Forget Small Talk: Go Deep Instead
Jul 12, 2026
Most of us default to small talk. It's polite, familiar, and feels like the safest way to start a conversation. But it may also be one of the biggest barriers to genuine connection. Dr. Laurie speaks…
The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won’t protect you. With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into oversharing, how dumping small talk makes for better conversations, why the kids these days are actually doing just fine, and how men can establish strong bromances. Each episode unpacks a bold, counterintuitive claim — using research, data, and expert insight to question the conventional wisdom around happiness and wellbeing.
PodSkip has analyzed 1 episode of The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, averaging 5.0 ads per episode (8% of runtime).
Episodes
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What We Still Get Wrong About Happiness (Live at Dartmouth)
Jul 05, 2026
In this special live episode, Dr. Laurie takes the stage at Dartmouth College for a conversation with happiness historian Darrin McMahon. Together, they break down some of the biggest misconceptions…
Why the “Pursuit of Happiness” Is a Bad Idea
Jun 28, 2026
The “pursuit of happiness” is one of America’s founding ideals. But what if chasing happiness is actually making us feel worse? In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Dr. Laurie…
Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice
Jun 21, 2026
We’ve all had moments we wish we could do over: the relationship we stayed in too long, the opportunity we didn’t take, the thing we said that we can’t unsay. Regret can feel awful. So it’s no…
Are Kids Today Really Worse Off?
Jun 14, 2026
We hear a lot about rising rates of anxiety, depression, and fragility among kids today. But when Harvard researcher Alexis Redding uncovered a forgotten trove of interviews with college students…
The Surprising Case for Oversharing
Jun 07, 2026
We’re kicking off a new season of The Happiness Lab with some happiness hot takes — bold claims that challenge conventional wisdom about what it really takes to feel happier. Today's hot take is all…
How to Feel Happier in Your Body with Jessamyn Stanley
May 31, 2026
As summer begins, many of us are bombarded with messages about how our bodies aren't good enough. But what if we embraced movement not out of self-criticism or shame, but self-compassion? To close…
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What Your Negative Emotions Are Trying to Tell You
May 24, 2026
Negative emotions like sadness, anger, guilt, and anxiety can feel overwhelming. But what if those uncomfortable feelings aren’t problems to fix, but signals worth listening to? As part of our series…
The Hidden Beliefs That Shape Your Happiness with Shawn Achor
May 17, 2026
Our beliefs shape more than we realize. They influence what we notice, how we respond to setbacks, how connected we feel to others, and whether we take action to improve our lives. As part of our…
The Art of Doing Nothing
May 10, 2026
Struggling to find free time? Feeling constantly busy or burned out? This episode is for you. Dr. Laurie explores the science behind “time famine,” the nagging sense that there’s never enough time in…
What Screen Time Is Really Doing to Your Body with Manoush Zomorodi
May 03, 2026
We hear a lot about how screens affect our mental health, but time spent on computers and smartphones is having just as much of an impact on our physical health — from brain fog and weakened core…
Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier
Apr 26, 2026
Buying something new can trigger a rush of dopamine, leading to a momentary boost in happiness. But the rush is fleeting, and over time, our possessions can end up weighing us down more than they…
Your Environment Affects Your Happiness More Than You Think with Dr. Leidy Klotz
Apr 19, 2026
Our surroundings affect our happiness in ways we often don’t notice. The layout of a room, the amount of clutter in our home, and even small changes to lighting can shape our mood, focus, and…
How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits
Apr 12, 2026
Breaking bad habits often feels like a test of willpower. We tell ourselves we’ll stop scrolling, eat better, or exercise more — and then fall right back into the same routines. So why is lasting…
Why It Hurts to Hold a Grudge — and How to Let Go with Dr. Fred Luskin
Apr 05, 2026
Forgiveness might sound simple, but it's hard to let go of the anger that comes with being deeply hurt. Grudges, bitterness, and frustration with life’s unfairness can quietly build up over time and…
Why You're Still Using Social Media (Even If You Want to Stop) with Dr. Cass Sunstein
Mar 22, 2026
Why is social media so hard to quit? We waste hours scrolling, feel worse when we log off, and still find ourselves going back for more. Dr. Laurie sits down with Dr. Cass Sunstein, co-author of…
What is Social Media Doing to Kids? with Dr. Jean Twenge
Mar 19, 2026
Over the past decade, rates of depression and loneliness have surged among young people. Many researchers point to one major change: the rise of smartphones and social media. But what does the data…
How to Stop Work From Taking Over Your Life
Mar 15, 2026
Work doesn’t end when the workday does. Even after we close our laptops, our minds keep replaying awkward meetings, looming deadlines, and unfinished to-do lists. Over time, that “always on”…
Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 2)
Mar 08, 2026
In Part 2 of Dr. Laurie’s conversation with researchers Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, we learn how couples can raise complaints without damaging their relationship — and how to…
Inside the Love Lab with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (Part 1)
Mar 01, 2026
In this classic episode, Dr. Laurie speaks with two of the world’s most influential relationship scientists, Drs. John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman. In their renowned “Love Lab,” the married…
Why Algorithms Can’t Predict Your Love Life with Dr. Paul Eastwick
Feb 22, 2026
Modern dating can feel like a marketplace. We’re told we all have a “mate value,” that some people are 9s and 10s, and that the laws of evolution determine who gets chosen — and who gets rejected…
How to Find "The One": The Science of Dating with Tim Molnar
Feb 15, 2026
Modern dating can feel exhausting. On one hand, there’s the seemingly endless swiping that leads to dating app burnout; on the other, there’s what can feel like the insurmountable challenge of…
How to Feel Truly Loved (with Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky and Dr. Harry Reis)
Feb 08, 2026
Most of us have people in our lives who love us — partners, friends, family — yet many of us still don’t feel as loved as we want to. Why is there such a gap between being loved and feeling loved?…
How to Design a More Meaningful Life (with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett)
Feb 01, 2026
What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How do you find direction when you feel stuck or you’re unsure about your purpose? Dave Evans and Bill Burnett, co-founders of the Stanford Life Design…
The Surprising Science of Creativity (with Dr. George Newman)
Jan 25, 2026
We often think creativity comes from sudden flashes of genius within us. But what if ideas actually exist in the world around us — waiting to be discovered and shaped by anyone paying attention? …
Why Chasing Success Can Leave You Feeling Stuck (with David Brooks)
Jan 18, 2026
It’s easy to fixate on the usual markers of success — your resume, your net worth, or how “impressive” you seem on paper. But how much do those things really speak to our wellbeing? And what do we…
How to Bounce Back from Life’s Curveballs (with Dr. Maya Shankar)
Jan 11, 2026
Life has a way of upending even our best-laid plans. Breakups, job losses, scary health diagnoses — these unexpected changes can leave us feeling stuck and uncertain about what comes next.Dr. Laurie…
Stop Wasting Your Energy — Here’s What to Do Instead (with Dr. Diana Hill)
Jan 04, 2026
A lot of us spend our energy on things that aren’t worth it: projects, relationships, or goals that may feel important in the moment but ultimately leave us frustrated and drained. Dr. Diana Hill…
Holiday Survival Guide II: Perfect Gifts and Fighting Fatigue (with Rainn Wilson)
Dec 14, 2025
What stresses you out over the festive season? Happiness Lab listeners sent in their holiday woes so Dr Laurie and guest Rainn Wilson (The Office star and host of Soul Boom) could weigh in with some…
Holiday Survival Guide I: Ending Family Arguments (with Rainn Wilson)
Dec 07, 2025
What stresses you out over the festive season? Happiness Lab listeners sent in their holiday woes so Dr Laurie and guest Rainn Wilson (The Office star and host of Soul Boom) could weigh in with some…