After years of recording together, “Be the Sun, Not the Salt” is now a complete series of 80 episodes that form a timeless toolkit for living more heliotropically. What does it mean to be heliotropic? Human beings, like plants, naturally turn toward what sustains life. We are energized by kindness, gratitude, compassion, vulnerability, and authenticity, and drained by pessimism, cynicism, disrespect, and unkindness. This simple metaphor is the heart of the show and an invitation for each of us to be our best self more often.

Across the series you will hear conversations with researchers and heliotropic exemplars such as Curt Menefee, Will Guidara, Ethan Kross, and David Horsager; chapter deep dives into Be the Sun, Not the Salt; short Gentle Nudges that remind you how to actually practice this in daily life; and practical answers to real “How Do I” questions about applying the tips and tools.

The episodes are designed to be evergreen. You can start anywhere, return whenever you need a reset, and hear something new each time you listen. As we created this body of work, we kept discovering and rediscovering the material ourselves and growing along with it. That ongoing personal evolution is the point, and our hope is that these 80 episodes will remain a resource you can carry with you and keep using over time.

If you're new to the show, this trailer will introduce the metaphor, the tone, and the kinds of support you can expect. If you're returning, it is a reminder that everything you need is already here, ready for whenever you need a little more sun and a little less salt.

Thank you for sharing our journey and mission!

Useful Links:

The book

The podcast website

The ecosystem

To explore the book, or for more episodes, information, tips and tools to live a more heliotropic life, visit us at bethesunnotthesalt.com and find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Ever catch yourself thinking, “They should really listen to this podcast” or “If only they would read the book”? In this “whole shebang” episode of Be the Sun, Not the Salt, Dr. Harry Cohen and Connie Fontaine cut straight to the heart of the practice: this work is about you (or me), not fixing everyone else.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

• Why focusing on other people’s saltiness pulls you right into judgment, blame, and your own bad habits.
• How getting triggered by someone’s behavior is the signal you have work to do on your own reactions, not theirs.
• The gift of frustration as a cue to pause, regulate emotions, and choose “act, not react” instead of frothy annoyance.
• How rereading chapters, asking “How can I be my best self today?” and the “prehab” mindset prepare you for anything life throws at you.
• Real stories of letting go of “how come?” spirals, handling cancer diagnoses with gratitude, and turning treatment rooms into places of appreciation.
• A reminder that you control your state of mind and body, no matter what others do or don’t do.

This is the episode that ties it all together: stop pointing fingers outward and turn the energy toward becoming more of your best self every day. Perfect for a reset or anyone who needs the “kit and caboodle” in one listen.

Helpful Links:

• Be the Sun, Not the Salt book by Dr. Harry Cohen (read a chapter daily for your prehab practice)
• Ethan Kross episode on emotional regulation (distanced self-talk, cooling your jets, and metabolizing triggers)

To explore the book, or for more episodes, information, tips and tools to live a more heliotropic life, visit us at bethesunnotthesalt.com and find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

What if the biggest difference you make today comes from something so small and simple that you usually skip it? In this Gentle Nudge episode, It’s so easy to do, it’s easy NOT to do, Dr. Harry Cohen and Connie Fontaine explore how tiny choices - kind or salty - shape your day, your relationships, and your impact far more than you think.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

• The “chapter 31” idea Harry wishes he had squeezed into Be the Sun, Not the Salt and why the book still keeps growing in relevance years later.
• The paradox that being kind, thoughtful, and present is genuinely easy, and so is being snarky, short, or dismissive.
• How quick jokes, subtle digs, or “just being funny” can quietly wear on people, especially when they pile up.
• Real stories of catching salty habits in marriage, meetings, and casual conversations, and what it feels like to simply not say the thing.
• Gentle prompts to notice recent moments when you missed a chance to be a little sunnier or to clean something up with a simple, “I’m sorry, I do know your name.”
• A 1% approach to both sides: being a bit kinder and a bit less salty, in ways so small they are actually sustainable.
• How this all connects to James Clear’s habit idea that for anything to stick, it has to be easy, and how to make “tiny sun moments” the easiest option in your day.

If you’re looking for a light but meaningful reset, this episode offers a warm reminder that knowing is not doing, and that the smallest moves can turn you into more of a positive energizer and less of a “negatoid.”

To explore the book, or for more episodes, information, tips and tools to live a more heliotropic life, visit us at bethesunnotthesalt.com and find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.