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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...
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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.
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The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
Pushkin IndustriesEpisodes & Posts
Episodes
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Transcribed
10 AUG 2026 · Most of us hate asking for favors. We worry about being a burden, coming across as needy, or facing rejection for asking too much. But what if our fear of bothering people is stopping us, and the people around us, from becoming happier? Dr. Laurie explores why our instincts about asking for help are usually wrong. She speaks with psychologist https://www.nicholasepley.com/ about why asking others for help can actually make them like us more. And author and entrepreneur https://www.jiajiang.com/ shares how 100 days of asking for outlandish favors totally transformed his life. Experts Mentioned:
- https://www.nicholasepley.com/, Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- https://www.jiajiang.com/, author, entrepreneur, and expert in “rejection therapy”
Resources Mentioned:
- https://www.amazon.com/Rejection-Proof-Became-Invincible-Through/dp/080414138X, by Jia Jiang (2015)
- “https://www.ted.com/talks/jia_jiang_what_i_learned_from_100_days_of_rejection,” by Jia Jiang (TED, 2016)
- “https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLamouX6QxWIuTHuaArIOzdorWoYaF6cU5,” by Jia Jiang (YouTube series, 2013)
- http://rejectiontherapy.com/
- “https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36067802/,” by Xuan Zhao and Nicholas Epley (Psychological Science, 2022)
- “https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-34832-002,” by Anna Bruk, Sabine Scholl, and Herbert Bless (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2018)
Related Episodes:
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/treating-the-pain-of-a-broken-heart”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/forget-small-talk-go-deep-instead”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/the-surprising-case-for-oversharing”
See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribed
3 AUG 2026 · In recent years, we've heard a lot of unsettling news about the loneliness epidemic and the dangers of social isolation. But could all this talk about loneliness paradoxically be making the problem... worse? Dr. Laurie unpacks what we get wrong about loneliness. Along the way, she speaks with historian https://fayboundalberti.com/ about why loneliness, as we think of it today, is a surprisingly modern phenomenon. Psychologist https://www.micaelarodriguez.com/ explains why we often confuse loneliness with being alone — and why learning to enjoy solitude can actually make us less lonely. And writer https://www.emmagannon.co.uk/ shares practical tips for embracing the joy of your own company. Laurie discovers why spending time alone is a skill, and how getting better at it can help us regulate our emotions, spark creativity, and strengthen our connections with others. Experts Mentioned:
- https://www.vivekmurthy.com/, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States
- https://fayboundalberti.com/, Professor of Modern History at King’s College London
- https://www.micaelarodriguez.com/, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Yale University
- https://www.emmagannon.co.uk/, author, blogger, and podcaster
- https://www.mattkillingsworth.com/, Senior Fellow at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- https://batten.virginia.edu/people/timothy-wilson/, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Virginia
- https://comm.osu.edu/people/campbell.2844, Professor of Mediated Communication at The Ohio State University
- https://juliacameronlive.com/, author, poet, songwriter, filmmaker, and playwright
- https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal/, 17th-century French philosopher
Resources Mentioned:
- “https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf,” by Office of the Surgeon General (2023)
- “https://www.who.int/news/item/30-06-2025-social-connection-linked-to-improved-heath-and-reduced-risk-of-early-death,” by World Health Organization Media Team (2025)
- https://www.amazon.com/Biography-Loneliness-History-Emotion/dp/0198811349, by Fay Bound-Alberti (2019)
- “https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1250830,” by Timothy Wilson, David Reinhard, Erin Westgate, Daniel Gilbert, Nicole Ellerbeck, Cheryl Hahn, Casey Brown, and Adi Shaked (Science, 2014)
- “https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56764-3,” by Micaela Rodriguez, Kathryn E. Schertz, and Ethan Kross (Nature Communications, 2025)
- “https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02699931.2024.2445080,” by Micaela Rodriguez and Scott Campbell (Cognition and Emotion, 2025)
- “https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jopy.12887,” by Micaela Rodriguez, Samuel Pratt, Benjamin W. Bellet, and Richard J. McNally (Journal of Personality, 2023)
- https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Compass-Finding-Your-Life-ebook/dp/B0FVBBFDDG, by Emma Gannon (2026)
- “https://thehyphen.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-solitude,” by Emma Gannon (The Hyphen, 2025)
- “‘https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/30/stigma-joy-table-for-one-solo-dining,” by Emma Gannon (The Guardian, 2026)
- https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Spiritual-Higher-Creativity/dp/1585421472, by Julia Cameron (1992)
Related Episodes:
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/bonus-beat-your-isolation-loneliness”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/fighting-that-meh-feeling-of-languishing”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/emotions-are-data-so-listen-to-them”
See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribed
27 JUL 2026 · What would it take to make you happier? A raise? A promotion? Getting into your dream school? Winning the lottery? It turns out that we’re surprisingly bad at predicting how these events will actually make us feel. When they do make us happier, research shows that the highs won’t last as long as we expect. The good news is that the lows won't last as long as we expect either. We're just as bad at predicting how life's setbacks will affect us. Dr. Laurie speaks with Harvard psychologist https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/daniel-gilbert about why our minds exaggerate the emotional impact of life’s biggest events. She also hears from psychotherapist https://www.walkandtalk.com/bio/ about why extreme wealth often comes with misery, and from writer https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaellagunz/ and Army veteran https://jrmartinez.com/about about their journeys toward happiness and meaning after experiences they once thought would ruin their lives. Experts Mentioned:
- https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/daniel-gilbert, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University
- https://www.walkandtalk.com/bio/, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist
- https://kahneman.scholar.princeton.edu/, Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, and Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs, Emeritus at Princeton University
- https://deaton.scholar.princeton.edu/bio, Professor of International Affairs, Emeritus, and Professor of Economics and International Affairs, Emeritus at Princeton University
- https://www.mattkillingsworth.com/, Senior Fellow at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaellagunz/, writer and social worker
- https://jrmartinez.com/about, Army veteran, actor, author, and podcast host
Resources Mentioned:
- “https://www.houstonpress.com/news/billie-bobs-mis-fortune-6565369/,” by Steve McViker (Houston Press, 2000)
- “https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143114956?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback,” by Sonja Lyubomirsky (2007)
- “https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20823223/,” by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010)
- “https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2016976118,” by Matthew Killingsworth (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023)
- “https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2208661120,” by Matthew Killingsworth, Daniel Kahneman, and Barbara Mellers (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023)
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400077427?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback, by Daniel Gilbert (2006)
- “https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-12057-003?doi=1,” by Daniel Gilbert, Elizabeth Pinel, Timothy Wilson, Stephen Blumberg, and Thalia Wheatley (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1998)
- “https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13546780600872726,” by Peter Ayton, Alice Pott, and Najat Elwakili (Thinking & Reasoning, 2007)
- “https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/sds/docs/loewenstein/AnticipatedvsReactionHIV.pdf,” by Elaine Sieff, Robyn Dawes, and George Lowenstein (The American Journal of Psychology, 1999)
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/0871544237?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback, by Daniel Kahneman, Edward Diener, and Norbert Schwartz (1999)
- “https://www.ravishly.com/2016/12/28/getting-herpes-was-gift,” by Rafaella Gunz (Ravishly, 2016)
- “https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-37998-002,” by Timothy Wilson and Daniel Gilbert (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2013)
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/1401324746?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback, by J.R. Martinez with Alexandra Rockey Fleming (2012)
Related Episodes:
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/does-the-you-of-today-hate-the-you-of-tomorrow”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/why-the-good-enough-relationship-beats-the-perfect-partner”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/working-your-way-to-happiness”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/why-nostalgia-aint-so-rosy”
See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribed
20 JUL 2026 · Men today are spending less time with friends, and many have no close friendships at all. Research shows that this lack of social connection can lead to serious long-term consequences for men's mental and physical health. The answer isn’t just more social interaction. Guys need something deeper: bromance. Dr. Laurie speaks with actor, director, and author https://andrewmccarthy.com/ about his book, https://www.amazon.com/dp/1538768941?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback, and what he learned after reconnecting with the men who shaped his life. She also talks with Harvard behavioral scientist https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/todd-rogers about why sports fandom can be a surprisingly powerful way for men to build deeper relationships. Experts Mentioned:
- https://andrewmccarthy.com/, actor, director, and author
- https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/todd-rogers, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
- https://www.julianneholtlunstad.com/, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University
- https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=326229, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School
- https://www.saraalgoe.com/, Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Resources Mentioned:
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/1538768941?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback, by Andrew McCarthy (2026)
- https://shorensteincenter.org/research-initiative/fandom-social-connection/
- https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/0241465435?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback, by Michael Norton (2024)
- “https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0963721419827272,” by Sara Algoe (Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2019)
See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribed
13 JUL 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 with author and metal-health advocate https://x.com/ClaireyLove about her month-long experiment replacing small talk with deeper conversations while living with social anxiety. She also chats with psychologist https://www.nicholasepley.com/ about why going deeper often scares us, what research reveals about opening up, and what happens when you tell a stranger about the last time you cried. Experts Mentioned:
- https://x.com/ClaireyLove, author, blogger, and mental-health advocate
- https://www.nicholasepley.com/, Professor of Behavioral Science and Faculty Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- https://www.psychology.stonybrook.edu/aronlab-/people/art.htm, Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook
- https://hsperson.com/, psychologist and author
Resources Mentioned:
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/1785920820?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback, by Claire Eastham (2016)
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593319540?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback, by Nicholas Epley (2026)
- “https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167297234003,” by Arthur Aron, Edward Melinat, Elaine Aron, Robert Darrin Vallone, and Renee Bator (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1997)
Related Episodes:
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/the-surprising-case-for-oversharing”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/make-vulnerability-your-superpower-with-nba-star-kevin-love”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/harnessing-people-around-us-to-feel-happier-live-with-ethan-kross”
See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribed
6 JUL 2026 · In this special live episode, Dr. Laurie takes the stage at Dartmouth College for a conversation with happiness historian https://darrinmcmahon.com/. Together, they break down some of the biggest misconceptions about happiness in modern life, discuss the most effective (and often counterintuitive) ways to improve our wellbeing, and explore how smartphones, AI, and other new technologies may shape happiness in the years ahead. Experts Mentioned:
- https://faculty-directory.dartmouth.edu/darrin-m-mcmahon, Professor of History at Dartmouth College
- https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/people/martin-ep-seligman, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania
- https://emeritus.yale.edu/fellows/lorraine-siggins, Director Emeritus of Mental Health and Counseling for Students at Yale Health
- https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=943704, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School
- https://sonjalyubomirsky.com/, Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside
- https://www.careymorewedge.com/, Chair of the Marketing Department at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business
- https://woopmylife.org/en/contact, Professor of Psychology at New York University and the University of Hamburg
- https://economics.dartmouth.edu/people/david-graham-blanchflower, Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College
- https://www.jeantwenge.com/, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University
- https://www.jonathanhaidt.com/, Professor of Ethical Leadership and Professor of Business & Society at New York University Stern School of Business
- https://dunn.psych.ubc.ca/, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia
- https://www.manoushz.com/, journalist, podcast host, and author
- https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/robert-d-putnam, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy at Harvard University
- https://www.kushlev.com/, Associate Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University
- https://catherineprice.com/, journalist and author
- https://michaelinzlicht.com/about, Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, with a cross-appointment in the Rotman School of Management
- https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/smith-moral-political/, Scottish economist and philosopher
- https://economics.dartmouth.edu/people/erzo-fp-luttmer, Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College
- https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/about-us/people/jan-emmanuel-de-neve, Professor of Economics and Behavioural Science and Director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford
Resources Mentioned:
- https://www.amazon.com/Descent-Selection-Relation-Princeton-Science/dp/0691023697, by Charles Darwin (1871)
- “https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1011492107?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21506599862&gbraid=0AAAAAqiPmCwrrBiN17xYWfJKFFM4_falq&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9ZLSBhCcARIsAEhGKgMg372wt7-O0WFwLAO6tZmuxJ47C2gaB6JCM7QVczHQp0gJhe7RojQaAqWrEALw_wcB,” by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010)
- “https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2208661120,” by Matthew Killingsworth, Daniel Kahneman, and Barbra Mellers
- https://www.amazon.com/Time-Smart-Reclaim-Your-Happier/dp/1633698351, by Ashley Whillans (2020)
- https://www.amazon.com/How-Happiness-Approach-Getting-Life/dp/0143114956, by Sonja Lyubomirsky (2007)
- https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Hypothesis-Finding-Modern-Ancient/dp/0465028020, by Jonathan Haidt (2006)
- “https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21148388/,” by Carey K Morewedge, Young Eun Huh, and Joachim Vosgerau (Science, 2010)
- https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Positive-Thinking-Science-Motivation/dp/1617230235, by Gabriele Oettingen (2014)
- “https://www.nber.org/papers/w33490,” by Jean Twenge and David Blanchflower (NBER Working Paper Series, 2025)
- “https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563218304643,” by Kostadin Kushlev, John Hunter, Jason Proulx, Sarah Pressman, and Elizabeth Dunn (Computers in Human Behavior, 2019)
- https://www.amazon.com/Body-Electric-Digital-Science-Well-Being/dp/1250411203, by Manoush Zomorodi (2026)
- https://www.amazon.com/Bowling-Alone-Collapse-American-Community/dp/0743203046, by Robert Putnam (2000)
- https://www.amazon.com/Four-Days-Week-Life-Changing-Well-Being/dp/0063382431, by Juliet Schor (2025)
- “https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57a40c19414fb54f51f8095f/t/64931bd01d517e1d9f25fa83/1687362512991/2019+Kushlevetal-Happy-People-Care.pdf,” by Kostadin Kushlev, Danielle M. Drummond, Samantha J. Heintzelman, and Ed Diener (The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2019)
- “https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7473022/,” by Victoria Husted Medvec, Scott Madey, and Thomas Gilovich (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1995)
- https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/1614279985, by Adam Smith (1759)
- “https://academic.oup.com/qje/article-abstract/120/3/963/1841496,” by Erzo Luttmer (The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2005)
- https://www.amazon.com/How-Break-Up-Your-Phone/dp/039958112X, by Catherine Price (2018)
- “https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976261427747”, by Dunigan Folk and Elizabeth Dunn (Psychological Science, 2026)
- “https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36272939/,” by Michael Inzlicht and Aidan Campbell (Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2022)
- https://www.amazon.com/Why-Workplace-Wellbeing-Matters-Organizational/dp/1647826357, by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve and George Ward (2025)
- “https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/alysa-liu-olympic-gold-medalist-interview-1235525804/
Transcribed
29 JUN 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 travels to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to explore what Thomas Jefferson and the founders really meant by “the pursuit of happiness” — and how that idea has changed over time. She speaks with historian https://faculty-directory.dartmouth.edu/darrin-m-mcmahon and psychologist https://psychology.berkeley.edu/people/iris-mauss about Americans’ unique relationship with happiness, why striving for it can sometimes backfire, and why the best path to a good life may involve focusing less on ourselves and more on other people. For more content about the Declaration of Independence, and what we get wrong about it, check out the new Pushkin show, First America. http://lnk.to/FATHL. Experts Mentioned:
- https://faculty-directory.dartmouth.edu/darrin-m-mcmahon, David W. Little Class of 1944 Professor of History at Dartmouth College
- https://psychology.berkeley.edu/people/iris-mauss, Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and Director of the Emotion and Emotion Regulation Lab
- https://www.scrippscollege.edu/offices/profile/lahnna-catalino, Associate Professor of Psychology at Scripps College
- https://www.scu.edu/cas/psychology/faculty-and-staff/birgit-koopmann-holm/, Associate Professor of Psychology at Santa Clara College of Arts and Sciences
Resources Mentioned:
- “https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript,” (1776)
- https://www.amazon.com/s?k=happiness+a+history&hvadid=694122845217&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9004400&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=8289930300280046609--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8289930300280046609&hvtargid=kwd-299429754950&hydadcr=15278_13517873&mcid=6edc0d09988a39e7a06307a2a77af1cb&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5fsx49g574_e_p67, by Darrin McMahon (2006)
- https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-English-Language-Anthology-Classics/dp/0141441577, by Samuel Johnson (1755)
- https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-America-Alexis-Tocqueville/dp/0226805360, by Alexis de Tocqueville (1835)
- “https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661326000513?dgcid=author,” by Iris Mauss and Brett Ford
- “https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3160511/,” by Iris Mauss and colleagues (Emotion, 2011)
- “https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0037684,” by Birgit Koopmann-Holm and Jeanne Tsai (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2014)
- “https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5533095/,” by Lahnna Catalino, Sara Algoe, and Barbra Frederickson (Emotion, 2014)
Related Episodes:
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/happiness-lessons-of-the-ancients-aristotle”
- "https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-identify-your-negative-emotions"
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/stop-endlessly-chasing-the-next-big-thing-in-2023”
See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribed
22 JUN 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 surprise that “no regrets” has become a popular life motto. But what if regret isn't actually the enemy? In this episode from The Happiness Lab archives, Dr. Laurie explores the surprising science of regret with authors https://www.danpink.com/ and https://www.fosslien.com/. Together, they explain why our biggest regrets can reveal what we value most, help us make better decisions, and even point us toward a happier future. If you've ever found yourself stuck replaying an old mistake, this episode offers a more productive way to look back. Experts Mentioned:
- https://www.danpink.com/, non-fiction author
- https://www.fosslien.com/, author, illustrator, and expert in workplace culture and emotions
- https://molliewestduffy.com/, author, illustrator, and expert in organizational development
- https://www.augusten.com/, author and memoirist
- https://bronnieware.com/, author and palliative carer
Resources Mentioned:
- “https://www.lizandmollie.com/”
- https://www.amazon.com/Big-Feelings-Okay-When-Things/dp/0593418239, by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy (2022)
- https://www.amazon.com/Power-Regret-Looking-Backward-Forward/dp/0735210659, by Daniel Pink (2022)
- https://www.amazon.com/Top-Five-Regrets-Dying-Transformed/dp/140194065X, by Bronnie Ware (2011)
- “https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0146167210393256?casa_token=wr3_gS7VSLIAAAAA:xVdemmc-HfadLq9Q7yuYv6pSVBsjJSd2VYOZcLoqn_FtS34AyKPqCM9b-RcnTaWqr4qZdkBM-gk,” by Isabelle Bauer and Carsten Wrosch (2011)
Related Episodes
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-identify-your-negative-emotions”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-be-angry-better”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/why-nostalgia-aint-so-rosy”
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Transcribed
15 JUN 2026 · We hear a lot about rising rates of anxiety, depression, and fragility among kids today. But when Harvard researcher https://www.gse.harvard.edu/directory/faculty/alexis-redding uncovered a forgotten trove of interviews with college students from the 1970s, she found something surprising: their emotional struggles and developmental challenges sounded nearly identical to those of students today. Dr. Laurie also talks with psychologist https://www.adammastroianni.com/ about why our minds are so quick to believe that young people are getting worse over time. Together, they explore what we get wrong about “kids these days,” and how historical perspective can help us respond to young people with a little more compassion. Experts Mentioned:
- https://www.gse.harvard.edu/directory/faculty/alexis-redding, developmental psychologist and Co-Chair of Higher Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
- https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1998/1/28/bureau-of-study-counsel-founder-dies/, professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
- https://www.adammastroianni.com/, writer and social psychologist
- https://www.gse.harvard.edu/directory/faculty/nancy-hill, Charles Bigelow Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Resources Mentioned:
- https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Health-College-Research-Supporting/dp/B0FQ9HXNB6, by Alexis Redding (2026)
- https://www.amazon.com/Forms-Ethical-Intellectual-Development-College/dp/0787941182, by William Perry (1968)
- “https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06137-x” by Adam Mastroianni and Dan Gilbert (Nature, 2023)
Related Episodes:
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-make-americas-young-people-happier-again”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/what-is-social-media-doing-to-kids-with-dr-jean-twenge”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-smartphones-changed-childhood-and-what-to-do-about-it”
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Transcribed
8 JUN 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 about oversharing. We’re usually told that revealing too much is cringe-worthy. That it demonstrates social ignorance. That when it comes to overly personal information, save it for your therapist, because less is usually more. Dr. Laurie argues that revealing more than feels comfortable can actually strengthen our social connections and boost our wellbeing. She speaks with Harvard Business School professor https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=589473, author of https://www.amazon.com/Revealing-Underrated-Oversharing-Leslie-John/dp/0593545389, about why TLI (too little information) is often more dangerous than TMI, and chats with University of Chicago psychologist https://www.nicholasepley.com/, author of https://www.amazon.com/Little-More-Social-Unexpected-Connection/dp/0593319540, about what “embracing the cringe” can teach us about connection, vulnerability, and trust. Together, they explore the line between sharing and oversharing, and explain why what feels like “too much information” is often just information. Experts Mentioned:
- https://www.proflesliejohn.com/about, James. E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School
- https://www.nicholasepley.com/, John Templeton Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Faculty Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- https://bronnieware.com/, author and palliative carer
Resources Mentioned:
- https://www.amazon.com/Revealing-Underrated-Oversharing-Leslie-John/dp/0593545389, by Leslie John (2026)
- “https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1754073917742706” by Jared Torre and Matthew Lieberman (Emotion Review, 2018)
- https://www.amazon.com/Top-Five-Regrets-Dying-Transformed/dp/140194065X, by Bronnie Ware (2011)
- https://www.amazon.com/Little-More-Social-Unexpected-Connection/dp/0593319540, by Nick Epley (2026)
- “https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797618772506,” by Amit Kumar and Nick Epley (Psychological Science, 2018)
- “https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-92058-001” by Xuan Zhao and Nick Epley (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2021)
Related Episodes:
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/the-secret-to-making-friends-as-an-adult”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/why-giving-is-a-great-daily-habit”
- “https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/caring-what-youre-sharing”
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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...
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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.
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| Author | Pushkin Industries |
| Organization | iHeart Podcasts |
| Categories | Society & Culture |
| Website | - |
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