Dr. Samantha Boardman

05/29/2026

This past weekend, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address at , where my daughter Vivian was among the graduates.

As any parent of a teenager knows, public speaking is one thing. Public speaking while trying not to mortify your child is quite another.

Rather than offering graduates a blueprint for success, I wanted to share a few thoughts on becoming, belonging, and why goodness matters as much as greatness.

05/01/2026

Most of us opt out of small, seemingly pointless exchanges every day, convinced in advance that they aren’t worth our time.

But we’re wrong.

The boring conversation you’re dreading is almost certainly going to be better than you think.

The problem isn’t boring conversations. It’s deciding they’re boring before they start.

04/16/2026

Fear of saying the wrong thing is killing conversation. But connection isn’t built on perfect words. It’s built on reaching out.

04/07/2026

We live in a world that tells us the goal is to be larger than life. But what if we’re missing out on something essential by never feeling small?

When astronauts look back at Earth from space, many describe a profound shift—a sense of connection, perspective, and awe. It even has a name: the Overview Effect.

And it’s a reminder that what actually produces meaning, connection, and well-being isn’t magnitude. It’s perspective.

Few of us will ever leave the atmosphere. But the feeling they describe is closer than we think.

Five science-backed strategies to trade self-focus for perspective, no space travel necessary.

12/09/2025

The internet rewards whatever keeps us clicking and anger is one of the easiest emotions to monetize. But even inside an outrage economy, we have more agency than we think.

Outrage narrows our attention.
Awe expands it.
Beauty steadies us.
Delight softens cynicism and opens the door to possibility.

What you engage with shapes how you feel, what you notice, and even who you become. Your feed isn’t just a reflection of the algorithm. It’s a reflection of your choices.

Unfollow what drains you, follow what lifts you, and click on the moments that remind you the world is bigger, kinder, and more magnificent than your screen suggests.

Your attention is a precious resource.
Choose what nourishes your mind.

Here's how to stop feeding the outrage economy and start feeding your mind instead.

11/19/2025

Holiday stress can be real, but the story we tell about it is often the bigger problem. The simplest way to enjoy the season may just be rewriting the narrative we’ve accepted as inevitable.

The holidays don’t always have to be a crisis, here's how to stop treating them like one.

The holidays don’t always have to be a crisis, let’s stop treating them like one.

11/07/2025

We tend to overestimate the power of our past and underestimate our capacity to adapt. But the evidence is clear: how we interpret challenges shapes what we carry forward.

A short set of questions helps rewrite the story: less rumination, more insight, and a clearer sense of what deserves your energy.

It’s a simple, science-backed recipe for resilience: turn the past into data, not destiny, and use it to move forward with purpose.

Why early experiences matter less than we think and what matters more.

10/29/2025

Are you a human leaf blower? 🍂
Most of us don’t think so … but anytime we solve our problems by making them someone else’s that’s exactly what we’re doing.

It works in the moment and costs us in the long run.

Here are 3 evidence-based ways to interrupt the leaf blower mindset.

Shifting your problems onto others backfires. Here’s what to do instead.

10/22/2025

We often confuse pessimism with wisdom and call it “being realistic.” But rehearsing worst-case scenarios doesn’t make us more prepared; it just makes us more anxious.

The good news is that we can train our minds to work differently.

By changing the questions you ask yourself and the stories you tell, you can teach your brain to focus less on problems and more on possibilities.

Strategic optimism isn’t about pretending problems don’t exist. It’s about approaching them from a position of agency rather than helplessness.

How to avoid the realism trap and use optimism as a strategic advantage.

10/03/2025

The more you measure your life, the less it measures up. Fitness trackers and productivity apps promise control, yet research shows they can also fuel stress and anxiety.

The answer isn’t to abandon them, but to use them wisely: tracking with intention, choosing what matters, and leaving space for unmeasured moments that bring meaning and perspective.

Data can guide us but the moments that matter most aren’t measured; they’re lived.