Make Your Mood
110 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 57 ratingsS'more Outdoor Presents Make Your Mood. This show is based on the premise that spending more time outdoors is beneficial for our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well being, that everyone needs to incorporate the outdoors into their life and experience the Nature Effect. Join host and Certified Enthusiast of the Outdoors, Brett Traudt as he dives into the challenges we all face living in an online world and how we have become trapped in our own electrical paradise. Brett shares from his own personal experience how reestablishing a connection with nature helps us to relax and unplug, encourages and inspires us, gives us more energy yet reduces stress, and how spending time outdoors will help us live with childlike wonder again.
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Episodes
Change Is Inevitable
April 26, 2024 07:45 - 11 minutes - 11.5 MBIn this episode, Brett discusses the importance of embracing change to live a more adventurous and meaningful life. Drawing on personal anecdotes and the insights of Dr. Richard Swenson's book 'Overload', Brett talks about how change can often be a source of stress but is essential for personal growth. The episode delves into the difficulty of change, particularly when others want us to change or when we're set in our ways. Brett introduces a new program, 'Breakthrough with Brett', designed ...
Food And Your Mood
April 24, 2024 07:45 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBIn this episode, Brett explores the often overlooked relationship between food consumption and mood regulation. Sharing personal experiences of becoming 'hangry' and adjusting his diet as a mailman to maintain energy, Brett delves into topics such as emotional eating, the impact of diet on mental and emotional health, and the benefits of whole foods over processed options. He emphasizes the importance of eating habits that support not just physical health but also emotional well-being, drawi...
How To Start Your Day With The Morning Mood Maker
April 22, 2024 07:45 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBIn this episode, Brett explores the concept of happiness as a means to an end, emphasizing the importance of mood in achieving a fulfilling life. Drawing from the wisdom of historical figures and personal experiences, Brett discusses strategies for improving one's mood, including the power of smiling, words of affirmation, the 'Morning Mood Maker' routine, and the practice of gratitude. The episode outlines practical steps anyone can take to foster happiness, health, wealth, and relationship...
Overcoming Self Criticism
April 19, 2024 07:45 - 13 minutes - 13.5 MBIn this episode, Brett discusses the importance of maintaining a positive mood despite external challenges. He shares personal struggles, such as being understaffed at work and how it affected his mood. Brett shares an email he received about the difference between negative and positive self-criticism, emphasizing the value of honest self-reflection, learning from mistakes, and setting realistic goals. He shares a personal story about using a rubber band to snap it to get out of negative min...
Applying The Concept Of '5 Minutes Of Sunshine' Into Your Life
April 17, 2024 07:45 - 11 minutes - 11.1 MBIn this episode, Brett discusses his journey and considerations around writing a book focused on mood improvement. He introduces the concept of 'five minutes of sunshine' as a way to leverage nature's benefits to improve our mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being. Drawing on personal reflection and his philosophy around outdoor activities, Brett outlines a three-part book idea. The first part emphasizes the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outdoors in sunligh...
The Misconception Of The Benefits Of Nature
April 15, 2024 07:45 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MBIn this episode, Brett addresses common misconceptions about the benefits of nature, drawing on his experiences and research, including the concept of forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) developed in Japan in the 1980s. Despite the widespread belief that simply being outside is enough, Brett argues that the quality of outdoor experiences, such as connecting with the earth (grounding) and creating moments of awe and novelty, play a significant role in mood enhancement. He shares personal anecdotes ...
Is Your Family Grounded?
April 12, 2024 07:45 - 12 minutes - 12.3 MBIn this episode, Brett revisits the concept of earthing or grounding, which involves connecting with the Earth's surface to stabilize the body's bioelectricity for better health outcomes. Brett cites personal experiences and mentions resources like Mariel Hemingway's M.H. Earthing magazine and Dr. Laura Koniver's insights on the multifaceted benefits of grounding, from sleep improvement to reduced blood pressure and varicose veins. He encourages listeners to incorporate earthing into their l...
Do You Find Yourself Overreacting?
April 10, 2024 07:45 - 10 minutes - 10.2 MBIn this episode, Brett discusses the importance of adopting a balanced lifestyle to live more adventurous and meaningful life. The episode focuses on managing overreactions to life's unforeseen challenges through personal anecdotes and introduces the SOBER framework from Positive Psychology for responding mindfully rather than reactively to stressors. The host shares a personal moment of overreaction, reflecting on the learnings from that experience and the importance of using daily practice...
Mental Health vs Mental Fitness
April 08, 2024 07:45 - 11 minutes - 11.4 MBIn this episode, Brett explores the difference between mental health and mental fitness, offering insights and strategies for improving both. Brett shares four pillars he lives by to maintain a positive mood and mindset: spending time outdoors, self-care, having a life plan, and continuous self-improvement. He emphasizes the importance of mental fitness in coping with adversity and thriving, differentiating it from mental health, which encompasses psychological, social, and emotional well-be...
Why Do Other People Irritate You?
April 05, 2024 07:45 - 17 minutes - 16.7 MBIn this episode, I talk about my framework called the Balance principle that’s designed around 4 key pillars aimed at improving one’s mood so you can live a more adventurous and meaningful life. These pillars include getting outside daily, prioritizing self-care, having a life plan and embracing personal growth. Today’s show is about our irritation with others and what this irritation is actually about and how once we understand this, it’s easier to focus on shifting our predominant mood. ...
Not Excited To Get Out Of Bed?
April 02, 2024 07:45 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBIn this episode, I talk about why it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning for most people. I’ve heard so many people say that you should be excited to get out of bed. I don’t feel that way and now understand why. I share my own journey of a low point and discovering ways to improve my daily mood and happiness. There was a pivotal moment that led me to seek change, Earl Nightingales The Strangest Secret and the realization that life should be an exciting adventure. I share three actionable...
Embracing Adventure And Change
March 29, 2024 07:45 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBIn this episode, I invite you on a journey to live a more adventurous and meaningful life through the power of nature, personal development, and positive psychology. I share my own experiences to inspire you to embrace the outdoors, regardless of the weather, to improve your mood and overall lifestyle. I talk about my own experience with my son and our adventure in the rain. I also discuss the joys of simple moments and the importance of breaking free from negativity and distractions. I upda...
Living A Meaningful Life
March 26, 2024 07:45 - 14 minutes - 14.4 MBIn this episode, I share methods to transform your life through positive psychology, the beneficial impact of the outdoors, and maintaining a positive mood amidst negativity. It’s important to surround yourself with positivism, minimizing exposure to negative influences, and talks about the 'Morning Mood Maker’, a worksheet aimed at daily self-improvement. Reflecting on personal experiences, including conversations with my son about dreams and aspirations, I encourage you to never give up, r...
Your Call To Adventure
March 22, 2024 07:45 - 15 minutes - 14.8 MBYour Call to Adventure: Pursuing a Meaningful Life In this episode, I introduce the importance of pursuing one's personal call to adventure, a concept inspired by Russell Brunson and depicted in many great stories where heroes overcome resistance to follow their unique paths. I talk about the issue of 'shiny object syndrome', where people constantly chase new ideas without making real progress, and share my decision to unsubscribe from distracting content to focus on what truly matters. We...
3 Positive Parent Practices You Can Implement Immediately
March 20, 2024 07:45 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBIn this episode I introduce three core concepts: increasing children's outdoor activities to benefit cognitive and behavioral development, incorporating playful interactions to boost mood and relationships, and practicing savoring to enhance presence and gratitude in moments spent with children.These 3 practices will help in fostering resilience, self-confidence, and positive memories in your child. Your invited to an exlusive new community from the founder of S’more Outdoor and host of th...
Your Attitude Is Everything
March 15, 2024 07:45 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBIn this episode, Brett revisits the critical topic of your predominant mental attitude, emphasizing its profound impact on one’s mood and overall life experience. Drawing inspiration from Earl Nightingale's 'Lead the Field', the host shares personal insights on how attitude dictates our response to stress, influences our mental health, and shapes our interactions in the workplace, relationships, and financial situations. The episode offers practical steps for cultivating a positive attitude ...
Harnessing Personal Agency and Self Efficacy to Transform Your Mood
March 12, 2024 07:45 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBIn this episode Brett delves into the power of positive psychology to change one's mood and life. He outlines his philosophy based on four pillars: getting outside daily, self-care, creating a life plan, and continual improvement. Brett emphasizes the importance of personal agency, the ability to control reactions to circumstances, and introduces the concept of self-efficacy, defined as the belief in one's ability to achieve goals through small, incremental steps. He encourages listeners to ...
You Never Know Who You’re Going To Meet
March 08, 2024 08:45 - 11 minutes - 11.5 MBIn this episode, Brett shares his experiences and insights on improving personal development and mood through connectivity with others. He starts with a recent experience during a vacation and celebrating his son's fourth birthday. Brett emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone to make new, meaningful face-to-face connections, illustrated by a serendipitous encounter at a park in Arkansas. This chance meeting with a mother and her family led to discussions on personal ...
Who Did You Impact Today?
March 05, 2024 08:45 - 11 minutes - 11.5 MBIn this episode, Brett discusses how listeners are invited to explore how changing their mood can significantly impact their lives, aiming to create a positive and enduring legacy for future generations. Brett shares personal stories, including his motivation stemming from conversations with his son, to emphasize the importance of impacting others' lives positively. He talks about overcoming perfectionism and taking action towards goals, such as launching his 'Nature Fit Family' community, d...
Introducing The Nature Fit Family Community
March 01, 2024 08:45 - 10 minutes - 10.4 MBIn this episode, Brett announces the launch of Nature Fit Family, a community aimed at personal development and creating a better lifestyle. The platform aims to provide a positive environment, offering resources and community interaction in an increasingly negative world. Nature Fit Family will have three levels of access- NatureFit Family Starter, Plus, and Pro. The 'Starter' level, launching immediately will be rolling out the first three developmental modules over the next 3 months and c...
How To Experience More Happiness In Life
February 27, 2024 08:45 - 12 minutes - 12.2 MBIn this episode, Brett speaks about the link between personal happiness and the act of serving others. Drawing examples from his own life, he shares how contributing to the happiness of others significantly improved his mood and wellbeing. He talks about finding one's purpose, the significance of personal growth, and his journey with personal development community Growth Day. Brett emphasizes on how our responses to life's situations can be controlled and changed. He encourages listeners to ...
Finding Adventure in Everyday Life
February 23, 2024 08:45 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBIn this episode, Brett advocates for personal development and daily self-improvement. The episode focus is on 'Adventure', wherein Brett recounts his personal struggles in finding excitement in life during early adulthood, his college years, work life, the experience as a manager in the cell phone industry, and his journey in creating his own business. Brett encourages listeners to find an exciting adventure and sparks of joy in their everyday life. Drawing from his personal experiences, he ...
How To Overcome The Moody Blues
February 20, 2024 08:45 - 13 minutes - 13.3 MBIn this episode, Brett focuses on the role that one's predominant mood plays in the quality of their life. Drawing from personal experiences, Brett talks about irritation, frustration and anger, which, through self-reflection, he discovered were mostly directed towards himself. By changing his mood, he witnessed a positive change in his life. He emphasizes the role of nature in maintaining a positive mood, also known as the ‘Nature Effect', and discusses the influence it has on physical and ...
The Impact Of Mood On Marriage
February 16, 2024 08:45 - 18 minutes - 17.6 MBIn this episode. Brett discusses how an individual's mood can significantly impact their relationships, particularly marriage. He observes societal tendencies towards digital interactions and stresses the importance of in-person communication, advocating that listeners intentionally choose human interaction over devices that alienate us from others. Brett reflects on his reluctance to confront conflicts in his marriage, with acknowledgment to the need for change and improvement within himsel...
Unlocking Success Through Positive Psychology
February 13, 2024 08:45 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBIn this episode Brett discusses the struggle of altering moods and improving life situations through continual personal development. He credits the online platform 'Growth Day' for daily motivation and personal growth. Brett emphasizes on the common traits he has noticed in successful people, which include being outdoors daily, prioritizing self-care, creating plans, constant improvement, being present and reading for learning. Then he shares his experiences with positive psychology and his ...
Are You Living With A Playful Edge?
February 09, 2024 08:45 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBIn this episode, Brett introduces the importance of boosting your mood through fun and enjoyment in life and work, inspired by Catherine Price's book 'The Power of Fun. How to Feel More Alive Again'. He discusses how incorporating moments of joy and playful activities can enhance creativity, boost productivity, improve overall mood, and enable us to manage stressful situations better. Apart from making our work environment more positive and efficient, the idea of 'fun at work' is linked with...
Creating And Maintaining Flow For Your Attitude
February 06, 2024 08:45 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBIn this episode, Brett discusses the concept of 'flow'—a state of deep satisfaction and happiness which arises from being fully immersed in an activity. Inspired by the work of psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and his book 'Flow', Brett emphasizes the importance of aligning your skills with challenges to achieve this state. He also suggests common activities such as painting, team sports, or gardening that can induce flow and recommends creating an environment with clear goals and immedi...
Do You Need An Attitude Adjustment? 🤔
February 02, 2024 08:45 - 11 minutes - 11.1 MBIn this episode, Brett discusses the role of personal attitude in shaping our moods and lives. He provides valuable tips to boost mood such as enjoying the outdoors, journaling with a positive focus, and practicing gratitude daily. Within this context, he shares why he created his 'Morning Map', a personal tool for self-improvement. He emphasizes the importance of personal growth by recommending resources like Growth Day, a platform focused on personal development. Brett also stresses on im...
Improving Happiness and Joy
January 30, 2024 08:45 - 13 minutes - 13 MBIn this episode, Brett discusses the benefits of smiling, keeping a 'pleasure book', establishing social connections, and using active listening. He encourages taking nature walks, performing acts of kindness, and doing creative activities as ways of enhancing mood. He further emphasizes the importance of self-forgiveness and encouraging happiness in others, particularly for parents setting an example for their children. Today's episode is brought to you by Systeme. The #1 All In One Plat...
Understanding The Nature Psychology Connection
January 26, 2024 08:45 - 14 minutes - 13.8 MBIn this episode, Brett delves into the significance of nature on our lives, drawing from his personal experiences. He introduces his journey into learning about the beneficial effects of connecting with nature, from lowering stress levels to improving one's mood. Referencing the principles of positive psychology, Brett emphasizes the importance of awareness, curiosity, novelty, savoring moments, experiencing awe, and achieving a state of 'flow' in the context of outdoor experiences. He ends ...
Your Great Sacred Obligation
January 23, 2024 08:45 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBIn this episode, Brett shares personal struggles from the past week that led him to read more and focus on his mindset. He elaborates on the four pillars his life and his company, S'more Outdoor, are built on - embracing the outdoors, self-care, having a life plan, and continuous improvement. He emphasizes the importance of helping others to achieve personal success. Drawing from literature he has read, he highlights that every individual has a message for humanity and our talents should be ...
Unlocking Your Potential
January 19, 2024 20:45 - 12 minutes - 12.2 MBIn this episode Brett discusses his personal challenges and revelations about the monotony of life and how it impedes progress. Brett talks about the importance of life planning using his ‘Morning MAP,’ a way to maintain focus in three key life areas- health, wealth, and relationships. Brett uses a poignant analogy of SeaWorld captive killer whales and their floppy dorsal fins to depict a life unfulfilled due to confinement and monotony. Drawing on this, he suggests that everyone possesses ...
Do Auto Suggestions (Affirmations) Work?
January 16, 2024 08:45 - 14 minutes - 14.1 MBIn this episode, Brett introduces the concept of auto-suggestion or affirmations, a psychological technique developed during the late 19th to early 20th century aimed to guide one's own thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Brett highlights his personal experience changing initial skepticism regarding affirmations and how his understanding evolved after exploring the works of Orson Swett Marden and Napoleon Hill. He illustrates how negative auto-suggestions can affect one's mindset and mood, and...
Pursuing Your Idea
January 12, 2024 08:45 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBIn this episode of 'Make Your Mood', Brett encourages listeners to follow their dreams and ideas, however outlandish they may seem, drawing on his own experiences of doubting and subsequently pursuing a new business idea. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy daily routine, having a clear life plan, continuous personal development and maintaining positivity. He also shares his belief in the healing power of nature and self-care. He encourages the listeners to imagin their fut...
Can Words Affect Water?
January 09, 2024 08:45 - 13 minutes - 13.5 MBIn this episode of 'Make Your Mood', Brett dives into a fascinating theory on the power of emotions and vibrations over our physical body, as proposed by Japanese scientist Marusu Emoto. Emoto's experiments suggested that water retains memory and can change its physical structure based on environmental factors and external stimuli, which can extend to photographs, music, and written or spoken words. The episode wraps up with a thought-provoking discussion on how the positivity or negativity ...
The One About Shame
January 05, 2024 08:45 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBIn this episode of the 'Make Your Mood' podcast, Brett shares his personal struggles with stress and negative emotions and how they impacted his interactions with his family. Brett recounts how he vowed to change after an unfortunate incident with his son, immersing himself in personal development studies, delving into the New Thought Movement, Secrets of Success book club, and the study of positive psychology. He discusses how control over one's responses and understanding of one's predomin...
Happy New Year 2024
January 01, 2024 08:45 - 11 minutes - 11.3 MBIn this episode of 'Make Your Mood’, shares his journey of personal development, discussing the failure of resolutions and his decision to set intentions in 2024. He encourages listeners to live intentionally rather than reactively, he shares some of his own intentions, such as spending time outdoors daily, improving his speaking skills, and being a better father and husband. He also aims to establish a community around the 'Make Your Mood' and 'S’more Outdoor' brands to help people live mor...
Getting Back To Nature
December 29, 2023 08:45 - 18 minutes - 17.9 MBIn this episode of the 'Make Your Mood' Podcast, Brett presents a framework aimed at helping listeners improve their mental health through outdoor exposure. The key idea is that being in nature can mitigate stress, evoke positive emotions and memories, and enhance overall well-being. Brett introduces five main steps: Relax, Reconnect, Release, Relieve and Restore. He also discusses 'The Balance Principle', an ebook he authored and suggests listeners make a commitment to enjoy ‘5 Minutes of S...
Your Morning MAP™
December 22, 2023 08:44 - 12 minutes - 12.1 MBIn this episode of the Make Your Mood podcast, Brett discusses the concept of his 'Morning MAP™'. This is a tool he has developed to help listeners manage their daily moods and tasks, aiming to improve their mental state and reduce stress. The Morning MAP™ consists of various exercises and tasks such as focusing on one area of health, wealth, or relationships, establishing a desired mood, anticipating potential stressors, and expressing gratitude. Brett's tool also includes a section for non...
The Progress Pro
December 15, 2023 08:45 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBBrett discusses the final stage of his framework, The Progress Pro, on this episode of the Make Your Mood podcast. As part of the four pillars of his philosophy, Brett emphasizes the need to experience the healing power of nature, personal self-care, creating a long-term plan and continuous personal growth. He stands by the belief that ongoing personal development leads to a positive life, prevents a negative attitude and impacts all areas of your life including health, relationships, and we...
The Legacy Leaver
December 08, 2023 08:25 - 11 minutes - 11 MBIn this episode of Make Your Mood, Brett discusses the concept of leaving a Legacy which corresponds with the third pillar in his philosophy of living a meaningful life. He talks about the importance of creating a life plan using tools such as a daily planner. Brett challenges traditional ideas of legacy as purely financial, instead advocating for the passing on of values, dreams and character. He also shares power questions to consider when forming a life plan and recommends a guide called ...
The Balance Builder
December 01, 2023 08:07 - 12 minutes - 12.3 MBIn this episode of 'Make Your Mood', Brett introduces the concept of 'The Balance Builder'. Emphasizing on the balance between work, health and relationships. Brett rejects the conventional understanding of the work-life balance. Instead, he uses one definition of balance as mental steadiness, emotional stability, and a habit of calm behavior achieved via frequent exposure to the outdoors. He asserts that achieving balance in life requires success in the three core areas of health, wealth, a...
The Tension Tamer
November 24, 2023 08:58 - 15 minutes - 15.2 MBIn this episode Brett explores stress, or what he calls the 'tension tamer.' He shares insights about the inevitability of stress due to internal self-talk, actions of others, unexpected events, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). He argues that living completely stress-free is unattainable and suggests instead the need for understanding and managing it. He encourages listeners to experience the healing power of nature as stress relief and to plan for it ahead of time and prepare appropriate ...
The Nature Novice
November 18, 2023 06:43 - 21 minutes - 20 MBIn this episode, Brett takes us through the second part of his process, the 'Nature Novice'. He discusses the importance of embracing nature to improve mental, emotional, and physical health. He emphasizes the need to be aware of the environment around us and its benefits, encouraging listeners to engage their senses fully outdoors. Every show he reminds you of the philosophy of 'Make Your Mood,' consisting of four pillars; getting outside daily, focusing on self-care, having a life plan, an...
Your Map To Adventure
November 18, 2023 06:24 - 11 minutes - 11.4 MBBrett introduces his framework designed to help people lead more adventurous, meaningful, and extraordinary lives. The framework consists of various stages including the mood maker, nature novice, tension tamer, balance builder, legacy lever, and progress pro, each offering different ways to improve life quality. From getting outside daily and focusing on personal growth, to managing stress and maintaining life balance, to creating legacy and continuity in personal development - Brett provid...
Who Is Elsie Lincoln Benedict?
November 18, 2023 06:14 - 14 minutes - 13.8 MBIn this podcast, the Brett reintroduces the revamped Make Your Mood Podcast, formerly called S'more Outdoor. In this episode, he discusses the life and contributions of Elsie Lincoln Benedict. Celebrated as one of the best-known women speakers in the 1920s, Benedict's influential works in psychology and anthropology have been recently revitalized. She significantly contributed to the world of human analysis, personality studies, and success. The host goes in-depth into her works, with a part...
A New Adventure
November 18, 2023 06:09 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBIn this episode, Brett Traudt brings back his podcast 'S'more Outdoor' under a wider umbrella titled 'Make Your Mood'. He expresses his keen interest in highlighting the importance of outdoor activities and its impact on mental, emotional, and physical health. Brett also introduces us to his philosophy that revolves around a daily dose of outdoors, self-care, planning your life, and continuous self-improvement. He discusses his researching on stress relief, attitude and mood. In the next epi...
062: Ryan Shauers: From Desk To Dirtbag
July 18, 2016 08:00 - 44 minutes - 20.4 MBRyan Shauers is a former legislative assistant for Congress who, at the end of 2012, left the working world to climb, hike and explore the American West for a year. He got so caught up in travel and adventure that he just decided to keep going, traveling to South America and later driving through all of Central America.
061: Michael Yarbrough: On Manliness And Nature
July 11, 2016 08:00 - 47 minutes - 21.9 MBJoin us on Mikes's journey as he shares his experience with the outdoors and how it has an impact in his business and life today. Mike is a husband, father, writer, woodworker, and occasional thespian. He is also the founder and curator of Wolf & Iron where he helps men heed the high call of manful living with articles and a podcast on classic manly skills and virtues.
060: Alex Staniforth: Overcoming Adversity Through Adventure
July 05, 2016 08:00 - 49 minutes - 22.6 MBAlex Staniforth is a 20 year old adventurer, ambassador and speaker from Cheshire in England. His story is one of overcoming adversity on his journey to climb Mount Everest, where both of his attempts to reach the summit ended in tragedy with the 2014 and 2015 avalanches. He has recently released his first book ICEFALL endorsed by Bear Grylls and is passionate about helping other people to discover the outdoors and their own 'Everest'.