Is Happiness Possible?

A podcast dedicated to all the happiness seekers who are showing up every day no matter how rough the journey called life has become. Join Katie, Woodland, a Maverik Psychologist to uncover a secret world which seamlessly blending science and soul so that you can finally answer the burning question - 'Is Happiness Possible?' Each episode gives you simple to follow and easy to implement Happiness Hacks so that you are not just inspired to take action, but fully guided through the required implementation steps.

How My Crime Drama Passion Fed My Alcohol Habit (And It’s Not What You Think) 02/04/2026

How My Crime Drama Passion Fed My Alcohol Habit (And It’s Not What You Think) You live in a world of infinite choices. Netflix. Amazon. Instagram. A thousand options at your fingertips. It feels like freedom. But what if it's actually control? In this episode, Katie reveals how subliminal suggestion shapes your decisions—from what you drink to what you buy to what you believe—and exposes the invisible systems designed to keep you dependent on experts, algorithms, and external validation. What You'll Learn: ✓ The paradox of choice: Why more options lead to less satisfaction and more anxiety ✓ Learned helplessness: How outsourcing decisions trains your brain to stop trusting itself ✓ The feedback loop: How lost agency → anxiety → more dependence (and how to break it) ✓ Subliminal suggestion in action: Katie's story of how a crime drama shaped her alcohol habits without her realising it ✓ Why the wellness industry profits from keeping you dependent (and how to spot it) ✓ The real difference between a therapist who helps you heal vs. one who helps themselves stay in business ✓ Practical tools for reclaiming your autonomy: decision-making without outsourcing, breaking filter bubbles, protecting cognitive energy ✓ How to rebuild trust in your own judgment and become the expert on your own life ✓ The neuroscience of agency, autonomy, and why loss of control triggers anxiety Katie's Bold Claim: "85% of my clients wouldn't have needed me if the experts had focused on helping them become their own healers instead of positioning themselves as saviors." Who This Is For: Anyone who feels trapped by too many choices People who've outsourced their health/happiness to experts and feel stuck Those interested in the psychology of influence and manipulation Anyone recovering from trauma who's ready to reclaim their agency People curious about how algorithms and systems shape our "free" choices Anyone who suspects the wellness industry is profiting from their dependence Resources Mentioned: Happiness Hacks Lab: https://www.happinesshackslab.com/ Free Happiness Archetype Test: https://www.happinesshackslab.com/ 7-day free trial (no card required): https://www.happinesshackslab.com/ Key Concepts: Paradox of choice, learned helplessness, autonomy, agency, subliminal suggestion, algorithmic influence, filter bubbles, decision fatigue, cognitive load, trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, anxiety, self-empowerment, psychological control, wellness industry critique Keywords: agency, learned helplessness, autonomy, choice, anxiety, subliminal suggestion, algorithms, decision fatigue, psychological control, trauma recovery, self-empowerment, wellness industry, therapy, mental health, nervous system regulation, cognitive load, filter bubbles, algorithmic influence Hashtags: #Agency #LearnedHelplessness #Autonomy #AnxietyRelief #SubliminalSuggestion #Algorithms #DecisionFatigue #MentalWellness #TraumaRecovery #SelfEmpowerment #NervousSystem #PsychologyOfChoice #WellnessIndustry #CriticalThinking #PersonalAgency /episode/index/show/ec5456d6-67f1-4efd-aa8f-b3ec15843733/id/39990540

If deep breathing makes your night anxiety worse, do this instead (3am-safe) 01/28/2026

If deep breathing makes your night anxiety worse, do this instead (3am-safe) You've been told: "Just breathe. Breathing exercises calm your nervous system." But when you try deep breathing at 3am, it makes you feel worse. You're not failing. You're not broken. You're just starting with a tool your nervous system can't tolerate right now. In this episode, Katie breaks down: ✓ Why breathing exercises can accidentally trigger anxiety (especially at night) ✓ The difference between a "technique" (requires control) and a "sensory regulator" (passive, automatic) ✓ How your olfactory system bypasses your thinking brain and goes straight to your nervous system ✓ Polyvagal theory: why scent activates your vagus nerve without conscious effort ✓ Hyperventilation sensitivity and CO2 awareness (why forcing a breathing pattern feels threatening) ✓ Interoception and trauma: why controlling your breathing can feel like a threat when you're dysregulated ✓ The three essential oils Katie recommends for 3am anxiety (and why each one works differently) ✓ How to use scent as your nervous system's off-switch—no performance, no failure ✓ Katie's personal story: wild orange, PTSD, and learning to trust a different kind of regulation ✓ Why sensory regulation works when breathing exercises don't This isn't about dismissing breathing exercises. They're brilliant—when your nervous system can tolerate them. But if your body is already edgy, forcing a breathing pattern can backfire. This episode teaches you a completely different approach: one that works with your nervous system, not against it. Resources mentioned: Happiness Hacks Lab: Essential oils protocol: Recommended essential oils: Wild Orange, Frankincense, Lavender What You'll Learn: Why breathing exercises can make anxiety worse The neuroscience of the olfactory system and vagus nerve activation Polyvagal theory and how it applies to 3am anxiety The difference between active techniques and passive sensory regulation Three evidence-backed essential oils and how to use them How to recognise when your nervous system needs a different tool Practical, 3am-safe anxiety management without performance pressure Perfect for: Anyone whose breathing exercises make anxiety worse, people with trauma histories, those interested in nervous system regulation, or anyone looking for a simpler, more passive approach to calming their nervous system at night. Keywords: anxiety relief, deep breathing, breathing exercises, essential oils, nervous system regulation, vagus nerve, polyvagal theory, sleep anxiety, 3am anxiety, sensory regulation, olfactory system, anxiety management, insomnia, trauma recovery, nervous system healing Hashtags: #AnxietyRelief #DeepBreathing #EssentialOils #NervousSystem #VagusNerve #PolyvagalTheory #SensoryRegulation #SleepAnxiety #3amAnxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemHealing #AnxietyManagement #OlfactorySystem #MentalWellness /episode/index/show/ec5456d6-67f1-4efd-aa8f-b3ec15843733/id/39898860

Waking up at 3am with a racing heart? Do this first (then decide what it means) 01/21/2026

Waking up at 3am with a racing heart? Do this first (then decide what it means) You wake at 3am. Your heart is pounding. Your brain does one of two things: panics, or starts a full investigation. Both keep you awake. Here's what you need to know: a racing heart at 3am doesn't mean you're broken, and it doesn't mean you're having a heart attack. It means your autonomic nervous system is doing its job—sometimes a bit too enthusiastically. In this episode, Katie breaks down: ✓ Why your heart races during REM sleep (and why you wake up feeling wired) ✓ The difference between your nervous system being activated and being in actual danger ✓ How to label what's happening ("This is a body spike, not a prophecy") and interrupt the panic loop ✓ The autonomic nervous system: sympathetic (accelerator) vs. parasympathetic (brake) ✓ Hyperarousal—what it is and why it happens at 3am ✓ How to activate your vagus nerve and downshift your nervous system in 60 seconds ✓ What your 3am racing heart might actually be telling you (spoiler: it's often about what's happening during the day) ✓ Why panic attacks feel like heart attacks (and why understanding the difference changes everything) This isn't about dismissing your experience. A racing heart at 3am is scary. But once you understand what your body is actually doing, you can stop panicking about it—and start listening to what it's trying to tell you. Resources mentioned: Full nervous system regulation method: What You'll Learn: The neuroscience of REM sleep and cardiovascular changes How the autonomic nervous system works (and how to activate the brake) The difference between hyperarousal and panic A 60-second technique to downshift your nervous system How to interrupt the panic loop before it spirals What chronic 3am racing heart patterns might indicate Why understanding your body changes everything Perfect for: Anyone who wakes with a racing heart and panics, people with sleep anxiety or panic disorder, those interested in nervous system regulation, or anyone who's ever thought they were having a heart attack at 3am. ---- Keywords: racing heart, 3am wakeup, panic attack, autonomic nervous system, heart palpitations, anxiety, sleep anxiety, nervous system regulation, vagus nerve, REM sleep, hyperarousal, insomnia, sleep science, trauma recovery, sleep disorders and insomnia, how sleep fast Hashtags: #RacingHeart #3amWakeup #PanicAttack #NervousSystem #AnxietyRelief #HeartPalpitations #SleepAnxiety #VagusNerve #NervousSystemRegulation #REMSleep #Hyperarousal #TraumaRecovery #SleepScience #MentalWellness /episode/index/show/ec5456d6-67f1-4efd-aa8f-b3ec15843733/id/39801570

Woke up at 3am and can't fall back asleep? Do this first (no lights, no drama) 01/14/2026

Woke up at 3am and can't fall back asleep? Do this first (no lights, no drama) You wake at 3am. Your brain instantly spirals: "Let's review every mistake since 2009." Cool. But absolutely not helpful. Here's the truth: waking at 3am doesn't mean you're broken. It means your sleep cycle just rotated you into a lighter stage, and your nervous system decided to surface. That's normal. What happens next is what matters. In this episode, Katie breaks down: ✓ Why 3am specifically is when your brain won't shut up (sleep cycles, REM, and why your nervous system is closer to the surface) ✓ The alpha brainwave state—and how the first 17 seconds of wakefulness determine whether you sleep or spiral ✓ The 60-second Miracle Moment Replay technique (and why it works better than counting sheep or scrolling your phone) ✓ How serotonin, melatonin, and cortisol are hijacking your sleep—and how to flip the script ✓ Why women struggle more with staying asleep (and it's not your fault) ✓ How to use your 3am wakeups to track hormonal patterns without an expensive cycle tracker ✓ What NOT to do at 3am (unless you want to be awake till 5am) ✓ The neuroscience behind cognitive reframing and neuroplasticity—and why your brain is more suggestible at 3am than you think This isn't about "fixing" yourself. It's about understanding the why, accepting that 3am wakeups are natural, and using a simple technique to slide back into sleep without your brain hijacking the mission. Resources mentioned: Happiness Hacks Lab: Full Miracle Moment method: What You'll Learn: The science of sleep cycles and why 3am is a biological hotspot How to hijack your alpha brainwave state for better sleep A 60-second technique you can do in bed (no lights, no drama) Why affirmations and phone scrolling make insomnia worse How hormones, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation affect sleep maintenance Practical strategies for tracking patterns and understanding your sleep Perfect for: Anyone who wakes at 3am and can't fall back asleep, people with sleep anxiety, women dealing with hormonal sleep disruptions, or anyone interested in the neuroscience of sleep and nervous system regulation. /episode/index/show/ec5456d6-67f1-4efd-aa8f-b3ec15843733/id/39719845

The Chakra System Nobody's Teaching You (But Should Be) 01/07/2026

The Chakra System Nobody's Teaching You (But Should Be) The seven-chakra system is everywhere—colour-coded, Instagram-friendly, and completely wrong. When Katie dug into the original Sanskrit sources (via archive.org and the Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary), she discovered something shocking: the traditional Vedic texts describe six chakras, not seven. And the locations? Completely different from what you've been taught. In this episode, Katie breaks down: ✓ Why the "heart chakra" is actually located at the root of your nose (and what that means for your practice) ✓ The Sanskrit lexicon proof that speaking doesn't manifest, but visualisation and conscious command do ✓ How the original chakra system aligns with real neuroscience (vagus nerve, glymphatic system, cerebrospinal fluid flow) ✓ Why your affirmations have been falling flat (and what actually works instead) ✓ The historical and cultural shifts that led to the modern seven-chakra model ✓ How to work with your body's actual energetic architecture instead of a westernised approximation This isn't about dismissing chakras—it's about returning to the source and understanding what got lost (or deliberately changed) along the way. Resources mentioned: Sanskrit Dictionary: Archive.org: Happiness Hacks Lab: What You'll Learn: The actual locations of the six chakras according to the original Sanskrit definitions Why the seven-chakra model contradicts itself The mechanism of manifestation (visualisation + conscious command, not affirmations alone) How ancient yogic concepts align with modern neuroscience How to start working with the correct chakra system immediately Perfect for: Anyone who meditates, practices energy work, wants to understand manifestation, is interested in neuroscience + spirituality, or is sceptical of mainstream wellness narratives. Ready to dive in deep? Head to the Happiness Hacks Lab, grab the free video, download the worksheets, and discover what the chakra system was actually designed to do. Because once you know the truth, you can’t unknow it — and your practice will never be the same. xoxo Katie 😘 P.S. The worksheets include chakra scans, meditation guides using the original Sanskrit meanings, and a breakdown of how each chakra connects to your nervous system and your life. Join free at and unlock the real system. Keywords: chakra system, Sanskrit, meditation, manifestation, affirmations, visualization, energy healing, nervous system, vagus nerve, Vedic texts, primary sources, spirituality, personal development, neuroscience, glymphatic system Hashtags: #ChakraSystem #Sanskrit #Meditation #Manifestation #EnergyHealing #VagusNerve #NervousSystem #Affirmations #Visualization #Spirituality #PersonalDevelopment #PrimarySource #VedicWisdom #HealthPodcast /episode/index/show/ec5456d6-67f1-4efd-aa8f-b3ec15843733/id/39632245

The Real Reason Adults Struggle to Communicate with Their Kids — and It’s Scarier Than You Think 12/31/2025

The Real Reason Adults Struggle to Communicate with Their Kids — and It’s Scarier Than You Think The Christmas period is supposed to be full of fun, family, and fabulous memories… right? Wrong. If you’ve tried talking to a teen (or anyone born after the 90s) and felt like you were speaking two different languages — this episode is for you. Because it’s not just “kids these days.” It’s not just hormones. And it’s definitely not just a bad attitude. In this episode, Katie Woodland breaks down the uncomfortable truth: social media and endless digital stimulation are actively rewiring adolescent brains during the most neuroplastic (and most vulnerable) developmental window of life. Puberty already turbocharges reward and social circuits — then algorithms come along and hook dopamine pathways on top of it. We’ll talk dopamine hits, why the prefrontal cortex (your brain’s CEO) gets weakened by constant stimulation, and why teens can end up dependent on online metrics over offline nuance — making real-world communication feel unbearable, confusing, or even threatening. If you’ve been blaming yourself (or blaming them), this will reframe everything — and give you a clearer, science-rooted way to understand what’s actually happening in your house. xoxo Katie 😘 P.S. Want tools to rewire your family’s habits and bring peace to your home in weeks not months? Join Happiness Hacks Lab for your free 7-day trial — mindfulness, boundary hacks, and more to build resilient brains. No credit card needed: #Parenting #Teenagers #Adolescence #BrainDevelopment #Neuroscience #Dopamine #SocialMedia #MentalHealth #EmotionalRegulation #PrefrontalCortex #ParentingTeens #FamilyCommunication #KatieWoodland #Psychology #DigitalAddiction #Neuroplasticity #Puberty Keywords: parenting teens, teen brain development, adolescence neuroscience, dopamine and social media, prefrontal cortex development, emotional regulation teens, why teens don’t talk, communication with teenagers, digital stimulation, neuroplasticity adolescence, screen time effects on teens, social media addiction, parenting advice psychology, family conflict teens /episode/index/show/ec5456d6-67f1-4efd-aa8f-b3ec15843733/id/39579010

Forget Left-Brain, Right-Brain: What Neuroscience Actually Says 12/17/2025

Power Posing Is Out — Here’s What Actually Calms Your Mind and Body 12/10/2025

Not Lazy, Not Crazy—Just A Woman: The Monthly Truth No One Talks About 12/03/2025

Are You a Human Lie Detector? Science Says Probably Not 11/26/2025

You Deserve Anxiety Relief in Minutes, Not Months 11/19/2025

You Deserve Anxiety Relief in Minutes, Not Months Struggling with anxiety that sprints faster than your ability to cope? This episode breaks down the big showdown: EFT (tapping) vs CBT vs counselling — what actually works, what doesn’t, and why you keep getting stuck on the therapy merry-go-round. I’m pulling apart the science, the myths, and the psychology behind each method, so you can finally choose a solution that gives you relief fast instead of waiting 6–12 sessions to maybe feel different. You’ll learn: • Why CBT helps only if your brain isn’t in full emotional meltdown • Why counselling feels comforting but slow • How EFT can reduce anxiety in 3–5 minutes (yes, even the kind that keeps you up at night) • The neuroscience behind why tapping works — without any woo • How to start using EFT today without a therapist If you want practical relief instead of endless coping strategies, this episode is your turning point. xoxo Katie Ready to try EFT the right way? Grab your free 7-day pass to the Happiness Hacks Lab — no card needed. Watch the “Struggling With Anxiety? Do This” video, download the EFT Workbook, and start tapping your way to calm in minutes: → Keywords: CBT Therapy CBT Near Me CBT Therapist How can I access affordable CBT courses through UK-based services? What are the best online platforms for CBT therapy in the UK? Where can I find professional CBT therapists near me? What is CBT? CBT Meaning Can you do CBT on your own? How does CBT therapy work? What are the downsides of CBT? Who is CBT not suitable for? Can you perform CBT on your own? Can you practice CBT without a therapist? Is self-CBT effective? how long does a cbt last? how long does cbt take? what is eft tapping therapy? what is the EFT therapy? what does EFT stand for? what are the 5 basic moves of EFT? What are the 9 steps of EFT therapy? How do I do EFT on myself? How long does EFT usually last? What does EFT tapping do for you? What are the risks of EFT Tapping? Can I do eft on myself? Hashtags: #CBT #TherapyCBT #TherapyForCBT #CBTforanxiety #cbtforinsomnia #cbtnearme #cognitivetherapycbt #eft #efttapping #eftandtapping #eftmeaning #efttherapy #efttappingforanxiety #tappingeft #tappingoreft efttappingtherapy /episode/index/show/ec5456d6-67f1-4efd-aa8f-b3ec15843733/id/39092065