The Science of Happiness
PRX and Greater Good Science Center
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 10, 2019 • 19min
Finding Beauty in the Everyday
A tree next to a bus stop, a flower poking through the sidewalk. Our guest, a veteran of the Iraq War, discovers how awe and wonder can be found anywhere — if you just pay attention.
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2w2ht55h
Sep 26, 2019 • 26min
How to Find Your Silver Linings
Do you fixate on what's going wrong in your life? Poet and "recovering pessimist" Maggie Smith practices looking on the bright side.
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5n8cy7fk
Sep 12, 2019 • 19min
Can Margaret Cho Get Any Better?
She's one of the most accomplished comedians of her generation. But Margaret Cho wants to find a different kind of happiness.
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2p9yjvks
Aug 29, 2019 • 19min
Can You Humanize a Zombie?
Should we try to find common ground with the villains in our lives? Comedian Zahra Noorbahksh tries to understand a "zombie" from her past.
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3be2aszs
Aug 15, 2019 • 16min
Making Kindness Contagious
We gave our Happiness Guinea Pig a mission: Do five random acts of kindness in one day.
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/36zrcd2p
4 snips
Aug 1, 2019 • 17min
Facing Your Fears
Listen to personal stories about overcoming fears like heights, public speaking, and death. Discover how one Happiness Guinea Pig faces her fears with small steps. Explore the process of reconditioning memories to reduce fear responses and the importance of seeking professional help for fear-related conditions.
Jul 18, 2019 • 14min
How Michael Lewis Finds the Funny
How can you unearth humor in everyday life? Best-selling author Michael Lewis goes looking for laughs.
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3kebr688
Jul 4, 2019 • 20min
How to Keep Love Alive
After more than a decade together, our Happiness Guinea Pig tries to bring the spark back into her marriage.
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/27vwc6bb
Jun 20, 2019 • 16min
Who Makes You Feel Connected?
Our Happiness Guinea Pig, the creator of Cartoon Network's We Bare Bears, finds a way to feel close to a loved one he recently lost.
Try this week’s happiness practice: Feeling Connected
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4pjw3k5a
Jun 6, 2019 • 19min
A Better Way to Talk to Yourself
Her husband has been in prison for 23 years. Our Happiness Guinea Pig tries a new approach to stay strong while working to get him released.
Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2ayervbh
