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
For Whom the Alarm Clock Tolls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:16
'Time famine' is when you just don't feel you have a spare moment... and it can make you miserable. It's a feeling Dr Laurie Santos knows only too well, so she seeks help from her time affluence hero, Idler author Tom Ho…
Working Your Way to Happiness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:53
Marty kills rats... but if you asked him what his job is he'd say it was "solving problems" and "helping people". How we view our work can contribute greatly to our daily levels of happiness - far more than money or stat…
PJ and Alex Love to Gripe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:39
Reply All hosts PJ and Alex love to trade gripes. Their complaints about the minor annoyances of modern life make for great audio, but are the podcasters making a classic mistake?We all like to complain - thinking that v…
Psychopaths and Superheroes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
We talk a lot about psychopaths - but rarely discuss their polar opposites, super altruists. These are people who go to extreme lengths to help others - even though their acts of kindness might cost them time, money or e…
New Season: The Happiness Lab Returns April 27 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16
Do you want to be happier? Complain less? Enjoy your work more? Find time for the things that matter to you?Yale's Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of…
How Our Screen Habits Impact Our Stress Levels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:18
The pandemic has us all glued to our screens. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and TVs provide vital information, social connection, and distractions—but excessive or unstructured screen use can increase anxiety, reduce fo…
Helping the Helpers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:55
The heaviest burden of Covid-19 has fallen on the shoulders of medical staff, first responders and others who care for the sick and vulnerable. These people are saving lives, while putting their own health and mental wel…
Laurie's Personal Tips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
Many people seek Laurie's advice on how to be happier despite this awful pandemic. Prof Katy Milkman invited Laurie to appear on the Choiceology podcast to talk about the things she is doing personally to optimise her ha…
Keep Your Relationship Healthy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:56
The health of our romantic relationships is in peril thanks to the many stresses and strains of the pandemic lockdown. Couples might be facing huge emotional and financial challenges at the same time as being tightly con…
Help Others to Help Yourself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:56
College student Liam Elkind studied happiness in the class taught by Dr Laurie Santos. When the Covid 19 crisis hit, he knew exactly what to do to fight the negative emotions this pandemic arouses in us all - he helped s…