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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.

#130

Big Bird Has Big Feelings

You don't need to be 8 feet tall like Big Bird to have big, big feelings. We all experience emotions of excitement, frustration and sadness that feel overwhelming. But when Big Bird's fun plans are ruined by rain clouds - Dr Laurie teaches him that there are ways to manage and be prepared for big disappointments and realise that the sun will return soon enough. (Sesame Workshop is a non-profit organization with a mission to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. The work they do is funded by donations big and small - so if you want to become a part of their important work to improve children’s emotional well-being, then visit: [sesameworkshop.org/support-us/] (https://sesameworkshop.org/support-us/) ) See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

Yesterday

29 MINS

29:14

Yesterday

#129

Dr Laurie and Sesame Street: Abby Cadabby and the Magic of Gratitude

It's never too early or too late to learn how to be happier. Whether you're aged 3, 23 or 103, we've teamed up with our furry friends from Sesame Street to bring you fun and fact-based tips to improve the wellbeing of you and the people around you. We begin with Abby Cadabby - a fairy who isn't having such a great day. Her usual spells can't rid her of her "grumpies", so Dr Laurie teaches her the magical effect that being grateful for who and what is around you can have on your mood. (Sesame Workshop is a non-profit organization with a mission to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. The work they do is funded by donations big and small - so if you want to become a part of their important work to improve children’s emotional well-being, then visit: [sesameworkshop.org/support-us/] (https://sesameworkshop.org/support-us/) ) See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

18 Sep 2023

32 MINS

32:15

18 Sep 2023

#128

Build the Life You Want... Advice from Arthur Brooks and Oprah

Oprah Winfrey and Arthur Brooks want you to be happier - so the TV megastar and the Harvard academic teamed up to write a book setting out the steps you can take to be a little happier each day. Over the summer, Dr Laurie Santos read Build the Life You Want, the Art and Science of Getting Happier and loved it. So she recorded a conversation with Arthur touching on how his son found meaning in the marine corps; why you should remove the all mirrors from your home; and whether happiness experts can ever be happy themselves. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

12 Sep 2023

53 MINS

53:12

12 Sep 2023

#127

Laurie Has Fun... Part 2 ICYMI

Am I a fun person? That was the question listener Natalie Robinson was asking herself. The answer was sobering. Natalie felt fun was being squeezed out of her busy life... but she found inspiration in the two episodes of The Happiness Lab dedicated to Dr Laurie Santos's own quest to regain the fun and playfulness of her youth. So here's another opportunity to listen to the concluding part of that story again. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

07 Aug 2023

31 MINS

31:33

07 Aug 2023

#126

Laurie Has Fun... Part 1 ICYMI

Listener Natalie Robinson was worried she and her fellow running club members weren't having enough fun - life was just getting in the way. But what could she and her friends do? They found inspiration in the two episodes of The Happiness Lab dedicated to Dr Laurie Santos's own quest to regain the fun and playfulness of her youth. So here's another opportunity to listen to part one of that story again. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

07 Aug 2023

37 MINS

37:19

07 Aug 2023

#125

'Do We Even Have Fun Anymore?' A Listener's Story of Funterventions

Natalie Robinson used to have fun - taking her kids to the zoo or the waterpark - but recently life started getting in the way of her being playful and goofy. Then she heard two episodes of The Happiness Lab in which Dr Laurie Santos wrestled with exactly the same dilemma. Inspired, Natalie got together with the friends in her running club to throw themselves into fun interventions - funterventions. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

31 Jul 2023

36 MINS

36:48

31 Jul 2023

#124

The Unhappy Millionaire ICYMI

Recovering from a car crash that smashed her face, listener Rebecca Kaduru stumbled across an episode of The Happiness Lab in which we interviewed wounded Iraq veteran JR Martinez. His story brought Rebecca great solace in her own painful journey to recovery. Following our recent show talking to Rebecca, we wanted to give you a chance to hear the episode which so touched her - The Unhappy Millionaire - in which we examine the "psychological immune system" that help humans overcome even the toughest experiences. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

24 Jul 2023

40 MINS

40:06

24 Jul 2023

#123

'I Woke up in an Ambulance Stuck in Traffic.' : A Listener's Story of Recovery

Rebecca Kaduru was driving home... then woke up in an ambulance. She'd been in involved in an accident and her face was smashed. Living in Uganda, she struggled to receive appropriate care for her injuries - making her healing process dishearteningly slow and painful. It was then that Rebecca stumbled across an episode of The Happiness Lab about JR Martinez - an army veteran badly burned in Iraq. His story brought her comfort and the confidence to keep on her path to recovery. We hear about Rebecca's ordeal and introduce her to JR. NEXT TIME: To give you a chance to hear the episode that inspired Rebecca, we'll republish it on The Happiness Lab feed. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

17 Jul 2023

48 MINS

48:01

17 Jul 2023

#122

Ask Us Anything! Laurie and Gretchen Take Your Questions (Live from Toronto)

What do you do when you enter "survival mode"? How can you become better at forging social connections? Can you be happy in a sad world? Happiness experts Dr Laurie Santos and Gretchen Rubin came together at Toronto's Hot Docs Festival to answer these and other questions from a live audience. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

29 May 2023

33 MINS

33:41

29 May 2023

#121

With Elmo's Help... It's Never Too Early to Learn About Happiness

Not matter if you're aged three or 103, you can learn to be happier using pretty much the same strategies. Sesame Workshop and its furry friends have been teaching "emotional ABCs" alongside literacy and numeracy for decades. So in collaboration with The Happiness Lab, Elmo and his friends will be helping us present fun and accessible happiness hacks for listeners of all ages. To kick things off, Dr Laurie Santos sat down to discuss why it's never too early to learn about wellbeing with Sesame Workshop's CEO, Steve Youngwood; the Chief Production and Creative Development Officer, Kay Wilson Stallings… and everyone’s favorite furry, red monster, Elmo. (Sesame Workshop is a non-profit organization with a mission to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. The work they do is funded by donations big and small - so if you want to become a part of their important mission to improve children’s emotional well-being, then visit: [sesameworkshop.org/support-us/] (https://sesameworkshop.org/support-us/) ) See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

22 May 2023

32 MINS

32:41

22 May 2023

#120

Can Spiritual Experiences and Psychedelics Make us Happy? (LIVE from DC)

More than a third of us admit to having had a spiritual experience. We might have been profoundly moved by a sunset or a painting; or felt that we've connected with our god or with the entire world around us. Such events can be transformative - bringing positive change to our lives and increasing our happiness - but some experiences aren't so great. In front of a live audience in Washington DC, David Yaden of Johns Hopkins University tells Dr Laurie Santos about his work examining what effect spiritual experiences have on us and how things like meditation and psychedelic drugs can bring about these powerful transformational episodes. David Yaden is the author of: The Varieties of Spiritual Experience: 21st Century Research and Perspectives. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

15 May 2023

41 MINS

41:44

15 May 2023

#119

Why We're Mean to Our Future Selves (LIVE from Boston)

Who do we volunteer to run a gruelling half-marathon? Who do we expect to give up sugar, or quit drinking? Who do we demand clears out the garage in the middle of summer? Ourselves. Mean, right? Turns out we make demands on our future selves that our present selves would think are unrealistic or unreasonable. And the reason we do it is because our minds are really bad at anticipating the wants and needs we'll have in a week, a month, or a year from now. And that harms our happiness. Talking before a live audience in Somerville, MA, Dr Laurie Santos and Harvard professor Jason Mitchell explore how we can be kinder to both our present and future selves. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

08 May 2023

40 MINS

40:38

08 May 2023

#118

The Man Who Invented Happiness Science: Marty Seligman

When Marty Seligman started his long scientific career, psychologists concentrated on studying "misery and suffering" and what made people sad. But Marty wanted to discover what made happy people, well, happy. His research laid the foundations of "positive psychology" and the happiness science you hear week after week in this podcast. Dr Laurie Santos talks to Professor Seligman about his decades of research; the power of optimism; and how he became less of a "grouch" to improve his own personal happiness. Marty's latest book, TOMORROWMIND: Thriving At Work – Now and in an Uncertain Future, is OUT NOW. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

01 May 2023

41 MINS

41:05

01 May 2023

#117

Smell, Taste and Touch: How to Joyfully Awaken Your Senses

Happiness expert Gretchen Rubin was warned that her eyesight was in peril. It shocked her into realising she'd taken all of her five senses for granted - and so she resolved to wring every ounce of joy from the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures around her. Concluding her conversation with Dr Laurie Santos, Gretchen explains how to be more alive to smell, taste and touch - building on the ideas in her new book Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

24 Apr 2023

32 MINS

32:04

24 Apr 2023

#116

Sight and Sound: How to Joyfully Awaken Your Senses

Are you seeing what you look at? Or tuning in to the noises all around you? We take our senses for granted - particularly when it comes to the sights and sounds of our everyday lives. Exploring your senses can be a great way to experience more fun and happiness right now. Happiness expert Gretchen Rubin was warned that her eyesight was in peril - which spurred her to rethink her relationship with her senses. In the first of two interviews, Gretchen joins Dr Laurie Santos to discuss her journey of discovery and her new book - Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

17 Apr 2023

34 MINS

34:19

17 Apr 2023

#115

Do We Need a New Word for 'Happiness'? Katie Couric talks to Dr Laurie Santos

Laurie swaps seats in the studio to be interviewed by none other than Katie Couric. In this episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, Laurie's asked to define happiness; outline the best steps to reach it; and give an honest appraisal of her own struggles to flourish each and every day. Listen to more episodes of Next Question with Katie Couric wherever you get your podcasts. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

10 Apr 2023

35 MINS

35:13

10 Apr 2023

#114

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Sikhism and Daily Habits

Following 9/11, Simran Jeet Singh's Sikh family in Texas was subjected to extreme racist abuse. And yet, Simran's father chose to look on the bright side and offer thanks instead for the acts of kindness friends and neighbors showed them. How was such optimism possible? Simran - author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life - explains how practicing positive habits and living by our values as often as we can will really help when a crisis arises. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

03 Apr 2023

31 MINS

31:02

03 Apr 2023

#113

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Sikhism and How We're All Connected

Educator and author Simran Jeet Singh is Sikh. Most of his fellow Americans have no idea what Sikhism is - causing some to treat Simran with suspicion and hostility. But one of the key teachings of his religion is that all things and all people are connected - something that offers Simran comfort and hope in even the darkest moments. In the first of a two-part show, Dr Laurie Santos talks to Simran about his book - The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life - and finds that the centuries-old traditions of Sikhism map surprisingly well over the latest happiness science. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

27 Mar 2023

26 MINS

26:35

27 Mar 2023

#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

19 Dec 2022

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#130

Big Bird Has Big Feelings

#129

Dr Laurie and Sesame Street: Abby Cadabby and the Magic of Gratitude

#128

Build the Life You Want... Advice from Arthur Brooks and Oprah

#127

Laurie Has Fun... Part 2 ICYMI

#126

Laurie Has Fun... Part 1 ICYMI

#125

'Do We Even Have Fun Anymore?' A Listener's Story of Funterventions

#124

The Unhappy Millionaire ICYMI

#123

'I Woke up in an Ambulance Stuck in Traffic.' : A Listener's Story of Recovery

#122

Ask Us Anything! Laurie and Gretchen Take Your Questions (Live from Toronto)

#121

With Elmo's Help... It's Never Too Early to Learn About Happiness

#120

Can Spiritual Experiences and Psychedelics Make us Happy? (LIVE from DC)

#119

Why We're Mean to Our Future Selves (LIVE from Boston)

#118

The Man Who Invented Happiness Science: Marty Seligman

#117

Smell, Taste and Touch: How to Joyfully Awaken Your Senses

#116

Sight and Sound: How to Joyfully Awaken Your Senses

#115

Do We Need a New Word for 'Happiness'? Katie Couric talks to Dr Laurie Santos

#114

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Sikhism and Daily Habits

#113

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Sikhism and How We're All Connected

#112

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Yoga of the Mind

#111

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Trauma of Troy

#110

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Anger of Achilles

#109

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Aristotle and Plato ICYMI

#108

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Socrates and Self-Knowledge

#107

The Happiness of Silence

#106

Stop Looking for the Perfect Job - a "Good Enough Job" is Just Fine

#105

A Daily Workout to Tackle Nagging Self-Criticism

#104

How to Eat Intuitively

#103

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

#102

Stop Endlessly Chasing the "Next Big Thing"

#101

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