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The Science of Happiness: Daily Summaries Delivered
by PRX and Greater Good Science Center
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.
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- 6 days ago10 min
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/2s3tbchdWhen It's Hard To Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/mr32nwtvAn Awe Walk Through History and Possibility: https://tinyurl.com/mr3arrbcRelated Happiness Breaks:A Meditation on the Uniqueness of Your Own Voice: https://tinyurl.com/36x3fbk7A Meditation on Original Love and Interconnectedness:https://tinyurl.com/mu2uzs2cOur Deep Interconnectedness: https://tinyurl.com/y2epxyxnWe’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/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/3v76jcs8
- 1 weeks ago23 min
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/mrxsad33Nine Steps to Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/5xwztnsxThe Science of Letting Go: https://tinyurl.com/ykc2uex4Related Happiness Break episodes:A Science-Backed Path to Self-Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/2js59anmA Note to Self on Forgiveness: https://tinyurl.com/ycymxh3hA Breathing Technique To Help You Relax: https://tinyurl.com/59y4sf5yThis 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/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/4ubmrwyr
- 2 weeks ago7 min
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/2vhuarh8More Happiness Breaks like this one:A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/ye24rz4kThe Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/rrtpje2xA Breathing Technique To Help You Relax: https://tinyurl.com/59y4sf5yRelated Science of Happiness episodes:Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33How To Feel Better About Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/3jave7h2What To Do When Stress Takes Over: https://tinyurl.com/yxf3jawnWe’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/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/2zh8uewh
- 3 weeks ago22 min
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/pb27repThe Case for Hope, with Rebecca Solnit: https://tinyurl.com/4cj3umbzRelated Happiness Break episodes:How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpmHow to Be in Harmony in Nature—Wherever You Are, With Yuria Celidwen: https://tinyurl.com/5n6pfsn2Message 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/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/2s4ft9fc
- Jun 25, 20269 min
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/3j6vtwh3Finding Yourself in Silence: https://tinyurl.com/3w76t94aAn Affirmation Practice for the New Year: https://tinyurl.com/4f9epzbwRelated Science of Happiness episodes:How To Tap Your Way to Calm and Clarity: https://tinyurl.com/vtfrt8b7The Science of Letting Go: https://tinyurl.com/34u2fu48How Art Heals Us: https://tinyurl.com/88y5r4vrWe’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/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/36m7wn3m
- Jun 18, 202623 min
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_walkScroll 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/wowsaboutRelated Science of Happiness episodes:Cities of Awe Series: https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvnyHow to Find Calm Through Walking: https://tinyurl.com/43dr26reRelated Happiness Break episodes:How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpmPause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3Message 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/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/bdsn3n9e
- Jun 11, 20269 min
Happiness Break: A Compassionate Letter to Yourself
Take less than 10 minutes to write yourself a letter of care, compassion, and encouragement with psychologist Kristin Neff in this research-backed practice.How To Do This Practice: Choose an area of self-judgment: Think of one aspect of yourself that makes you feel inadequate, stressed, or not quite good enough. Name what you're feeling: Write a few sentences about the situation and the emotions it brings up, such as sadness, fear, frustration, shame, or loneliness. Imagine an unconditionally compassionate friend: Picture someone who is wise, accepting, and deeply caring—someone who sees both your strengths and your struggles without judgment. Write a letter from their perspective: Let this compassionate friend respond to your situation with understanding, kindness, and acceptance, recognizing that imperfection is part of being human. Include gentle wisdom and encouragement: If it feels helpful, have your compassionate friend offer caring suggestions for growth or change—not because you need fixing, but because they want you to thrive. Read the letter back to yourself: Set the letter aside for a while, then return to it and read it slowly, allowing the words of compassion and support to sink in. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Listen to the Full Practice Here: https://self-compassion.org/practices/noting-practice-2/Today’s Happiness Break Guide:Dr. Kristin Neff is an associate professor in the University of Texas at Austin's department of educational psychology. She's also the co-author of 'Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout,' which offers tools to help individuals heal and recharge from burnout.More Happiness Breaks like this one:A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/ye24rz4kThe Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/rrtpje2xTake a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/3vn9t4jvRelated Science of Happiness episodes:Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/mrxsad33The Science of Letting Go: https://tinyurl.com/34u2fu48The Contagious Power of Compassion: https://tinyurl.com/y6bpvbv5We’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/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/4rcnm6s5
- Jun 10, 202625 min
Introducing - Intention to Treat: Money and Misdiagnosis
Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Intention to Treat: The Race Equation is a new series from the New England Journal of Medicine, investigates how race-specific diagnostic tools harm Black patients and contribute to growing health inequities.Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/36bne7hd
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About 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.
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