Need a quick picker-upper in your busy day? Perhaps a helpful perspective shift on a gloomy day? Here are 7 handpicked podcasts, with 7 different, helpful perspectives, about the pursuit of happiness…
1) Listen to all of Laurie Santos’, “Happiness Lab”
Laurie Santos is a happiness researcher and a Psychology professor at Yale. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches how the science of psychology can provide important hints about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. It recently became Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years. Her podcast is fast paced, always interesting and well-produced.
2) Untangle Interview with Tal Ben Shahar, “How to Find Happiness: Get Out of Your Own Way to Walk Your Path to Bliss”
Untangle podcast is hosted by Patricia Karpas and Ariel Garten. Together, or separately, the interview authors, experts and thought-leaders in areas related to mindfulness, brain health practices, leadership, life and more. This wide collection of interviews are always thoughtful, provocative, inspirational and engaging.
3) Gretchen Rubin’s Happier, “Seven Myths of Happiness” - Podcast Audio & Podcast Transcript
Gretchen Rubin is a writer who explores human nature to understand how we can make our lives better. She is the author of many bestselling books, including: The Happiness Project, Happier at HomeandBetter Than Before. Many people have reported enjoying taking her Four Tendencies Quiz, which helps others understand their own dominant tendencies and those of the important others in their life. Rubin explains, “Our response to expectations determines our “Tendency”—that is, whether we fit into the category of Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel.”
4) The TED Interview with Dan Gilbert, “Dan Gilbert on the surprising science of happiness”
Daniel Gilbert is has vastly important work in the field of Psychology and is the author of Emotional Intelligence. In this interview, he reveals new research and his unorthodox path into this work. His message is always uplifting and he is an engaging speaker.
5) This “All Things Therapy” podcast with Zack Friedman, author of The Lemonade Life, “Zack Friedman of Harvard has lunch with Warren Buffett”.
6) Also loving The Science of Happiness from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. I am already a big fan of the simple Three Good Things journal practice for reprogramming your brain to notice the positives vs. the negatives in your life. Listen to this entertaining podcast episode with Moz Jobrani to find out why: Happy Again: How to Notice What You’re Thankful For
7) In “How We’re Wired for Goodness” (On Being with Krista Tibett) Sociologist Nicholas Christakis explains that “…we come to social goodness as naturally as we come to our bloodier inclinations.” For some reason, all the ill we bestow on each other gets a lot more air time than all the good. Plus, people then use this and other negative acts of history to ‘prove’ that humans are hardwired for self-interest. Especially in this 11th hour of climate change, it’s vital that we understand that the fate of humanity isn’t predetermined by our baser instincts. Listen to this episode for a more refreshing and inspiring view of the human race.