Why Mattering Matters With Rebecca Newberger Goldstein

We all have a deep desire to matter, but do we know why? In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with philosopher and author Rebecca Newberger Goldstein to explore the “mattering instinct” and why it shapes everything from our personal fulfillment to our political divides. She explains our longing to feel significant influences our choices, our relationships, and even our conflicts — and how reframing our own mattering projects can lead to a more meaningful, connected life. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the need to matter often drives us more powerfully than the need to be happy. How different “mattering projects” shape our behavior and our relationships. What we can do — individually and collectively — to create a world where everyone feels they count.

You can listen to Why Mattering Matters With Rebecca Newberger Goldstein online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Why Mattering Matters With Rebecca Newberger Goldstein is an episode from Live Happy Now by Live Happy LLC.

This episode is 29:18 long.

This episode was published on Jan 27, 2026.

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