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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
Anxiety
Stress Management
Positive Psychology
Conflict Resolution
Stress
Gratitude
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes287Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Happiness Lab

Latest Episodes

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

We’re kicking off a new season of The Happiness Lab with some happiness hot takes — bold claims that challenge conventional wisdom about what it really takes to feel happier. Today's hot take is all about oversharing.

We’re usually told that reveal... more

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 to spring clean your wellbein... more

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 clean your wellbeing, Dr. Lauri... more

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Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Leslie John
Behavioral scientist, Harvard Business School professor
Harvard Business School
Episode: The Surprising Case for Oversharing
Jessamyn Stanley
Yoga instructor and author of Every Body Yoga
Author and world-renowned yoga instructor
Episode: How to Feel Happier in Your Body with Jessamyn Stanley
Susan David
Harvard Medical School psychologist, author on emotional agility
Harvard Medical School
Episode: What Your Negative Emotions Are Trying to Tell You
Shawn Achor
Author and happiness expert; studied at Harvard; author of The Power of Beliefs
Author, Harvard Alumni Association
Episode: The Hidden Beliefs That Shape Your Happiness with Shawn Achor
Tom Hodgkinson
Author of How to Be Idle and interviewee on time management and idling
Author, How to Be Idle
Episode: The Art of Doing Nothing
Ashley Whillans
Harvard Business School professor researching time and happiness
Harvard Business School
Episode: The Art of Doing Nothing
Manoush Zomorodi
Journalist, host of NPR's TED Radio Hour
NPR / TED Radio Hour
Episode: What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi
Cait Flanders
Author and blogger who decluttered and rebuilt her life
Author of The Year of Less
Episode: Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier
Amit Kumar
Assistant Professor of Marketing and Psychology
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier

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
  • Info is useful, host’s narration is difficult to enjoy

    This is a useful podcast with fantastic information, and I have to really want to listen to it because the host’s way of narrating written content is painful. The way she speaks when she’s speaking naturally and the way she narrates are drastically different. I wish she would get long-form narration training. Maybe from a coach in the voiceover and audiobook narration infustry. Consider Sean Pratt, or someone similar. It sucks because the content is super useful, but just knowing that I’ll have ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nikki4m
    United States16 days ago
  • So many ads!

    I enjoy this show and have learned a lot from some of the episodes. However, lately, the ad time has totally taken over the content. More ads than podcast now!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Maurany
    United States18 days ago
  • Great info BUT

    This podcast is great, but there are SO MANY ADs & they’re so LONG!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Ericasally
    United States24 days ago
  • Get the Mustang

    The Mustang is an amazing experience. It is a work of

    aerodynamic art. You will never regret owning one.

    Decluttering is fantastic. Donating unused belongings is brilliant. Avoiding shopping and seeking meaningful experiences is the best strategy.

    The Mustang is a reliable necessity that makes everyday an adventure. Be sure you can afford it. Used? Save up.

    Then... Mustang! :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BGDem
    United Statesa month ago
  • So many commercials - endless ads

    Content great but commercials ruin the experience

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    southoxford
    United Statesa month 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

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#56
United States/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#246
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#50
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#96
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#108
France/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#148
Australia/Society & Culture

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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Gender Skew
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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. Untangle

How many episodes of The Happiness Lab are there?

The Happiness Lab launched 7 years ago and published 287 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. Leslie John
2. Jessamyn Stanley
3. Susan David
4. Shawn Achor
5. Tom Hodgkinson
6. Ashley Whillans
7. Manoush Zomorodi
8. Cait Flanders

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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