The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Latest Episodes:

Beat Your Isolation Loneliness Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

Many of us are being advised to stay at home and avoid social contact to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Human interaction is a vital component of happiness, so Dr Laurie Santos asks Stanford's Professor Jamil Zaki to explain his research into how we can maintain meaningful links to our loved ones, friends and colleagues even if we can't be in the same room with them.

If you have a question you want answered on a future coronavirus bonus episode then tweet @lauriesantos or @pushkinpods using #happinesslabpod

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Sleep When You're Dead Tired (LIVE with Arianna Huffington) Jan 27, 2020

Show notes

Business leader Arianna Huffington nearly died because she didn't get enough sleep. She tells Dr Laurie Santos how this wake-up call changed her attitude to getting enough sack time and shares tips on how we can all prepare ourselves mentally and physically to enjoy the amount of sleep that is vital for us to be healthy, happy and effect in our waking hours.

Recorded in front of a live audience at The Wing in New York's SoHo.

For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm

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Think Yourself Happy (LIVE from Yale) Jan 20, 2020

Show notes

Really concentrating on the emotions and physical sensations you are experiencing right now can make you happier. Join Yale mindfulness expert Dr Hedy Kober as she introduces a live audience to guided meditation. She shares her tips on being mindful with Dr Laurie Santos and explains the new scientific research that shows the benefits of this ancient practice.

For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm

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Grateful Expectations Jan 13, 2020

Show notes

Grit and determination to change your habits can only get you so far... if you want to be happier you have to stop and think about how nice people have been to you and how nice you can be to them in return. This circle of gratitude - the science suggests - will also make you a better friend to one of the most important people in your life... your future self.

Dr Laurie Santos investigates this effect with Northeastern University's Prof David DeSteno - author of Emotional Success: The Power of Gratitude, Compassion and Pride.

For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm

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A New Hope Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

Research shows we all look for moments to make a fresh start - new years, new seasons, new decades. Our optimism about making big, positive changes is strong, but it fades quickly. As we enter 2020, Dr Laurie Santos asks Wharton's Katy Milkman about the science behind the "fresh start' effect and examines ways we can maintain our new habits beyond January.

For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm

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BONUS: A Happier Christmas Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

Accept our gift of happiness this holiday season! It can be a hectic and stressful time of year... but it's also full of opportunities to feel happier. Dr Laurie Santos brings you science-based tips so you can have yourself a merry little Christmas.

AlSO: The Happiness Lab returns with four special New Year shows to take you into 2020 - beginning 6 Jan.

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Making the Grade Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

From school grades to fitness trackers, we're all being ranked and rated on a daily basis. This is having a huge impact on our happiness and preventing us from living our lives to the fullest. Can giving up on grades radically improve our wellbeing?

For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm

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Is Happiness Contagious? How Other People's Emotions Affect Us Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

The moods of those around us can directly influence how happy or sad we feel. Drawing on psychology and neuroscience, Dr. Laurie teams up with the world’s leading expert on TV laugh tracks to explore how emotional cues shape our feelings without us realizing it. From sitcoms to social groups, learn how humans naturally “catch” emotions from others—and how we can we intentionally bring joy to ourselves and our loved ones.
Experts Mentioned:
- Tanya Chartrand, Roy J. Bostock Professor, Duke University
- Jeff Hancock, Harry and Norman Chandler Professor of Communication and founder of the Stanford Social Media Lab, Stanford University
- Sigal Barsade, Joseph Frank Bernstein Professor Professor of Management, The Wharton School
- Marcel Marceau, legendary mime
Resources Mentioned:
- "The Man Who Perfected the Laugh Track," (Slate, 2018)
- "When Paid Applauders Ruled the Paris Opera House," (JSTOR Daily, 2021)
- "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," TV series, (1952-1966)
- "The Chameleon Effect: The Perception-Behavior Link and Social Interaction," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1999)
Related episodes of "The Happiness Lab":
- "Nerd Out! The Happiness of Being a Fan"
- "Emotions Are Data…So Listen to Them"
- "Laurie Gets a Funtervention (Part 1)"
- "Laurie Gets a Funtervention (Part 2)"

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Decision Fatigue: The Psychology of Choice Overload Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

We tend to think having more options is better, but the science shows too many choices can drain mental energy, increase anxiety, and make us feel worse about making decisions, even when those decisions seem trivial. Dr. Laurie explores the psychology of choice overload and decision fatigue—including why we wrongly prioritize more choices over greater well-being and how constant decision making can undermine long-term happiness. She also speaks with a woman who radically simplified her life just by cleaning out her wardrobe.
Experts Mentioned:
- Dr. Sheena Iyengar, S.T. Lee Professor of Business, Columbia Univesirty
- Barry Schwartz, Dorwin P. Cartwright Professor Emeritus in Social Theory and Social Action, Swarthmore College and Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley
- Mark Lepper, Albert Ray Lang Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, Stanford University
- Peter Ubel, Madge and Dennis T. McLawhorn University Distinguished Professor
Professor of Business Administration, Professor of Medicine, Professor in Population Health Sciences Duke University
Resources Mentioned:
- "When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing?" (Personality Process and Individual Differences, 2000)
- The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz (2004)
- Karen Quinlan Supreme Court Case
- Courtney Carver and Project 333

Related episodes of "The Happiness Lab":
- "Reconnect with the Moment"
- "You Only Live Once...So Commit"
- "How to Make Better Choices (with Barry Schwartz)"
- "You Can Change"

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Don't Accentuate the Positive Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

We often think positive thinking is the best way to achieve our ambitions - but the science shows it holds us all back. Dr Laurie Santos hears how champion swimmer Michael Phelps imagined the worst to help make his Olympic dreams come true. It's a mental habit that you can learn too.

For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.