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
How to Feel Happier in Your Body with Jessamyn Stanley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
As summer begins, many of us are bombarded with messages about how our bodies aren't good enough. But what if we embraced movement not out of self-criticism or shame, but self-compassion? To close out our series on how t…
What Your Negative Emotions Are Trying to Tell You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:43
Negative emotions like sadness, anger, guilt, and anxiety can feel overwhelming. But what if those uncomfortable feelings aren’t problems to fix, but signals worth listening to? As part of our series on how to spring cle…
The Hidden Beliefs That Shape Your Happiness with Shawn Achor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:05
Our beliefs shape more than we realize. They influence what we notice, how we respond to setbacks, how connected we feel to others, and whether we take action to improve our lives. As part of our series on how to spring…
The Art of Doing Nothing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:17
Struggling to find free time? Feeling constantly busy or burned out? This episode is for you. Dr. Laurie explores the science behind “time famine,” the nagging sense that there’s never enough time in the day. Writer Tom…
What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:34
We hear a lot about how screens affect our mental health, but time spent on computers and smartphones is having just as much of an impact on our physical health — from brain fog and weakened core muscles to changes in ou…
Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:16
Buying something new can trigger a rush of dopamine, leading to a momentary boost in happiness. But the rush is fleeting, and over time, our possessions can end up weighing us down more than they lift us up. As part of o…
How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:22
Breaking bad habits often feels like a test of willpower. We tell ourselves we’ll stop scrolling, eat better, or exercise more — and then fall right back into the same routines. So why is lasting change so hard? As part…