Grant discusses how spirituality and creativity guide his approach to building authentic connections and inspiring others to make progress through simple, intentional acts of goodness. This conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking to live their values and spark positive change in their community.A visualization of the aggregated VIA Strengths of people who have been guests on the podcast after adding Grant’s top VIA Strengths: Honesty | Kindness | Love | Spirituality | CreativityAudio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com/)Recorded on: 11/20/2025

Leo Louis II: Identity Formation, Community Building, and Cultural TransformationLeo recently co-authored the book: The Grownfolks and the Magic WandRecorded: November 14, 2025

Amy Goodburn: Building the Good Life with Husker P.O.W.E.R. Senior Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Undergraduate Education, University of Nebraska-LincolnCliftonStrengths: Learner | Achiever | Input | Discipline | ArrangerRecorded: September 10, 2025P.O.W.E.R. = Purpose, Ownership, Well-being, Engagement, and RelationshipsFrom the Inter-association Wellbeing Collaborative:We define well-being as an optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential. Our focus is on two interdependent types of well-being: 1) individual and 2) community.

Daryl Davis: How to be Prohuman with Music and FriendshipRecorded 8/7/2025

Maital Neta: Positivity Matters to Our Brains!Professor of Psychology at UNLCliftonStrengths: Empathy, Achiever, Responsibility, Relator, Learner Recorded: 7/23/2025

Meghan TalarowskiFounder and Executive Director, Studio LudoA finding a the study that Meghan draws on to inform her playground designs: “Play builds grit, prevents burnout, ignites joy through movement, and helps us become better people together.“

Tracy Edgerton: Leveraging Our Unique Strengths to Achieve a Shared VisionPresident & CEO, Lincoln Community FoundationLincoln Vital Signs | Prosper LincolnCliftonStrengths: Learner | Input | Intellection | Developer | AchieverRecorded: July 1, 2025

Andrew Hanna - Emerging Leadership, Life Design, & MoreAssistant Professor of Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Prof. Hanna spoke at Nebraska's International Day of Hope celebration.CliftonStrengths: Woo | Relator | Input | Positivity | FuturisticRecorded: June 25, 2025Brought to you by Positivity Matters!

Rebecca Davis - Dimensions of Connectedness (Social Capital & Social Health) Director & ProducerRebecca speaks on the community engagement she has generated around the country with the documentary, Join or Die, and we also explore themes of wellbeing present in the film. Recorded 6/5/2025