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The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

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281 episodes

The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won’t protect you.

More about the show

With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into oversharing, how dumping small talk makes for better conversations, why the kids these days are actually doing just fine, and how men can establish strong bromances. Each episode unpacks a bold, counterintuitive claim — using research, data, and expert insight to question the conventional wisdom around happiness and wellbeing.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. The Unexpected Science of Cats and Happiness

    · 46 min · S11 E41

    Cats have a reputation for being aloof, independent, and sometimes downright indifferent to their human companions. But what if we've been getting cats all wrong? In honor of National Cat Day, Dr. Laurie is joined by…

  2. Why Happiness Experts Still Struggle to Be Happy with Dr. Ethan Kross

    · 53 min · S11 E40

    You might assume that people who study happiness for a living have it all figured out. But even happiness experts struggle to follow their own advice. They know the science behind feeling happier, managing difficult…

  3. What Gets Lost When We Text Instead of Talk with Dr. Nick Epley

    · 45 min · S11 E39

    For most of human history, we only had one way to talk to one another: our voices. Today, we have more ways to communicate than ever before. We can text, call, send a video message, reach out over social media, et…

  4. Finding the Magic in Everyday Life with Thoreau and Eric Weiner

    · 34 min · S11 E38

    As we move through our busy lives, it’s easy to stop noticing the tiny, beautiful things all around us. But rediscovering the sense of wonder we had as children might not only bring us more joy — it could also help us…

  5. Want More Joy? Try Taking Yourself Less Seriously with Comedian Chris Duffy

    · 46 min · S11 E37

    When we’re exhausted, overworked, or just going through a difficult time, our instinct is often to put our heads down and simply focus on getting through it. But those serious moments may actually be when we benefit…

  6. Small Steps to Happiness: The Science of Mindful Living with Laurie Santos | From The One You Feed

    · 1 h 07 min · Bonus

    Today we're sharing author Eric Zimmer’s interview with Dr. Laurie on The One You Feed podcast. In this episode, Dr. Laurie Santos discusses the importance of taking small steps to happiness and the science of mindful…

  7. Why Smaller Goals Can Lead to Bigger Changes with Eric Zimmer

    · 48 min · S11 E36

    Most of us are familiar with this frustrating pattern: you set a goal, start off strong, but then lose motivation and end up right back at square one. Why does it seem so hard to change — even when you have a plan in…

  8. A Neuroscientist’s Guide to Changing Your Brain with Dr. Richard Davidson

    · 36 min · S11 E35

    Your brain is changing all the time, whether you realize it or not. Everything from your hobbies and chores to the media you consume can physically shape it. So how can you make sure it’s changing in ways that actually…

  9. Stop Doing Things the Hard Way with Dr. Angela Duckworth

    · 58 min · S11 E34

    When we’re struggling to reach a goal, most of us assume the answer is to buckle down and try harder. But what if all that white-knuckling is actually making things more difficult than they need to be? Dr. Laurie…

  10. The Life-Changing Power of a Sabbatical

    · 49 min · S11 E33

    It’s hard to focus on wellbeing when we’re expected to work nonstop until retirement. Taking a break from time to time should be a given, not a privilege. Dr. Laurie works in one of the few industries that recognizes…

  11. You're Actually Not Bothering People Enough

    · 26 min · S11 E32

    Most of us hate asking for favors. We worry about being a burden, coming across as needy, or facing rejection for asking too much. But what if our fear of bothering people is stopping us, and the people around us, from…

  12. Why Being Alone Might Be Better Than You Think

    · 46 min · S11 E31

    In recent years, we've heard a lot of unsettling news about the loneliness epidemic and the dangers of social isolation. But could all this talk about loneliness paradoxically be making the problem... worse? Dr.…

  13. Winning the Lottery Could Ruin Your Life

    · 42 min · S11 E30

    What would it take to make you happier? A raise? A promotion? Getting into your dream school? Winning the lottery? It turns out that we’re surprisingly bad at predicting how these events will actually make us feel.…

  14. Men Don’t Just Need Friends. They Need Bromance.

    · 44 min · S11 E29

    Men today are spending less time with friends, and many have no close friendships at all. Research shows that this lack of social connection can lead to serious long-term consequences for men's mental and physical…

  15. Forget Small Talk: Go Deep Instead

    · 38 min · S11 E28

    Most of us default to small talk. It's polite, familiar, and feels like the safest way to start a conversation. But it may also be one of the biggest barriers to genuine connection. Dr. Laurie speaks with author and…

  16. What We Still Get Wrong About Happiness (Live at Dartmouth)

    · 50 min · S11 E27

    In this special live episode, Dr. Laurie takes the stage at Dartmouth College for a conversation with happiness historian Darrin McMahon. Together, they break down some of the biggest misconceptions about happiness in…

  17. Why the “Pursuit of Happiness” Is a Bad Idea

    · 47 min · S11 E26

    The “pursuit of happiness” is one of America’s founding ideals. But what if chasing happiness is actually making us feel worse? In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Dr. Laurie travels to…

  18. Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice

    · 31 min · S11 E25

    We’ve all had moments we wish we could do over: the relationship we stayed in too long, the opportunity we didn’t take, the thing we said that we can’t unsay. Regret can feel awful. So it’s no surprise that “no…

  19. Are Kids Today Really Worse Off?

    · 43 min · S11 E24

    We hear a lot about rising rates of anxiety, depression, and fragility among kids today. But when Harvard researcher Alexis Redding uncovered a forgotten trove of interviews with college students from the 1970s, she…

  20. The Surprising Case for Oversharing

    · 39 min · S11 E23

    We’re kicking off a new season of The Happiness Lab with some happiness hot takes — bold claims that challenge conventional wisdom about what it really takes to feel happier. Today's hot take is all about oversharing.…

  21. How to Feel Happier in Your Body with Jessamyn Stanley

    · 35 min · S11 E22

    As summer begins, many of us are bombarded with messages about how our bodies aren't good enough. But what if we embraced movement not out of self-criticism or shame, but self-compassion? To close out our series on…

  22. What Your Negative Emotions Are Trying to Tell You

    · 46 min · S11 E21

    Negative emotions like sadness, anger, guilt, and anxiety can feel overwhelming. But what if those uncomfortable feelings aren’t problems to fix, but signals worth listening to? As part of our series on how to spring…

  23. The Hidden Beliefs That Shape Your Happiness with Shawn Achor

    · 43 min · S11 E20

    Our beliefs shape more than we realize. They influence what we notice, how we respond to setbacks, how connected we feel to others, and whether we take action to improve our lives. As part of our series on how to…

  24. The Art of Doing Nothing

    · 35 min · S11 E19

    Struggling to find free time? Feeling constantly busy or burned out? This episode is for you. Dr. Laurie explores the science behind “time famine,” the nagging sense that there’s never enough time in the day. Writer…

  25. What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi

    · 46 min · S11 E18

    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 — from brain fog and weakened core muscles to changes in…

  26. Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier

    · 26 min · S11 E17

    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 us down more than they lift us up. As part…

  27. Your Environment Affects Your Happiness More Than You Think with Dr. Leidy Klotz

    · 38 min · S11 E16

    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 shape our mood, focus, and relationships. As The…

  28. How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits

    · 33 min · S11 E15

    Breaking bad habits often feels like a test of willpower. We tell ourselves we’ll stop scrolling, eat better, or exercise more — and then fall right back into the same routines. So why is lasting change so hard? As…

  29. Why It Hurts to Hold a Grudge — and How to Let Go with Dr. Fred Luskin

    · 39 min · S11 E14

    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 over time and take a real toll on…

  30. Why You're Still Using Social Media (Even If You Want to Stop) with Dr. Cass Sunstein

    · 33 min · S11 E13

    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 with Dr. Cass Sunstein, co-author of (00:00:57) Nudge, to…

  31. What is Social Media Doing to Kids? with Dr. Jean Twenge

    · 35 min · S11 E12

    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 actually show?…

  32. How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life

    · 43 min · S11 E11

    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” mentality can quietly…

  33. Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 2)

    · 36 min · S11 E10

    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 how to respond constructively…

  34. Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 1)

    · 47 min · S11 E9

    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 researchers have…

  35. Why Algorithms Can’t Predict Your Love Life with Dr. Paul Eastwick

    · 41 min · S11 E8

    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 gets chosen — and who gets rejected. But what if we’ve…

  36. How to Find "The One": The Science of Dating with Tim Molnar

    · 45 min · S11 E7

    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 of meeting someone in real…

  37. How to Feel Truly Loved (with Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky and Dr. Harry Reis)

    · 42 min · S11 E6

    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 is there such a gap between being loved and feeling loved? And what can we…

  38. How to Design a More Meaningful Life (with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett)

    · 47 min · S11 E5

    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 of the Stanford Life Design Lab and authors of…

  39. The Surprising Science of Creativity (with Dr. George Newman)

    · 31 min · S11 E4

    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 by anyone paying attention? Creativity expert Dr.…

  40. Why Chasing Success Can Leave You Feeling Stuck (with David Brooks)

    · 37 min · S11 E3

    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 speak to our wellbeing? And what do we miss when we only…

  41. How to Bounce Back from Life’s Curveballs (with Dr. Maya Shankar)

    · 40 min · S11 E2

    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 next. Dr. Laurie speaks with her…

  42. Stop Wasting Your Energy — Here’s What to Do Instead (with Dr. Diana Hill)

    · 47 min · S11 E1

    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 drained. Dr. Diana Hill, clinical…

  43. Holiday Survival Guide II: Perfect Gifts and Fighting Fatigue (with Rainn Wilson)

    · 31 min · S10 E44

    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 Boom) could weigh in with some science-backed…

  44. Holiday Survival Guide I: Ending Family Arguments (with Rainn Wilson)

    · 48 min · S10 E43

    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 Boom) could weigh in with some science-backed…

  45. How to Experience the Joy of Giving Right Now

    · 48 min · S10 E42

    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 boost your happiness. So we're teaming up with…

  46. Why Being Grateful Makes Us Feel Great (A Thanksgiving Re-run)

    · 27 min · Bonus

    It's Thanksgiving - a good time to think about gratitude and being selfless. Concentrating on the things we have to be grateful for is a great way to boost your happiness. So thank the people who've done good things…

  47. Reset Your Relationship with Stress (for National Stress Awareness Day)

    · 43 min · Bonus

    On National Stress Awareness Day we've pulled a popular episode from our archive. Stress can suck. Many of us drown in it - worrying about past events and fearing upcoming challenges. We even stress about feeling…

  48. How Horror Movies and True Crime Can Make You Happier

    · 45 min · S10 E41

    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 gruesome true crime shows - we often feel that…

  49. Make Vulnerability Your Superpower (with NBA star Kevin Love)

    · 37 min · S10 E40

    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 told to "snap out of it". But Kevin…

  50. How to Make Better Choices (with Barry Schwartz)

    · 41 min · S10 E39

    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 marry, or which career to pursue, how can you…

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