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The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

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. For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show and to sign up to our newsletter visit: happinesslab.fm

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Torah

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 3.4K views
  • almost 3 years ago
  • 29:59

Sarah Hurwitz grew up thinking there was little the great texts of Judaism could teach her - she even hatched a plot to get out of Hebrew school. But in adulthood she discovered that The Torah contains instructions to act with gratitude, kindness and solidarity that all chime with the latest happiness research.   Sarah is author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Laurie Talks Relationships with Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.3K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 52:14

Double Date is a new podcast with Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas. The couple have been blissfully married for more than 40 years, and wanted to explore what makes some relationships work with couples from President and Former First Lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter; to Sting and Trudie Styler; and Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka. Dr. Laurie Santos thinks what's uncovered in the show chimes with the scientific research on how to live a happier life - so she invited Marlo and Phil to share these insights on The Happiness Lab. There's also the chance to hear a whole episode of Double Date, featuring Viola Davis and Julius Tennon. Listen to more Double Date episodes at: http://podcasts.pushkin.fm/double-date?sid=hl.notes Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Move More... But for the Right Reasons

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.3K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 34:04

Moving more is great for your happiness - but many of us decide to exercise because we're unhappy with our bodies and long to change them. What should be fun and life-enhancing often becomes saturated with self-loathing. Jessamyn Stanley identified as a "fat and awkward weirdo", who shied away from exercise until she realised that it was her own body-shaming that was holding her back. She tells Dr Laurie Santos how she decoupled her love of yoga from the corrosive idea of transforming her body - and in the process became an inspirational teacher and author for those who think exercise isn't for them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Feed Yourself Like You'd Feed a Loved One

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.2K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 37:09

Diets and "healthy" eating fads are a January fixture - but few of us stick to these harsh regimes. And when the dieting ends, we often go back to the "bad" foods we craved during our fasting. Psychotherapists Andrea Wachter says this dieting "roller coaster" makes our minds obsess over food and causes our bodies no end of harm. Andrea stepped off the roller coaster by taking a kinder and calmer approach to the foods she consumed. She tells Dr Laurie Santos the key rule - feed yourself like you'd feed someone you love. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Reconnect With The Moment

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 3.2K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 33:58

Psychologist and meditation teacher Tara Brach felt too stressed and busy to spend time with her elderly mother - until she had a lightning moment of realisation. Why couldn't she enjoy living in the moment with her beloved parent? What fears and insecurities were preventing her from devoting time to her mom? Tara tells Dr Laurie Santos how she created RAIN - a mindfulness practise that allows us to Recognise, Allow, Investigate and Nurture our emotions. Once we consciously engage with those emotions, Tara argues, we can decide what's really important to us and our happiness. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Dump Your Inner Drill Sergeant

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 3.6K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 36:49

We often start a new year hoping to make big changes in how we look, feel or act. This can involve a lot of self-criticism and adopting things like tough diets and brutal exercise regimes. But being hard on ourselves doesn't deliver results. Dr Laurie Santos examines why being a nasty drill sergeant to ourselves is less effective than being a kind coach; and hears from researcher and author Kristin Neff about why developing self-compassion is vital to helping us achieve our new year goals. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Happier Holidays: How to Celebrate No Matter What

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 1.5K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 38:15

A lot of the festive events and traditions we look forward to each year will be very different in 2020. Gatherings might be smaller than we'd like... or cancelled altogether. Family tensions might be heightened too. But Dr Laurie Santos has gathered a group of top happiness experts to share their tips, tricks and science-backed strategies to make this holiday season as good as it can be.... and maybe even great. Joining Laurie for this festive Zoom party are Jamil Zaki from Stanford University, Liz Dunn from the University of British Columbia and Nick Epley from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happier Holidays: How to Give and Receive the Perfect Gift

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 1.8K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 30:43

Exchanging holiday gifts is supposed to be joyful... but for many of us it is a source of stress, anxiety and hurt feelings. To transform the way you think about the act of giving and receiving presents, Dr Laurie Santos has gathered together the top experts in the field of happiness to share their tips, tricks and science-backed strategies. They even tackle the thorny issue of giving money in lieu of a present - with some surprising conclusions. Joining Laurie for a festive Zoom party are Jamil Zaki from Stanford University, Liz Dunn from the University of British Columbia and Nick Epley from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Happier Election (with Axios Today)

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 1.9K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 17:54

Elections can make us feel anxious, angry and mistrustful - emotions that are all detrimental to our happiness. Dr Laurie Santos talks to Niala Boodhoo from the news podcast Axios Today about the simple steps we can take to increase our wellbeing during stressful and uncertain times. Check out Axios Today, where Niala delivers the news every week day - in just 10 minutes. Subscribe to Axios Today wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Buddha

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 3.3K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 28:56

The Buddha was born to a royal family... and it shocked him when he found out that no amount of money or power could keep suffering and loss at bay forever. The quest to accept that life brings us pain was key to the development of Buddhism as a major religion. Dr Laurie Santos is joined by Liz Angowski and Robert Wright (author of 'Why Buddhism is True') to explore The Buddha's teachings about unhappiness and how mindfulness meditation can help us come to terms with the negative feelings we all experience from time to time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Epictetus

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.6K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 29:40

Epictetus was born into slavery and beaten until he was lame... but he became one of Ancient Rome's greatest thinkers by accepting every setback as an opportunity to learn and grow. Philosophy professor Bill Irvine joins Dr Laurie Santos to delve into Stoicism - an ancient school of thought which urges us to reframe how we view the problems we all face and defuse the negative emotions of anger and envy that can be so harmful to our happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Plato

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.8K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 28:00

Plato likened us all to charioteers trying to control two wayward horses. The steeds represent the competing wants and desires that constantly pull us off course and away from a happier life. Yale professor Tamar Gendler joins Dr Laurie Santos to examine how the ancient Greek philosopher didn't only diagnose the internal tensions we all face, but also offered a cure. The horses can be made to pull in the direction you command... but each must be coaxed in the right way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: Aristotle

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.9K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 29:03

He gave us biology, physics and drama... but Greek philosopher Aristotle also thought deeply about how humans can flourish and live happy lives of virtue. Yale professor Tamar Gendler tells Dr Laurie Santos about Aristotle's wellbeing insights and how he recommended taking daily "baby steps" towards becoming the sort of happy, moderate person we aspire to be. A kind of ancient "fake it, 'til you make it" ethos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Happiness Lab Presents: Revisionist History

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 39:33

The Happiness Lab presents an episode of Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History, in which Malcolm explores the delicate science of hiring nihilism, examined in five deeply-personal case studies. Revisionist History is his journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance. Listen in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Happiness Lab Presents: The Chronicles of Now

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 1.5K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 19:33

Covid-19 has made us all prisoners of our homes. And at times, our families. If the pandemic goes well into 2021, what will an extended quarantine do to our relationships, our country, our daily lives? Roxane Gay, the best selling author of Bad Feminist and Hunger, has some ideas. Sex? Yes. Vaccine? No. Narrated by Bahni Turpin. Hosted by Ashley C. Ford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to Be a Better Ally

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.7K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 42:20

You might detest bigotry and injustice, but have you done anything to address these problems? There are many reasons we stay silent and inactive when we know we should intervene to defend the rights of others. We look at the psychology underpinning our reluctance to act and the ways in which we can match our moral beliefs with concrete actions. Featuring James Barr and Dan Hudson, co-hosts of the podcast 'A Gay and a Non-Gay'. WARNING: This episode talks frankly about discrimination, hate crimes and sex. For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The War For Kindness

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.8K views
  • almost 4 years ago
  • 38:21

Feeling you belong to a group can be great - but it also has a darker side, leading us down an unhappy path of hatred and violence towards people with different identities and backgrounds. Dr Laurie Santos talks to Mina Cikara - whose homeland descended into a bloody civil war - and Jamil Zaki about how we can fight hatred with empathy, kindness and difficult conversations. (Deep canvassing clips courtesy of The Leadership Lab https://leadership-lab.org/ at the Los Angeles LGBT Center.) For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Demonic Possessions

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

  • 2.2K views
  • almost 4 years ago
  • 26:29

Cait Flanders went deep into debt so she could buy all the clothes, books and gadgets she thought would make her happier. It was only when she junked it all that she found that 'doing' rather than 'having' is a better way to spend your salary. Dr Laurie Santos examines why investing in experiences like concerts, vacations and dining out can give us a long-term happiness boost that buying things just can't match. For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices