The Science of Happiness

PRX and Greater Good Science Center
  • 4.5 (1.9K)
  • Social Sciences
  • Updated Biweekly

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.

  1. 9h ago

    Ear Hustle Podcast: Corny-Ass Episode

    Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Nigel says no matter where you are, everyone has a story to tell about a hug: good, bad, or awkward. Earlonne isn’t buying it.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX. You can download the episode here and find the transcript here.

    Ear Hustle Podcast: Corny-Ass Episode

  2. 6d ago

    Why You Can’t Do It Alone

    Can anyone truly succeed alone? We explore how role models, mentors, and strong social support make upward mobility far more possible than grit alone. Summary: What role do the people around us play in shaping our success? Brothers Danny and Gilbert Murillo share how education, mentorship, and their evolving relationship helped them overcome incarceration and systemic barriers to build lives of purpose. Then, Social Mobility Lab founder Bob McKinnon explains why success is never a solo journey and how recognizing our own "dream team" can expand what's possible for ourselves and others. How To Do This Practice:  Reflect on your journey: Think about where you are today and the moments that shaped your path. Consider both the opportunities you had and the challenges you overcame. Identify your dream team: Write down the people who have encouraged, protected, guided, or inspired you throughout your life. They might be family members, teachers, friends, mentors, coaches, or colleagues. Recognize their impact: For each person, note one way they helped you grow or see new possibilities. Notice how your achievements are connected not only to your own efforts, but also to the support you received. Look ahead with intention: Ask yourself what kind of support you need right now. Is there someone you could learn from, ask for advice, or build a stronger relationship with as you work toward your next goal? Move forward with self-compassion: As you pursue your goals, remember that success and setbacks are never yours alone. Focus on what you can control, ask for help when you need it, and offer yourself the same grace you'd extend to someone you care about. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. DANNY MURILLO is the co-founder of Underground Scholars, a program that creates pathways to higher education for incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and system-impacted people.  Learn more about Danny here: https://undergroundscholars.berkeley.edu/members GILBERT MURILLO is a policy advocate and researcher who draws on his own  experience with incarceration to reform California's criminal justice system. Learn more about Gilbert here: https://capolicylab.org/staff/gilbert-murillo/ BOB MCKINNON is an author, teacher, and Director of the Social Mobility Lab at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York Learn more about Bob here: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/bob_mckinnon Related Science of Happiness episodes: Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33 Related Happiness Break episodes: A Science-Backed Path to Self-Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/2js59anm Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3j352txy

    Why You Can’t Do It Alone

  3. Jul 23

    Happiness Break: Holding Truth With Compassion

    Take a moment to connect with your body and make space for difficult emotions with compassion and care. This embodiment practice is guided by Lyla June Johnston, a Diné musician, scholar of Indigenous land management, and community organizer. How To Do This Practice:  Ground yourself in the present: Find a comfortable seated position and take four slow, deep breaths. Notice the feeling of your body supported by the chair or the floor, bringing your attention fully into the present moment. Reflect on a difficult truth: Gently bring to mind a challenging truth—such as the lasting impacts of colonization or another painful reality. Approach it with curiosity rather than judgment, allowing yourself to stay present instead of becoming overwhelmed. Notice where your emotions live in your body: As you reflect, pay attention to your physical sensations. You might notice tightness in your chest, heaviness in your stomach, warmth in your heart, or another sensation. Simply observe where your emotions show up. Hold your feelings with compassion: Rather than pushing difficult emotions away or getting lost in them, imagine holding them with the same care you would offer a crying child. Let each feeling be seen, heard, and acknowledged without trying to fix it. Replace shame with love and solidarity: If guilt or shame arises, gently set it down. Instead, invite feelings of compassion, hope, and connection. Consider one way you can move toward repair, understanding, or solidarity—even if it's simply bearing witness with an open heart. Return to the present with intention: Bring your awareness back to your breath, your body, and your surroundings. Relax your shoulders, soften your muscles, and take four more deep breaths. As you finish, carry forward an intention to meet difficult truths with courage, love, and compassionate action. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide: LYLA JUNE JOHNSTON is the founder and Dean of Instruction at The Rehuman School. Learn about Lyla June Johnston's work: https://www.lylajune.com/ Related The Science of Happiness episodes:   How to Feel Less Lonely and More Connected: https://tinyurl.com/2s3tbchd When It's Hard To Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/mr32nwtv An Awe Walk Through History and Possibility: https://tinyurl.com/mr3arrbc Related Happiness Breaks: A Meditation on the Uniqueness of Your Own Voice: https://tinyurl.com/36x3fbk7 A Meditation on Original Love and Interconnectedness:https://tinyurl.com/mu2uzs2c Our Deep Interconnectedness: https://tinyurl.com/y2epxyxn We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3v76jcs8

    Happiness Break: Holding Truth With Compassion

  4. Jul 16

    Why Revenge Feels So Good—and Why It Hurts Us

    Neuroscience reveals revenge can become a powerful habit—and that forgiveness may be one of the most effective ways to break the cycle. Summary: After years of bullying led him to almost committing an act of violence, James Kimmel Jr., an assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine, set out to understand why revenge can be so compelling—and how forgiveness can interrupt that cycle, easing emotional pain and strengthening self-control. On this episode of The Science of Happiness, we explore what science can teach us about healing ourselves and creating a less violent world. How To Do This Practice:  Think of a Grievance: Bring to mind a person or situation that still causes you hurt or resentment. Notice How It Feels: Take a moment to observe any tension, anger, or pain that arises without judging it. Imagine Forgiveness: Without forcing yourself to forgive, simply imagine what it would feel like to let go of the hurt. Notice the Shift: Pay attention to any sense of relief, ease, or softening—even if it's subtle. Return to the Feeling: When the grievance comes back, revisit that imagined sense of forgiveness as a way of caring for yourself. Practice Often: Repeat this exercise whenever resentment resurfaces, allowing forgiveness to become a habit that supports your own healing. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. JAMES KIMMEL JR. is a lawyer, lecturer in psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, and co-founder and co-director of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Control Studies. Learn more about James Kimmel Jr. here: https://www.jameskimmeljr.com/ Related Science of Happiness episodes: Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33 Nine Steps to Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/5xwztnsx The Science of Letting Go: https://tinyurl.com/ykc2uex4 Related Happiness Break episodes: A Science-Backed Path to Self-Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/2js59anm A Note to Self on Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/ycymxh3h A Breathing Technique To Help You Relax: https://tinyurl.com/59y4sf5y This episode was supported by a generous grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation as part of a Greater Good Science Center project on "Putting the Science of Forgiveness into Practice." Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/4ubmrwyr

    Why Revenge Feels So Good—and Why It Hurts Us

  5. Jul 9

    Happiness Break: A Meditation to Move Through Anger

    Try a practice in accepting difficult feelings like anger or irritation to help keep your cool, feel better overall, and find calm with contemplative social scientist Eve Ekman.  How To Do This Practice: Settle with your breath: Take a few slow, deep breaths, lengthening your spine as you inhale and relaxing your face and body as you exhale. Notice your body: Scan your body with curiosity and observe any sensations without trying to change them. Recall a mild frustration: Bring to mind a recent situation that made you feel slightly irritated or frustrated. Release the story: Let go of the memory and focus only on where you feel the emotion in your body. Give the emotion space: Allow the sensations to exist without judging or resisting them, noticing how they naturally shift over time. Close with kindness: Take one final breath and remind yourself to meet future moments of anger with curiosity, acceptance, and compassion. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide: EVE EKMAN is a contemplative social scientist and meditation teacher from San Francisco, California. Learn more about Eve’s work: https://tinyurl.com/2vhuarh8 More Happiness Breaks like this one: A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/ye24rz4k The Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/rrtpje2x A Breathing Technique To Help You Relax: https://tinyurl.com/59y4sf5y Related Science of Happiness episodes: Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33 How To Feel Better About Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/3jave7h2 What To Do When Stress Takes Over: https://tinyurl.com/yxf3jawn We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/2zh8uewh

    Happiness Break: A Meditation to Move Through Anger

  6. Jul 2

    How Joy Helps Save the Planet

    Choosing joy over guilt and shame can make climate-friendly habits easier to sustain while improving your own well-being along the way. Summary: Fear may grab our attention, but research suggests joy is what helps us make meaningful, sustainable climate choices. On this episode of The Science of Happiness, discover how small shifts can have a big impact. Scientists Elizabeth Dunn and Jiaying Zhao share how reframing climate action around happiness instead of guilt can help us build healthier habits, strengthen our communities, and care for the Earth. How To Do This Practice: Choose one everyday habit: Pick a part of your routine like eating, commuting, shopping, or reducing food waste where you'd like to make a climate-friendly change. Focus on what you can add: Instead of thinking about what to give up, ask yourself what you can enjoy more, such as eating more seasonal produce, walking outdoors, or spending time tending a garden. Notice how it feels: As you try your new habit, pay attention to moments of enjoyment, connection, pride, or calm. Positive emotions help make new behaviors stick. Make it easy: Remove small barriers that get in your way. For example, keep fresh fruits and vegetables where you’ll see them first so they don’t go bad, and pack light when you fly to avoid the extra carbon emissions from checked bags. Share it with someone else: Invite a friend or family member to join you or tell them about a climate-friendly habit you've enjoyed. Positive experiences are more likely to spread than guilt. Reflect on the impact: Consider how your small change affected both your well-being and the planet, and choose one joyful habit you'd like to continue. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Guests: DR. ELIZABETH DUNN is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, who studies the ways that time, money and technology affect our wellbeing. Learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Dunn here: https://dunn.psych.ubc.ca/ DR. JIAYING ZHAO is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC, Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Sustainability, and UBC Sauder Distinguished Scholar. Learn more about Dr. Jiaying Zhao here: https://psych.ubc.ca/profile/jiaying-zhao/ Related Science of Happiness episodes: Climate, Hope, & Science Series: https://tinyurl.com/pb27rep The Case for Hope, with Rebecca Solnit: https://tinyurl.com/4cj3umbz Related Happiness Break episodes: How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm How to Be in Harmony in Nature—Wherever You Are, With Yuria Celidwen: https://tinyurl.com/5n6pfsn2 Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/2s4ft9fc

    How Joy Helps Save the Planet

  7. Jun 25

    Happiness Break: Where Did You Come From? A Guided Reflection Practice

    Indigenous artist Dr. Lyla June Johnston leads a 5-minute freewriting exercise about our personal journeys. Autobiographical writing has been shown to help do better in relationships and feel more satisfied in life. How to Do This Practice: Ground yourself: Sit in a comfortable position and take a few slow breaths. Notice the inhale and exhale without trying to change anything. Let your attention settle into your body and the present moment. Set a simple intention: Bring to mind the idea of observing your story with curiosity rather than judgment. You’re not trying to write something “good,” just something honest. Write the sentence: “I come from a place where…” and pause briefly before continuing. Let the words that follow come from memory, feeling, or imagery—whatever shows up first. Free-write without stopping: Keep your pen moving for several minutes (around 3–5 minutes, or longer if you like). Don’t edit, filter, or worry about grammar or meaning. If you get stuck, repeat the prompt and continue. Notice what emerged: When time is up, read what you wrote slowly. Notice any themes, emotions, memories, or insights that stand out—without trying to fix or interpret them immediately. Reflect and return: Take a moment to acknowledge your experience of the exercise. You might ask: What surprised me? What feels important? Revisit this practice every few weeks or months to notice how your sense of origin and story evolves Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide: DR. LYLA JUNE JOHNSTON is an Indigenous artist and scholar from the Diné Nation. Learn about Dr. Lyla June Johnston's work: https://www.lylajune.com/ More Happiness Breaks like this one: A Compassionate Letter to Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/3j6vtwh3 Finding Yourself in Silence: https://tinyurl.com/3w76t94a An Affirmation Practice for the New Year: https://tinyurl.com/4f9epzbw Related Science of Happiness episodes: How To Tap Your Way to Calm and Clarity: https://tinyurl.com/vtfrt8b7 The Science of Letting Go: https://tinyurl.com/34u2fu48 How Art Heals Us: https://tinyurl.com/88y5r4vr We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/36m7wn3m

    Happiness Break: Where Did You Come From? A Guided Reflection Practice

  8. Jun 18

    How To Find the Wow In Life

    What can a singing bird, a neighborhood walk, and a pair of puppet adventurers teach us about awe? Sit down with Wowsabout! creators Dorien Davies and Halle Stanford to discuss helping kids—and grownups—find wonder wherever they are. Summary: Kids may be natural wonder-seekers, but how do we help them hold onto that sense of awe as they grow up? On this episode of The Science of Happiness, we talk with Wowsabout! creators Dorien Davies and Halle Stanford about creating a PBS Kids special inspired by awe, the science behind wonder, and why small moments—a bird singing at dawn, a blooming jasmine vine, or a walk around the block—can help us feel more connected to ourselves and the world around us. Together, they explore how cultivating awe can foster curiosity, resilience, creativity, and belonging for children and adults alike. How To Do This Practice: Slow down and set an intention: Pause your usual routine and decide to look for something that inspires wonder. Notice what you feel: Tune into physical sensations, like the warmth of the sun, a cool breeze, or your feet touching the ground. Look closely at your surroundings: Pay attention to colors, shapes, textures, or movement that you might normally overlook. Listen with curiosity: Notice the sounds around you—the birds, the wind, distant voices, or the hum of your neighborhood. Follow what captures your attention: If something sparks your interest or amazement, spend a moment with it instead of rushing on. Reflect on your experience: At the end of your walk, consider what surprised you and how it made you feel more connected to the world around you. Try the full practice here: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/awe_walk Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Guests: HALLE STANFORD is the creator and writer of Wowsabout!, founder of 7 Crow Stories, Emmy® Award-winning, and twelve-time Emmy®-nominated executive producer of Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. DORIEN DAVIES is an Executive Producer, Co-Creator, Co-Writer and Principal Puppeteer on Wowsabout!, Word Party, and Julie’s Greenroom.  Watch Wowsabout! here: https://pbskids.org/videos/wowsabout Related Science of Happiness episodes: Cities of Awe Series: https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvny How to Find Calm Through Walking: https://tinyurl.com/43dr26re Related Happiness Break episodes: How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm Pause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3 Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/bdsn3n9e

    How To Find the Wow In Life
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4.5
out of 5
1,871 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    PRX and Greater Good Science Center
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    346
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Greater Good Science Center
  • Show Website
    The Science of Happiness

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