Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Cultivate a sense of original love — a universal connection that nurtures joy, safety, and belonging — with meditation teacher Henry Shukman. How to Do This Practice: Find a comfortable position, either seated with a balanced, unsupported spine or resting back into support. Sense the solidity of your body resting on the earth, recognizing your deep connection with it. Observe the sounds around you, the sensations in your body, and any passing thou...
Feb 06, 2025•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Scroll down for a transcription of this episode From daily check-ins to meaningful compliments and planned dates nights, we explore a 7-day love challenge to help couples strengthen their relationships. Summary: Developed by renowned psychologists Julie and John Gottman. Based on decades of research, this week-long practice offers simple, actionable steps to deepen connection and nurture relationships. From meaningful check-ins and heartfelt compliments to the importance of touch, we uncover how...
Jan 30, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Scroll down for a transcription of this episode Cultivate more joy in your life with this practice led by meditation teacher and author Spring Washam. How to Do This Practice: Reflect on an area of your life that brings you joy—whether it’s a small moment, an activity, or a connection. Imagine experiencing that joyful moment. Feel the smiles, peace, and lightness it brings. Let yourself fully connect with the positive emotions. As you reflect, silently say to yourself, “May my joy and my happine...
Jan 23, 2025•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast We explore how embracing awe can uplift caregivers, providing tools to nurture themselves while nurturing others. Sign up for our Caring for Caregivers Newsletter! Join our newsletter community by providing your information below and we'll send you 4 research-backed podcast episodes and articles on how to nurture well-being and build stronger caregiver-child relationships over the next year… For free! Summary: This week on The Science of Happiness , we explore how moments of awe can transform ca...
Jan 16, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast A meditation to cultivate a sense of awe by focusing on new beginnings -- whether it’s a budding plant, a new friendship, or a recent moment of wonder. How to Do This Practice: Find a quiet, comfortable space. Sit or lie down, close your eyes if you wish, and take deep breaths to center yourself. Bring your awareness to the present moment—notice your breath, body sensations, and surroundings without judgment. Reflect on new beginnings in your life. Picture meeting someone new and feeling curiosi...
Jan 09, 2025•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dance, one of humanity's oldest art forms, traces its roots back over 10,000 years. Its rhythmic movements are known to release endorphins, strengthen connections, and even increase our pain tolerance. Summary: This week on The Science of Happiness , we explore how dancing connects us, enhances well-being, and fosters community. Lori Arnett, a NASA engineer, shares how a month-long dance practice brought her closer to her daughters and colleagues, offering moments of calm and joy. She reflected ...
Jan 02, 2025•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Feeling burned out? Join Dr. Kristen Neff as she guides us through a calming practice to bring kindness and support to ourselves during tough times. How to Do This Practice: Sit in a quiet, comfortable space, close your eyes if you wish, and take deep breaths to center yourself. Observe how you’re feeling—physically and emotionally—without judgment. Acknowledge your struggle: This is hard. Burnout is a natural human response to stress. Offer yourself kindness. Imagine a compassionate voice sayin...
Dec 26, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Compassionate dialogue isn’t just about talking and listening—it's a meaningful way to bridge divides, cultivate belonging, and reimagine education as a space for connection. Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness , we explore the role of compassion in education and connecting across differences. We explore the bravery it takes to have tough conversations, how to create spaces where everyone feels they belong, and the profound impact of addressing marginalization in the classroom. ...
Dec 19, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Trouble sitting still? Learn to practice meditating by simply walking in this practice guided by 10% Happier host Dan Harris. Scroll down for a transcript of this episode. How to Do This Practice: Begin walking. Bring your awareness to the present moment, noticing sights and sounds around you. When your mind wanders to worries or other thoughts, gently bring yourself back to what you notice around you. See if you can notice the sensations in your leg as you take each step. Continue walking this ...
Dec 12, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mindful walking isn’t just a stroll—it’s a science-backed way to reduce, improve concentration, and soak in the beauty of your surroundings at the same time. *** The Science of Happiness is committed to sharing stories and research that inspire resilience, compassion, and connection. As we reflect on the past few years, these values feel more essential than ever. Help us continue to provide this free resource and expand its reach. Through December 31, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dol...
Dec 05, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Psychologist Dacher Keltner guides you through a practice to help you see the good things in your life that you might otherwise overlook. How to Do This Practice: 1. Sit or lay down somewhere comfortable. You may close your eyes if you wish, and take a slow, deep breath in to ground into the present moment. Then, scan your body from head to toe, noticing how you’re feeling in this moment. Let worries and plans clear from your mind. 2. Start by thinking about all the things that make your life co...
Nov 28, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast One way to feel more thankful for things is to imagine life without them. We explore a practice shown to help you see the bright side, even when you feel down. We know gratitude is good for us, but what if we’re struggling to feel it? This week’s guest, author and podcast producer Stephanie Foo, finds herself missing her close-knit “chosen family” in California since moving to New York. Foo tries a practice called mental subtraction, where she imagines her life without New York. Later, gratitude...
Nov 21, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Indigenous scholar Dr. Yuria Celidwen guides us in a reflection on our interconnection with water, encouraging us to see it as more than just a vital resource, but as kin. How to Do This Practice: Last week we explored the scientifically backed healing qualities of water, focusing on how connecting with water through sound, sight, and touch can support our well being. This week, indigenous scholar Dr. Yuria Celidwen guides us in a reflection on our interconnection with water, encouraging us to s...
Nov 14, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how connecting with water through all five senses can support well-being. A growing body of research shows that connecting with water through things like sight and sound and touch can have a positive impact on how we feel, how we think, and even the state of our bodies. This week, we activate all five senses through connecting with water in hopes of applying that research into reality. We hear from an environmental psychologist about the many proven benefits of spending time by water, a...
Nov 07, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast A guided drawing meditation to help you break out of stale thought patterns and maybe even enter a state of flow. No talent required. How to Do This Practice: Grab a piece of paper and something to draw with. Find a comfortable place and start by taking some deep, mindful breaths Take a few moments to take in your environment. What colors, shapes, and objects do you see? Set a timer and for the next two minutes, draw something that caught your attention. Don’t worry about how it looks and try to...
Oct 31, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast We explore Día de los Muertos—Day of the Dead—as a ritual that nurtures community, imbues loss with meaning, and helps us process grief while also connecting through shared joy. Summary: We investigate how Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, rituals strengthen family ties and cultural identity, and learn about its evolution from a 3,000 year old practice to a global celebration. We look at key elements like the ofrenda and explore how commercialization—like Mattel’s Day of the Dead Barbie—ra...
Oct 24, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Discover Humming Bee Breath (Bhramari Pranayama), a soothing breathing technique that uses gentle humming to promote relaxation and mental calm. It’s important to take a moment to pause and take a long, slow exhale as we navigate life. I n our podcast series, "Breathe Away Anxiety, " we explore ancient breathing techniques alongside cutting-edge research that reveals the powerful effects of slow, controlled breathing on our mental and physical well-being. We also share Happiness Break meditation...
Oct 17, 2024•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Did you know humming can soothe your nervous system? We explore the stress-relieving power of Bhramari Pranayama, also known as humming bee breath, with marathon runner and activist Cal Calamia. Summary: Cal Calamia, the first nonbinary winner of the San Francisco Marathon, explores Bhramari Pranayama, an ancient yogic breathing technique that uses humming to promote relaxation. Dr. Gunjan Trivedi later explains how this "humming bee breath" enhances heart rate variability and why it’s key to ma...
Oct 10, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. David Spiegel guides you through cyclic sighing, a breathwork practice that helps reduce stress and anxiety. Summary: Dr. David Spiegel guides you through a simple yet powerful breathwork practice that can help reduce stress, anxiety, and boost overall well-being. Backed by Stanford research, this simple technique uses slow, controlled exhales to calm the nervous system and improve overall well-being. Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3dtwyk44 Time: 5 minutes Prepare: Find a comfortable seated...
Oct 03, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s important to take a moment to pause and take a long, slow exhale as we navigate life. I n our podcast series, "Breathe Away Anxiety," we explore ancient breathing techniques alongside cutting-edge research that reveals the powerful effects of slow, controlled breathing on our mental and physical well-being. We also share Happiness Break meditations to guide you through these science-backed methods, helping you reduce anxiety and cultivate calm in your everyday life. We explore cyclic sighin...
Sep 26, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Kristin Neff guides us in a self-compassionate touch exercise, and shares the many research-backed reasons to cultivate kindness towards oneself. Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5xt3mz3h Summary: Dr. Kristin Neff guides us through various practices of self-compassionate touch, such as placing hands over the heart or cradling the face, to provide comfort and support. Research shows that self-compassion can improve mental and physical well-being and activates the parasympathetic nervous system...
Sep 19, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast We explore the science behind how self-compassionate touch can help us feel better about ourselves. Link to transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4nm5827f Summary: Brittany Luce, host of NPR's "It's Been A Minute," shares her experience with self-compassionate touch. She did it for 20 seconds, almost daily. to quiet her inner critic and foster self-compassion, especially during moments of stress or self-judgment. Researcher Eli Susman also shares the fascinating science behind this practice, and how d...
Sep 12, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Letting go of our regrets can motivate us to improve and help us grow. Alex Elle, a certified breath work and writing coach, guides us through a meditation to forgive and accept ourselves. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5dzrzm4z How to Do This Practice: 1. Take a deep breath. As you exhale, remember all you have done in the past that led you to come to be where you are today. 2. Remember that you are allowed to forgive yourself and let it go. Give yourself permission to release ...
Sep 05, 2024•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast What if you had a magic wand and could better the world in any way? What would you do? We explore a practice shown to help you find your purpose and feel more motivated, resilient and fulfilled in life. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/bp7wv7ft Episode Summary What’s your greater purpose in life? It’s a tough question, especially if you’re feeling uncertain about your future. In this episode, our guest explores that very question—and gets handed a magic wand with the power to make...
Aug 29, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our happiness is interconnected with the well-being of others, both people and the natural world. Step outside of you can, or imagine the outdoors from wherever you are now, and join us for a meditation that’ll help us be better stewards of the natural world. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/y3yfjsxa Episode Summary A meditation on how we can give back to the earth, led by indigenous activist, artist, and scholar Dr. Lyla June Johnston. How To Do This Practice Sit and take four de...
Aug 22, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast With the U.S. election swiftly approaching, the political divide can feel overwhelming. But what happens when we recognize the limits of our knowledge? Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/83a5wbkp Episode Summary When we internally acknowledge the limits of our knowledge, we create space to engage with other points of view. Allowing new perspectives in can help us better assess arguments, and decrease hubris. We will hear from psychologists Tania Israel and Daryl Van Tongeren about e...
Aug 15, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Loving-kindness meditation, or “metta,” has its roots in Buddhist traditions that date back thousands of years. Studies show it can help nourish your capacity to express love, feel more satisfied in life, and enhance brain areas involved in emotional processing and empathy. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5h3nfwjb Episode Summary Dacher guides us in a meditation that has been practiced over thousands of years. Together, we will mentally extend goodwill, kindness, and warmth towar...
Aug 08, 2024•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever known you were dreaming while you were asleep? Our guests try practices to help induce lucid dreams, and we hear what they can teach us about consciousness.
Aug 01, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and vastness of the sky. Dacher Keltner guides us through a practice of pausing to turn your gaze to the sky as a pathway to awe, creativity and wonder. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yc5xfwp4 Practice: Go someplace where you feel safe and also have a nice view of the sky. First, focus on your breathing. Take a few slow inhales and even slower exhales. As you breathe in and out, relax your shoulders, your hands, and your face. On the next b...
Jul 25, 2024•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Safe encounters with wildlife can deepen our appreciation for nature, and for other people. Craig Foster of “My Octopus Teacher” shares his transformational experiences with the animals of the ocean. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/murmd98b Episode Summary Venturing into nature and experiencing wildlife can be transformative. Safe interactions with wildlife encourage us to be more in relation with nature, and each other. In this episode, we hear from Craig Foster of “My Octopus T...
Jul 18, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
