What does it really mean to call yourself an artist? In this episode, Stella sits down with Michelle Martin, photographer, brand strategist, and creative based in Lisbon, to explore the deeply human experience of putting your work out into the world.

Together, Stella and Michelle unpack the mindset blocks that hold creatives back, the tension between authentic self-expression and the pressure to constantly produce content, and why "slow content" might be the most radical thing you can do in today's algorithm-driven world. They also dive into the AI conversation - what it means for artists, where the ethical lines blur, and how to use these tools without losing your creative soul.

What if the secret to feeling better isn't adding more, but removing what no longer serves you?

In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and Clean Living Consultant Lauren Jade Martin to explore why simplicity may be the ultimate luxury in modern life.

Lauren shares her unconventional career journey, from a DI athlete to startup founder, Uber marketer, product leader, and ultimately the founder of Cloud Nine Health. After being diagnosed with endometriosis, she began questioning everything she thought she knew about wellness. What followed was a deep dive into how our homes, habits, environments, and daily choices shape how we feel.

Together, we discuss the hidden costs of overconsumption, why our culture has become obsessed with optimization, and Lauren's refreshing philosophy of pursuing joygevity rather than longevity.

This conversation is a reminder that happiness isn't found in a new city, a new job, or another wellness product. Often, it's found by creating space for presence, play, connection, and the things that truly matter.

After 5+ years and 180+ conversations exploring happiness, Stella Stephanopoulos turns the mic on herself for the first live recording of Everyday Endorphins.

In conversation with health & wellness reporter Alexa Mikhail, Stella reflects on the evolution of the podcast, the tension between achievement and fulfillment, and the life experiences that challenged her understanding of joy.

Together, they explore what actually makes people happier, and why the answers are often far less glamorous (and far more human) than we’ve been taught to believe.

Thank you to Spring Place, Korres, Gainful, and Happy Being for helping to make this episode and event possible!

This week I sat down with Sanibel Lazar, author and cultural commentator, to talk about something we’re all experiencing but rarely unpack — the blurred line between online and real-life relationships.

From parasocial connections to evolving friendships in adulthood, we explore how social media shapes the way we connect, communicate, and even see ourselves. We also dive into the ethics of turning real-life experiences into content, why making new friends as an adult matters more than we think, and how meaningful conversation — not small talk — is what actually builds connection.

At the core of it all is a bigger question: what does it really mean to feel close to someone in today’s world?

This month I sat down with Ana Cordera, who has researched the habits of some of the highest performers across business, sports, and culture, to talk about what it actually takes to build habits that reflect who you want to become.

We explore the shift from rigid planning to intentional design — and why so many of us mistake control for progress. Ana shares how her own experience with perfectionism and burnout led her to rethink productivity, moving away from structure for the sake of structure and toward habits rooted in identity and values.

We get into the psychology of habit formation, why identity carries more weight than goals, and how small daily actions become “votes” for the person you’re becoming. We also talk about time blocking, Parkinson’s Law, and how to create structure in your life without sacrificing spontaneity or joy.

Throughout the conversation, we come back to a core idea: happiness isn’t something you arrive at — it’s something you practice. And the way you spend your time is one of the clearest reflections of what you value.

Whether you’re feeling stuck in perfectionism, struggling to stay consistent with your habits, or simply looking to live more intentionally, this episode will give you both the mindset shifts and practical tools to start designing a life that actually feels good.

Life doesn’t slow down just because we feel overwhelmed — and yet so many of us are quietly waiting for the next milestone to finally feel happy.

In round two with Dr. Rachel Goldman, we talk about her upcoming book When Life Happens (out April 7) and what it actually means to reclaim your joy in the middle of uncertainty — not after you move cities, land the job, find the partner, or “figure it all out.”

We unpack decision fatigue, the pressure to have life mapped out by a certain age, and the trap of “I’ll be happy when…” Dr. Rachel shares the CBT tools she uses with clients to help them get unstuck — starting with acceptance, coming back to your why, and making small, intentional tweaks that build momentum. Because becoming happier isn’t about a dramatic life overhaul — it’s about learning how to work with your thoughts instead of against them.

We also dive into one of my favorite questions: how to tell the difference between anxiety and intuition — and how slowing down might be the most radical act of self-trust.

If you’ve been craving clarity, feeling restless, or wondering whether you need to change everything to feel better — this conversation is your reminder that joy is something you can practice, not just achieve.

You can also check out our previous episode here

Professional kitesurfer Jett Bradshaw grew up in South Africa surrounded by ocean and freedom—but for years he was chasing a different kind of high: adrenaline, partying, and instant gratification.

In this episode, Jett opens up about living with ADHD and depression, the pressure to be “tough” in extreme sports culture, and the wake-up-call moment that made him decide he was done living in chaos.

We talk about what it means to feel truly seen, why fewer friends can mean deeper bonds, and how Jett is learning to find calm off the water through running, family, simple rituals, and a new definition of happiness: waking up tomorrow.

In this episode I sit down with Shira Lazar — media entrepreneur, founder of What’s Trending, and a pioneer of the creator economy — to explore what life really looks like behind the screen.

We talk about Shira’s journey from traditional media to building a career online before “personal brand” was even part of the conversation, and how the creator economy has evolved into a space filled with both opportunity and pressure. Together, we unpack why creator mental health is struggling, how burnout, comparison culture, and unclear boundaries take a toll, and what creators need to protect their well-being while building something meaningful.

This conversation is about redefining success beyond metrics, learning to set boundaries with platforms and brands, and finding joy, presence, and endorphins in the midst of creating online.