The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
by Pushkin Industries
You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.
Episodes
How to Experience the Joy of Giving Right Now
<p>According to the science, it really is better to give than receive. Donating a dollar; sharing a kind word or lending someone a hand changes lives, but can also hugely boost your happiness. So we're teaming up with other podcasts from Hidden Brain to Revisionist History to ask you to give to a charity helping some of the poorest people around. We're calling it #PodsFightPoverty. </p> <p>Go to <a href="https://www.givedirectly.org/happinesslab2025/">givedirectly.org/happinesslab</a> right now and give whatever you can. And the first $500,000 we donate will be matched thanks to our friends at <a href="https://givingmultiplier.org/">Giving Multiplier</a>!</p> <p>Even a small donation will make you feel good and have a much larger impact on the world than you thought possible. To help inspire you, this special episode examines the science of giving and shares stories of heartwarming and impactful acts of kindness. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
Reset Your Relationship with Stress (for National Stress Awareness Day)
<p>On National Stress Awareness Day we've pulled a popular episode from our archive. Stress can suck. Many of us drown in it - worrying about past events and fearing upcoming challenges. We even stress about feeling stressed. So how can we reset our relationship with stress - benefitting from its positives and avoiding those negatives? </p> <p>Dr Jenny Taitz has some effective tips to help you greet stress more healthily. A clinical psychologist and the author of <a href="https://drjennytaitz.com/books/"><em>Stress Resets: How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes</em></a>, Dr Jenny explains that if we think differently about challenges and tough situations and take action, then stress can become a friend rather than a foe.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
How to Make Better Choices (with Barry Schwartz)
<p>Every choice you make shapes your wellbeing - and the bigger the decision, the greater the impact. So when it comes to life-changing questions like where to live, who to marry, or which career to pursue, how can you tell if you’re making the best decision for your long-term happiness?</p> <p>Economists might argue that you should weigh up every single option carefully - like a gambler in a casino figuring out the odds of winning. But psychologist Barry Schwartz says you can't apply a formula to happiness. In this episode, he shares insights from his new book, <a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300283990/choose-wisely/"><em>Choose Wisely: Rationality, Ethics, and the Art of Decision-Making</em> </a>(co-authored with philosopher Richard Schuldenfrei), offering a more thoughtful and human approach to making life’s hardest choices.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>