What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi
We hear a lot about how screens affect our mental health, but time spent on computers and smartphones is having just as much of an impact on our physical health…
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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.
Most Recent Episode
What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi
We hear a lot about how screens affect our mental health, but time spent on computers and smartphones is having just as much of an impact on our physical health…
Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier
Buying something new can trigger a rush of dopamine, leading to a momentary boost in happiness. But the rush is fleeting, and over time, our possessions can end up weighing…
Your Environment Affects Your Happiness More Than You Think with Dr. Leidy Klotz
Our surroundings affect our happiness in ways we often don’t notice. The layout of a room, the amount of clutter in our home, and even small changes to lighting can…
Why It Hurts to Hold a Grudge — and How to Let Go with Dr. Fred Luskin
Forgiveness might sound simple, but it's hard to let go of the anger that comes with being deeply hurt. Grudges, bitterness, and frustration with life’s unfairness can quietly build up…
Why You’re Still Using Social Media (Even If You Want to Stop) with Dr. Cass Sunstein
Why is social media so hard to quit? We waste hours scrolling, feel worse when we log off, and still find ourselves going back for more. Dr. Laurie sits down…
What is Social Media Doing to Kids? with Dr. Jean Twenge
Over the past decade, rates of depression and loneliness have surged among young people. Many researchers point to one major change: the rise of smartphones and social media. But what does the data…
How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life
Work doesn’t end when the workday does. Even after we close our laptops, our minds keep replaying awkward meetings, looming deadlines, and unfinished to-do lists. Over time, that “always on”…
Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 2)
In Part 2 of Dr. Laurie’s conversation with researchers Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, we learn how couples can raise complaints without damaging their relationship — and…
Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 1)
In this classic episode, Dr. Laurie speaks with two of the world’s most influential relationship scientists, Drs. John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman. In their renowned “Love Lab,” the married…
Why Algorithms Can’t Predict Your Love Life with Dr. Paul Eastwick
Modern dating can feel like a marketplace. We’re told we all have a “mate value,” that some people are 9s and 10s, and that the laws of evolution determine who…
How to Find “The One”: The Science of Dating with Tim Molnar
Modern dating can feel exhausting. On one hand, there’s the seemingly endless swiping that leads to dating app burnout; on the other, there’s what can feel like the insurmountable challenge…
How to Feel Truly Loved (with Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky and Dr. Harry Reis)
Most of us have people in our lives who love us — partners, friends, family — yet many of us still don’t feel as loved as we want to. Why…
How to Design a More Meaningful Life (with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett)
What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How do you find direction when you feel stuck or you’re unsure about your purpose? Dave Evans and Bill Burnett, co-founders…
The Surprising Science of Creativity (with Dr. George Newman)
We often think creativity comes from sudden flashes of genius within us. But what if ideas actually exist in the world around us — waiting to be discovered and shaped…
Why Chasing Success Can Leave You Feeling Stuck (with David Brooks)
It’s easy to fixate on the usual markers of success — your resume, your net worth, or how “impressive” you seem on paper. But how much do those things really…
How to Bounce Back from Life’s Curveballs (with Dr. Maya Shankar)
Life has a way of upending even our best-laid plans. Breakups, job losses, scary health diagnoses — these unexpected changes can leave us feeling stuck and uncertain about what comes…
Stop Wasting Your Energy — Here’s What to Do Instead (with Dr. Diana Hill)
A lot of us spend our energy on things that aren’t worth it: projects, relationships, or goals that may feel important in the moment but ultimately leave us frustrated and…
Holiday Survival Guide II: Perfect Gifts and Fighting Fatigue (with Rainn Wilson)
What stresses you out over the festive season? Happiness Lab listeners sent in their holiday woes so Dr Laurie and guest Rainn Wilson (The Office star and host of Soul…
Holiday Survival Guide I: Ending Family Arguments (with Rainn Wilson)
What stresses you out over the festive season? Happiness Lab listeners sent in their holiday woes so Dr Laurie and guest Rainn Wilson (The Office star and host of Soul…
How to Experience the Joy of Giving Right Now
According to the science, it really is better to give than receive. Donating a dollar; sharing a kind word or lending someone a hand changes lives, but can also hugely…
How Horror Movies and True Crime Can Make You Happier
Halloween isn't just costumes and candy. It's also a time when we indulge our interest in the scary and macabre. But there's also a taboo about gory horror movies and…
Make Vulnerability Your Superpower (with NBA star Kevin Love)
Not many elite athletes talk openly about mental health, but five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love is changing that. After a very public panic attack on the basketball court he was…
How to Make Better Choices (with Barry Schwartz)
Every choice you make shapes your wellbeing - and the bigger the decision, the greater the impact. So when it comes to life-changing questions like where to live, who to…
Take a Three-Day Weekend Without Losing Any Pay (with Juliet Schor)
Many of us toil for long hours - and even take work home at the end of the day. That's bad for us in so many ways - but extensive…
How to Spend Your Time and Money Better (with Nobel Prize Winner Richard Thaler)
We all behave irrationally. We pay for expensive gym memberships and only go once. We spend windfall cash on things we'd never buy with our salaries. We plan to do…
Eat Like the People Who Live Happily to 100 (with Dan Buettner)
Your eating habits could be cutting years off the end of your life. But there's a simple solution - eat like the people who live happily and healthily into their…
Why Having the Courage to Defy Makes us Happier (with Dr Sunita Sah)
We all go along with things we don't want to do... or worse, things that make us feel uncomfortable or morally uneasy. We comply for lots of reasons. We don't…
Anyone Can Play, Anyone Can Win (Cornholing with Michelle Hastie Thompson)
How do you put your life back together after your home and your neighborhood's been destroyed in a wildfire? By tossing beanbags at a hole? That's what Michelle Hastie Thompson…
The Jimi Hendrix of the Cello (with Joshua Roman)
Joshua Roman has been playing the cello everyday since he was three - but then on a concert tour he caught Covid. The illness wouldn't go away and sapped his…
“Birds Are Like My Afternoon Martini” (Birding with Lili Taylor)
Lili Taylor loves her acting career - but the emotional intensity of her work and the constant travel can take its toll. But Lili has found a way to relax…
How Good Manners Made Me Happier (with Etiquette Expert William Hanson)
You might think etiquette is outdated. Who really needs a dinner with nice napkins and four different forks? Etiquette expert William Hanson disagrees. By observing good manners we show others…
How Dogs Changed my Life (with The Dogist)
We all have our own ways of coping - especially when things get tough. So for the next few shows we're going to talking to people with interesting coping strategies.…
How Smartphones Changed Childhood (And What to do About it)
The happiness of young people has taken a big hit since the advent of the smartphone - and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that there is a direct link. He…
How to Think Like a Child (with David Yeager)
Why do kids do disruptive, annoying or maddening things? Usually when children behave badly, the first thing adults do is yell at them, tell them they're bad and dole out…
How to Tackle Bad Behaviour (with Dr Becky Kennedy)
Clinical psychologist Dr Becky Kennedy thinks every child is “good inside” even when they’re behaving badly. So to tackle tantrums or rule-breaking, she argues that parents must set clear boundaries…
Is a “Viking” Childhood a Happier Childhood (with Helen Russell)?
Nordic countries are known to be happy - so should we all raise our children like the Scandinavians do? British parent Helen Russell moved to Denmark and was shocked that…
How Not to Repeat Your Parents’ Mistakes (with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach)
Parents are never perfect - but their mistakes can have a lasting impact on their children. We all carry with us ideas and attitudes planted in us during childhood -…
Reducing the Stress of Parenting with Dr Vivek Murthy
Too many parents feel “exhausted, burned out, and perpetually behind” according to the former US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy. He says more needs to be done to protect parental…
How to Build Resilience (with Ben Walter from The Unshakeables)
In a special episode brought to you by Chase for Business, Dr. Laurie joins Ben Walter—CEO of Chase for Business and host of The Unshakeables podcast—to talk about resilience. Dr. Laurie…
Can You Become a “Practical” Optimist?
There are many benefits to being an optimist - particularly when things go wrong in our lives. But we aren't all naturally optimistic, so can we learn to adopt the…
How to Confront the Things that Suck (Live with John Green)
Author and vlogger John Green looks around the world and sees a lot of things that suck. But rather than giving in to despair, he's trying to develop a sense…
How to be Awesome – With Almost no Effort (with John Green)
Best-selling author John Green wants to see less suck in the world and more awesome - and you can help achieve that right now! John's turned his attention to tuberculosis…
Why You Should Take a Few Months Off Work (Live from SXSW)
Sometimes a two-week vacation just isn't enough - we all might need to leave our jobs for three months, six months or even a year. Taking an extended break can…
Twelve Sayings That Could Change Your Life
There are so many happiness lessons to remember - but it helps if we can boil them down into memorable little sayings. Happiness expert Gretchen Rubin has done exactly that…
Have You Got Trust Issues?
Do you trust your government? Do you trust your neighbors or the strangers you meet on the street? Do you trust the media? Or your teachers? Who we trust is…
Why Eating Alone is so Bad for You (An International Day of Happiness Special).
It's the International Day of Happiness! It's a chance to talk about happiness and what we can all do to be happier. March 20th also sees the release of the…
Harnessing People Around us to Feel Happier (Live with Ethan Kross)
Hell is other people. They can upset us, depress us and infuriate us. Their bad moods can bring us down. And their achievements can make us feel like failures. But…
How to Find Your Purpose
What's your purpose? Jordan Grumet thought that becoming a doctor would give his life meaning and direction... but he was wrong. He spent his days doing things he didn't really…
Be a Better Leader: How to Inspire the People Around You
Leadership isn't just for CEOs, presidents, or generals. If someone is looking to you for guidance—whether it's at home, school, or the workplace—that makes you a leader too. So how…
How to Lead the Richest Life Possible
To improve your life you might decide to prioritize your own personal happiness, or find meaning in helping the people around you. Few of us consider pushing ourselves well beyond…
How to Learn from a Rom Com Movie
In the absence of better advice, we learn a lot about love and dating from rom com movies - but is the depiction of relationships in these films leading us…
Date Like a Scientist
Do you go on endless dates hoping to find the perfect partner only to be endlessly disappointed? Or have you stopped meeting people because you've decided that you're undateable? Maybe…
Stop Stressing About Stress
Stress can suck, but it's part of life - it’s normal and even useful. Many of us drown in our stress - worrying about past events and fearing upcoming challenges.…
Hack Your Emotions
Negative emotions like fear or anger are part of being human. These feelings tell us something - perhaps prompting us to take action or bring about change. However, they're powerful…
Get Over Yourself
As children we think we're at the center of the world - but as adults we need to learn to see the perspectives and problems of other people. It helps…
Feel Like You’re Enough
Perfectionism isn't just wanting to be perfect... it's the feelings of failure and shame when we simply can't perform at a superhuman level all day, every day. To be happy,…
How To Embrace Imperfection
In our first "How To..." guide of 2025, Dr Laurie is asking how can we stop striving for perfection and make peace with the idea that it's ok to lead…
Why Giving is a Great Daily Habit
It's Giving Tuesday - a time when many people donate to charity (using websites like this: givingmultiplier.org/happiness). Giving money to help people makes them feel good, but it can also…
How to Thrive at Work
We can spend a lot of time working - and it gives us fulfillment, social interaction and fun - but still one in five of us say our workplaces are…
How to Fail at Work
You can't alway win at work. We all have career setbacks and disappointments - and learning how to deal with them is vital. We need to move on from our…
Advice from The Titans of Happiness on World Mental Health Day
The biggest names in wellness podcasting - "The Titans of Happiness" - come together to talk about the greatest mental health challenges facing us in 2024 and the very simple…
How to Make a Difference (Happily)
We often assume that we can’t fix the big problems we see in the world around us. And that trying is for suckers - who’ll just end up sad, exhausted…
How to Disagree Better
It feels like our world is deeply polarized. We seem to fundamentally disagree with so many people - and with those disputes comes anger and hatred. Can anything bridge these…
Survival of the Fittest… or the Kindest?
Some people think they need to be ruthless and selfish to thrive and survive in life. The theories of Charles Darwin are often wrongly interpreted to support this view that…
How to Find Hope in a Cynical World
It’s hard to stay hopeful these days. Stanford professor Jamil Zaki has been studying the incredible depth of human kindness for decades, but even he gives in to cynicism when…
Find Hope and Banish Cynicism… Coming Sept 9
It's hard to stay hopeful sometimes. Things can look pretty bleak and divided, especially around election time. But if you're losing hope in your fellow humans, stop and listen to…
“Happiness Is Like A Leaky Tire” from Immigrantly
We're bringing you an episode of Immigrantly, where Laurie joined host Saadia Khan to discuss the psychology of happiness education and the expansive realm of happiness. Is happiness a fleeting…
The Happiness Lessons Helping Win Olympic Medals
America's top athletes need coaches. And those coaches themselves need guidance. It's a hard and stressful job - and one where coaches can easily become burned out and unhappy. And…
The Happiness of the Long Distance Runner
Georgia Bell was a great runner as a child - but in college she fell out of love with the sport. She hung up her running shoes - and they…
How Talking to a Friend Helps (Live at The International Festival of Arts and Ideas)
Making shows about her own happiness challenges was both fun and instructive for Dr Laurie, but it also took guts to be so vulnerable and open. She later spoke to…
A Matter of Life and Death
Dr Laurie HATES thinking about her own death. It's scary, creepy and morbid, right? Wrong. Thinking about our finite lives can makes us better, happier people. The shadow of death…
Why Don’t We Have a 15-hour Work Week?
By 2030 we'll only work 15 hours a week, predicted the legendary economist John Maynard Keynes back in 1930. He thought advances in technology and wealth would let us earn…
Why We Sabotage Our Future Selves
We often do things that will make our lives more stressful or difficult in the future, like overspending when we should save, eating junk food that makes us feel bad,…
The Power of Awe… and Where to Find it
Awe reduces stress, helps us forget our minor worries and makes us feel more connected to the people around us. We all need more awe in our lives - but…
How to Tame Stress
Dr. Laurie is stressed, and it's harming her health. Constant worry and stress is bad for our bodies and our minds, but how can we break the cycle and relax?…
How to Stop Avoiding Boredom and Embrace Doing Nothing
Dr. Laurie used to dread boredom and would do anything—binge watch bad TV, take on extra work, snack endlessly—to avoid it. But boredom is actually an incredibly useful tool to…
How to Fight Perfectionism
Holding yourself to impossibly high standards is self-defeating and makes for a miserable life. Can Dr Laurie Santos find ways to tackle her constant perfectionism so she can perform better…
Five Tips to be Happier at Work (Dr Laurie at SXSW)
Work is a worry. Are we paid enough? Should we be getting promoted quicker? Is artificial intelligence about to replace us all? Speaking at SXSW 2024, Dr Laurie Santos argues…
Tame Those Devices: 10 Tips to Achieve Digital Balance
Technology is amazing! We can make video calls, find facts in an instant and watch movies on our phones. We take all this for granted, but have we let our…
How to Grow After Adversity
Karen Guggenheim was devastated by the death of her husband, Ricardo. She was alive, but dead to the world around her. Slowly she put her life back together and found…
Simple Ways to Feel Great Every Day – with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Medical doctors are waking up to the importance of happiness, partly prompted by the work of people like Rangan Chatterjee. Dr Chatterjee is Professor of Health Education and Communication, the…
How to Make America’s Young People Happier Again
The US is sliding down the world happiness rankings - but it's the unhappiness of young people that's really dragging down the average. What has happened to make Gen Z…
Can Happiness Ward Off Dementia?
Age is the main risk factor for cognitive decline. So with more people around the world living longer, cases of dementia are set to rise. There's currently no cure -…
What Can We Learn From the Happiest Country on Earth?
There are certain nations which always top the rankings in the World Happiness Report. What are they doing right, that other countries are getting wrong? And what can you do…
Pushkin Hosts Celebrate World Happiness Day
The Happiness Lab’s Dr. Laurie Santos brings together other Pushkin hosts to mark the International Day of Happiness. Revisionist History’s Malcolm Gladwell talks about the benefits of the misery of…
The Happiness of Subtraction
We often think adding more things to our lives will make us happier - more trips, more activities, more possessions. Sadly our minds find it hard to comprehend that having…
Why the “Good Enough” Relationship Beats the “Perfect Partner”
Fairy tales and Hollywood rom coms have taught us to expect perfection from a soul mate, but sex and relationships therapist Todd Baratz says we need to be more comfortable…
A Supercommunicator’s Guide to Love and Dating
Some people ask searching questions and then really listen to the replies. These so-called supercommunicators make great romantic partners, so can anyone learn to be more like them? Journalist Charles…
Can Couples Learn to Argue Better?
No matter how much you love your partner, your relationship will never be totally free from disagreement. And nor should it be, say researchers Dr John Gottman and Dr Julie…
Love Lessons from the “Masters of Relationships”
Some people are just good at building and maintaining healthy partnerships. In their "Love Lab," the married researchers Dr. John Gottman and Dr Julie Schwartz Gottman have seen how certain…
The Sweet Smell of Happiness
Does happiness have a scent? Dr Laurie has been trying to remove the bad smells in her life and bring in more fragrances that enhance her wellbeing. But she's noticed…
How Getting Active Can Make You Happier
Busy scientist Adam Aron had too much on his plate to think deeply about climate change - until he read a scary report about what lay in store for the…
Being Green Doesn’t Mean Sacrificing Fun… or Cutting Out Meat
We often think of fighting climate change as a drain on our happiness - it'll mean sacrificing the things we love, like air travel or eating hamburgers. But researchers Jiaying…
Why our Brains Don’t Fear Climate Change Enough
Humans are great at reacting to mortal danger... but only sometimes. Unfortunately, some risks to our safety and wellbeing don't set off alarm bells in our brains. Climate change falls…
When Stalin Killed the Weekend – A Happiness Lab/Cautionary Tales Crossover
Time off work is vital for your happiness. So what would you do if you couldn't take the same rest day as your family and friends? Would you quit your…
Giving Away Cash Makes You Happy… and Transforms Lives
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…
Make America Happy Again
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…
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
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 -…
Don’t Make Friends Where You Make Your Money?
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…
Ask for Help… and Spread Happiness
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…
The Introvert’s Guide to Extroversion
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.…
Why You Should Text a Friend Today
When was the last time you checked in on a friend? Maybe months or even years have passed by and you feel awkward about reestablishing the connection. Maybe the last…
How to Make Friends and Compliment People
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…
Grover’s Super Solution to Self-Talk
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…
Big Bird Has Big Feelings
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…
Dr. Laurie and Sesame Street: Abby Cadabby and the Magic of Gratitude
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…
Build the Life You Want… Advice from Arthur Brooks and Oprah
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…
The Unhappy Millionaire ICYMI
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…
‘I woke up in an Ambulance Stuck in Traffic.’ : A Listener’s Story of Recovery
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…
Ask Us Anything! Laurie and Gretchen Take Your Questions (Live from Toronto)
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…
With Elmo’s Help… It’s Never Too Early to Learn About Happiness
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…
Can Spiritual Experiences and Psychedelics Make us Happy? (LIVE from DC)
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…
Why We’re Mean to Our Future Selves (LIVE from Boston)
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…
The Man Who Invented Happiness Science: Marty Seligman
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,…
Smell, Taste and Touch: How to Joyfully Awaken Your Senses
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…
Sight and Sound: How to Joyfully Awaken Your Senses
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…
Do We Need a New Word for ‘Happiness’? Katie Couric talks to Dr Laurie Santos
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Sikhism and Daily Habits
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Sikhism and How We’re All Connected
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Yoga of the Mind
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,…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Trauma of Troy
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Anger of Achilles
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Aristotle and Plato ICYMI
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Socrates and Self-Knowledge
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…
The Happiness of Silence
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…
Stop Looking for the Perfect Job – a “Good Enough Job” is Just Fine
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…
A Daily Workout to Tackle Nagging Self-Criticism
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…
How to Eat Intuitively in 2023
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…
Stop Endlessly Chasing the “Next Big Thing” in 2023
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…
Giving Tuesday: Why Giving Money to Others Makes us Happier
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…
Happier Parents, Happier Kids Pt 2: Letting Children Try and Fail
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…
Happier Parents, Happier Kids Pt 1: Your Child Isn’t a VIP or a Fragile Vase
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…
Hulking Out! Why You Change When You’re Angry
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…
You Only Live Once… So Commit
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…
The Fun of Eating a Pepper Hotter Than the Sun
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…
Why Living Without Regret is a Bad Idea
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…
The Handbook for Sonic Happiness – A Twenty Thousand Hertz/Happiness Lab Mash-up
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…
Move to Your Happy Place
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…
Nerd Out! The Happiness of Being a Fan
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…
The Secret to Making Friends as an Adult
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…
Q: “What Did the Pandemic Teach Us About Happiness?”
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…
Q: “How Do I Stop Negative Self-talk?”
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…
Q: “Can You Be Happy Alone?”
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…
Q: “Are We Born to Work? Or Born to Live?”
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…
Malala on Burnout, Guilt and How to Disagree Better
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.…
Burnout and How to Avoid It
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…
Fighting that "Meh" Feeling of Languishing
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…
When Guilt Is Good… and When It’s Not
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…
Embracing Sadness in the Pursuit of Happiness
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.…
How to Be Angry Better
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…
Stepping Off the Path of Anxiety
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…
The Eight Pillars of Grieving
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…
The Paradox of Grief
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…
How to Identify Your Negative Emotions
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…
Emotions Are Data…So Listen to Them
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…
Reset Your Relationship With Negative Emotions in 2022
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…
How to Give More Effectively
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…
How to Adopt a Growth Mindset
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…
How to be Happier at Work (with Dan Harris)
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…
How to Feel More Empathy (With the Host of Bad Women: The Ripper Retold)
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…
Laurie Gets a Fun-tervention (Part Two: Beach Party)
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…
Laurie Gets a Fun-tervention (Part One)
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…
BONUS: How to Handle Change
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…
The Kindness of Strangers
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…
You Can’t Always Want What You Like
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…
Let Slip the Dogs of More Happiness
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…
Treating the Pain of a Broken Heart
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…
Why Nostalgia Ain’t So Rosy
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…
The Happiness Lab Returns August 16
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…
The Happiness Lab Meets No Stupid Questions
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Confucius
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Forgiveness
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…
Happiness Lessons of the Ancients: The Day of Rest
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Torah
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…
Laurie Talks Relationships with Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas
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…
Move More… But for the Right Reasons
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…
Feed Yourself Like You’d Feed a Loved One
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…
Reconnect With The Moment
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…
Dump Your Inner Drill Sergeant
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…
Happier Holidays: How to Celebrate No Matter What
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.…
Happier Holidays: How to Give and Receive the Perfect Gift
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Buddha
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Epictetus
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Plato
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…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Aristotle
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…
How to Be a Better Ally
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…
The War For Kindness
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…
Why Experiences Make You Happier Than Things
Cait Flanders went deep into debt to buy all the clothes, books and gadgets she was convinced would make her happier. But she soon realized that doing things—rather than having…
How to Kick Bad Habits (and Start Good Ones)
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 Science of Attention and Distraction
Your smartphone might be making you miserable and you might not even realize it. These machines are technological marvels, but our addiction to them is causing us to miss out…
For Whom the Alarm Clock Tolls
“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…
Working Your Way to Happiness
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…
PJ and Alex Love to Gripe
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…
Psychopaths and Superheroes
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…
New Season: The Happiness Lab Returns April 27
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…
How Our Screen Habits Impact Our Stress Levels
The pandemic has us all glued to our screens. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and TVs provide vital information, social connection, and distractions—but excessive or unstructured screen use can increase anxiety, reduce…
BONUS: Helping the Helpers
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…
BONUS: Laurie’s Personal Tips
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…
BONUS: Keep Your Relationship Healthy
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…
BONUS: Help Others to Help Yourself
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…
BONUS: Calm Can Be Contagious
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…
BONUS: Rising to a Challenge
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…
BONUS: Coach Yourself Through a Crisis
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…
BONUS: Beat Your Isolation Loneliness
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,…
BONUS: Sleep When You’re Dead Tired (LIVE with Arianna Huffington)
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…
BONUS: Think Yourself Happy (LIVE from Yale)
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…
BONUS: Grateful Expectations
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…
BONUS: A New Hope
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…
BONUS: A Happier Christmas
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…
Making the Grade
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…
Is Happiness Contagious? How Other People’s Emotions Affect Us
The moods of those around us can directly influence how happy or sad we feel. Drawing on psychology and neuroscience, Dr. Laurie teams up with the world’s leading expert on…
Decision Fatigue: The Psychology of Choice Overload
We tend to think having more options is better, but the science shows too many choices can drain mental energy, increase anxiety, and make us feel worse about making decisions,…
Don’t Accentuate the Positive
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…
Why It’s So Hard to Stop Intrusive Thoughts—And What Actually Helps
How many times have you tried to suppress an unwanted thought, only to ruminate on it even more? Research shows that the brain reacts to attempts at thought suppression by…
Caring What You’re Sharing
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…
Mistakenly Seeking Solitude
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…
A Silver Lining
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…
The Unhappy Millionaire
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 Change
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…
The Host
Dr. Laurie Santos
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…
