You 2.0: The Path to Contentment + Your Questions Answered on Conversations

In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews Iris Mauss, a psychologist at UC Berkeley, about the paradox of pursuing happiness. Mauss shares personal anecdotes and research findings that reveal how the intense pursuit of happiness can ironically lead to lower levels of well-being, increased depressive symptoms, and diminished overall happiness. The conversation explores how high expectations, constant self-checking, and individualistic approaches to happiness can backfire, while also discussing the importance of emotional acceptance and connecting with others as more effective paths to a fulfilling life. Later in the episode, Alison Wood Brooks answers listener questions about improving conversations, addressing topics such as imbalanced conversations, interruptions, and navigating different conversational styles within families and friendships.