The Science of Happiness
Kanaal Besonderhede
The Science of Happiness
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.
Onlangse Episodes
305 episodes
The Science of Letting Go
Discover how forgiveness reshapes the brain, eases the body, and helps us move forward with greater compassion and freedom.
Summary: Forgiveness...
How Rituals Keep Us Connected
We explore Día de los Muertos as a ritual that nurtures community, imbues loss with meaning, and helps us process grief while also connecting through...
Happiness Break: How to Be Your Own Best Friend
Show yourself real self-kindness in less than 10 minutes with this self-compassion break guided by psychologist Kristin Neff.
How To Do This Pra...
Why Our Brains Find Meaning in Random Patterns
What happens when imagination meets perception, and ordinary objects come alive? We explore the science of pareidolia.
Summary: Our minds are wi...
Happiness Break: Six Minutes to Connect with Your Body, with Dacher
Dedicating a little time to tune into your body fortifies you to better handle the stresses of daily life.
How To Do This Practice:
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The Case for Hope, With Rebecca Solnit
We explore how embracing uncertainty enables us to move beyond climate anxiety and despair to hope and action, with author and activist Rebecca Solnit...
Happiness Break: Finding Yourself in Silence
Zen and mindfulness teacher Henry Shukman guides us in a meditation that invites us to listen deeply and find clarity in quiet.
How To Do This P...
What to Do When Stress Takes Over
Learn why uncertainty fuels anxiety and how noticing our body’s stress signals can help us find calm.
Summary: One in five adults in the U.S. re...
Happiness Break: A Meditation to Connect to Your Roots, with Yuria Celidwen
When was the last time you thought about your ancestors? This guided meditation by Indigenous scholar Yuria Celidwen will help you connect to your her...
What Happens When Caregivers Dance
Even just a few minutes of dancing can shift energy, release emotions, and remind us to care for ourselves while we care for others.
Summary: Da...
Happiness Break: A Science-Backed Path to Self-Forgiveness
Through breath, compassion, and kind words to yourself, this guided meditation helps you forgive yourself, let go, and move forward with love.
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How Gentle Touch Builds Connection
Research shows that simple practices such as self-hugs, soothing touch, and hand-to-heart can calm the nervous system, supporting caregivers and the c...
Happiness Break: A Meditation for When You Feel Uneasy
In this guided meditation with poet and teacher Henry Shukman, learn how allowing discomfort, rather than resisting it, can open the door to greater c...
How To Tap Your Way to Calm and Clarity
There’s a tapping practice shown to ease stress, balance emotions, and support healing. We explore the science behind Emotional Freedom Technique, or...
Happiness Break: A Meditation for When Others Are Suffering
Witnessing the suffering of others can be deeply painful. In this guided meditation, Anushka Fernandopulle helps you cultivate both compassion and the...
David Byrne on How Music Connects Us
Music helped former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne come out of his shell and connect with others—and research shows he's not alone. We explore the...
Happiness Break: How to Awaken Joy, with Spring Washam
Cultivate more joy in your life with this practice led by meditation teacher and author Spring Washam.
How to Do This Practice:
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Bonus: Zakiya Used to Be So Fun (Proxy podcast)
The case of the people person who fell out of love with people.
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Summary: On this episode...
The Science of Trusting Your Intuition
What if burnout isn’t a breaking point, but an invitation to slow down, tune in, and hear the intuition you have been trying to say all along?
S...
Happiness Break: Smiling From The Inside Out
Just a soft smile and a few minutes of breath can shift your mood, lower stress, and deepen your sense of connection.
How To Do This Practice: <...
How Parks Keep Us Connected
From childhood adventures to post-trauma recovery, explore how our parks support our well-being— and why access to them matters.
Summary: Nature...
Happiness Break: Embodying Resilience, With Prentis Hemphill
What if you could tap into your inherent resilience at any time? Prentis Hemphill guides a meditation to turn good memories into a state of resilience...
How to Feel More Hopeful
How can we build a sense of hope when the future feels uncertain? Poet Tomás Morín tries a writing practice to make him feel more hopeful and motivate...
Happiness Break: A Meditation For When You Have Too Much To Do
Does your to-do list feel endless? Try this short, guided practice to help you reflect, reconnect, and release the pressure to do it all perfectly.
How To Do Hard Things
What happens when the world sees you as a hero, but you feel lost inside? Abby Wambach, a trailblazer in women’s soccer, shares how facing life’s chal...
Happiness Break: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process
Through poetic reflection, Yrsa Daley-Ward helps us embrace the in-between moments, reminding us that the unknown can be the very terrain where real c...
Our Brains on Poetry
Learn how poetry can help your brain handle stress, process feelings, and spark insight.
Summary: This episode of The Science of Happiness is pa...
Happiness Break: How to Awaken Your Creative Energy
Spring Washam guides us on a gentle visualization to help you tap into the joy, wonder, and possibility that creativity brings.
How To Do This P...
How Art Heals Us
We explore how making art can ground us in the present and be a space of healing, connection, and joy.
Summary: We explore how creative expressi...
Happiness Break: Making Space for You, with Alex Elle
Consider what you want to make space for in your life in this 6-minute contemplation guided by Alex Elle.
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What Humans Can Learn From Trees (Encore)
Trees aren’t just competing for sunlight and soil—they’re also looking out for one another. Scientist Suzanne Simard reveals the unexpected ways trees...
Happiness Break: Who Takes Care of You?
When we feel cared for, our cortisol levels drop, we feel safe, and we handle stress better. Dacher leads a meditation to help us focus on the people...
Why Going Offline Might Save Us
What happens when we replace sky-gazing with screen-scrolling? Discover how digital life impacts happiness and what Gen Z can teach us about reclaimin...
Happiness Break: A Meditation on the Uniqueness of Your Voice
Embrace the beauty of your accent in this self-compassion meditation that guides you in a reflection of your history, heritage, and connection to your...
How to Focus Under Pressure (Encore)
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...
Happiness Break: Find Calm When You Can’t Clear Your Mind, With Lama Rod Owens
Take a break from ruminating with Lama Rod Owens as he leads you in a meditation to cultivate a sky-like mind.
How to Do This Practice:
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How Music Can Hold and Heal Us
An art-form powerful enough to prescribe — from ancient traditions to modern neuroscience, we uncover how music, including lullabies, function as a fo...
Making Music With Your Body, With Keith Terry | Happiness Break
How to Do This Practice:
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Today’s Happiness Break host:
KEITH TERRY is a percussioni...
Why Friendships Matter More Than We Think
In a world that emphasizes romantic relationships, we explore the science of friendships in humans and our primate relatives—how we make them and how...
A Guided Meditation on Embodied Love | Happiness Break
Experience the physical sensations of love through this guided meditation that nurtures connection, relaxation, and emotional awareness.
How To...