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Artwork for The Science of Happiness

The Science of Happiness

PRX and Greater Good Science Center
Mindfulness
Mental Health
Meditation
Self-Compassion
Happiness
Anxiety
Nature
Love
Stress Management
Social Connection
Compassion
Gratitude
Cyclic Sighing
Awe
Climate Change
Friendship
Burnout
Kindness
Grief
Creativity

Learn research-tested strategies for a happier, more meaningful life, drawing on the science of compassion, gratitude, mindfulness, and awe. Hosted by award-winning psychologist Dacher Keltner. Co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. Follow us on Instagram @HappinessPod.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes358Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesScience

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Artwork for The Science of Happiness

Latest Episodes

This guided meditation with end-of-life doula Andrea Sexton-Dumas offers a gentle way to make space for grief by imagining sharing your heartache with a plant, releasing it into the soil, and nurturing the earth that holds it.

How To Do This Practic... more

Explore how thinking about death can teach us to live more fully, find meaning, and appreciate the people we love.

Summary: We often avoid thinking about death, but research suggests that facing our mortality can help us live more fully and focus on... more

Dr. David Spiegel leads us in a practice of cyclic sighing, a simple breathing technique that uses slow, extended exhales to calm your nervous system, ease stress and anxiety, and help you feel more relaxed.

How To Do This Practice:

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Prepare: Fin... more

Explore how cyclic sighing, a simple controlled breathing technique, can help reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, and bring greater calm to everyday stressful moments.

Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, professional surfer and che... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Andrea Sexton-Dumas
End-of-life doula and grief gardener
Episode: Happiness Break: A Meditation to Help You Sit with Grief
Philip Cozzolino
Psychologist and associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Episode: What If Thinking About Death Could Make Us Feel More Alive?
David Spiegel
Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine
Episode: Happiness Break: A Breathing Technique to Help You Relax
Sarah Gerhardt
Professional surfer
Surfer and Professor of Chemistry (Santa Cruz)
Episode: How to Breathe Away Anxiety
Alex Elle
Author of The Company We Keep, guide on friendship and connection
Author, The Company We Keep
Episode: Happiness Break: A Practice In Appreciating Your Friends
Samin Nosrat
Chef, TV host, and bestselling author
Author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat; Good Things
Episode: How Smell Shapes Memory
Lucia Jacobs
Professor Emerita of Psychology, UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley
Episode: How Smell Shapes Memory
Crystal Lewis
High school staff member in Washington State
Washington State High School (education outreach)
Episode: How to Protect Your Brain as You Age
Majid Fotuhi
Neuroscientist, author, Johns Hopkins Mind Brain Institute
Johns Hopkins Mind Brain Institute
Episode: How to Protect Your Brain as You Age

Hosts

Dacher Keltner
Host; psychologist and researcher focused on compassion, happiness, and the science of well-being
Shuka Kalantari
Co-host; presents and guides discussions on happiness, mindfulness, and practical applications

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Contributes a little to everyone’s happiness

    A great podcast exploring ways to be just a little bit happier everyday.

    Well produced and relaxing to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nonicknameplease1234
    Netherlands6 months ago
  • Good concept yet too many ads

    I wish that this podcast limited on its time ratio of ads to content. Beautiful cover art and occasionally enriching information/storytelling.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Legal Beagle 8
    United States7 months ago
  • Keeps Us Grounded

    What an amazing podcast! I am enriched by the topics discussed. It gives me actionable ways to be and do better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ummah1234
    United States10 months ago
  • Comforting

    Such sweet necessary episodes to bringing kindness into your everyday life

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shakti shiny
    United States10 months ago
  • So much useful

    Thank you so much making this series

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    santramel
    Indiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Audiences value the science-to-practice translation and the warmth of the hosts and guests.
Some listeners request fewer ads or better sound quality, but most praise the insightful guests.
Listeners praise practical, research-backed happiness strategies and friendly delivery.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What If Thinking About Death Could Make Us Feel More Alive?
Q: What should people do for five minutes a week to deepen their death reflection, stop avoiding it, and gain the wisdom documented in the lab?
Philip suggests starting with a comforting activity, reflecting on being closer to the end of life, and recording and reviewing the challenges and opportunities ahead.
What If Thinking About Death Could Make Us Feel More Alive?
Q: How do we approach grief and integrate it into our lives?
Andrea recommends that individuals and communities create space for grief rituals, such as lighting a candle and setting aside time to feel sadness.
How to Breathe Away Anxiety
Q: How do you perform cyclic sighing step by step?
Begin with diaphragmatic breathing, inhale through the nose from the belly, hold, fill chest, then exhale slowly through the mouth with a longer exhale, repeat with a focus on the belly first to ground and relax.
Why Revenge Feels So Good—and Why It Hurts Us
Q: What does forgiveness do to us neurophysiologically? What does the research show?
Forgiveness shuts down the brain's pain network (anterior insula), dampens the addiction-like go circuitry, and activates the prefrontal cortex, giving three clear neurobiological benefits and suggesting forgiveness as a powerful self-healing mechanism.
Why Revenge Feels So Good—and Why It Hurts Us
Q: Your mission to get us to rethink the role of revenge and forgiveness in life begins in your childhood. Tell us about that, what happened.
The guest describes a violent burglary and a desire for revenge tempered by a moment of insight that led him to choose not to retaliate, which frames the broader discussion of how revenge becomes a learned behavior and how forgiveness can be a healthier alternative.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Science of Happiness

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

A thoughtful show that blends psychology, mindfulness, and practical strategies for everyday happiness. Episodes frequently explore how social connection, gratitude, self-compassion, awe, and mindful awareness shape well-being, often featuring researchers, mindfulness teachers, and writers who translate science into actionable tips. Noteworthy are energizing conversations with poets, clinicians, and policy researchers, plus guided meditations and hands-on exercises that listeners can try at home or in the office. The format often pairs rigorous research with accessible storytelling, making science-based well-being approachable for a broad audience and valuable for brands seeking thoughtful, impact-oriented sponsorships.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Science of Happiness?

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How many listeners does The Science of Happiness get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Science of Happiness?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Science of Happiness 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 Science of Happiness?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Science of Happiness:

1. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
2. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
3. Hidden Brain
4. A Slight Change of Plans
5. Untangle

How many episodes of The Science of Happiness are there?

The Science of Happiness launched 9 years ago and published 358 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 Science of Happiness?

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.

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What guests have appeared on The Science of Happiness?

Recent guests on The Science of Happiness include:

1. Andrea Sexton-Dumas
2. Philip Cozzolino
3. David Spiegel
4. Sarah Gerhardt
5. Alex Elle
6. Samin Nosrat
7. Lucia Jacobs
8. Crystal Lewis

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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