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

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-... more

24.6k ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	281	Founded	7 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Health & FitnessSociety & Culture

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Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi

We hear a lot about how screens affect our mental health, but time spent on computers and smartphones is having just as much of an impact on our physical health — from brain fog and weakened core muscles to changes in our posture, our sleep, and even... more

4 May 2026 • 45 min

YouTube

Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier

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 our series on spring cleaning... more

27 Apr 2026 • 26 min

Your Environment Affects Your Happiness More Than You Think with Dr. Leidy Klotz

Our surroundings affect our happiness in ways we often don’t notice. The layout of a room, the amount of clutter in our home, and even small changes to lighting can shape our mood, focus, and relationships.

As The Happiness Lab continues its spring... more

20 Apr 2026 • 37 min

How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits

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 of our spring cleaning serie... more

13 Apr 2026 • 33 min

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Recent Guests

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

Leidy Klotz

University of Virginia professor and author

University of Virginia

Episode: Your Environment Affects Your Happiness More Than You Think with Dr. Leidy Klotz

Wendy Wood

Professor of Psychology and Business, USC

University of Southern California

Episode: How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits

Richard Ratner

Psychiatrist and veteran who studied heroin addiction in Vietnam soldiers

Independent researcher (case history discussed in episode)

Episode: How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits

Fred Luskin

Psychologist and counselor focused on forgiveness; Director of Stanford Forgiveness Projects

Stanford Forgiveness Project

Episode: Why It Hurts to Hold a Grudge — and How to Let Go with Dr. Fred Luskin

Miroslav Volf

Theologian, Yale Divinity School

Yale Divinity School

Episode: Why It Hurts to Hold a Grudge — and How to Let Go with Dr. Fred Luskin

Cass Sunstein

Harvard Law School professor and behavioral scientist

Harvard Law School

Episode: Why You're Still Using Social Media (Even If You Want to Stop) with Dr. Cass Sunstein

Host

Dr. Laurie Santos

Dr. Laurie Santos is a Yale professor and expert in psychology, known for her work on the science of happiness and well-being. She teaches the most popular class at Yale University, where she shares research and insights on how to lead a fulfilling life.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 24.6k ratings

So many ads it’s so unpleasant
Please limit if possible
Apple Podcasts
1
Norahsul
United States10 days ago
So many ads!
I’ve been listening to this show for years, but I can’t take the ads any more! I understand needing to make money but it’s not worth it to listen anymore!
Apple Podcasts
2
Laura Crowl
United States12 days ago
So Many Ads and Contradictory
I just listened to the podcast about “why more things don’t make us happy” on a run. This podcast has so many ads it is infuriating and the way it is recorded is like a child’s storybook with canned sound effects. Basically 25% or more of the whole recording are ads including the first 6 minutes. Then after a short interview with a researcher about why more things don’t make us happy, the podcast cuts to an ad delivered by the host about how awesome buying cheap fast fashion from Quince is. Whil... more
Apple Podcasts
2
Roy mercer
United States12 days ago
Overpowered by ads
I’m a huge fan of behavioral economics and psychology and thought I’d love this podcast, but the number and type of ads throughout really detracts from the content.
Apple Podcasts
2
Mtnssonjl
United States12 days ago
Great content, WAY too many ads
Laurie is a great interviewer and always has good content, but ads about every 5 or so, for minutes at a time is just too much. Time to move on.
Apple Podcasts
2
Feistyone59873
United States13 days ago

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Listeners Say

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

Some guests express frustration over the frequency and volume of advertisements, which detracts from their listening experience.

Listeners appreciate the insightful discussions and research-backed strategies for improving happiness, often describing the content as life-changing and relatable.

The format, which includes expert guests sharing personal stories and insights, is generally well-received, and many viewers find practical tips to apply in their daily lives.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify	#43	United States/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts	#82	United States/Society & Culture
Spotify	#176	Canada/Trending
Apple Podcasts	#240	Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts	#34	Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts	#130	United Kingdom/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.

What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi

Q: What did the field studies reveal about implementing movement breaks in real workplaces?

In real-world trials, participants who took five-minute movement breaks every half hour reported less fatigue, steadier mood, and maintained or slightly improved productivity, even when on busy schedules.

What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi

Q: Why does your body seem to be a worse fit for a screen-heavy environment than your mind might suggest?

Because sitting and screen exposure affect not just cognitive load but physical systems—blood flow, interoception, and oxygen delivery—creating a mismatch between how we're designed to function and how we live today.

Why It Hurts to Hold a Grudge — and How to Let Go with Dr. Fred Luskin

Q: I've also heard you talk about how forgiveness is about a change in your story. What do you mean by that?

Forgiveness isn't about erasing the pain or forgetting what happened; it's about re-framing the narrative you tell yourself about the event, so you stop letting the past eclipse your present and future, and you begin to see possibility again.

How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life

Q: What practical strategies help prevent work from taking over personal life after hours?

Establish daily rituals to signal home mode, schedule dedicated recovery time in the calendar, create a 'main event' for evenings that prioritizes rest and quality time, and limit after-hours work checks to a single, focused session.

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?

This series explores the science of happiness through thoughtful discussions and insights from leading experts in psychology and related fields. It challenges conventional beliefs about happiness, often debunking the myths that people hold regarding money, careers, and social status. Each episode offers listeners practical strategies and evidence-based approaches to enhance their well-being, emphasizing the importance of emotional connections, self-compassion, and resilience in one's pursuit of happiness. Unique perspectives from various guests, including psychologists, authors, and educators, contribute to a rich tapestry of knowledge aimed at helping individuals lead more fulfilling lives.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Happiness Lab?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Happiness Lab. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Happiness Lab and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Happiness Lab get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Happiness Lab?

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How many subscribers and views does The Happiness Lab have?

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. Good Life Project
5. The Science of Happiness

How many episodes of The Happiness Lab are there?

The Happiness Lab launched 7 years ago and published 281 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Happiness Lab from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Happiness Lab?

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What guests have appeared on The Happiness Lab?

Recent guests on The Happiness Lab include:

1. Manoush Zomorodi
2. Cait Flanders
3. Amit Kumar
4. Leidy Klotz
5. Wendy Wood
6. Richard Ratner
7. Fred Luskin
8. Miroslav Volf

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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