The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos Pushkin
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- Society & Culture
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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-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.
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What Can We Learn From the Happiest Country on Earth?
There are certain nations which always top the rankings in the World Happiness Report. What are they doing right, that other countries are getting wrong? And what can you do to make your home country happier?
John Helliwell of the World Happiness Report explains how things like wealth, freedom and friendship combine to make a happy society - and how tiny changes in your home, neighborhood or workplace can have a huge national impact.
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Pushkin Hosts Celebrate World Happiness Day
The Happiness Lab’s Dr. Laurie Santos brings together other Pushkin hosts to mark the International Day of Happiness. Revisionist History’s Malcolm Gladwell talks about the benefits of the misery of running in a Canadian winter. Dr. Maya Shankar from A Slight Change of Plans talks about quieting her mental chatter. And Cautionary Tales host Tim Harford surprises everyone with the happiness lessons to be learned from a colonoscopy.
Hear more of The Happiness Lab HERE.
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The Happiness of Subtraction
We often think adding more things to our lives will make us happier - more trips, more activities, more possessions. Sadly our minds find it hard to comprehend that having less and doing less is usually a better option.
Dr Laurie Santos teams up with economist Tim Harford (host of Cautionary Tales) to examine why we find subtraction so very hard, and share tips for finding happiness by cutting down on our commitments.
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Why the "Good Enough" Relationship Beats the "Perfect Partner"
Fairy tales and Hollywood rom coms have taught us to expect perfection from a soul mate, but sex and relationships therapist Todd Baratz says we need to be more comfortable with the idea that a "good enough" partner will do.
Todd once bought into this perfection myth - wanting a boyfriend to meet all his needs without even being told. These expectations helped end the relationship. Now Todd (author of How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind) says we need to accept that our loved ones will be just as flawed and human as we are.
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A Supercommunicator's Guide to Love and Dating
Some people ask searching questions and then really listen to the replies. These so-called supercommunicators make great romantic partners, so can anyone learn to be more like them?
Journalist Charles Duhigg (author of Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection) was unhappy with how he and his wife were talking, so he studied his mistakes and adopted the habits of supercommunicators. He explains to Dr Laurie Santos how we can all make small changes that will improve our dating and romantic lives.
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Can Couples Learn to Argue Better?
No matter how much you love your partner, your relationship will never be totally free from disagreement. And nor should it be, say researchers Dr John Gottman and Dr Julie Schwartz Gottman. We actually just need to learn to argue better.
The Gottmans join Dr Laurie Santos to talk us through how to raise complaints with our partners and how to react when they complain about us.
Further reading: Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict into Connection by Dr John Gottman and Dr Julie Schwartz Gottman.
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Customer Reviews
I love the happiness lab🥹
I’ve been listening since 2020. I found it by chance when scrolling through podcasts - I had never really been a podcast listener before and I was trying to start something new while out on my afternoon walks, and little did I know, I had stumbled upon a podcast that would change my life.
This podcast such a wonderful listen - perfect for walks or biking… I would go so far as to say that this is my version of meditation. I don’t know how to explain it, but this podcast gives me a huge feeling of calm and it feels cleansing. I feel as though I can just be. It reminds me of PBS, and I mean that as the highest compliment, it is so gentle and informative with fun but calming music sprinkled on top. I always look forward to new episodes, but I also re-listen to old episodes in chronological order at least once a year.
Thanks to Laurie for creating this… and it wouldn’t be what it is without her. She has such a charming voice and tone and there’s something special about her and I think that’s why this podcast is so authentic and beautiful.
Great new season!
Big time fan and long time listener, this new season about relationships and communication has been AWESOME! it feels practical and positive, thanks Happiness Lab team!
Was good, but not anymore
When I first started listening when the podcast was released, the content was spot on, but now there is too much marketing in the words being said by the “experts”. Too many opinions that are spoken as if it’s the truth. For reference, Just finished the episode about “good enough” relationships