Where is the happiest country in the world? How can we measure happiness? Is happiness a good way to compare countries? Has the ongoing pandemic affected people's happiness all over the world? These questions might seem a little complicated to answer, but fortunately for us the World Happiness Report 2021 was released last week! In this episode we’ll talk ab ... Show More
Jul 13
396. 10 Years Language Learning: Lessons I'd Give My Younger Self (English Vocabulary Lesson)
In August 2016, I moved to a small town on the Japanese island of Shikoku. I had almost no Japanese ability and I didn't have an expectation that I'd stay very long in Japan. Maybe I'd stay in Japan for one year. 10 years later, though, I'm still in Japan. I'm now married. I have ... Show More
28m 58s
Jul 6
395. What Was the USA Like in 1776? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
When I think of the USA, I picture New York's skyscrapers, Hollywood movies, and Silicon Valley technology companies. I think of the world’s largest economy, and the most powerful country, with a population of more the 340 million people. But what was the USA like when it was fir ... Show More
28m 30s
Oct 2025
#575 | The Science of Happiness: Can It Be Measured?
What does happiness really mean, and can it be measured? In this episode, we move from Aristotle’s eudaimonia to brain scans, surveys, big data, and what truly lifts our mood. It asks why money only helps so much, why social ties matter, and how trust shapes national well-being. ... Show More
22m 54s
May 2024
Which countries are happiest and why? With Lara Aknin, PhD
The 2024 World Happiness Report, which ranks the happiness levels of countries around the world, found that young Americans are less happy than their peers in many other countries. Psychology professor Lara Aknin, PhD, an editor of the report, talks about how the report defines h ... Show More
33 m
Aug 2017
If You're Happy & You Know It...
Where in the world can you find a Museum of Happiness!? What in the world is the happiest place on Earth? How in the world can we pump up the jam on our own happiness? Happiness Week continues as Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz discover big joy in the latest who, what, when, where, why, ... Show More
15m 58s