120. Why Are Rich Countries So Unhappy?

Also: why is it so hard to predict success? This episode originally aired on November 29, 2020. 

Also: do you spend more time thinking about the past, the present, or the future? This episode originally aired on November 22, 2020. 

Also: why is behavior change so darn hard? This episode originally aired on November 15, 2020. 

Everything you do or not do has consequences. How do you handle the weight of your actions? And how do you handle self-doubt as someone who seeks to improve and become better? 

Societies where people trust one another are healthier and wealthier. In the U.S. (and the U.K. and elsewhere), social trust has been falling for decades — in part because our populations are more diverse. What can we do to fix it? 

Despite your best efforts, things don't seem to work out. Where you struggle, others seem to have it better. How do you handle yourself in the face of doubts, hardships, and a life that appears to be in Hard Mode? 

There are certain nations which always top the rankings in the World Happiness Report. What are they doing right, that other countries are getting wrong? And what can you do to make your home country happier? John Helliwell of the World Happiness Report explains how things like w ... Show More

How do you feel when someone does something that you would never do, but it's OK? 

Warum leben Menschen in anderen Ländern teils deutlich länger als in Deutschland? Was läuft da besser? Was hält die Menschen dort gesünder? Dieser Podcast sucht im Ausland nach Ideen und möglichen Vorbildern. 

Why is all of the world split up into countries, states, cities and counties and more? Why can't we all just live as one big group? Which country has the least amount of people? We're talking about countries and borders with author Juan Enriquez. Also in this episode: why don't s ... Show More

There are a lot of barriers to changing your mind: ego, overconfidence, inertia — and cost. Politicians who flip-flop get mocked; family and friends who cross tribal borders are shunned. But shouldn’t we be encouraging people to change their minds? And how can we get better at it ... Show More

Have you noticed that in America, our poor people tend to be more overweight than people in a better financial situation? If you drive through inner cities or out in rural areas of the country, people tend to be more obese. Why are the poor people of other countries so thin and o ... Show More

Most of us feel we face more headwinds and obstacles than everyone else — which breeds resentment. We also undervalue the tailwinds that help us — which leaves us ungrateful and unhappy. How can we avoid this trap?