How To Get Your Priorities Straight
It's easy to lose sight of what matters most. Our guest finds a way to reconnect with her values during stressful times. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/55hmf3mm
Episodes
The Science of Happiness
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
Does Your Doctor Listen to You?
Doctors are often trained to be emotionally detached. But our guest finds greater meaning in his work as a physician when he tries to connect more deeply with his patients, co-workers, and family. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5n8h4vxs
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
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
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
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
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
Facing Your Fears
Heights. Public speaking. Death. Our Happiness Guinea Pig explains how she overcomes her fears, one small step at a time. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mr2pyunc
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
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
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...
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
What to Do When You Feel Like a Failure
The loss of a job, the pain of a breakup -- it's easy to get down on ourselves when things aren't going well. Find out how our Happiness Guinea Pig tuned down the self-critic in her head. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4vz97my7
Delight in the Unexpected
A high-five from a stranger, a hummingbird on a busy city street. Poet Ross Gay shares his own happiness practice: savoring the everyday delights in life. ~ Try one of UC Berkeley's Greater Good in Action happiness practices . Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3jzdxybs...
How To Let Go of Anger
Are you still mad at someone who hurt you in the past? That can eat away at your health and well-being. Our Happiness Guinea Pig tries a new approach to giving up a grudge. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yc47kjvc
What Are Your Strongest Reminders of Connection?
What kinds of objects, images, and words surround your home or office? Our Happiness Guinea Pig surveys her apartment for items that spark connection and kindness. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yewvyzrk
Do You Know How to Eat a Raisin?
Do you have trouble slowing down enough to actually enjoy your life? Our Happiness Guinea Pig, comedian and radio host Luke Burbank, finds a way to break free from his over-scheduled lifestyle. Try this week’s happiness practice: Raisin Meditation Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/m2nceh36...
Finding Awe in Every Step
How can we feel connected to the world around us? Singer Diana Gameros tries to cultivate a sense of awe in the most unlikely of places. Try this episode’s happiness practice: Awe Walk Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yt2t2wr6
Finding Your Strengths
Do you fixate on your flaws and shortcomings? Our happiness guinea pig tries the opposite: focusing on her personal strengths. ~ Try this episode’s happiness practice: Use Your Strengths Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mj38w54k
Trying Compassion on Capitol Hill
Can you extend compassion toward a difficult person in your life? Congressman Tim Ryan tries a practice to help him reach across the aisle. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yp2tec4c
A Lesson in Thanks and Vulnerability
A junior high school teacher spent his life defying stereotypes about how men should express their emotions. Here he takes on a new challenge: getting his students to express gratitude. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/46w7cd2v
Notice the Good in Your Life
Comedian Maz Jobrani tries to pay more attention to the good things in his life by writing them down -- and encourages his kids to do the same. Try this episodes happiness practice: Three Good Things Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/9kzjcvf3...
The Power of Expressing Your Deepest Emotions
He started Afghanistan's first post-Taliban rock band when he was 18 years old. A decade later, our Happiness Guinea Pig takes on another challenge: writing about his emotions. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2uzh3r67
Who's Got Your Back?
How do you build feelings of trust and security? Our Happiness Guinea Pig learns some truths about what it takes to feel supported. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mr4defr6
Being Kinder to Yourself
When you’re helping others cope with stress and anxiety, how do you deal with your own? Psychiatrist Elizabeth Guinto tries a practice to be kinder to herself. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yer2c25p
W. Kamau Bell’s Thoughts on Awkward Relationships and Bridging Divides
Comedian W. Kamau Bell discusses the challenges of finding common ground, even with people in your own family. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/ys466txk
Find That Inner Calm
International megastar Daniel Wu tries a practice that brings him calm amidst the chaos. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/bdfcws4a
These Words Cause Happiness
Did you know that you have the power to spark happiness in someone else's brain with just a few simple words? College student Eva Dickerson shares how she spread happiness across her campus, equipped with just her iPhone and some compliments. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yc5vp9es
A Simple Recipe for Happiness
Our Happiness Guinea Pig, children's author Joanne Rocklin, shares her happiness practice: bringing people together to share a meal. It took on a deeper meaning for her after a recent tragedy. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3m5b4sw8
Can’t Relax? This Will Help
Why does a bath or swim feel so relaxing? Our guest shares her own happiness practice--spending time in water--which science is finding can make us happier and healthier. Link to Episode Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5n8uyznd