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.
This podcast interviews Dan Gilbert, a psychologist specializing in happiness science, about why humans struggle to address the long-term threat of climate change despite readily reacting to immediate dangers. The discussion explores four key reasons: climate change lacks an agentive, intentional, or moral component; ...
This podcast episode features a conversation between Laurie and psychologist Ethan Kross about how other people influence our emotions and behaviors. They discuss emotional contagion, social comparison, and the chameleon effect, illustrating how these phenomena can both negatively and positively impact our feelings an...
This podcast episode explores how to find life purpose, challenging the notion of a singular, grand life purpose. The interview with Jordan Grumet, a hospice physician and author, details his journey from burnout in a career initially chosen to cope with grief to finding fulfillment in smaller, process-oriented pursui...
This podcast interviews Adam Galinsky, author of "Inspire," about his research on leadership and inspiration. The interview explores three universal factors of inspiring leadership: visionary (meaning & understanding), exemplar (protection & passion), and mentorship (belonging & respect), emphasizing that these qualit...
This podcast episode interviews Shige Oishi, a psychology professor, about his concept of a "psychologically rich life," which he argues is a crucial element missing from traditional happiness research. The interview explores the limitations of solely pursuing happiness and meaning, highlighting the "happiness trap" a...
This podcast episode reviews the 1989 rom-com "Say Anything," analyzing its portrayal of relationships and happiness through the lens of relationship science. The hosts and guest, Dr. Laurie Santos, discuss the film's plot, focusing on the main characters' dynamics and the development of their relationship. They high...
This podcast episode explores how romantic comedies (rom-coms) reflect and misrepresent relationship science. The hosts, relationship experts Eli Finkel and Paul Eastwick, along with Dr. Laurie Santos, discuss rom-com tropes, playing a rom-com trivia game and analyzing several films (e.g., Notting Hill, Clueless, When...
This interview podcast episode of "The Happiness Lab" features Logan Ury, a dating expert, discussing how behavioral science can improve dating success. The episode begins with introductions and a brief overview of the topic, then delves into Ury's three dating tendencies: romanticizers, maximizers, and hesitators, ex...
This interview podcast features Laurie Santos interviewing clinical psychologist Dr. Jenny Taitz about managing stress. The interview begins with a discussion of stress definitions and prevalence, then moves into practical strategies for stress management. Dr. Taitz introduces several key techniques, including reappr...
This interview podcast episode of "The Happiness Lab" features psychologist Ethan Kross, author of "SHIFT," discussing emotion regulation. The episode begins with Kross's personal story, inspired by his grandmother's resilience after World War II, leading into a historical overview of emotion regulation techniques. K...
This interview podcast on The Happiness Lab features Dr. Laurie Santos interviewing Bruce Hood, a professor at the University of Bristol, about his work on happiness and the self. The conversation explores how self-centeredness hinders happiness and contrasts this with an "allocentric" approach, focusing on others' pe...
In this episode of "The Happiness Lab," Dr. Ellen Hendrickson, a clinical psychologist, explores the journey of overcoming perfectionism. She shares valuable insights on how to identify and tackle unhealthy perfectionism, contrasting it with productive conscientiousness. Listeners can look forward to practical strategi...
In this episode of the Happiness Lab podcast, host Laurie Santos interviews Oliver Burkeman, author of "Meditations for Mortals," who introduces his idea of "imperfectionism." Burkeman shares seven insightful lessons on how to embrace our imperfections, drawing on personal stories to illustrate each point. One standout...
In this engaging podcast episode, the hosts delve into ways to nurture happiness during the holiday season, drawing from both scientific research and timeless traditions. They challenge the notion that the holidays are the "most wonderful time of the year," recognizing that many people face stress, loneliness, and feel...
In this Giving Tuesday episode of The Happiness Lab, the podcast explores the powerful effects of giving and how we often underestimate its benefits. It highlights a case study from Kibobo, a village in Rwanda, where donations through GiveDirectly have significantly transformed the lives of its residents. Experts delve...
In this podcast episode, we dive into the psychology behind charitable giving, examining why we often hesitate to donate despite the happiness it brings us. Through insightful interviews with experts, we uncover research that reveals the overlooked benefits of giving, the difficulties in selecting effective charities, ...
In this podcast episode, we dive into the advantages of social connections, especially for introverts. The highlight is an interview with Jessica Pan, who embarked on a year-long journey to embrace a more extroverted lifestyle. Research by Sonia Lubomirsky reveals that even introverts can boost their happiness by actin...
In this episode of The Happiness Lab, the podcast delves into the surprising psychological perks of being a fan. Through conversations with author Tabitha Carvan, actor Wil Wheaton, and psychologist Jennifer Lynn Barnes, it uncovers how deeply connecting with a favorite celebrity, fictional character, or hobby can help...
In this episode of The Happiness Lab, the focus is on the intriguing psychology of nostalgia. Host Rob Lowe, a self-proclaimed nostalgia lover, joins experts in memory to delve into this complex emotion. While nostalgia can evoke feelings of joy and connection, it often skews our memories, leading to a phenomenon known...
In this episode of The Happiness Lab, the focus is on the surprising factors that contribute to job satisfaction, challenging the idea that a high salary guarantees happiness. The episode features an interview with Marty, a pest control operator from Yale, who finds deep fulfillment in his job, despite its unglamorous ...
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