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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
Awe
Kindness
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes341Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for The Science of Happiness

Latest Episodes

Take less than 10 minutes to write yourself a letter of care, compassion, and encouragement with psychologist Kristin Neff in this research-backed practice.

How To Do This Practice:

Choose an area of self-judgment: Think of one aspect of yoursel... more

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.

Intention to Treat: The Race Equation is a new series from the New England Journal of Medicine, investigates how race-specific diagnostic tools harm Black patients and contribute to growing health ine... more

Across school campuses and communities, students and educators are discovering how listening, curiosity, and everyday conversations can open pathways across differences and help restore a sense of shared humanity.

Summary: How do we learn to truly c... more

Trouble sitting still? Learn to practice meditating by simply walking in this practice guided by 10% Happier host Dan Harris.

How To Do This Practice:

Start walking at a comfortable pace in a place where you can move without rushing.

Notice ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Peter Sporn
Professor of medicine and VA clinician
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Episode: Introducing - Intention to Treat: Money and Misdiagnosis
Cheryl Connor
Clinical associate professor
University of Illinois at Chicago
Episode: Introducing - Intention to Treat: Money and Misdiagnosis
Jesse Kelly
Recent Bowie State University graduate, McNair and MacArthur fellow
Bowie State University
Episode: Finding Common Ground in Uncomfortable Times
Lia Howard
Director of the Political Empathy Lab at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Finding Common Ground in Uncomfortable Times
Raina Telgemeier
Best-selling children's graphic novelist
Author of Smile, Sisters, and Guts
Episode: How To Step Away from Anxiety
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

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
  • 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
    Netherlandsa month 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 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 States6 months ago
  • So much useful

    Thank you so much making this series

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    santramel
    India10 months 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.

How To Step Away from Anxiety
Q: Can you describe the walking meditation practice and what you learned from doing it regularly?
She describes pacing 10 minutes a day, focusing on breath and foot placement, noticing how it calmed her nervous system, and even observing how pets react to this calmer state, which reinforced the mind-body connection.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Science of Happiness. 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 Science of Happiness and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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

How many episodes of The Science of Happiness are there?

The Science of Happiness launched 8 years ago and published 341 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. Peter Sporn
2. Cheryl Connor
3. Jesse Kelly
4. Lia Howard
5. Raina Telgemeier
6. Nathalie Ryan
7. Sally Froehlich
8. Colin M. Robertson

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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