The Science of Happiness
Episodes
How to Say "Sorry" Like You Mean It
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Apologies are key to successful relationships. But are you doing them right? Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/38dfpe8p Episode sum...
Happiness Break: How To Be Your Best Self, with Justin Michael Williams
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Visualize your best possible self and tap into your inherent enough-ness with this guided meditation by Justin Michael Williams. Link to episode tran...
The Questions to Ask Yourself in an Argument
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest explores how reminding yourself that you don't know everything can have a profound impact on your relationships, and our society. Link to e...
Happiness Break: How to Be Your Own Best Friend, with Kristin Neff
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Take 10 minutes to be guided through a practice of meaningful self-kindness: A self-compassion break with Kristin Neff. Link to episode transcript: h...
Catch Yourself in a Dream
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever known you're dreaming while you're asleep? Our guests try practices to help induce lucid dreams, and we hear what they can teach us abou...
Happiness Break: A 10-Minute Guided Practice, with Dacher Keltner
19 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We guide you through a reflection of three things you're grateful for today. This practice is shown to boost happiness, connection, and motivation wh...
The Science of a Good Night's Sleep
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you struggle with sleep? This week Drew Ackerman of Sleep with Me podcast tries tips for a good night's sleep, and we explore why it's so important...
Feel Better About Asking For Help
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2p8wnyx6 Episode summary: Emanuel Hahn has never been great at asking for help. He didn’t live wit...
Are You Tired of Being Afraid?
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fear is a normal part of our lives — but there are ways we can safely challenge and conquer it. Our guest tries a research-backed way to tackle a fe...
How to Find Your Spark in Life
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Marilyn Pittman takes stock of what she really wants in life – and makes a plan to get it. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.co...
Are Your Expectations Too High?
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
High expectations can lead to disappointment, but expecting the worst doesn't feel great, either. This week we explore how to find the balance. Link ...
How to Turn Grief into Strength
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Part of life is experiencing pain and loss. And sometimes, finding meaning in it. We explore a writing practice shown to help us come out stronger a...
Why You Should Snap Pictures of Nature
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A NYT restaurant critic puts down her pen and grabs her camera to capture the beauty of the outdoors. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com...
When It's Time to Face Your Fears
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when we feel compassion for the things that scare us? Shabazz Larkin shares what it's like to face some of his deepest fears. Link to E...
The Case for Believing in Yourself
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does your best possible self look like? Our guest tries a practice in optimism by imagining her brightest future. Link to Episode Transcript: ht...
How Gratitude Renews Us
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling burned out? Our guest, a nurse, explores how cultivating gratitude helps people in high stress jobs. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tiny...
What Our Photos Say About Us
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Can taking a few photos really make you happier? Afghan rocker Sulyman Qardash tries a practice to find meaning through snapping photos of daily life....
Why We Give Thanks
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Thank you. Gracias. Merci. Every language has a word for gratitude. But why do we feel it? How can we experience more of it? We revisit some of our f...
Do You Feel Pressed for Time?
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when we share our time? Our guest, chef and author Bryant Terry, pauses to be present with the ones who matter most. Link to Episode Tra...
Why You Should Make Small Goals
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Paula Poundstone tries to take on a messy and daunting task, one small step at a time. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mv2hs...
Do You Want to Slow Down?
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Sale, host of Death, Sex, and Money, practices awe as an antidote to her anxiety. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5n82n9w2
Can You Mend a Broken Bond?
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
They were childhood best friends until one came out as queer. Now, two college students reconnect and try to see the world through one another's eyes...
100 Good Things
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For our 100th episode, host Dacher Keltner sits in the guest chair and tries one of the most popular happiness practices. Link to Episode Transcript:...
What Happens When We Play
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you went down a slide? Our guest tries a practice to bring more play into his life and explores what that means as a Black man ...
How to Not Take People for Granted
19 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What would life be like without the people you care most about? Our guest tries a practice to help appreciate loved ones. Link to Episode Transcript:...
How to Tune Out the Noise
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest uses her breath to find calm in some of Los Angeles' noisiest neighborhoods. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ccv7x
Don't be Afraid of Your Anger
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when we suppress our anger? And what if we tried to work with it instead? Our guest tries a practice to harness her inner fierceness to c...
How to Enjoy Life More with Michael Pollan
08 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Pollan tries to get more out of life by temporarily giving up one of his pleasure. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/28hxc2ah
How to Craft Your Life
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When the world around you changes, so can your goals. This week's guest tries a practice to tap into a new sense of purpose. Link to Episode Transcri...
Noticing Nature in the City
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/kb6subnc
What Humans Can Learn From Trees
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Trees don't just compete with one another for resources, they also cooperate. Scientist and author Suzanne Simard explains the surprising science of t...
Finding Strength through Gratitude
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A doctor who serves communities in dire need shares how gratitude helps him find light in the darkness. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.c...
Why Love Needs Laughter
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Focusing on funny things can reduce stress, anxiety, and make us feel more connected to others. Our guests, who were high school sweethearts, learn ho...
How Music Can Bridge Cultures
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been moved by music sung in a language you don't understand? We speak with Gambian musician Sona Jobarteh about how music can connect us...
How Music Soothes Us
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is it about certain melodies that can relax our nerves and rock us to sleep? We explore the science of calming music with pianist Rosey Chan. Li...
David Byrne on How Music Connects Us
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Music helped former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne come out of his shell. Hear Byrne's story and learn how music creates social bonds in part one ...
Scheduling Time to Feel Awe(some)
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling awe can boost your mood and make you feel more connected with others. Comedian Chris Duffy learns how to tap into that sense. Link to Episode...
Why We're Drawn to Nature
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when we spend time outdoors? We explore how getting out in nature can restore peace of mind—and make us more creative. Link to Episode...
Are You Setting the Right Goals?
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Setting goals can sometimes feel like setting ourselves up for failure. But journalist Monica Campbell finds there's something magical that happens ...
Healing Through Gratitude
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A stranger helped her through the hardest day of her life. When she expresses her gratitude, our guest encounters the power of true connection. Lin...
How to Talk with Strangers
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The way we interact with people who come in and out of our lives has changed since COVID-19. Our guest tries a practice to connect with strangers whil...
Happy Again: How to Connect When You Must Stay Apart (Encore)
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are you unable to be with your friends and family during the holiday season this year? These 36 questions can bring you closer to loved ones, even if ...
Are You Listening to Your Elders?
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Connecting across generations is one of the oldest happiness practices there is. We explore why to honor your elders, along with other practices from ...
How to Make Better Decisions
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can practicing mindfulness make us wiser? Judge Jeremy Fogel explores how being present in the moment helps him keep a clear mind and stay connected t...
How to Give Up a Grudge
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really take to forgive someone? And why should we do it? Our guest, psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, tries a practice to let go of anger...
Why Voting Connects Us
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we vote? We explore the science behind what drives us to the polls, and the benefits we reap for ourselves and communities when we cast our bal...
How to Ride With the Pain
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to be anxious and uncertain about the future—especially if you're eight months pregnant. Our guest tries practices to help her deal with w...
If You Want to Be More Productive, Cut Yourself Some Slack
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling hard on yourself? Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp learns to quiet his inner critic and tap into his highest potential. Link to Episode Transc...
A Cure for Loneliness
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling lonely? Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy learns why focusing on the quality of our relationships, not the quantity, can be an antidote...
24 Hours of Kindness
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why should you be nice? Our guest explores how small, daily acts of kindness can produce meaningful life changes. Link to Episode Transcript: https:/...
How to Switch Off Your Critics
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you obsess over negative feedback? Shereen Marisol Meraji, of NPR’s Code Switch, tries a better way to cope. Link to Episode Transcript: https:/...
How to Reconnect with Your Partner
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A couple try a practice to bring more excitement and passion into their relationship, even while sheltering-in-place. Link to Episode Transcript: htt...
Do You Want to Be More Patient?
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We can be at our worst with the people we love best. Our guests try ways to be more calm and present with those closest to them. Link to Episode Tran...
How to Love People You Don't Like
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest tries a practice to help her feel compassion toward others — even those she disagrees with. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.c...
What's Your "Why" in Life?
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Adrian Michael Green asks big questions designed to help teens — and adults — find more meaning and purpose in their lives. Link to Episode Trans...
From Othering to Belonging
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with john a. powell, director of the Othering & Belonging Institute, about racial justice, well-being, and widening our circles of human ...
Taking Small Steps Toward Big Goals
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When our world is turned upside down, how do we keep moving forward? Our guest, award-winning author Christine Day, sets a new path for herself. Link...
How to Connect When You Must Stay Apart
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you want to be famous? What's a favorite memory? These 36 questions can bring you closer to loved ones, even if you're separated. Link to Episode...
Give Yourself a Break
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Want to calm your inner critic? Our guest tries a practice to find more self-compassion during uncertain times. Link to Episode Transcript: https://t...
Helping Kids Think About the Good
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sheltering-at-home with kids? These questions can help them, and us, focus on the good things in life. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.co...
Remembering to Breathe
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How a doctor stays calm and centered during times of uncertainty, one breath at a time. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3fjn655n
Staying Close While Physical Distancing
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest tries a practice to feel more connected to loved ones, and herself, while sheltering at home. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.c...
Who Would You Be Without Them?
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Think of an important person in your life. Now imagine you never met. Our guest practices counting his blessings by picturing his life without a speci...
Step Away from Anxiety
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a hard time calming your nerves? Author Raina Telgemeier tries a practice to get out of her head, one step at a time. Link to Episode Tra...
Who Is Your Rock?
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
He survived the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, two years ago and has been a student mental health advocate ever since. Now Kai Koerber finds a wa...
What Does It Take To Really Listen To Someone?
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are you actually listening when someone is talking to you, or just waiting for your turn to talk? Our guest, a veteran of the Iraq War, practices how ...
Why Shared Goals Can Bridge Divides
16 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How can people from different groups get on the same page? Our guest, an educator and football coach, tries a strategy for building stronger, more inc...
How To Make Time for Happiness
02 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Her New Year's resolution was to have more joyful and fulfilling experiences in her daily life. Our guest tried a practice to help make that happen. ...
How To Get Your Senses Tingling
19 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are millions of YouTube channels with people crinkling bubble wrap or whispering about folding laundry. Our guests talks about why autonomous se...
How To Be Less Hard on Yourself
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you beat yourself up over every mistake? A high school senior tries to be kinder to himself during an especially stressful time. Link to Episode T...
Happy Again: How to Notice What You're Thankful For (Encore)
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Maz Jobrani tries to be more thankful for the good things in his life by writing them down — and encourages his kids to do the same. Link ...
Can You Find Wonder in the Ordinary?
21 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you felt connected to something bigger than yourself? Award-winning cellist Yumi Kendall looks, and listens, for moments of awe...
How To Get Your Priorities Straight
07 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to lose sight of what matters most. Our guest finds a way to reconnect with her values during stressful times. Link to Episode Transcript: ...
Does Your Doctor Listen to You?
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Doctors are often trained to be emotionally detached. But our guest finds greater meaning in his work as a physician when he tries to connect more dee...
Finding Beauty in the Everyday
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A tree next to a bus stop, a flower poking through the sidewalk. Our guest, a veteran of the Iraq War, discovers how awe and wonder can be found anywh...
How to Find Your Silver Linings
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you fixate on what's going wrong in your life? Poet and "recovering pessimist" Maggie Smith practices looking on the bright side. Link to Episode ...
Can Margaret Cho Get Any Better?
12 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
She's one of the most accomplished comedians of her generation. But Margaret Cho wants to find a different kind of happiness. Link to Episode Trans...
Can You Humanize a Zombie?
29 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Should we try to find common ground with the villains in our lives? Comedian Zahra Noorbahksh tries to understand a "zombie" from her past. Link to E...
Making Kindness Contagious
15 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We gave our Happiness Guinea Pig a mission: Do five random acts of kindness in one day. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/36zrcd2p
Facing Your Fears
01 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Heights. Public speaking. Death. Our Happiness Guinea Pig explains how she overcomes her fears, one small step at a time. Link to Episode Transcript:...
How Michael Lewis Finds the Funny
18 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How can you unearth humor in everyday life? Best-selling author Michael Lewis goes looking for laughs. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.co...
How to Keep Love Alive
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
After more than a decade together, our Happiness Guinea Pig tries to bring the spark back into her marriage. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tiny...
Who Makes You Feel Connected?
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our Happiness Guinea Pig, the creator of Cartoon Network's We Bare Bears, finds a way to feel close to a loved one he recently lost. Try this week’...
A Better Way to Talk to Yourself
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Her husband has been in prison for 23 years. Our Happiness Guinea Pig tries a new approach to stay strong while working to get him released. Link to ...
What to Do When You Feel Like a Failure
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The loss of a job, the pain of a breakup -- it's easy to get down on ourselves when things aren't going well. Find out how our Happiness Guinea Pig tu...
Delight in the Unexpected
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A high-five from a stranger, a hummingbird on a busy city street. Poet Ross Gay shares his own happiness practice: savoring the everyday delights in l...
How To Let Go of Anger
28 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you still mad at someone who hurt you in the past? That can eat away at your health and well-being. Our Happiness Guinea Pig tries a new approach ...
What Are Your Strongest Reminders of Connection?
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What kinds of objects, images, and words surround your home or office? Our Happiness Guinea Pig surveys her apartment for items that spark connection ...
Do You Know How to Eat a Raisin?
14 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have trouble slowing down enough to actually enjoy your life? Our Happiness Guinea Pig, comedian and radio host Luke Burbank, finds a way to br...
Finding Awe in Every Step
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How can we feel connected to the world around us? Singer Diana Gameros tries to cultivate a sense of awe in the most unlikely of places. Try this epi...
Finding Your Strengths
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you fixate on your flaws and shortcomings? Our happiness guinea pig tries the opposite: focusing on her personal strengths. ~ Try this episode’s...
Trying Compassion on Capitol Hill
21 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Can you extend compassion toward a difficult person in your life? Congressman Tim Ryan tries a practice to help him reach across the aisle. Link to E...
A Lesson in Thanks and Vulnerability
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A junior high school teacher spent his life defying stereotypes about how men should express their emotions. Here he takes on a new challenge: getting...
Notice the Good in Your Life
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Maz Jobrani tries to pay more attention to the good things in his life by writing them down -- and encourages his kids to do the same. Try...
The Power of Expressing Your Deepest Emotions
20 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
He started Afghanistan's first post-Taliban rock band when he was 18 years old. A decade later, our Happiness Guinea Pig takes on another challenge: w...
Who's Got Your Back?
13 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How do you build feelings of trust and security? Our Happiness Guinea Pig learns some truths about what it takes to feel supported. Link to Episode T...
Being Kinder to Yourself
06 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When you’re helping others cope with stress and anxiety, how do you deal with your own? Psychiatrist Elizabeth Guinto tries a practice to be kinder ...
W. Kamau Bell’s Thoughts on Awkward Relationships and Bridging Divides
29 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian W. Kamau Bell discusses the challenges of finding common ground, even with people in your own family. Link to Episode Transcript: https://ti...
Find That Inner Calm
22 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
International megastar Daniel Wu tries a practice that brings him calm amidst the chaos. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/bdfcws4a
These Words Cause Happiness
15 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that you have the power to spark happiness in someone else's brain with just a few simple words? College student Eva Dickerson shares how...