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The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

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Pushkin Industries

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 -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness. iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

#112

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, Patanjali, makes clear that the poses and stretches are only part of picture - we also need to be kind, contemplative and grounded. Jessamyn Stanley (yoga teacher and author of Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance) takes Dr Laurie Santos through Patanjali's text - saying its lessons "can be applied in every circumstance, no matter who you are or where you are". See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

20 Mar 2023

34 MINS

34:41

20 Mar 2023

#111

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 Troy - but the journey is fraught with deadly storms and hungry monsters. But Aeneas takes a positive view of the struggles he and the other Trojans face, telling them to be proud of their resilience and courage. With the help of MIT classics professor Stephanie Frampton, Dr Laurie Santos explores how The Aeneid can be read as a tale of post-traumatic growth and how we can sometimes emerge happier and stronger from tragic events. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

13 Mar 2023

37 MINS

37:21

13 Mar 2023

#110

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 of rage that causes him to commit atrocities and bring dishonor on himself. So what can we learn from this angry character in Homer's epic poem, The Iliad? With the help of Harvard classics expert Greg Nagy and anger counsellor Dr Faith Harper, we look at how anger can creep up on us and what we can do to defuse this sometimes explosive emotion. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

06 Mar 2023

32 MINS

32:12

06 Mar 2023

#109

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 ideas didn't die with him. Here's a chance to hear two episodes from our archive examining the legacy of Socrates, and how he influenced the thinking of Plato and Aristotle. Turns out the Ancient Greeks had a lot to say about how to live a happier life. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

27 Feb 2023

56 MINS

56:02

27 Feb 2023

#108

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 Tamar Gendler says that by harnessing our "inner Socrates" we can ask ourselves why we think or feel certain things. We might then find that deeply-held convictions that money or status or accolades are a reliable route to happiness aren't correct, and can then start to pursue the things that might really make us happier. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

20 Feb 2023

44 MINS

44:41

20 Feb 2023

#107

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 only getting worse - we're all being bombarded with more sirens, more pings, more chatter, more information. And then there are our internal monologues. Silence is just harder to come by. Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn (co-authors of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise) join Dr Laurie Santos to discuss the benefits of silence and how we can all seek out more moments of quiet and recognise their value. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

30 Jan 2023

32 MINS

32:20

30 Jan 2023

#106

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 we do. So have our careers taken over too much of our lives? Simone Stolzoff (author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work) argues that we should stop hunting for the "perfect" job - that idealized career that will prove to others how smart, industrious or virtuous we are - and instead find an occupation that allows to us live happier and more rounded lives that don't revolve only around work. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

23 Jan 2023

31 MINS

31:34

23 Jan 2023

#105

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 be just as beneficial as squats and push-ups, says Seattle University psychology professor Rachel Turow. By practicing simple self-compassion exercises each day - such as breathing techniques - we can prepare for future challenges when we'll need those tools to help us tackle crippling self-criticism or paralyzing sorrow. Further reading: [The Self Talk Workout] (https://www.rachelturow.com/home/self-talk-workout) by Rachel Turow See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

16 Jan 2023

24 MINS

24:44

16 Jan 2023

#104

How to Eat Intuitively

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 of eating to another without stopping to think: "What do I want to eat?" Psychotherapist Andrea Wachter endured years of disordered eating and obsessing about her weight, until she decided to heed her inner voice and what her body wanted to consume. She explains to Dr Laurie Santos how so-called intuitive eating can free us from both diets and overeating. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

09 Jan 2023

33 MINS

33:52

09 Jan 2023

#103

From Ten Percent Happier: The Dalai Lama’s Guide to Happiness | Part 1

Here's a preview of another podcast we love, [Ten Percent Happier] (https://link.chtbl.com/Ff-dxSLI) . Host Dan Harris flies to Dharamsala, India to spend two weeks in the orbit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This is the first installment of a five-part audio documentary series. Over the course of the episodes, Dan talks to His Holiness about practical strategies for thorny dilemmas, including: how to get along with difficult people; whether compassion can cut it in an often brutal world; why there is a self-interested case for not being a jerk; and how to create social connection in an era of disconnection. He also gets rare insights from the Dalai Lama into everything from the mechanics of reincarnation to His Holiness’s own personal meditation practice. In this first installment, Dan watches as a young activist directly challenges His Holiness: In a world plagued by climate change, terrorism, and other existential threats, is the Dalai Lama’s message of compassion practical — or even relevant? Want more of The Dalai Lama’s Guide to Happiness? Listen to the Ten Percent Happier podcast [here] (https://link.chtbl.com/Ff-dxSLI) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

07 Jan 2023

05 MINS

05:27

07 Jan 2023

#102

Stop Endlessly Chasing the "Next Big Thing"

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 events and the happiness we hope they'll deliver, that we forget to look for joy right now. Actor and author Tony Hale (Veep, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Arrested Development) was always chasing new accomplishments, until he realised he was missing the chance to be happy living in the moment. He used his experience to write one of Dr Laurie Santos's favourite children's books Archibald's Next Big Thing. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

02 Jan 2023

34 MINS

34:41

02 Jan 2023

#101

Coming Jan 2: Let Your Inner Voice be Heard in 2023

At the start of a new year there are plenty of voices telling us to get fit; go on a diet; or supercharge our careers. This advice might be well-intentioned, but it can also be DEAFENING!!! In 2023, try listening to a voice that's often drowned out by all the noise... the voice inside you. From Jan 2, Dr Laurie Santos presents a series of interviews with experts to help you tune in to your inner compass - your intuition. Let it guide your approach to things like work, nutrition and happiness over the coming year. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

19 Dec 2022

02 MINS

02:37