Why Smaller Goals Can Lead to Bigger Changes with Eric Zimmer
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 s...
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Society & Culture
The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
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 sc...
Episodes
20 of 275 episodes
A Neuroscientist’s Guide to Changing Your Brain with Dr. Richard Davidson
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 phy...
Stop Doing Things the Hard Way with Dr. Angela Duckworth
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 i...
The Life-Changing Power of a Sabbatical
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, no...
You're Actually Not Bothering People Enough
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...
Why Being Alone Might Be Better Than You Think
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...
Winning the Lottery Could Ruin Your Life
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 s...
Men Don’t Just Need Friends. They Need Bromance.
Men today are spending less time with friends, and many have no close friendships at all. Research shows that this lack of social connection...
Forget Small Talk: Go Deep Instead
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 th...
What We Still Get Wrong About Happiness (Live at Dartmouth)
In this special live episode, Dr. Laurie takes the stage at Dartmouth College for a conversation with happiness historian Darrin McMahon . T...
Why the “Pursuit of Happiness” Is a Bad Idea
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...
Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice
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 th...
Are Kids Today Really Worse Off?
We hear a lot about rising rates of anxiety, depression, and fragility among kids today. But when Harvard researcher Alexis Redding uncovere...
The Surprising Case for Oversharing
We're kicking off a new season of The Happiness Lab with some happiness hot takes — bold claims that challenge conventional wisdom abo...
How to Feel Happier in Your Body with Jessamyn Stanley
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 o...
What Your Negative Emotions Are Trying to Tell You
Negative emotions like sadness, anger, guilt, and anxiety can feel overwhelming. But what if those uncomfortable feelings aren't problems to...
The Hidden Beliefs That Shape Your Happiness with Shawn Achor
Our beliefs shape more than we realize. They influence what we notice, how we respond to setbacks, how connected we feel to others, and whet...
The Art of Doing Nothing
Struggling to find free time? Feeling constantly busy or burned out? This episode is for you. Dr. Laurie explores the science behind "time f...
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...
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...