How Cities Can Make Space for Awe

How Cities Can Make Space for Awe

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center April 9, 2026 Duration: 24:22
A simple experiment turning a parking space into a parklet reveals how small changes to public spaces can spark connection, belonging, and awe.  Summary: What if even the smallest changes to our cities could transform how we feel and connect? In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we visit the site of San Francisco’s first parklet, and explore how reclaiming everyday spaces can invite people to pause, gather, and experience a sense of belonging. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Guests: BLAINE MERKER is an urban designer and public space advocate. He leads Gehl’s Enterprise & Corporations team. Learn more about Blaine here: https://www.gehlpeople.com/people/blaine-merker/ SETHA LOW is an anthropologist and Professor at City University of New York. She’s also the author of the book Why Public Space Matters, as well as many other books examining the social life of cities. Learn more about Setha here: https://www.gc.cuny.edu/people/setha-low This episode is supported by The Gambrell Foundation, who believe a great life grows from strong relationships, a sense of belonging, and moments of awe and wonder. Learn more about their work at gambrellfoundation.org Related Science of Happiness episodes: What Humans Can Learn From Trees: https://tinyurl.com/48te84ps How to Do Good for the Environment (And Yourself): https://tinyurl.com/5b26zwkx Are You Remembering the Good Times: https://tinyurl.com/483bkk2h Related Happiness Break episodes: How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm Pause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3 Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/mrutudeh Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/yr7m2zb5

What if the things that make life feel worthwhile aren't just abstract ideas, but observable, measurable phenomena? That's the territory explored in The Science of Happiness. Each episode moves beyond simple self-help platitudes, grounding itself in the concrete research from psychology and neuroscience. Hosted by the insightful Dacher Keltner, a psychologist whose work often centers on these very emotions, the conversations feel both authoritative and deeply human. You'll hear from people who are actively testing out specific, research-backed practices-from cultivating compassion to finding moments of genuine awe-and then discussing the real, sometimes messy results. This isn't about a constant state of cheer; it's about understanding the building blocks of a resilient and meaningful existence. The podcast, a co-production of PRX and the Greater Good Science Center, translates academic findings into accessible stories and actionable insights. Tuning in feels less like receiving a lecture and more like sitting in on a fascinating experiment about our shared human condition, one where the data points are moments of connection, gratitude, and personal discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Science of Happiness
Podcast Episodes
The Science of Letting Go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:05
Discover how forgiveness reshapes the brain, eases the body, and helps us move forward with greater compassion and freedom. Summary: Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting or excusing—it’s about releasing the grip of resentm…
How Rituals Keep Us Connected [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
We explore Día de los Muertos as a ritual that nurtures community, imbues loss with meaning, and helps us process grief while also connecting through shared joy. Summary: We investigate how Día de los Muertos, or Day of…
Happiness Break: How to Be Your Own Best Friend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:17
Show yourself real self-kindness in less than 10 minutes with this self-compassion break guided by psychologist Kristin Neff. How To Do This Practice: Identify what’s hard right now: Bring to mind a real situation that’s…
Why Our Brains Find Meaning in Random Patterns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:57
What happens when imagination meets perception, and ordinary objects come alive? We explore the science of pareidolia. Summary: Our minds are wired to find meaning, even in randomness— which is why sometimes we can see f…
Happiness Break: Six Minutes to Connect with Your Body, with Dacher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:50
Dedicating a little time to tune into your body fortifies you to better handle the stresses of daily life. How To Do This Practice: Find your space: Choose a quiet place where you feel safe and comfortable. You can sit,…
The Case for Hope, With Rebecca Solnit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:45
We explore how embracing uncertainty enables us to move beyond climate anxiety and despair to hope and action, with author and activist Rebecca Solnit. Summary: When you think about climate change, do you feel hope? In t…
Happiness Break: Finding Yourself in Silence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:26
Zen and mindfulness teacher Henry Shukman guides us in a meditation that invites us to listen deeply and find clarity in quiet. How To Do This Practice: Find Stillness: Sit comfortably in a quiet space. Close your eyes i…
What to Do When Stress Takes Over [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:07
Learn why uncertainty fuels anxiety and how noticing our body’s stress signals can help us find calm. Summary: One in five adults in the U.S. report living with anxiety, and many of us struggle to control or avoid the fe…
What Happens When Caregivers Dance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:05
Even just a few minutes of dancing can shift energy, release emotions, and remind us to care for ourselves while we care for others. Summary: Dance isn’t just fun—it’s scientifically shown to make us happier, ease stress…