The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won’t protect you. With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into oversharing, how dumping small talk makes for better conversations, why the kids these days are actually doing just fine, and how men can establish strong bromances. Each episode unpacks a bold, counterintuitive claim — using research, data, and expert insight to question the conventional wisdom around happiness and wellbeing.
In this episode of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos interviews actress Lili Taylor about how birdwatching has become a creative and effective coping mechanism for stress in her life. Lili discusses the challenges of her acting career, such as constant travel and emotionally draining roles, and how she discovered th...
In this episode of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos interviews etiquette expert William Hanson about how etiquette can be a creative coping strategy for navigating life's uncertainties and enhancing happiness. Hanson shares his early interest in etiquette, viewing it as a framework for social interactions and a shi...
In this episode of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos interviews Elias Weiss Friedman, also known as The Dogist, about how dogs can improve our lives and help us cope with difficult times. Elias shares personal stories about how dogs have saved him both literally and metaphorically, from childhood incidents to career...
In this episode of "A Slight Change of Plans," Dr. Maya Shankar interviews Mel Robbins, author of "The Let Them Theory," about overcoming perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the need to control external factors. Mel shares personal experiences, including childhood trauma and financial struggles, that fueled her desire ...
In this episode of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos interviews social psychologist Jonathan Haidt about the impact of technology, particularly smartphones and social media, on children's mental health. Haidt argues that the shift from play-based childhoods to phone-based childhoods has led to increased anxiety, dep...
In this episode of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos interviews developmental psychologist David Yeager about his book "10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People," focusing on effective communication and motivation strategies for parents. Yeager introduces the "neurobiological incompetence model," which sugge...
This episode explores alternative parenting strategies, moving away from traditional reward and punishment models to foster happier, healthier adults. Dr. Becky Kennedy introduces the "Good Inside" approach, emphasizing that challenging behaviors are signals of unmet needs rather than inherent flaws. She advocates for ...
This episode explores Nordic parenting techniques and their impact on raising happier, healthier, and more independent children. It begins by highlighting the consistent high rankings of Scandinavian countries in the World Happiness Report, contrasting them with the US and UK. Helen Russell, author of "The Danish Secre...
This episode explores the challenges of modern parenting and the process of self-reparenting, featuring Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach, authors of "We Can Do Hard Things." Against the backdrop of recent family hardships, including a death and a cancer diagnosis, Doyle and Wambach discuss how they used their podcast to ...
This episode explores the mental health crisis among parents in the United States, focusing on the significant stress and burnout experienced by caregivers. Against the backdrop of a rising youth mental health crisis, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy discusses his advisory, "Parents Under Pressure," highlighting th...
This episode explores the theme of resilience in business and life, using the remarkable story of Benjamin Haugh, owner of All Nation Restoration, as a case study. Against the backdrop of a challenging childhood marked by a repressive upbringing and legal troubles, Benjamin's life took a turn when a juvenile court jud...
This episode explores the concept of practical optimism and its impact on well-being, particularly in the face of adversity. Against the backdrop of Dr. Sue Varma's experience treating 9/11 survivors, the discussion highlights the distinction between toxic positivity and genuine optimism. More significantly, Dr. Varma...
This episode explores the ongoing global tuberculosis (TB) crisis and its intersection with social injustice and human connection, featuring an interview with author John Green. Against the backdrop of Green's new book, Everything is Tuberculosis, the discussion details the staggering number of annual TB deaths—a prev...
This episode explores the global tuberculosis (TB) crisis and potential solutions, featuring an interview with author John Green. Against the backdrop of TB remaining the world's deadliest infectious disease despite a readily available cure, the conversation highlights the social and economic factors contributing to i...
This episode explores the challenges of maintaining hope and happiness in increasingly uncertain times. Against the backdrop of personal loss and global anxieties, Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, launching their new podcast "IMO," discuss their family's experiences with adversity and resilience. More significantly,...
This episode explores the rising trend of sabbaticals and their transformative effects on both individuals and organizations. Against the backdrop of increasing workplace burnout, the interview delves into the definition and history of sabbaticals, tracing their origins from ancient Hebrew traditions to modern-day app...
This episode explores the complexities and evolving nature of friendships across different life stages. Against the backdrop of Gretchen Rubin's "Four Tendencies" personality framework, the discussion delves into various friendship types—intimate, relational, and communal—highlighting how these categories can shift ov...
This episode explores the practical application of aphorisms—short, insightful sayings—in navigating the challenges of adulthood. Host Laurie Santos interviews Gretchen Rubin, author of "Secrets of Adulthood," which distills over 200 life lessons into memorable aphorisms. Against this backdrop, the discussion delves ...
This podcast episode discusses the decline in social trust, particularly post-pandemic, as highlighted in the 2025 World Happiness Report. Host Dr. Laurie Santos interviews trust expert Rachel Botsman, exploring different types of trust (institutional, interpersonal, social), defining trust as a "confident relationshi...
This podcast episode of The Happiness Lab discusses the correlation between shared meals and well-being, based on findings from the World Happiness Report. The interview with Dr. Anne Fishel, a clinical psychologist, explores the numerous benefits of shared meals—including improved physical and mental health, enhanced...
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