Dr. Laurie Santos: The Truth About Happiness Nobody Told You

What if everything you’ve been taught about happiness… is wrong?

Yale psychology professor and host of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos, joins Darin to dismantle the biggest myths we believe about fulfillment—and reveal what actually works. From social comparison and toxic positivity to hedonic adaptation and brain rewiring, this episode offers science-backed, soul-refreshing insights that just might change your life.

 

 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• 00:00 – Welcome to the show + sponsor message (Thera Sage)

• 02:00 – What sparked Laurie’s lifelong study of happiness

• 04:00 – The crisis of mental health in students—and why it matters for everyone

• 06:00 – Why getting into Yale didn’t make students happier

• 08:00 – The "arrival fallacy" and the myth of circumstantial happiness

• 10:00 – Why our culture is confused—and our brains are wired backwards

• 12:00 – Hedonic adaptation: why nothing stays good for long

• 14:00 – How dopamine, comparison, and fear cycles keep us stuck

• 16:00 – Natural selection didn’t design you to be happy

• 18:00 – Why living in the present moment is harder than ever

• 20:00 – The devastating impact of tech on joy, connection, and presence

• 22:00 – Why even small social gestures create massive emotional shifts

• 24:00 – The toxic trap of “Good Vibes Only”

• 26:00 – What negative emotions are really trying to tell you

• 28:00 – Gratitude for the signal: rethinking anger, frustration, and overwhelm

• 30:00 – Curiosity over judgment: why your emotion isn’t the problem

• 32:00 – How to begin shifting when you feel stuck and disconnected

• 34:00 – The misunderstood power of self-compassion

• 36:00 – “Go gentle”: the science of slow, sustainable success

• 38:00 – Reclaiming your values in a noisy, comparison-driven world

• 40:00 – The science of time affluence and behavioral change

• 42:00 – Mindset, mindfulness, and the daily rituals that shift perspective

• 44:00 – How awe rewires the brain and inspires action

• 46:00 – Finding wonder in nature, stillness, and even YouTube

• 48:00 – What dogs can teach us about presence

• 50:00 – How to train happiness in kids (and ourselves)

• 52:00 – The #1 truth about happiness most people ignore

• 54:00 – Why knowing the science isn’t enough—you have to live it

• 56:00 – From Aristotle to modern science: the path to the “good life”

• 58:00 – Final insights + how to pursue lasting fulfillment

 

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• Thera Sage – Premium red light, PEMF & infrared tools for total-body wellness 🌿 Get 15% off at therasage.com with code DARIN

• Shakeology – Darin’s daily superfood shake with botanicals, fiber, prebiotics & more 🧠 Visit shakeology.com and use code SUPERLIFE for 15% off, free shipping, and a free shaker cup!

• Our Place: Toxic-free, durable cookware that supports healthy cooking. Use code DARIN for 10% off at fromourplace.com.

 

Follow Dr. Laurie Santos:

• Podcast: The Happiness Lab

• Yale Course: Psychology and the Good Life

• Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial

 

 

Connect with Darin Olien:

• Website: darinolien.com

• Instagram: @darinolien

• Book: Fatal Conveniences

• SuperLife Platform: superlife.com

 

 

Key Takeaway:

"Your brain wasn’t built to make you happy—it was built to keep you alive. But you get to decide how to live." – Dr. Laurie Santos