logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
1h 4m

The Joy of Awe: Dacher Keltner

Simon Mundie
About this episode


We tend to believe happiness is found when we accumulate money, success and status – but that’s actually wide of the mark. According to one of the pre-eminent happiness scientists in the world, real joy is found by tapping into the transformative power of Awe.

Dacher Keltner is a bestselling author and psychology professor at the University of California. Twenty years into teaching people about happiness, he is on a mission to reveal the secrets of the good life. He has found that experiencing a sense of awe leads people to cooperate, share resources, and sacrifice for others, while also becoming more modest, and less narcissistic. In a nutshell – It’s not about aggrandising our sense of self – it’s about transcending it.

But what is awe and how do we get more of it in our lives? You’re about to find out.


Big Beach Boutique 2 (Fatboy Slim party on the beach) trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH2V62kI_nE

"You felt like you were part of this giant organism!"


Dacher's 8 'wonders of life' and ways into awe: the moral beauty, nature, collective movement, music, visual design, spirituality, big ideas, and the cycle of life and death.


Dacher's website: https://www.dacherkeltner.com/


MyTwitter: https://twitter.com/simonmundie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/

Email: info@simonmundie.com


And for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from four years and 200 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com (where you can also drop me an email)


Please do share this episode - it makes a big difference in helping people find this podcast.


Much obliged.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Aug 19
Beyond Thought: A Journey into Consciousness
Self-Inquiry, Meditation, and the End of Overthinking. I sit down with anesthesiologist and spiritual teacher Angelo shares how he moved through anxiety and began exploring the nature of consciousness. He talks about his early struggles with mental health, the big turning points ... Show More
1h 44m
Aug 12
TRE: The Practice That’s Helped Me Calm My Nervous System
Most of us have been taught to stop shaking when we’re scared or stressed. But what if that shaking is actually the key to feeling safe again?David Berceli has worked in some of the most stressful environments on earth. From his time in war zones came TRE — Trauma Releasing Exerc ... Show More
1h 6m
Aug 8
I Faced My Shame — This Is Shadow Work
A few nights ago, I had a moment of emotional turbulence.Instead of pushing it away, I followed it — and the next morning, I wrote this. Then I recorded it.This is about shame, overthinking, and what can happen when we stop avoiding what’s uncomfortable.It’s also about shadow wor ... Show More
6m 37s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
This Scientist Says One Emotion Might Be the Key to Happiness. Can You Guess What It Is? | Dacher Keltner
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Our guest today is one of the most prominent happiness researchers in the world, and he has come to the conclusion that living the good life boils down to on ... Show More
1h 3m
Feb 2023
The "Happy Life" Scientist: How To FINALLY Beat Stress, Worry & Uncertainty! Dacher Keltner
When was the last time something took your breath away, or left you speechless? Awe is something that is hard to put into words and understand for yourself, let alone scientifically examine. However this is exactly what Dr Dacher Keltner has dedicated his career to.As a psycholog ... Show More
1h 36m
Mar 2022
267: The Neuroscience Secrets to Happiness - with Dr. Amen
This week on the podcast we have Dr. Daniel Amen with us again! If you haven't listened to episode 200 of the Rachel Hollis Podcast go back and check that out - Dr. Amen and I have a fascinating conversation about mental health, and an opinion of what it means to study the brain ... Show More
54 m
Mar 2023
The New Science of Awe & How It Improves Your Physical & Mental Wellbeing with Dr Dacher Keltner #340
When was the last time you felt awe? Perhaps it’s an emotion you notice often, evoked by the trees, clouds, or people around you. Or maybe it’s something you associate with more dramatic, less frequent experiences. Dr Dacher Keltner, has written a sublime book on the subject of a ... Show More
1h 55m
Jan 2023
The Surprising Science About Relationships & Happiness | Robert Waldinger
What if the key to living a good life is actually a lot closer than we all realize? Whether you're a long-time listener of the podcast or this is your first time tuning in, I bet some part of you is searching for the answers to living a good, meaningful life. You've probably wond ... Show More
1h 8m
May 2022
Harvard Professor REVEALS Why You Feel LOST & UNHAPPY In Life | Arthur Brooks on Impact Theory
Given all of the possibilities we have living in a modern society, people still struggle with feeling lost, unhappy, and unfulfilled. It’s even been reported that American unhappiness hit a record low early this year. If you do a climate check with the people in your life and you ... Show More
1h 45m
Feb 2023
Dacher Keltner — The Thrilling New Science of Awe
One of the most fascinating developments of our time is that human qualities we have understood in terms of virtue — experiences we've called spiritual — are now being taken seriously by science as intelligence — as elements of human wholeness. Dacher Keltner and his Greater Good ... Show More
58m 13s
Jan 2023
250 - Awe - Dacher Keltner
In this episode we sit down with psychologist Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s leading experts on the science of emotion, the man Pixar hired to help them write Inside Out. In his new book – Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life – he outline ... Show More
54m 18s
Jun 2024
Transform Your Life at Any Moment: The Surprising Science of Happiness
Today, you’ll learn the surprising science of what creates a meaningful life, based on 8 decades of research.  This conversation is so profound that you might need to take a second listen. Prepare to laugh, cry, and leave feeling empowered to find and create the happiness and con ... Show More
1h 2m
Jan 2023
Best of This Jungian Life 2022
New Year is a global time of celebration and self-reflection. We let go of what’s worn out and cheer on what’s new and emergent. Here at TJL, we raised our glasses in gratitude. We crested 8 million downloads, implemented major enhancements to your Dream School experience, starte ... Show More
1h 22m