This week, Stella sits down with relationship coach, author, and podcaster Stefanos Sifandos [https://www.instagram.com/stefanossifandos/] to explore how our relationship with ourselves shapes the relationships we build with others.

Together, they unpack why we’re often attracted to what feels familiar, even when it isn’t healthy; how to distinguish chemistry, limerence, and genuine connection; and why conflict doesn’t always mean a relationship is wrong for us. They also explore people-pleasing, self-worth, modern dating, loneliness, and what it really means to feel seen by another person.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: the more deeply we know, trust, and accept ourselves, the more capable we become of creating meaningful connection with others.

Plus, Stefanos shares why instead of constantly pursuing happiness (or another person) we may be better off pursuing truth.

Join Stefanos' FREE Love Magnet Workshop on Oct 13-15, 2026 [https://to102.isrefer.com/go/lm/a278/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=a278&utm_content=workshop]


EP #187: Why Healthy Love Starts With Knowing Yourself ft. Stefanos Sifandos

What is it about travel that makes us feel more alive?

Earlier this year, Jonathan Petrino [https://www.instagram.com/studiopetrino/]and I collaborated on a Substack piece [https://thestudiojournal.substack.com/p/what-travel-reveals-about-us-w-stella] exploring my relationship with travel: why we seek new places, the difference between exploration and escapism, and how stepping outside of our routines can shift the way we see ourselves. This episode is an extension of that conversation, this time flipping the mic onto Jonathan.

Jonathan is a writer, photographer, and creator of Studio Petrino [https://www.instagram.com/studiopetrino/]whose work explores what we notice when we move through the world.

Together, we unpack the feeling of travel: intentionally getting lost, embracing spontaneity, letting go of expectations, and allowing our surroundings to change our perspective.

We also explore how travel can teach us to become more comfortable with change, whether we really need to go somewhere far away to feel transformed, and how to bring that same sense of curiosity and adventure back into our everyday lives.

EP #186: The Feeling of Travel & How to Find Adventure Wherever You Are ft. Jonathan Petrino, Founder of Studio Petrino

What does it mean to actually be present in a world designed to keep us constantly connected?

This week, Stella sits down with Caity Begg [https://www.instagram.com/caityb/], founder of Authentic Social and host of Hypercommunication (Progression to Analog), to explore how our relationship with technology is changing the way we experience our lives, our relationships, and even ourselves.

After stepping away from TikTok for three years and experimenting with everything from phone-free mornings to spending an entire week navigating New York City without a smartphone, Caity has developed a philosophy that isn’t about rejecting technology altogether. It’s about learning how to use it more intentionally.

Together, Stella and Caity unpack the psychology behind our compulsion to document everything, the blurred line between our digital and real-life identities, why not all screen time is created equal, and how to find a healthier balance between being online and actually living your life.

They also explore why discomfort is essential to happiness, the importance of creating space for boredom, spontaneity, and flow, and how becoming a little more analog might ultimately help us reconnect with what it means to be human.

EP #185: Why We’re Craving a More Analog Life ft. Caity Begg, Founder of Authentic Social

Anthony Locascio [https://www.instagram.com/locash.comedian/] returns to Everyday Endorphins nearly a year after our first conversation — this time, as he puts it, a fundamentally different person.

After a difficult year led him to a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation experience, Anthony was forced to sit with the emotions, patterns, and parts of himself he had spent years trying to escape. What followed completely changed his relationship with discomfort, ego, addiction, creativity, and ultimately, happiness.

We unpack what happens when you stop trying to think your way out of your feelings, why acceptance doesn’t mean avoiding difficult emotions, and whether the happiness we’re all chasing might actually be something much quieter: peace.

A conversation about letting go, sitting with discomfort, trusting life’s timing, and learning to experience the full spectrum of being human.

EP #184: What If Happiness Is Actually Peace? Inside a Vipassana Meditation Retreat with Anthony Locascio

What does it really mean to call yourself an artist? In this episode, Stella sits down with Michelle Martin [https://www.instagram.com/meeshymartin/], 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.

EP #183: The Art of Being Seen & Finding Joy in the Creative Process with Michelle Martin, Brand Strategist & Photographer

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 [https://www.instagram.com/laurenjademartin/] 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 [https://www.instagram.com/cloudnine.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.

EP #182: Why Simplicity Is the Ultimate Luxury with Lauren Jade Martin, Founder of Cloud Nine Health

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexamikhail/], 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 [https://www.instagram.com/springplace/], Korres [https://www.instagram.com/korres/], Gainful [https://www.instagram.com/gainful/], and Happy Being [https://www.instagram.com/happybeing.co/] for helping to make this episode and event possible!

LIVE PODCAST: What Actually Makes Us Happier?

This week I sat down with Sanibel Lazar [https://www.instagram.com/sanibel.ink/], 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?

EP #180: The Truth About Parasocial Relationships & Modern Friendship with Sanibel Lazar, Author

This month I sat down with Ana Cordera [https://www.instagram.com/anabuildshabits/], 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.

EP #179: How to Create Habits That Reflect Who You Want to Become with Ana Cordera, Content Creator

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 [https://www.instagram.com/drrachelnyc/], we talk about her upcoming book When Life Happens [https://www.amazon.com/When-Life-Happens-Mindset-Confidence/dp/1394358563/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=34B86KGXJ3DG2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8hNKdqwTsYAazshtNB0mDJLVOFuQvRK9kwLUCZNgma5G0YYKxmIxnwLJThNqRfq5nXpLF4DKRuawajqdxWLAo8364q6lioZZZMQNZE8Oc7Zv3FuXaHiOIG02MQaUZhpPLVZawyGUpfd6tMFn6G_-pDKY5eRJ7e-Fu4dLYLqGcLewYuc5yGP5XbJlkthh0elOCGsAxuoSs5d-80yUbpD8eQ.roCpzZ3U-DfqxTNifUxW0afDw0m73RVGADgjzMBTaJo&dib_tag=se&keywords=when+life+happens&qid=1758761353&sprefix=when+life+happens%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1] (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 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sndlItK5inkKsGaPDpEOP?si=FHna_hPRTOOuGpa99Lzalg]

EP #178: Getting Unstuck When Life Happens with Dr. Rachel Goldman

Stella Stephanopoulos (@everydayendorphins) · Zencastr

Stella Stephanopoulos (@everydayendorphins)

Everyday Endorphins is a podcast hosted by Stella Stephanopoulos that discusses
topics related to health and wellbeing, with an emphasis on uncovering the
mind-body connection and finding ways to spark happiness in day-to-day life.
Throughout the episodes, listeners will gain practice wellness advice, learn
about scientific research that supports certain wellness practices, and hear
from industry experts on the intersection between health and business. Support
this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stella-stephanopoulos/support