From Trauma to Triumph: How Post-Traumatic Growth Restores Happiness and Resilience After Life’s Adversity with MC McDonald, PhD

Adversity and grief are universal aspects of life. Most of us will encounter a form of trauma that triggers a survival response, anchoring the mind in past pain. However, this physiological loop does not have to be a life sentence. By cultivating resilience, we can navigate through the overwhelm and move toward post-traumatic growth, where it is possible to rediscover a profound sense of happiness and joy. To reframe how we think about trauma and post-traumatic growth, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with MC McDonald, a research professor and life coach specializing in trauma psychology and philosophy. MC describes the physiological survival mechanisms at the core of the body’s trauma response and the benefits of post-traumatic growth. She offers insights about the in-depth research that is the foundation of her book, The Joy Reset: Six Ways Trauma Steals Happiness and How to Win It Back. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on and .

You can listen to From Trauma to Triumph: How Post-Traumatic Growth Restores Happiness and Resilience After Life’s Adversity with MC McDonald, PhD online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

From Trauma to Triumph: How Post-Traumatic Growth Restores Happiness and Resilience After Life’s Adversity with MC McDonald, PhD is an episode from Harvesting Happiness Podcasts.

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This episode was published on Jan 29, 2026.

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