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 happiness, why young people’s happiness levels may have dropped in the U.S, what ... Show More
Oct 28
Helping humans and wildlife coexist, with Suzanne MacDonald, PhD
Many of us share our cities and neighborhoods with animals that lived there before we moved in, such as raccoons, turtles and crows. Suzanne MacDonald, PhD, of York University, discusses why some species thrive in urban environments while others struggle; how city living changes ... Show More
39m 14s
Oct 21
Why we complain and how to do it better, with Robin Kowalski, PhD
Whether it’s grumbling about a boss, the weather, or a spouse’s most annoying habit, we all complain. Robin Kowalski, PhD, of Clemson University, discusses why we complain; the difference between venting and complaining to get results; how to complain in a way that doesn’t wear p ... Show More
26m 54s
Oct 14
Beyond screen time: What makes educational technology effective, with Nicole Barnes, PhD
Digital tools now help teach students everything from spelling to math to science -- but flashy features don’t always translate to learning. Nicole Barnes, PhD, executive lead psychologist for education at the American Psychological Association and lead author of a new report on ... Show More
33m 42s
Apr 2024
#137: The Happiness Problem
<p>You might have seen headlines that the United States is no longer one of the top 20 happiest countries in the world. Last year, the United States was 15th; this year, it came in at twenty-third in the world. That's a significant drop, but it signals something bigger. </p>
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12m 15s
May 2024
Is There A Science To Happiness?
Have you ever wondered: What does it mean to be truly happy? Can our brain chemistry, or even our genetics, determine how we feel about our lives? And, most importantly, can we learn to be even happier? Cognitive scientist and Yale University Psychology Professor Laurie Santos ha ... Show More
31m 57s
Jan 2024
Sex, Drugs, and Money Might Actually Make You Happier (ft. Sonja Lyubomirsky)
Imagine if you could sit down with one of the world’s leading happiness researchers and ask her, one by one, what actually makes people happier and what doesn’t? Well, that’s basically what I did. In this episode, Sonja and I get deep into the subject of happiness. One by one, we ... Show More
52m 42s