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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
Friendship
Burnout
Kindness
Awe
Creativity
Climate Change
Stress Reduction
Psychology

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes337Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesScience

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Artwork for The Science of Happiness

Latest Episodes

Do you have a hard time calming your nerves? Author Raina Telgemeier tries a practice to get out of her head, one step at a time.

Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, bestselling graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier reflects on growing... more

What happens when you linger and look closely at a piece of art? Nathalie Ryan, an educator from the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., guides us through a slow looking practice shown to help deepen your sense of awe, presence, and connectio... more

Description:

Sharing a new podcast called Stories from a Stranger, which features portraits of strangers connected by themes of love, loss, regret, inspiration, illness, family connections, and more. In each episode of Stories from a Stranger, host ... more

What happens when we slow down enough to really experience art? We visit a museum to discover how slow looking at art can cultivate awe, empathy, and a greater sense of connection in a distracted world.

Summary: Art has the power to move us emotiona... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nathalie Ryan
Educator from the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Episode: Happiness Break: The Unexpected Joy of Slow Looking
Sally Froehlich
Storyteller sharing her long life love story
Episode: Love Throughout Your Life: Stories from a Stranger
Colin M. Robertson
Pioneer in slow looking in arts education and environment
Nevada Museum of Art
Episode: The Art of Slowing Down
Anjan Chatterjee
Professor of neurology, psychology, and architecture; director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: The Art of Slowing Down
Bob McKinnon
Social mobility expert; directs the Social Mobility Lab at City College of New York
City College of New York
Episode: An Awe Walk Through History and Possibility
Blaine Merker
Urban designer and public space advocate
Public space design in San Francisco (as discussed)
Episode: How Cities Can Make Space for Awe
Setha Low
Anthropologist and professor
City University of New York
Episode: How Cities Can Make Space for Awe
Susan Magsamen
Neurology professor at Johns Hopkins; author of Your Brain On Art
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Happiness Break: How Poetry Helps Us Feel and Heal
Nina Esqueta
Poet reading a listener poem
Poet (listener contributor)
Episode: Happiness Break: How Poetry Helps Us Feel and Heal

Hosts

Dacher Keltner
Host of The Science of Happiness (introduces the session)
Geena Davis
Host of The Science of Love series

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • 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 States2 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 States5 months ago
  • Comforting

    Such sweet necessary episodes to bringing kindness into your everyday life

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shakti shiny
    United States5 months ago
  • So much useful

    Thank you so much making this series

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    santramel
    India9 months ago
  • Thoughtful Show, But Undercut by TDS

    The show is insightful and delivers some genuinely poignant life lessons. However, it could do even Greater Good if Dacher refrained from inserting partisan political commentary into nearly every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ThinkDifferent01
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise actionable strategies backed by research
Engaging science-based guidance with practical takeaways
High-quality guests but some critiques on pacing and production quality

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Art of Slowing Down
Q: Tell us your thinking about the evolutionary functions of our sense of beauty and why we need it.
Anjan explains that beauty is tied to a decorative impulse that has deep roots in human evolution, serving as a bridge between function, social signaling, and aesthetic experience, which in turn influences emotion, attention, and learning.
Love Throughout Your Life: Stories from a Stranger
Q: What is a dream you've let go of in your life and how do you cope with that?
Sally discusses letting go of youthful expectations, including the idea of motherhood being possible after medical challenges, and embraces resilience through family and community.
Love Throughout Your Life: Stories from a Stranger
Q: My first question for you is, who was your greatest love and why did you fall in love with them?
Sally shares a long-running memory of her first great love Bob, describing how his appearance, voice, and manner gave her a strong emotional spark, and how that moment shaped her later views on love and commitment.
An Awe Walk Through History and Possibility
Q: How do you think about social mobility?
Bob McKinnon explains that mobility is not just economic; it's about thriving, belonging, and access to opportunities, with personalized education like CCNY's four-essay trajectory helping students reflect on their origins and future.
Happiness Break: How Poetry Helps Us Feel and Heal
Q: What makes poetry a distinct form of medicine for the mind?
Poetry works by reducing physiological arousal, engaging memory and language networks, and offering a structured space to express complex emotions, which helps reframe experience and support emotional regulation.

Audience Metrics

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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 science-backed show that explores happiness, compassion, mindfulness, and awe through research, practical exercises, and real-world storytelling. Episodes frequently center on how relationships, creativity, public spaces, and our daily habits shape well-being, with actionable techniques like guided meditations, slow looking at art, and narrative interviews that illuminate science in everyday life. Noteworthy is a consistent blend of psychological theory with accessible, human-centric framing, guest experts across neuroscience, education, design, and public policy, and recurring Happiness Break segments that translate theory into practice for listeners seeking personal growth or team-ready takeaways.

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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How many subscribers and views does The Science of Happiness have?

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. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
2. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
3. Hidden Brain
4. Untangle
5. Good Life Project

How many episodes of The Science of Happiness are there?

The Science of Happiness launched 8 years ago and published 337 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Science of Happiness?

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What guests have appeared on The Science of Happiness?

Recent guests on The Science of Happiness include:

1. Nathalie Ryan
2. Sally Froehlich
3. Colin M. Robertson
4. Anjan Chatterjee
5. Bob McKinnon
6. Blaine Merker
7. Setha Low
8. Susan Magsamen

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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