PODCASTThe Science of Happiness

DACHER KELTNER Hi, I’m Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at UC Berkeley and host of The Science of Happiness podcast. For the last 20 years I’ve dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier, more meaningful life, and I want to share that science with you. 

On each episode of The Science of Happiness, a guest who’s struggling with some aspect of happiness – like we all do – tries a practice that’s been shown to improve our well-being. It might be learning how to ride the waves of anxiety.

APARNA NANCHERLA The really helpful thing with this exercise was the ‘writing about it’ part at the beginning. That kind of made me have to parse out things like, “What outcome are you like so afraid of?"

DACHER KELTNER Finding a new way to connect more deeply with others.

 CASPER TER KUILE If you are singing with 20 or 200 or 2000 people, you feel part of something bigger. 

DACHER KELTNER Connecting with nature.

TEJAL RAO There was this one day where I went out and all I noticed was shadows of trees and plants against the house itself or against the fence, just so beautiful.

DACHER KELTNER Then we learn the science behind why these strategies work.

ELISSA EPEL Nature affects our body, our stress response, our blood pressure…

LAURA REDWINE Gratitude was actually related to better sleep, less depressed mood, less fatigue…

ARLA GOOD Our data showed that group singing improved the release of oxytocin, but individual singing did not.

DACHER KELTNER If you’re looking for real, science-backed methods for living a happier life, start listening to The Science of Happiness podcast. Join me, every other week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you're listening now.