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Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
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Estimated from 43 chart positions in 43 markets.
By chart position
- 🇨🇦CA · Social Sciences#31M to 3M
- 🇺🇸US · Social Sciences#7300K to 1M
- 🇦🇺AU · Social Sciences#11300K to 1M
- 🇬🇧GB · Social Sciences#17300K to 1M
- 🇩🇪DE · Social Sciences#25100K to 300K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
957K to 3.0M🎙 Daily cadence·331 episodes·Last published 5d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
3.2M to 10M🇨🇦30%🇺🇸10%🇦🇺10%+40 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
1.3M to 4.0M
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 12 epsHosts
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Happiness Break: A Compassionate Letter to Yourself
Jun 11, 2026
Unknown duration
Introducing - Intention to Treat: Money and Misdiagnosis
Jun 10, 2026
Unknown duration
Finding Common Ground in Uncomfortable Times
Jun 4, 2026
Unknown duration
Happiness Break: A Walking Meditation With Dan Harris of 10% Happier
May 28, 2026
Unknown duration
How To Step Away from Anxiety
May 21, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/11/26 |  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/2p9h5aapThis episode was supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation on "Spreading Love Through the Media." Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/4rcnm6s5 | — | ||||||
| 6/10/26 |  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 | — | ||||||
| 6/4/26 |  Finding Common Ground in Uncomfortable Times | Across school campuses and communities, students and educators are discovering how listening, curiosity, and everyday conversations can open pathways across differences and help restore a sense of shared humanity.Summary: How do we learn to truly communicate with people who are deeply different than us? In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we follow students and educators practicing the skills of empathy and courageous listening in classrooms and on the road. Their experiences reveal how intentional conversations can open unexpected pathways toward understanding and shared humanity.How To Do This Practice: Observe Before You Interpret: Spend a few minutes noticing the environment around you and ask yourself: What do people here see, hear, say, think, and need? Approach with Curiosity: Start with simple human connection—small talk, a question about their day, or genuine interest in their community. Signal That You're There to Listen: Make it clear your goal is understanding, not persuading, debating, or changing anyone's mind. Practice Democratic Listening: Give your full attention through eye contact, nodding, and brief acknowledgments, while resisting the urge to agree, disagree, or jump in with your own views. Stay Relaxed Through Discomfort: When differences emerge, maintain "relaxed awareness"—remaining open, attentive, and calm rather than defensive or reactive. Reflect and Learn: Afterward, ask yourself: What helped create connection? What got in the way? What might I try differently next time? Scroll down for a transcript of this episode.Today’s Guests: JESSE KELLY is a McNair and MacArthur fellow and a recent graduate of Bowie State University, Maryland's oldest historically black university.Learn more about Jesse Kelly here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessekellyjr/LIA HOWARD is the director of the Political Empathy Lab at the University of Pennsylvania.Learn more about Lia Howards here: https://snfpaideia.upenn.edu/people/lia-howard/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 Original Love and Interconnectedness:https://tinyurl.com/mu2uzs2cOur Deep Interconnectedness: https://tinyurl.com/y2epxyxnMessage 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/3bt8fpdj | — | ||||||
| 5/28/26 |  Happiness Break: A Walking Meditation With Dan Harris of 10% Happier | Trouble sitting still? Learn to practice meditating by simply walking in this practice guided by 10% Happier host Dan Harris.How To Do This Practice: Start walking at a comfortable pace in a place where you can move without rushing. Notice your body moving by paying attention to your feet, legs, and arms as you walk. Tune into your senses by observing sounds, sights, temperature, and other details around you. Notice when your mind wanders into planning, worrying, or distractions. Gently return your attention to the sensations of walking and your surroundings each time you drift away. Keep walking with curiosity and allow yourself to stay present without needing to do it perfectly. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break Guide:DAN HARRIS the host of 10% Happier, a podcast about mindfulness and other practices and thoughts that can support our well-being. Check out Dan’s podcast, 10% Happier: https://tinyurl.com/324xtuutRelated Happiness Break Episodes:Moving Through Space, With Dacher Keltner: https://tinyurl.com/5f58jp42Walk Your Way to Calm, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/y8md2759Making Space For You: https://tinyurl.com/yc42s6mvRelated Science of Happiness Episodes: How To Focus Under Pressure: https://tinyurl.com/3hpah4ssHow to Find Calm Through Walking: https://tinyurl.com/43dr26reHow To Do Good For The Environment (And Yourself): https://tinyurl.com/26msewb8We love hearing from you! Tell us about your experiences with mindful walking. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzusHelp us share Happiness Break! Rate us and copy and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzusTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/9n5xu96e | — | ||||||
| 5/21/26 |  How To Step Away from Anxiety | Do you have a hard time calming your nerves? Author Raina Telgemeier tries a practice to get out of her head, one step at a time.Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, bestselling graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier reflects on growing up with anxiety, panic attacks, and emetophobia—the fear of throwing up—and shares how transforming those experiences into stories helped her feel less alone and inspired young readers to seek support. Through a week-long walking meditation practice, Raina explores what it means to slow down, reconnect with her body, and face discomfort with curiosity rather than avoidance. How To Do This Practice: Choose a small, quiet space: Find a place where you can walk slowly back and forth for about 10–15 steps without interruption. This could be a hallway, living room, backyard, or even a hotel room. Set a timer for 10 minutes: Giving yourself a set amount of time helps you stop checking the clock and allows you to settle more fully into the practice. Begin walking slowly and naturally: Walk at a comfortable pace, paying attention to the sensation of each step—your heel touching the ground, the shift of your weight, and the movement of your body. Focus on your breath: As you walk, gently notice your breathing. You might take a slow breath before turning around at the end of each pass, letting your breath help anchor your attention. When your mind wanders, return to the movement: Thoughts, worries, memories, or distractions will come up. Rather than judging yourself, simply guide your attention back to your steps and breathing. Notice how you feel afterward: When the timer ends, pause for a moment before moving on with your day. Take note of any shifts in your body, mood, or pace of mind, even subtle ones can matter. Try the full practice here: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/walking_meditationScroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Guests:RAINA TELGEMEIER is an American cartoonist and New York Times bestselling author. Her books have received many awards, including multiple Eisner Awards, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor and a Stonewall Honor.Learn more about Raina Telgemeier here: https://goraina.com/ RICHARD DAVIDSON is the founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.Learn more about Richard Davidson here: https://www.richardjdavidson.com/Related The Science of Happiness episodes: How to Find Calm Through Walking: https://tinyurl.com/43dr26reRelated Happiness Breaks:Walk Your Way to Calm, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/y8md2759Message 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/mrxkfvkj | — | ||||||
| 5/14/26 |  Happiness Break: The Unexpected Joy of Slow Looking | What happens when you linger and look closely at a piece of art? Nathalie Ryan, an educator from the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., guides us through a slow looking practice shown to help deepen your sense of awe, presence, and connection.How To Do This Practice: Choose an image to focus on: Pick a piece of art, photograph, postcard, or even a recent photo from your phone that captures a natural or urban scene. Don’t overthink it—choose something that draws your attention. Begin with a few slow breaths: Take a moment to settle into the present. Deepen your inhale, lengthen your exhale, and allow your breathing to slow the pace of your day. Let your eyes wander slowly: Scan the image without rushing. Notice the light, colors, shapes, patterns, textures, and details that begin to emerge as you spend more time looking. Imagine yourself inside the scene: Engage all of your senses. What might you hear, smell, feel, or taste in this place? Allow yourself to step into the environment with your imagination. Notice how the scene changes: Picture the image at different times of day and throughout the seasons. Reflect on how the light, colors, atmosphere, and activity might shift over time. Reflect on what arises: Pause to notice any emotions, memories, thoughts, or sensations that surfaced during the practice. Consider what changed when you gave yourself permission to look more slowly. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Happiness Break Guide:NATHALIE A. RYAN is a Senior Educator at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, where she has led programs for educators, families, teens, and the adult public since 2002.Related Happiness Break episodes:How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpmPause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/mrutudehRelated Science of Happiness episodes:Cities of Awe Series: https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvnyHow Cities Can Make Space for Awe: https://tinyurl.com/yr7m2zb5What Humans Can Learn From Trees: https://tinyurl.com/48te84psFollow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe’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/mt4mcw3m | — | ||||||
| 5/12/26 |  Love Throughout Your Life: Stories from a Stranger | Description:Sharing a new podcast called Stories from a Stranger, which features portraits of strangers connected by themes of love, loss, regret, inspiration, illness, family connections, and more. In each episode of Stories from a Stranger, host Hunter Prosper shares raw, intimate, long-form conversations with real people. It’s a show that inspires empathy and connection, proving that “Every stranger has a story.”In this episode, Hunter meets three strangers at three different stages of life and asks them what love means to them. You’ll hear how love looks and feels different at every age—from the dizzying rush of a first crush to the quiet comfort of a lifelong partner, and the ache of wondering if love will ever come at all. Today, yesterday, and tomorrow, love is in the air.Listen to Stories from a Stranger at https://lnk.to/storiesfromastrangerSHTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/mu6sn8dp | — | ||||||
| 5/7/26 |  The Art of Slowing Down✨ | artslow looking+4 | — | Nevada Museum of Art | — | slow lookingart appreciation+3 | — | 26m 42s | |
| 4/30/26 |  Happiness Break: A Meditation to Inspire a Sense of Purpose✨ | meditationinspiration+3 | — | — | — | happinessmeditation+5 | — | 7m 40s | |
| 4/23/26 |  An Awe Walk Through History and Possibility✨ | aweurban spaces+4 | BOB MCKINNON | City University of New York | Harlem | awe walkurban exploration+5 | — | 20m 59s | |
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| 4/16/26 |  Happiness Break: A Loving-Kindness Practice for Yourself✨ | loving-kindnessself-care+3 | Kristin Neff | — | — | loving-kindnessself-compassion+3 | — | 9m 09s | |
| 4/9/26 |  How Cities Can Make Space for Awe✨ | urban designpublic spaces+4 | BLAINE MERKERSETHA LOW | GehlCity University of New York+1 | San Francisco | parkleturban design+5 | The Gambrell Foundation | 24m 22s | |
| 4/2/26 |  Happiness Break: Make Uncertainty Part of the Process✨ | uncertaintypoetic reflection+3 | Yrsa Daley-Ward | The Catch | — | happinessuncertainty+3 | — | 3m 57s | |
| 3/31/26 |  Happiness Break: How Poetry Helps Us Feel and Heal✨ | poetryneuroscience+3 | SUSAN MAGSAMEN | Your Brain On Art: How the Arts Transform UsJohn Hopkins | — | poetryneuroscience+3 | — | 17m 15s | |
| 3/26/26 |  Why Work Feels Better Together✨ | collective workteam dynamics+3 | NINO SERRANOJENABI PAREJA+1 | UnderstoryPangea Legal Services+1 | Oakland | collective decision-makingworker-owned restaurant+3 | — | 25m 48s | |
| 3/19/26 |  Happiness Break: A Meditation For When You Have Too Much To Do✨ | meditationstress relief+3 | — | Greater Good Science CenterGGSC | — | meditationto-do list+5 | — | 5m 23s | |
| 3/12/26 |  What Happens in the Brain When We Improvise✨ | neurosciencemusical improvisation+4 | — | PRX and Greater Good Science Center | — | improvisationcreativity+6 | — | 21m 54s | |
| 3/5/26 |  Happiness Break: A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times✨ | meditationcuriosity+3 | Scott Shigeoka | — | — | meditationcuriosity+3 | — | 8m 32s | |
| 2/26/26 |  How to Make Work More Satisfying✨ | Job Craftingwork satisfaction+4 | — | PRX and Greater Good Science Center | — | Job Craftingwork satisfaction+6 | — | 16m 25s | |
| 2/19/26 |  Happiness Break: How to Feel More Connected to Others | Research shows that reflecting on our shared humanity can increase self-compassion and life satisfaction while reducing feelings of isolation. In this practice, Dacher Keltner guides us to look beneath our differences and connect with the qualities that make us human together.This guided exercise draws on a meditation by Sean Fargo, a mindfulness teacher and former Buddhist monk.How To Do This Practice: Settle your body: Sit comfortably and take a few slow, steady breaths. Let your shoulders drop, soften your jaw, and allow your body to feel supported by the ground or chair beneath you. Notice what’s here: Briefly scan your body and emotions. Whatever you’re feeling—calm, tense, distracted, open—simply acknowledge it without trying to change it. Bring someone to mind: Think of someone you don’t know well, feel distant from, or have mild tension with. Picture them as if they were in front of you. Reflect on your similarities: Silently repeat phrases like: This person has a body and mind, just like me; this person has felt sadness, joy, and pain, just like me; this person wants to be safe, loved, and understood, just like me. Gently extend kind intentions toward them: May you be well. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you live with ease. Return and reflect: Bring your attention back to your breath and body. Notice if anything has shifted—perhaps a softening, a little more space, or a sense of connection—and carry that awareness into your day. This episode was supported by a grant from The John Templeton Foundation on Spreading Love Through the Media.Related Happiness Break episodes:A Meditation for When You Feel Uneasy: https://tinyurl.com/4x27ut3pA Meditation to Connect With Your Roots: https://tinyurl.com/ycy9xazcA Mindful Breath Meditation, With Dacher Keltner: https://tinyurl.com/mr9d22krRelated The Science of Happiness episodes: Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/yxw4uhpfHow to Feel More Hopeful: https://tinyurl.com/4tfwhbpbHow Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe’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/4ju7rmtd | — | ||||||
| 2/13/26 |  The Science of Love (Episode 3) | Guest host Geena Davis guides us through the research on love that stretches beyond romance and friendship, showing up in our bonds with objects, nature, grief, and the collective moments that connect us to something larger than ourselves.Summary: In this final episode of our 3-part series on The Science of Love, researchers reveal how love expands our sense of self and strengthens our bond to humanity. We also explore why objects can feel meaningful, how love of nature can motivate care for the planet, he ways grief reshapes our capacity for connection, and our love of humanity.Related The Science of Happiness episodes: The Science of Love Series: https://bit.ly/TheScienceofLoveThe Science of Love, with Geena Davis (Episode 1): https://tinyurl.com/bfave5wdHow 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhrRelated Happiness Breaks:Visualizing Your Best Self in Relationships: https://tinyurl.com/4797z2vfA Guided Meditation on Embodied Love: https://tinyurl.com/3dmpfam6A Meditation on Love and Interconnectedness: https://tinyurl.com/ye6baxv3Today’s Guests:AARON AHUVIA is the most widely published and cited academic expert on non-interpersonal love.Learn more about Aaron Ahuvia here: https://thethingswelove.com/about-aaron/JESSICA EISE is a social and environmental scientist and is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health with Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington.Learn more about Jessica Eise here: https://jessicaeise.com/YURIA CELIDWEN is an indigenous scholar of contemplative studies, and author of the new book, Flourishing Kin: Indigenous Foundations For Collective Well-Being.Learn more about Yuria Celidwen here: https://www.yuriacelidwen.com/MARY-FRANCES O'CONNOR is a psychologist and professor at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss, and Social Stress Lab.Learn more about Mary-Frances O’connor here: https://maryfrancesoconnor.org/SHIRA GABRIEL is a Professor of Psychology at SUNY, University at Buffalo.Learn more about Shira Gabriel here: https://tinyurl.com/2vvav8xjMessage 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/2p9h5aapFunding for this special was provided by the John Templeton Foundation, as part of the Greater Good Science Center's Spreading Love Through the Media initiative.Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/22d5nuyr | — | ||||||
| 2/12/26 |  The Science of Love (Episode 2) | Guest host Geena Davis helps us explore how the love we feel —for our partners, friends, family, even our four legged companions—shapes our brains, bodies, and lives.Summary: On this episode of The Science of Love with Geena Davis, we delve into the many forms of love, and experts share research on how small daily actions, physical touch, and emotional attentiveness strengthen relationships, while evolutionary and neuroscience studies reveal why these bonds matter. We also explore practical strategies for cultivating deeper connections and understanding the biological and psychological roots of love.Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Related The Science of Happiness episodes: The Science of Love Series: https://bit.ly/TheScienceofLoveThe Science of Love, with Geena Davis (Episode 1): https://tinyurl.com/bfave5wdHow 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhrToday’s Guests:DANIEL LEVITIN is a neuroscientist, musician, and bestselling author of the books, Music as Medicine: How We Can Harness Its Therapeutic Power and I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music As Medicine. Follow Daniel Levitin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/daniellevitinofficialJOHN GOTTMAN is a psychologist and the co-founder of The Gottman Institute. JULIE GOTTMAN is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of The Gottman Institute and President of The Gottman Institute and co-founder of Affective Software, Inc. Learn more about John and Julie Gottman here: https://www.gottman.com/JUSTIN GARCIA is an evolutionary biologist and international authority on the science of sex and relationships. Learn more about Justin Garcia here: https://tinyurl.com/2c39cs6rANNA MACHIN is a British evolutionary anthropologist at the Department of Experimental Psychology at Oxford University, England and author of the book Why We Love: The Definitive Guide to Our Most Fundamental Need. Learn more about Anna Machin here: https://annamachin.com/MARISA G. FRANCO is a psychologist and professor at The University of Maryland and author of the book “Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make – and Keep – Friends.”Learn more about Marisa G. Franco here: https://drmarisagfranco.com/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/2p9h5aapFunding for this special was provided by the John Templeton Foundation, as part of the Greater Good Science Center's Spreading Love Through the Media initiative.Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/4b52azja | — | ||||||
| 2/5/26 |  The Science of Love (Episode 1) | In a culture that often reduces love to romance, Geena Davis helps us explore the science of love across the lifespan—revealing how our bonds with parents, friends, partners, and communities shape our health, happiness, and survival.Summary: Love is commonly understood as a feeling, yet scientific research increasingly points to its role as a core biological drive. In this episode of The Science of Love, we explore how love is expressed through caregiving, friendship, romantic attachment, and shared experience, and how these connections leave measurable effects on the brain, body, and even the microbiome. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Related The Science of Happiness episodes: The Science of Love Series: https://bit.ly/TheScienceofLove36 Questions to Spark Love and Connection: https://tinyurl.com/ktcpz78uHow 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhrToday’s Guests:ANN DRUYAN is an author, activist, and documentary producer.Learn more about Ann Druyan’s work here: https://tinyurl.com/5n8crkevDANIEL LEVITIN is a neuroscientist, musician, and bestselling author.Follow Daniel Levitin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/daniellevitinofficialJESSICA EISE is a social and environmental scientist and is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health with Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington.Learn more about Jessica Eise here: https://jessicaeise.com/ANNA MACHIN is an evolutionary anthropologist who studies the evolution of love.Learn more about Anna Machin here: https://annamachin.com/FRANCESCO BEGHINI is a computational biologist at Yale University.Learn more about Francesco Beghini here: https://tinyurl.com/knm4du4mILANA BRITO is a biomedical engineering professor at Cornell University.Learn more about Ilana Brito here: https://tinyurl.com/mtnhw3ydCONSTANCE BAINBRIDGE is a Communication PhD student at UCLA.Learn more about Constance Bainbridge here: http://constancebainbridge.com/SANDRA LANGESLAG is a cognitive and biological psychologist who studies romantic love.Learn more about Sandra Langeslag here: https://tinyurl.com/523wc9wxMessage 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/2p9h5aapFunding for this special was provided by the John Templeton Foundation, as part of the Greater Good Science Center's Spreading Love Through the Media initiative.Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/bfave5wd | — | ||||||
| 1/29/26 |  How to Keep Your Humanity | Discover what happens to our well-being when we respond to suffering with compassion, collective action, and why choosing to care can help us hold on to our shared humanity.Summary: In the face of widespread suffering, many of us struggle with how to respond without becoming overwhelmed or numb. Drawing on research and real-world experience, this episode of The Science of Happiness examines the psychological impact of bearing witness, acting in alignment with our values, and showing up for others—even when it’s hard. We look at how compassion, agency, and a sense of common humanity can both strengthen resilience and carry real emotional costs, and why people continue to act anyway.Take our 5-minute survey https://tinyurl.com/happyhappysurvey. Thank you for helping us make the podcast even better!How To Do This Practice: Pause and name what’s happening: Take a moment to notice what you’re feeling as you witness suffering or injustice—anger, grief, numbness, confusion. Naming the emotion helps calm the stress response and keeps you from shutting down or looking away. Reconnect with common humanity: Remind yourself: there are no “good people” and “bad people”—there are people. Clarify your values on paper: Write down one to three values that matter most to you right now (for example: compassion, integrity, dignity, justice). Studies show that writing values down lowers stress and makes it more likely you’ll act in alignment with them. Gently ask yourself: “What does a person like me—with these values—do in a situation like this?” Consider what access, safety, or influence you may have, and what constraints you face. Acting with integrity looks different for everyone, and this step helps you choose a response that is both values-aligned and realistic. Choose a safe, doable action: Action doesn’t have to be loud or risky. It might be writing, speaking up in a meeting, supporting someone directly, or adding your voice to a collective effort. Even small actions strengthen agency and social connection. Reflect and reconnect: After you act, check in with yourself. Notice any sense of alignment, relief, meaning, grief, or fear. Acting with integrity won’t erase pain, but it helps protect mental health and shapes who we become over time. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Guests:DR. FEROZE SIDHWA is a trauma, and critical care surgeon in California. He has also worked as a physician in Haiti, Ukraine and Palestine. Learn more about Dr. Feroze Sidhwa here: https://www.ferozesidhwa.org/DR. AKIVA LEBOWITZ is a physician and critical care specialist.Learn more about Dr. Akiva Lebowitz here: https://akivaforbrookline.com/DR. SUNITA SAH is a social scientist, author, and psychologist.Learn more about Dr. Sunita Sah here: https://www.sunitasah.com/Tell us about your experience with this practice. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod.Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/48wz2vru | — | ||||||
| 1/22/26 |  Happiness Break: Finding Calm in Uncertainty | Psychologist and stress expert Elissa Epel leads us in a gentle, science-backed practice to calm our nervous systems and meet uncertainty with greater ease and acceptance.We want to hear from you! Take our quick 5-minute survey to tell us what you love, what you want more of, and how we can make the show even more inspiring and useful. Everyone who completes the survey can enter a drawing to win a copy of The Science of Happiness Workbook: 10 Practices for a Meaningful Life. Click the survey link in the show notes wherever you’re listening, or go directly to: https://tinyurl.com/happyhappysurvey. Thank you for helping us make the podcast even better!How To Do This Practice: Settle in: Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes or soften your gaze, and begin breathing in through your nose with long, slow exhales through pursed lips. Scan your body: Gently move your attention from the top of your head down to your toes, noticing areas of tension with a kind, curious awareness. Breathe into tension: Wherever you feel tightness, breathe into that area and soften it with each exhale, allowing your nervous system to relax just a little more. Notice uncertainty: Turn your attention to your thoughts and feelings. Ask yourself what feels uncertain right now, and name any emotions that arise without trying to change them. Ask yourself: What is on my mind right now? Am I thinking about the past, the future, or am I right here in the present?” What do I feel most uncertain about right now? What expectations might I be holding? Am I striving to control something? What feelings do I have right now? Release control: Notice where you may be holding expectations or trying to control the future, and gently practice letting go, reminding yourself that uncertainty is part of life. Rest in the present: Lean back, relax your shoulders, and focus on the safety and ease of this moment, repeating a phrase like “Things are exactly as they are right now.” Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today’s Happiness Break Guide:ELISSA EPEL, PH.D, is a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, at University of California, San Francisco.Learn more about Elissa Epel here: https://www.elissaepel.com/Related Happiness Break episodes:Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5Embodying Resilience: https://tinyurl.com/46383mhxA Meditation for When You Feel Uneasy: https://tinyurl.com/4utrkyh5Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe’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/2x4pe95j | — | ||||||
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