The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Author: Pushkin Industries Language: English Episodes: 261
We often chase after things we believe will bring us joy-the next promotion, a perfect vacation photo, a bigger house-only to find the feeling is fleeting. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos digs into the surprising psychology behind why our instincts about happiness are so frequently wrong. Dr. Santos, a Yale professor, doesn't just offer vague self-help advice; she translates the rigorous research from her record-breaking university course into practical, actionable science. Each episode feels like a personal conversation, where she breaks down complex studies and shares stories from people who've applied these lessons, revealing how counterintuitive changes in our daily routines and mindset can have a profound impact. This Pushkin Industries podcast moves beyond the surface of wellness trends, offering a grounded look at what genuinely improves our well-being across our social lives, personal health, and cultural expectations. Tuning in, you'll hear not just theory, but the tangible steps you can take to rewire your habits, backed by evidence that often contradicts our modern chase for more. It’s a refreshing take that makes the science of a better life accessible and genuinely useful, episode by episode.
Episodes
Happier Holidays: How to Give and Receive the Perfect Gift [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:07
Exchanging holiday gifts is supposed to be joyful... but for many of us it is a source of stress, anxiety and hurt feelings. To transform the way you think about the act of giving and receiving presents, Dr Laurie Santos…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Buddha [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:56
The Buddha was born to a royal family... and it shocked him when he found out that no amount of money or power could keep suffering and loss at bay forever. The quest to accept that life brings us pain was key to the dev…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Epictetus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:02
Epictetus was born into slavery and beaten until he was lame... but he became one of Ancient Rome's greatest thinkers by accepting every setback as an opportunity to learn and grow.Philosophy professor Bill Irvine joins…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Plato [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:22
Plato likened us all to charioteers trying to control two wayward horses. The steeds represent the competing wants and desires that constantly pull us off course and away from a happier life.Yale professor Tamar Gendler…
Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Aristotle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:25
He gave us biology, physics and drama... but Greek philosopher Aristotle also thought deeply about how humans can flourish and live happy lives of virtue.Yale professor Tamar Gendler tells Dr Laurie Santos about Aristotl…
How to Be a Better Ally [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
You might detest bigotry and injustice, but have you done anything to address these problems? There are many reasons we stay silent and inactive when we know we should intervene to defend the rights of others. We look at…
The War For Kindness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:01
Feeling you belong to a group can be great - but it also has a darker side, leading us down an unhappy path of hatred and violence towards people with different identities and backgrounds.Dr Laurie Santos talks to Mina C…
Why Experiences Make You Happier Than Things [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:17
Cait Flanders went deep into debt to buy all the clothes, books and gadgets she was convinced would make her happier. But she soon realized that doing things—rather than having things — was a much more fulfilling way to…
How to Kick Bad Habits (and Start Good Ones) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:14
We all have bad habits - things we eat, drink, do or say that cause us unhappiness. We repeat these behaviours over and over again - almost as if we are on autopilot. But we can break free from them, and use the mechanic…
The Science of Attention and Distraction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:13
Your smartphone might be making you miserable and you might not even realize it. These machines are technological marvels, but our addiction to them is causing us to miss out on the things happening all around us. Dr. La…