Small Steps to Happiness: The Science of Mindful Living with Laurie Santos | From The One You Feed

Small Steps to Happiness: The Science of Mindful Living with Laurie Santos | From The One You Feed

Author: Pushkin Industries September 25, 2026 Duration: 1:06:58

Today we're sharing author Eric Zimmer’s interview with Dr. Laurie on The One You Feed podcast. 

In this episode, Dr. Laurie Santos discusses the importance of taking small steps to happiness and the science of mindful living. She reminds us that happiness is not a destination, but a practice. By understanding the science behind well-being and implementing small, consistent changes, we can learn how to apply these insights to our own lives to find greater joy and fulfillment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Embrace the power of small, consistent actions in shaping our happiness
  • Understand how our environment and social connections influence our behavior
  • Learn the common misconceptions about what truly makes us happy
  • Discover strategies for overcoming loneliness and building meaningful connections

If you like what you hear, find The One You Feed wherever you get podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


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.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
Podcast Episodes
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…
What is Social Media Doing to Kids? with Dr. Jean Twenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
Over the past decade, rates of depression and loneliness have surged among young people. Many researchers point to one major change: the rise of smartphones and social media. But what does the data actually show? Psychol…
How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
Work doesn’t end when the workday does. Even after we close our laptops, our minds keep replaying awkward meetings, looming deadlines, and unfinished to-do lists. Over time, that “always on” mentality can quietly hijack…
Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:43
In Part 2 of Dr. Laurie’s conversation with researchers Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, we learn how couples can raise complaints without damaging their relationship — and how to respond constructively w…
Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:04
In this classic episode, Dr. Laurie speaks with two of the world’s most influential relationship scientists, Drs. John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman. In their renowned “Love Lab,” the married researchers have studie…
Why Algorithms Can’t Predict Your Love Life with Dr. Paul Eastwick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:11
Modern dating can feel like a marketplace. We’re told we all have a “mate value,” that some people are 9s and 10s, and that the laws of evolution determine who gets chosen — and who gets rejected. But what if we’ve misun…