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The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Pushkin Industries
Happiness
Mental Health
Psychology
Self-Compassion
Social Connection
Relationships
Perfectionism
Social Media
Mindfulness
Climate Change
Coping Strategies
Stress Management
Anxiety
Positive Psychology
Conflict Resolution
Gratitude
Stress
Hope
Social Connections
Love

The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won’t protect you.

With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into ove... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes289Founded7 years ago
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Health & FitnessSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Happiness Lab

Latest Episodes

In this special live episode, Dr. Laurie takes the stage at Dartmouth College for a conversation with happiness historian Darrin McMahon.

Together, they break down some of the biggest misconceptions about happiness in modern life, discuss the most ... more

The “pursuit of happiness” is one of America’s founding ideals. But what if chasing happiness is actually making us feel worse?

In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Dr. Laurie travels to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to e... more

YouTube

We’ve all had moments we wish we could do over: the relationship we stayed in too long, the opportunity we didn’t take, the thing we said that we can’t unsay. Regret can feel awful. So it’s no surprise that “no regrets” has become a popular life mott... more

We hear a lot about rising rates of anxiety, depression, and fragility among kids today. But when Harvard researcher Alexis Redding uncovered a forgotten trove of interviews with college students from the 1970s, she found something surprising: their ... more

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Recent Guests

Daniel Pink
Author of The Power of Regret, How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward
Harvard Business School (via research)
Episode: Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice
Liz Fosslien
Co-creator of Liz and Mollie, author of Big Feelings
Liz and Mollie (Author/Illustrator)
Episode: Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice
Mollie West Duffy
Co-creator of Liz and Mollie, author
Liz and Mollie (Author/Illustrator)
Episode: Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice
Maya Shankar
Host of A Slight Change of Plans, radio/podcast host
A Slight Change of Plans
Episode: Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice
Jacob Goldstein
Host of What's Your Problem?
What's Your Problem?
Episode: Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice
Alexis Redding
College student mental health expert, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Episode: Are Kids Today Really Worse Off?
Adam Mastroianni
Psychologist specializing in how minds misread history and change over time
Independent researcher/psychologist
Episode: Are Kids Today Really Worse Off?
Nancy Hill
Colleague of Alexis, contributed to data framing of the 1970s tapes
Harvard/Academic
Episode: Are Kids Today Really Worse Off?
Leslie John
Behavioral scientist, Harvard Business School professor
Harvard Business School
Episode: The Surprising Case for Oversharing

Host

Dr. Laurie Santos
Yale University psychologist and host of a science-forward exploration of happiness, behavior, and well-being.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 24.7k ratings
  • Ads make it unlistenable

    Great content, ruined by soooo many ads and the annoyingly perky delivery of them.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ms Mary contrary
    United States8 days ago
  • Too Many Ads

    Used to like this podcast and still has relevant content, but feels like over 1/3 podcast is advertisements.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Dizzacow
    United States8 days ago
  • Interesting content, but…

    The content is usually pretty interesting albeit fairly shallow, especially when coming from a highly regarded professor, but my real issue is all the ads. So many ads. It’s like a long commercial with bits of podcast sprinkled in instead of the opposite. To hear the ‘psychology expert’ shilling for all kinds of junk really diminishes the experience for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    GigiTheWonderDog
    United States13 days ago
  • My favorite podcast

    I’ve been listening for a little over 4 years now, and I do really love this podcast. I have gained a lot of very useful knowledge and insight from listening to these episodes, and it has also been a huge help and source of reinforcement and reassurance while on the road to recovery.

    The episode I just listened to about if “kids are worse-off today” imo is one of the best episodes of this podcast. I’ve had so many thoughts and questions of my own on this subject, and the discussions as well as ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MT-phunk
    United States21 days ago
  • The Kids are all right

    Dear Laurie: I find all your episodes very interesting and inspiring and like the positivity. But I especially like this episode, as I was Harvard Class of 1980 and the quotes really took me back in a very vivid way. I have been very blessed in my life, but like most of us have always had high standards, and so sometimes I remember some of those moments in bright relief and they can bring back sometimes a sense of shame and sometimes a sense of accomplishment but mostly a sense of relief that e... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Geoffrey Nicholson
    United Kingdom23 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the scientific grounding and practical takeaways.
Ads are repeatedly criticized for interrupting the content.
Guests and topics are praised for relevance and accessibility.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Your Negative Emotions Are Trying to Tell You
Q: Why is labeling emotions and showing up for them so important?
Labeling emotions with specificity (rather than using broad labels like 'stress') clarifies what the emotion is signaling and enables you to decide the best next steps in line with your needs and values; showing up creates space for wisdom and intentional action instead of being driven by the emotion.
What Your Negative Emotions Are Trying to Tell You
Q: Explain what you mean by emotional agility. What is it?
Emotional agility is the ability to be with everyday thoughts and emotions in a healthy way, so you can respond effectively to daily situations. It involves labeling emotions precisely, showing up without judgment, and using emotions as data to guide actions aligned with your values.
The Art of Doing Nothing
Q: Can you share a practical tip for listeners to start reclaiming time?
The guests suggest taking a proper lunch break with conversation, followed by a deliberate nap or windfall use of small free moments for meaningful activities.
The Art of Doing Nothing
Q: What sparked your interest in the idea of idling and time affluence?
Tom Hodgkinson explains embracing idling as a radical shift away from the cult of productivity, highlighting personal history and how modern schedules push people toward constant activity.
What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi
Q: What practical steps can listeners take to start integrating these 'sensory resets' into a typical workday?
Start small with a timer for periodic breaks, choose comfortable movement like walking, stand or stretch during meetings, and gradually extend the breaks or add outdoor sunlight exposure to strengthen eyes and mood.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Happiness Lab

What is The Happiness Lab about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-backed exploration of happiness, behavior, and well-being through interviews with researchers, authors, and practitioners. Episodes repeatedly probe how habits, time use, environments, and social connections shape mood and life satisfaction, with practical takeaways grounded in psychology, behavioral economics, and design thinking. Notable strengths include rigorous guest perspectives from academia and real-world case studies, plus a clear emphasis on turning research into everyday strategies. The show often pairs accessible storytelling with evidence-based guidance, making it appealing to listeners seeking actionable self-improvement grounded in science. A unique angle is the ongoing focus on time affluence, habit formation, and ... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Happiness Lab has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Happiness Lab?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Happiness Lab:

1. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
2. A Slight Change of Plans
3. Hidden Brain
4. The Science of Happiness
5. Life Kit

How many episodes of The Happiness Lab are there?

The Happiness Lab launched 7 years ago and published 289 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Happiness Lab?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Happiness Lab?

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What guests have appeared on The Happiness Lab?

Recent guests on The Happiness Lab include:

1. Daniel Pink
2. Liz Fosslien
3. Mollie West Duffy
4. Maya Shankar
5. Jacob Goldstein
6. Alexis Redding
7. Adam Mastroianni
8. Nancy Hill

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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