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You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale — the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history — The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.
YOU can boost your happiness and transform the lives of people in one African village with a cash gift by going to givedirectly.org/happiness Giving money to others makes you happier than spending…
YOU can boost your happiness and transform the lives of people in one African village with a cash gift by going to givedirectly.org/happiness Giving money to others makes you happier than spending…
We're distrustful, unequal and isolated. That's according to the figures showing a decline in happy community feeling since the 1960s. But can we do anything to regain the healthier communal…
Cheers was a sitcom hit in the 80s thanks to a theme tune promising that the fictional bar was a place "where everybody knows you name". Venues like pubs -…
Work and friendship don't mix, thought Katherine Hu. A recent graduate, she found it harder to form bonds with colleagues than she'd expected. But then she concluded that not having…
Jia Jiang dreamed of being the next Bill Gates... but an entrepreneur needs the courage and confidence to ask for help. Jia was terrified of rejection - so couldn't fulfil…
Jessica Pan hated social gatherings - she cried when her friends threw her a surprise birthday party, and was even too scared to give a speech at her own wedding.…
When did you last check in on a friend? Maybe the last time you did, their reply was terse or non-existent. Perhaps months or years have passed and you feel…
Connecting with people is a sure-fire way to be happier - and you can quickly build relationships with friends and strangers alike just by giving them a sincere compliment. In…
It's not always easy being a podcast host. Dr. Laurie is stressed, making mistakes and blaming herself. When things go wrong, we're often our own harshest critics. So how can…
You don't need to be 8 feet tall like Big Bird to have big, big feelings. We all experience emotions of excitement, frustration and sadness that feel overwhelming. But when…
It's never too early or too late to learn how to be happier. Whether you're aged 3, 23 or 103, we've teamed up with our furry friends from Sesame Street…
Oprah Winfrey and Arthur Brooks want you to be happier - so the TV megastar and the Harvard academic teamed up to write a book setting out the steps you need…
Recovering from a car crash that smashed her face, listener Rebecca Kaduru stumbled across an episode of The Happiness Lab in which we interviewed wounded Iraq veteran JR Martinez. His…
Rebecca Kaduru was driving home... then woke up in an ambulance. She'd been in involved in an accident and her face was smashed. Living in Uganda, she struggled to receive…
What do you do when you enter "survival mode"? How can you become better at forging social connections? Can you be happy in a sad world? Happiness experts Dr Laurie…
Not matter if you're aged three or 103, you can learn to be happier using pretty much the same strategies. Sesame Workshop and its furry friends have been teaching "emotional…
More than a third of us admit to having had a spiritual experience. We might have been profoundly moved by a sunset or a painting; or felt that we've connected…
Who do we volunteer to run a gruelling half-marathon? Who do we expect to give up sugar, or quit drinking? Who do we demand clears out the garage in the…
When Marty Seligman started his long scientific career, psychologists concentrated on studying "misery and suffering" and what made people sad. But Marty wanted to discover what made happy people, well,…
Happiness expert Gretchen Rubin was warned that her eyesight was in peril. It shocked her into realising she'd taken all of her five senses for granted - and so she…
Are you seeing what you look at? Or tuning in to the noises all around you? We take our senses for granted - particularly when it comes to the sights…
Laurie swaps seats in the studio to be interviewed by none other than Katie Couric. In this episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, Laurie's asked to define happiness; outline…
Following 9/11, Simran Jeet Singh's Sikh family in Texas was subjected to extreme racist abuse. And yet, Simran's father chose to look on the bright side and offer thanks instead…
Educator and author Simran Jeet Singh is Sikh. Most of his fellow Americans have no idea what Sikhism is - causing some to treat Simran with suspicion and hostility. But…
We often think of yoga as a physical exercise - but a centuries-old Sanskrit text, The Yoga Sutras, share teachings intended to improve both the body and mind. The author,…
In Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid, few Trojans survive the destruction of their city at the hands of their Greek enemies. A prince, Aeneas, leads a band of those fleeing…
Achilles has anger issues. The great Greek warrior sits out most of the Trojan War because he's angrily sulking. When he finally enters battle, he does so in a fit…
The Greek thinker Socrates was put to death for encouraging his students to question everything - from their own beliefs to the laws and customs of Athenian society. But his…
Question everything... that's a key insight from the great Greek philosopher Socrates. We may think we know ourselves and what makes us happy... but that's not always true. Yale professor…
We're surrounded by noise. That "noise" can be actual sounds - but also other annoyances and distractions that make it hard for us to concentrate or think clearly. And it's…
We can put huge amounts of physical and emotional energy into our jobs - even basing our self-worth on our achievements at work and letting ourselves be defined by what…
Lots of us hit the gym in January to get fit - but should we also be exercising our minds in preparation for tough times? A daily "self-talk workout" might…
Everyone has a view about what you should eat and how much. We're so bombarded with fad diets, fasting plans and nutritional advice that we can bounce from one way…
We're often looking into the future... hunting for the "next big thing". That could be an exciting new job or a new relationship. We can get so fixated with these…
Money can buy you happiness - but not in the way we think. Giving money away - especially to help others - has been shown make us happier than spending…
It's tempting to tie a child's shoe lace, tidy their rooms or help with their science projects - to see that these tasks are done right - but parents are…
Rosy had a packed schedule of lunches, meet-ups and activities - and she was only three. Mom Michaeleen Doucleff felt she couldn't waste a second of her daughter's time. Rosy…
When mild-mannered David Banner gets mad he transforms into the raging Incredible Hulk. Dr. Laurie Santos loves this comic book tale - because it reflects real life. Intense things like…
YOLO seems like the perfect rock 'n' roll philosophy. You only live once... so do whatever seems right in the moment. Be spontaneous. Quit your job; find a new person…
There is nothing hotter than Puckerbutt Farm’s Carolina Reaper Hot Sauce... and author Leigh Cowart gargles it for FUN!!! Why do we sometimes get a happiness high from painful and…
Regret sucks. Thinking back on things we should have done, or should never have done, can make us feel bad. But #noregrets isn't a philosophy for a happy and healthy…
Some sounds bring happy memories flooding back. Other sounds put us on edge; drive us to distraction; or cause us considerable distress. Sound matters... so why don't we pay more…
People who live in some places are happier than others. But if you move to a happy country, happy city or happy district, will it make you feel better? And…
Really love a TV show; a boyband; a sci fi movie; or a celebrity? We're often too embarrassed to admit adoring some things for fear that we'll be seen as…
Loneliness is a far more common and far more serious problem than we think. It affects one in five Americans, and takes a toll on our bodies and minds. To…
Covid brought disruption and despair... but it also caused many of us to think about our lives and what is most important to us. Listener Dr Amy Commander, Director of…
It can speak to us in the middle of a work project, the middle of a date, or the middle of the night. The critical voice in our head telling…
Since Covid hit, many of us have seen fewer people and experienced more loneliness. Listener Ivana Cole wants to know what we can do to reconnect and asks, if we…
Listener Niki Walker has a question... in our busy, career-driven, money-oriented live, are we forgetting to make time for more important things? In our first episode fielding questions from fans…
Nobel Peace Prize winners feel burnout too. Malala Yousafzai - who survived an assassination attempted by the Taliban - works tirelessly so that more women and girls can access education.…
If you dread getting out of bed in the morning; if you are bad tempered with co-workers, clients or customers; if you leave work feeling an exhaustion that goes way…
Psychologist and writer Adam Grant used every second of his day to the fullest... until he was struck by feelings of emptiness and stagnation. His sleep patterns changed, his productivity…
If you’ve done something wrong, feelings of guilt can prompt us to apologize, make amends and change our ways. But many of us also feel guilty with little cause. We…
We react to sadness in a variety of unhelpful ways. We try to suppress it. We experience guilt over it and apologize to the people around us for feeling it.…
Anger is a powerful signal that you or someone you value is in danger. But in our normal lives the sensations of rage we experience are false alarms - we…
Many of the most painful or troubling emotions we experience are reactions to events that have actually happened — but one powerful and sometimes paralyzing feeling can be provoked by…
Grief is a simple enough word, but the emotional journey it describes is chaotic, messy and unique to each person. Psychotherapist and bereavement expert Julia Samuel (www.grief-works.app) joins Dr. Laurie…
Most of us don’t like to think about death - and when we experience a bereavement we’re often not prepared for the pain or willing to confront all the feelings…
We need to pay attention to our negative feelings - since they are telling us important things which we should address if we are to be happier in 2022. But…
Uncomfortable emotions such as anger, guilt or loneliness are like the guiding beam of a lighthouse - they warn you of dangers ahead and help you navigate a meaningful life…
The Happiness Lab returns on Jan 3 to help you take a fresh, new year look at the emotions that make us sad, angry or uncomfortable. We often either ignore…
We all want to do good - and doing good can make us feel good - but we often don’t make the most effective choices when we do things like…
If we decide that we can’t get better at things, or that our ideas and personality traits are fixed... then we hinder our ability to change and improve in enjoyable…
Dan Harris was working seven days a week - and knew something had to give. He reluctantly left his ABC News job to concentrate on the Ten Percent Happier podcast.To…
When bad things happen to people - illness, accident or crime - our brains fool us into believing the victims must have done something to deserve their fate. This deep-seated…
Dr. Laurie Santos doesn’t have so much fun these days - which is really bad for her health and wellbeing. So Catherine Price (author of The Power of Fun: How…
Peter Pan was her childhood hero, but Dr. Laurie Santos woke up one day and realized she’d broken the cardinal rule of Neverland - she’d grown up and stopped having…
Change is the only certainty in life. We may desperately want to change ourselves and our surroundings, or we may fear the disruption and distress some changes bring. Dr. Laurie…
When Kitty Genovese was murdered, her family and the wider world was told that bystanders watched, but did nothing to intervene. Psychologists tried to explain this callous inaction with a…
We might love grueling hikes, trips to see far-flung relatives, or super hard crossword puzzles, but often we lack the motivation needed to embark on these fun things. How can…
Companion pets - especially dogs - are credited with making our lives richer and more fun, but does the science back up this belief? Dr. Laurie Santos breaks down what…
Being shunned by a lover, a school, or an employer hurts — but we’re only just beginning to understand how real this pain is and what steps we can take…
Actor Rob Lowe LOVES the 1980s. And who can blame him? He was one of the most famous men on the planet. But, as he tells Dr. Laurie Santos, he’s…
Dr. Laurie Santos returns with a new season of science-based happiness tips. She takes a personal look at why she lacks motivation in the morning and why she doesn’t make…
There are no stupid questions when it comes to discussing happiness - so Dr. Laurie Santos has joined forces with fellow psychologist Angela Duckworth (host of the No Stupid Questions…
The Covid pandemic has robbed us of many rituals and ceremonies we took for granted - from simple handshakes to elaborate graduation ceremonies. Their loss is important - rituals contribute…
Miroslav Volf teaches at Yale Divinity School - and is celebrated for his work on reconciliation and forgiveness. But book learning alone does not explain this focus.Miroslav’s brother was killed…
Sarah Hurwitz worked 24/7 at Harvard, and barely took time off as she built a career in DC writing speeches for first Hillary Clinton and then Michelle Obama. Sarah would…
Sarah Hurwitz grew up thinking there was little the great texts of Judaism could teach her - she even hatched a plot to get out of Hebrew school. But in…
Double Date is a new podcast with Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas. The couple have been blissfully married for more than 40 years, and wanted to explore what makes some…
Moving more is great for your happiness - but many of us decide to exercise because we’re unhappy with our bodies and long to change them. What should be fun…
Diets and "healthy" eating fads are a January fixture - but few of us stick to these harsh regimes. And when the dieting ends, we often go back to the…
Psychologist and meditation teacher Tara Brach felt too stressed and busy to spend time with her elderly mother - until she had a lightning moment of realization. Why couldn’t she…
We often start a new year hoping to make big changes in how we look, feel or act. This can involve a lot of self-criticism and adopting things like tough…
A lot of the festive events and traditions we look forward to each year will be very different in 2020. Gatherings might be smaller than we’d like... or cancelled altogether.…
Exchanging holiday gifts is supposed to be joyful... but for many of us it is a source of stress, anxiety and hurt feelings. To transform the way you think about…
The Buddha was born to a royal family... and it shocked him when he found out that no amount of money or power could keep suffering and loss at bay…
Epictetus was born into slavery and beaten until he was lame... but he became one of Ancient Rome’s greatest thinkers by accepting every setback as an opportunity to learn and…
Plato likened us all to charioteers trying to control two wayward horses. The steeds represent the competing wants and desires that constantly pull us off course and away from a…
He gave us biology, physics and drama... but Greek philosopher Aristotle also thought deeply about how humans can flourish and live happy lives of virtue.Yale professor Tamar Gendler tells Dr…
You might detest bigotry and injustice, but have you done anything to address these problems? There are many reasons we stay silent and inactive when we know we should intervene…
Feeling you belong to a group can be great - but it also has a darker side, leading us down an unhappy path of hatred and violence towards people with…
Cait Flanders went deep into debt so she could buy all the clothes, books and gadgets she thought would make her happier. It was only when she junked it all…
We all have bad habits — things we eat, drink, do or say that cause us unhappiness. We repeat these behaviors over and over again — almost as if we…
The world is full of people and things that can make you happy, but you have to notice them to get the full effect. Smartphones are technological marvels, but the…
“Time famine” is when you just don’t feel you have a spare moment... and it can make you miserable. It’s a feeling Dr. Laurie Santos knows only too well, so…
Marty kills rats... but if you asked him what his job is he’d say it was "solving problems" and “helping people.” How we view our work can contribute greatly to…
Reply All hosts PJ and Alex love to trade gripes. Their complaints about the minor annoyances of modern life make for great audio, but are the podcasters making a classic…
We talk a lot about psychopaths - but rarely discuss their polar opposites, super-altruists. These are people who go to extreme lengths to help others — even though their acts…
Do you want to be happier? Complain less? Enjoy your work more? Find time for the things that matter to you?Yale’s Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness…
The pandemic has us all glued to our smartphones, tablets, laptops and TVs - they give us important information, vital social contact and much needed distraction. But Catherine Price (founder…
The heaviest burden of Covid-19 has fallen on the shoulders of medical staff, first responders and others who care for the sick and vulnerable. These people are saving lives, while…
Many people seek Laurie’s advice on how to be happier despite this awful pandemic. Professor Katy Milkman invited Laurie to appear on the Choiceology podcast to talk about the things…
The health of our romantic relationships is in peril thanks to the many stresses and strains of the pandemic lockdown. Couples might be facing huge emotional and financial challenges at…
College student Liam Elkind studied happiness in the class taught by Dr Laurie Santos. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, he knew exactly what to do to fight the negative emotions…
In normal times our minds can be filled with unhelpful thoughts, but during this crisis you might be finding it even harder to calm your anxious internal monologue. Meditation could…
We always face problems and setbacks - but the coronavirus has dramatically upended many of our lives in a few short weeks. Allowing sadness, anger or fear to dominate us…
We all need to keep a clear head at times of crisis - but that’s not always easy. So when strong emotions of fear and anxiety start to cloud your…
Many of us are being advised to stay at home and avoid social contact to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Human interaction is a vital component of happiness,…
Business leader Arianna Huffington nearly died because she didn’t get enough sleep. She tells Dr Laurie Santos how this wake-up call changed her attitude to getting enough sack time and…
Really concentrating on the emotions and physical sensations you are experiencing right now can make you happier. Join Yale mindfulness expert Dr. Hedy Kober as she introduces a live audience…
Grit and determination to change your habits can only get you so far... if you want to be happier you have to stop and think about how nice people have…
Research shows we all look for moments to make a fresh start - new years, new seasons, new decades. Our optimism about making big, positive changes is strong, but it…
Accept our gift of happiness this holiday season! It can be a hectic and stressful time of year... but it’s also full of opportunities to feel happier.Dr. Laurie Santos brings…
From school grades to fitness trackers, we’re all being ranked and rated on a daily basis. This is having a huge impact on our happiness and preventing us from living…
The world’s greatest expert on canned TV laugh tracks helps Dr. Laurie Santos demonstrate how the emotions of those around us can make us feel happier or more sad. If…
We all make thousands of choices each day - and think it means we’re in charge of our lives. But making even trivial decisions - about salad dressings, for example…
We often think positive thinking is the best way to achieve our ambitions - but the science shows it holds us all back. Dr Laurie Santos hears how champion swimmer…
Once a thought is in our heads, we can’t suppress it and trying to only causes us misery. Dr. Laurie Santos explains why our brains work in this way and…
Sharing a good experience with another human deepens our enjoyment of the moment, but only if we abide by certain rules. Dr Laurie Santos shows us how we often get…
Technology allows us to bank, shop and dine without talking to another human, but what toll is this taking on our happiness? The inventor of the ATM and the Talking…
Ice skater Michelle Kwan was all set to win Olympic Gold... but in a major sporting upset she came second. Sharing her story with Dr. Laurie Santos, Michelle lets us…
How can winning the lottery ruin your life - while contracting an incurable disease feel like “a gift”? Dr. Laurie Santos hears about dreams come true and nightmares realized; and…
You can make yourself happier today. Your life circumstances and personality aren’t nearly as important as you think in deciding how happy you can be. Dr. Laurie Santos explains how…
Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Professor and podcast host Dr. Laurie Santos is an expert on human cognition and the…
