The Science of Happiness

By PRX and Greater Good Science Center

Social Sciences

What's The Science of Happiness about?

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.

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Happiness Break: Feeling th...

01.26.2023

Host Dacher Keltner leads us through an exercise in feeling the serenity and wonder that nature brings us, no matter where we are. How to Do This Practice: Find a spot where you can sit and rest comfortably. Once you’re ...

The Science of Happiness episodes:

01.26.2023 Happiness Break: Feeling the Awe of Nature from Anywhere Host Dacher Keltner leads us through an exercise in feeling the serenity and wonder that nature brings us, no matter where we are. How to Do This Practice: Find a spot where you can sit and rest comfortably. Once you’re ...
01.19.2023 Why We Should Look Up at the Sky When did you last take a moment to really look up at the sky? Shifting your gaze upward can help us be more creative, it improves our capacity to focus - and it's a gateway to awe. Episode summary: Natalie ...
01.12.2023 Happiness Break: Awe for Others The communities we create are one of the most awe-inspiring parts of our lives. Host Dacher Keltner guides us in a meditation on awe and togetherness in this week’s Happiness Break. How to Do This Practice: Find a comfortable, safe, ...
01.05.2023 How Awe Brings Us Together Feeling awe changes your brain. In our first episode in a series about the science awe, we explore how awe can make you a better friend, partner, and community member. Episode summary: When Mirna Valerio tried out hiking for the ...
12.29.2022 Happiness Break: An Affirmation Practice for the New Year This New Year, affirm the wonderful qualities you already possess with this meditative writing practice called "I Am." How to Do This Practice: Take a moment to sit still and take a few deep breaths, and notice how you’re feeling ...
12.22.2022 How to Make Life More Meaningful Chris Sharma is one of the greatest rock climbers of all time, and he's taking on some of the biggest challenges in life: becoming a parent and starting his own business. Chris tries a practice shown to help us craft ...
12.15.2022 Happiness Break: Finding Presence Through Your Senses Sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste: all of our five senses provide unique pathways to presence and happiness. We spend a few minutes being mindful of each one. How to Do This Practice: Find a comfortable place where you feel ...
12.08.2022 The Science of Synchronized Movement Moving in sync with someone else — even a total stranger — can change how you feel about them, and how you act, without you realizing it. Episode summary: When was the last time you moved in sync with someone ...
12.01.2022 Happiness Break: Tune Into Your Body Happiness isn't only in your head — your body is important, too. This week, we're led in a short Japanese calisthenics practice called Radio Taiso. Check out Radha’s video guide to this practice: https://dose.daybreaker.com/videos/microdose-oxytocin-healthy-spine Today’s Happiness Break guide: Radha Agrawal ...
11.24.2022 How to Practice Gratitude When You're Not Feeling Thankful One way to feel more thankful for things is to imagine life without them. Our guest tries a practice for seeing the bright side, even when you feel down. Episode summary: We know that gratitude is good for us. But ...
11.17.2022 Happiness Break: 5 Minutes of Gratitude Not sure how to start practicing gratitude? Psychologist Dacher Keltner guides you through a practice that can help you see the good things in your life that you might otherwise overlook. How to Do This Practice: Sit or lay down ...
11.10.2022 The Emerging Science of ASMR (Encore) There are millions of YouTube videos with people crinkling bubble wrap or whispering about folding laundry. Our guest talks about why autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) makes her, and many others, feel more calm and happy. Episode summary: Melinda still ...
11.03.2022 Happiness Break: Making Space for You Consider what you want to make space for in your life in this 6-minute contemplation guided by Alex Elle. How to Do This Practice: Take a few deep breaths. File up your belly on each inhale. Drop your shoulder and ...
10.27.2022 How Humor Helps us Cope Hardships in life are a given, but what if we found a way to laugh about it? Our guest shares how he's used humor to cope with the deepest pains in his life. Episode summary: When we go through hardships ...
10.20.2022 Happiness Break: Restore Through Silence When was the last time you spent a moment savoring silence? Tricia Hersey, aka The Nap Bishop, guides us through an appreciation of silence and its restorative powers. Scientists have found that spending just two minutes in silence can lower ...
10.13.2022 How to Focus Under Pressure Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider tries a body scan meditation to sharpen her focus and calm her nerves as she prepares for the Tournament of Champions. Episode summary: Amy Schneider is the most successful woman to ever compete on Jeopardy!. Part ...
10.06.2022 Happiness Break: How to Awaken Joy Cultivate more joy in your life with this practice led by meditation teacher and author Spring Washam. How to Do This Practice: Think about an area of your life that brings you joy, it could be anything. Imagine yourself experiencing ...
09.29.2022 Why Listen to the Other Side? These days, it's hard to imagine befriending people with different politics than your own. But these two men did it using a tried and true practice. Episode summary: When a graphic work of art depicting two men having sex was ...
09.22.2022 Happiness Break: Six Minutes to Connect with Your Body Dedicating a little time to tune into your body fortifies you to better handle the stresses of daily life. How to Do This Practice: Find a quiet place where you feel safe and comfortable.You can be standing, sitting, or lying ...
09.15.2022 Nine Steps to Forgiveness How do you forgive someone while still holding them accountable? What if that person is yourself? This week, our guest tries a practice in forgiving herself and someone else. Episode summary: Anoosha Syed appreciates her name now, but as a ...
09.08.2022 Happiness Break: A Note to Self on Forgiveness Letting go of our regrets can motivate us to improve and help us grow. Alex Elle, a certified breathwork and writing coach, guides us through a meditation to forgive and accept ourselves. How to Do This Practice: Take a deep ...
09.01.2022 When Rumination Is a Good Thing When's the last time you made a good memory — intentionally? Our guest tries a practice in cultivating positive experiences and taking time to savor them. Episode summary: Life doesn't always hand us good times, but we can benefit as ...
08.25.2022 Happiness Break: A Meditation to Connect to Your Roots When was the last time you thought about your ancestors? This guided meditation by indigenous scholar Yuria Celidwen will help you connect to your heritage and reap the potent benefits of remembering your roots. How to Do This Practice: Bring ...
08.18.2022 Riding The Waves of Anxiety Comedian Aparna Nancherla has always struggled with anxiety — can a new technique help her cope? Episode summary: Comedian Aparna Nancherla has always struggled with anxiety. Starting a new task at work, writing her book, talking to a baby — ...
08.11.2022 Happiness Break: Walk Your Way to Calm (Guided Meditation) A few slow, mindful paces can lower your cortisol and make you more at ease. Psychologist Dacher Keltner guides you through this Walking Meditation. How to Do This Practice: Find a relatively peaceful space that allows you to walk back ...
08.04.2022 36 Questions to Spark Intimacy What if you could fall in love, or forge deep connections in just 45 minutes? Our guests try out 36 questions with their partners to see if they can strengthen their connection. Episode summary: There are 36 questions that have ...
07.28.2022 Happiness Break: How to Ground Yourself Connect to yourself and the land you stand on in under 10 minutes with this grounding practice led by Indigenous scholar Dr. Yuria Celidwen. How to Do This Practice: If possible, go outside and find some natural ground, like grass ...
07.21.2022 How to Feel Less Lonely and More Connected When we feel more connected, we're kinder and care more for others. After 21 years of being incarcerated, our guest Simon Liu, of Bay Area Freedom House Collective, tries a practice that helps him remember the profound connections he's made ...
07.14.2022 Happiness Break: Experience Nature Wherever You Are Just a few moments of tuning into nature can make you feel more inspired, connected, and less lonely. Let us guide you through a five-minute noticing nature practice — you don't even have to leave the city. How to Do ...
07.07.2022 How to Make Better Decisions (Encore) Can practicing mindfulness make us wiser? Judge Jeremy Fogel explores how being present in the moment helps him keep a clear mind and stay connected to his true values. Episode summary: What do you think it takes to become wiser, ...
06.30.2022 Happiness Break: 36 Questions to Feel Connected Having close bonds with others is one of the most important things to our happiness. Host Dacher Keltner walks you through a practice you can do with someone else to create new bonds or strengthen old ones. Plus, hear some ...
06.23.2022 How to Say "Sorry" Like You Mean It Apologies are key to successful relationships. But are you doing them right? Episode summary: We all have moments when we say or do something we later regret. Then the time comes to make an apology. But a halfhearted “I’m sorry” ...
06.16.2022 Happiness Break: How To Be Your Best Self Visualize your best possible self and tap into your inherent enough-ness with this guided meditation by Justin Michael Williams. How to Do This Practice: Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and visualize your ideal future self, the person ...
06.09.2022 The Questions to Ask Yourself in an Argument Our guest explores how reminding yourself that you don't know everything can have a profound impact on your relationships, and our society. Episode summary: Jinho “Piper” Ferreira is a playwright, a rapper, and a former deputy sheriff. His band Flipsyde ...
06.02.2022 Happiness Break: How to Be Your Own Best Friend Take 10 minutes to be guided through a practice meaningful self-care: A self-compassion break with Kristin Neff. How to Do This Practice: Think of a situation in your life that is difficult and is causing you stress. For this practice, ...
05.26.2022 Catch Yourself in a Dream Have you ever known you're dreaming while you're asleep? Our guests try practices to help induce lucid dreams, and we hear what they can teach us about consciousness. Episode summary: How do you know you’re awake? Are you sure? Practicing ...
05.19.2022 Happiness Break: A 10-Minute Guided Practice We guide you through a reflection of three things you're grateful for today. This practice is shown to boost happiness, connection, and motivation while reducing stress. Happiness Break is a new series by The Science of Happiness. How to Do ...
05.12.2022 The Science of a Good Night's Sleep Do you struggle with sleep? This week Drew Ackerman of Sleep with Me podcast tries tips for a good night's sleep, and we explore why it's so important to our well-being. Episode summary: A good night’s sleep can be hard ...
04.28.2022 Feel Better About Asking For Help Episode summary: Emanuel Hahn has never been great at asking for help. He didn’t live with his parents after age 12, and consequently, he says he learned to only rely on himself. But now that he’s launching his first book ...
04.14.2022 Are You Tired of Being Afraid? Fear is a normal part of our lives — but there are ways we can safely challenge and conquer it. Our guest tries a research-backed way to tackle a fear she's had since elementary school. **Vote for The Science of ...
03.31.2022 How to Find Your Spark in Life Comedian Marilyn Pittman takes stock of what she really wants in life – and makes a plan to get it.
03.17.2022 Are Your Expectations Too High? High expectations can lead to disappointment, but expecting the worst doesn't feel great, either. This week we explore how to find the balance.
03.03.2022 How to Turn Grief into Strength Part of life is experiencing pain and loss. And sometimes, finding meaning in it. We explore a writing practice shown to help us come out stronger after difficult times.
02.17.2022 Why You Should Snap Pictures of Nature A NYT restaurant critic puts down her pen and grabs her camera to capture the beauty of the outdoors.
02.03.2022 When It's Time to Face Your Fears What happens when we feel compassion for the things that scare us? Shabazz Larkin shares what it's like to face some of his deepest fears.
01.06.2022 The Case for Believing in Yourself What does your best possible self look like? Our guest tries a practice in optimism by imagining her brightest future.
12.23.2021 How Gratitude Renews Us Feeling burned out? Our guest, a nurse, explores how cultivating gratitude helps people in high stress jobs.
12.09.2021 What Our Photos Say About Us Can taking a few photos really make you happier? Afghan rocker Sulyman Qardash tries a practice to find meaning through snapping photos of daily life.
11.25.2021 Why We Give Thanks Thank you. Gracias. Merci. Every language has a word for gratitude. But why do we feel it? How can we experience more of it? We revisit some of our favorite episodes about the science of gratitude.
11.11.2021 Do You Feel Pressed for Time? What happens when we share our time? Our guest, chef and author Bryant Terry, pauses to be present with the ones who matter most.

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