About this episode

Sonja Lyubomirsky discusses her extensive research on happiness and the importance of connection and kindness in fostering well-being.

"Almost all of the interventions that make us happier work because they make us feel more connected and more loved,’ says Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D. Lyubomirsky is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the bestselling author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness—and her latest, How to Feel Loved (Harper Collins, 2026), paired with a mainstage TED talk. A Harvard and Stanford-trained scientist whose research has been featured in the New York Times, on podcasts, and in documentaries worldwide, she is one of the world's leading experts on the science of happiness 00:00 - What connects every happiness practice 03:24 - Why you should talk to strangers 04:41 - Kindness changes your DNA 08:32 - Money, power, & fame are overrated 10:36 - The case for reaching out to old friends 13:49 - Why 70% don't feel loved enough 17:03 - The walls we walk around with 18:52 - The radical curiosity mindset 23:55 - How to really listen 28:19 - AI as a companion 31:05 - The relationship SEAsaw 39:00 - When introverts act extroverted 43:40 - The conversation to have tomorrow…

People in this episode

Guests: Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., Sonja Lyubomirsky

Topics covered

• happiness research
• connection
• kindness
• relationships
• self-improvement
• listening skills

Keywords

• happiness
• connection
• kindness
• relationships
• self-help
• psychology
• listening
• AI companionship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of California, Riverside, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Harper Collins

Books & works: The How of Happiness, The Myths of Happiness, How to Feel Loved

More episodes of The mindbodygreen Podcast

• 652: A guide to healthy pooping | Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH · May 31, 2026 · 44 min
• 650: Is spirituality medicine? | Joshua W. Brown, Ph.D. · May 17, 2026 · 52 min
• 649: Why “in range” lab results aren’t the solution to longevity | Florence Comite, M.D. · May 10, 2026 · 53 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The mindbodygreen Podcast podcast page.