HAPPINESS RESEARCH, straight up. What is happiness? How do our circumstances affect happiness? Why is the word “gratitude” kinda cringey? What can we do to feel better? Should we feel guilty for feeling happy? When is positivity “toxic?” In this encore of an episode favorite, Yale cognitive scientist, Eudemonologist, and host of The Happiness Lab podcast Dr. Laurie Santos chats about how scientists measure human happiness and what their research has shown helps achieve it, even during the worst of times. Also: silver medal face & countering counterfactuals, which will make sense when you listen.

Listen via Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Podbay, Podcast Addict, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Visit Dr. Santos's website and follow her on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and Facebook

Her podcast: Happiness Lab

A donation went to DonorsChoose.org

Links to things we discussed:

Yep, it’s a real word

Mental health and COVID-19

Hedy Kober Lab at Yale

Brief Mindfulness Meditation Improves Attention in Novices: Evidence From ERPs and Moderation by Neuroticism

Let it be: mindful acceptance down-regulates pain and negative emotion

1995 silver medalist study

Silver medalists -- a replication of the 1995 study