The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos podcast

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 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.

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.

 

#227

Stop Caring What Other People Think of You (Bruce Hood on 10% Happier with Dan Harris)

Bruce Hood was a mentor of Dr Laurie early in her academic career and now teaches a course... more

25 Aug 2025

1 HR 08 MINS

1:08:23

25 Aug 2025


#226

“Can You Train Your Mind to Be Happier?” (with Dr Tal Ben-Shahar)

How do you train your mind to be happier? That was the question posed to Dr Laurie by Dr T... more

18 Aug 2025

1 HR 27 MINS

1:27:14

18 Aug 2025


#225

"Human Minds Are Stupid!" (with Rich Roll)

On his podcast, [Rich Roll] (https://www.richroll.com/) seeks to give his listeners the kn... more

11 Aug 2025

2 HR 22 MINS

2:22:45

11 Aug 2025


#224

The Joy of Not Being Dead (with Ryan Holiday on The Daily Stoic)

Dr Laurie often uses the teachings of the ancient Stoic philosophers to help her through d... more

04 Aug 2025

1 HR 07 MINS

1:07:35

04 Aug 2025


#223

Anyone Can Play, Anyone Can Win (Cornholing with Michelle Hastie Thompson)

How do you put your life back together after your home and your neighborhood's been destro... more

14 Jul 2025

32 MINS

32:59

14 Jul 2025


#222

The Jimi Hendrix of the Cello (with Joshua Roman)

Joshua Roman has been playing the cello everyday since he was three - but then on a concer... more

07 Jul 2025

39 MINS

39:07

07 Jul 2025


#221

"Birds Are Like My Afternoon Martini" (Birding with Lili Taylor)

Lili Taylor loves her acting career - but the emotional intensity of her work and the cons... more

30 Jun 2025

32 MINS

32:15

30 Jun 2025


#220

How Good Manners Made Me Happier (with Etiquette Expert William Hanson)

You might think etiquette is outdated. Who really needs a dinner with nice napkins and fou... more

23 Jun 2025

41 MINS

41:38

23 Jun 2025


#219

How Dogs Changed my Life (with The Dogist)

We all have our own ways of coping - especially when things get tough. So for the next few... more

16 Jun 2025

35 MINS

35:29

16 Jun 2025


#218

The Two Words That Saved Mel Robbins (From A Slight Change of Plans)

We’re bringing you an episode of A Slight Change of Plans hosted by Dr. Maya Shankar... more

06 Jun 2025

37 MINS

37:30

06 Jun 2025


#217

How Smartphones Changed Childhood (And What to do About it)

The happiness of young people has taken a big hit since the advent of the smartphone - and... more

02 Jun 2025

39 MINS

39:52

02 Jun 2025


#216

How to Think Like a Child (with David Yeager)

Why do kids do disruptive, annoying or maddening things? Usually when children behave badl... more

26 May 2025

35 MINS

35:06

26 May 2025


#215

How to Tackle Bad Behaviour (with Dr Becky Kennedy)

Clinical psychologist [Dr Becky Kennedy] (https://www.goodinside.com/) thinks every child ... more

19 May 2025

45 MINS

45:35

19 May 2025


#214

Is a "Viking" Childhood a Happier Childhood (with Helen Russell)?

Nordic countries are known to be happy - so should we all raise our children like the Scan... more

12 May 2025

38 MINS

38:56

12 May 2025


#213

How Not to Repeat Your Parents' Mistakes (with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach)

Parents are never perfect - but their mistakes can have a lasting impact on their children... more

05 May 2025

37 MINS

37:53

05 May 2025


#212

Reducing the Stress of Parenting with Dr Vivek Murthy

Too many parents feel “exhausted, burned out, and perpetually behind” accordin... more

01 May 2025

34 MINS

34:38

01 May 2025


#211

How to Build Resilience (with Ben Walter from The Unshakeables)

In a special episode brought to you by Chase for Business, Dr. Laurie joins Ben Walter&mda... more

29 Apr 2025

35 MINS

35:23

29 Apr 2025


#210

Can You Become a "Practical" Optimist?

There are many benefits to being an optimist - particularly when things go wrong in our li... more

21 Apr 2025

45 MINS

45:04

21 Apr 2025


#209

How to Confront the Things that Suck (Live with John Green)

Author and vlogger John Green looks around the world and sees a lot of things that suck. B... more

18 Apr 2025

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:42

18 Apr 2025


#208

How to be Awesome - With Almost no Effort (with John Green)

Best-selling author John Green wants to see less suck in the world and more awesome - and ... more

14 Apr 2025

31 MINS

31:02

14 Apr 2025


#207

How to Stay Hopeful (Live from SXSW with Michelle Obama)

"What can we do to find hope when times are tough?" That was the question posed to Dr Laur... more

11 Apr 2025

58 MINS

58:25

11 Apr 2025


#206

Why You Should Take a Few Months Off Work (Live from SXSW)

Sometimes a two-week vacation just isn't enough - we all might need to leave our jobs for ... more

07 Apr 2025

47 MINS

47:39

07 Apr 2025


#205

Friendships: Handling Change, Conflict and Finding New Friends

Dr Laurie was invited by her pal Gretchen Rubin to appear on a special edition of the [Mor... more

04 Apr 2025

37 MINS

37:00

04 Apr 2025


#204

Twelve Sayings That Could Change Your Life

There are so many happiness lessons to remember - but it helps if we can boil them down in... more

31 Mar 2025

31 MINS

31:47

31 Mar 2025


#203

Have You Got Trust Issues?

Do you trust your government? Do you trust your neighbors or the strangers you meet on the... more

24 Mar 2025

42 MINS

42:02

24 Mar 2025


#202

Why Eating Alone is so Bad for You (An International Day of Happiness Special).

It's the [International Day of Happiness] (https://www.un.org/en/observances/happiness-day... more

20 Mar 2025

36 MINS

36:41

20 Mar 2025


#201

Why We're Better With Some Threats Than Others (An Earth Month Re-Run)

[Earth Day] (https://www.earthday.org/) is coming on April 22, but the whole month is seen... more

17 Mar 2025

34 MINS

34:40

17 Mar 2025