THE HAPPY SCIENCE PODCAST

In this fun episode, we explore why people tend to believe that their future will be happier and more meaningful than their past. But does that optimism extend to everyone – or only to ourselves and the people we like?  Tune in to discover what this reveals about hope, fairness, wishful thinking, and why realism may depend on whose future you’re imagining. Link to study: https://doi.org/10.10...

In this fun episode, we explore whether happiness means the same thing in different languages. Can the language you speak actually change how happy you say you are? Tune in to discover why it may be easier to say you are happy in English than in Swedish, and what that could mean for global happiness surveys and rankings. Link to study: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00827-7 Host: Professor Mic...

In this fun episode, we dig into a slightly uncomfortable question: what happens to our own happiness when we knowingly do something bad to others? We all know giving to charity feels good, but what about the opposite? Tune in to discover why doing good boosts happiness and meaning but doing harm does not always make us feel worse – especially when we find clever ways to justify it. Link to study:...

In this fun episode, we explore whether an election in one country can shape happiness, optimism, and even trust in democracy in other countries. A study using data from over 20,000 people in nine European countries during the U.S.s presidential election 2024 gives the answer. Tune in to discover why political wins and losses can ripple across oceans, why democracy satisfaction may be more fragile...

In this fun episode, we look at how our social lives, with everything from supportive relationships to breakups, impact our wellbeing. Is the pain of a breakup the same for everyone? Can relationships protect our happiness over time? And what does your DNA have to do with any of it? Professor Ragnhild Bang Nes of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health shares fascinating findings from a study of...

In this fun episode, we dig into a surprisingly overlooked question: What exactly are people thinking about when they rate their happiness on global surveys? Is Finland really the happiest country in the world or just the best at climbing metaphorical ladders? Researcher August Nilsson joins us to explain how the metaphorical “Cantril Ladder” works and reveal how tiny tweaks in how we ask about ha...

In this fun episode, we ask whether city life is secretly dragging down our happiness. More people than ever are living in cities, but does urban life come at the cost of happiness? Associate Professor Jens Fyhn Lykke Sørensen from the University of Southern Denmark shares insights from his research on Denmark’s urban–rural happiness gap. From the power of green spaces to the strength of local fri...

In this fun episode, we explore how stressful life events like financial strain or relationship conflicts can affect your life satisfaction and whether these life events are just a matter of bad luck, or partly your parents’ fault? Professor Ragnhild Bang Nes of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health shares insights from a unique twin study that untangles life experiences from biology. Tune in t...

In this fun episode, we explore what happens when people hit the jackpot. Many of us often dream of the big win, but does life really change when it happens? Will wellbeing improve? Does the rush wear off or can the wellbeing be boosted for years, or even decades? Tune in to hear economist Robert Östling from the Stockholm School of Economics shares his insights from studying thousands of Swedish...

Does happiness make you more attractive, or does being attractive make you happier? In this episode, we explore the intriguing connection between how we feel and how we’re perceived. Professor Delin Sun of Duke University has conducted a brain study to uncover the secrets behind happiness and how attractive we are to others. Which comes first—being happy or being desirable? Tune in to find out, an...

In this episode, we dive into a big no-no in relationships: infidelity. What’s the link between happiness and cheating? Does infidelity make couples less happy, or is unhappiness what drives them to cheat? Professor Olga Stavrova of University of Lübeck shares her research on why this connection matters and what it reveals about relationship dynamics. Tune in to explore how happiness and betrayal...

In this fun episode, we find out how people associate their happiness with politics and the government. Could a breakup with your partner make you want to dump the government too? In this episode, Professor Peter Esaiasson of University of Gothenburg shares insights from his multi-country research on how happiness impacts support for the government, and even good citizen behaviors as paying taxes...

In this fun episode, we tackle the age-old question: Do money and material things really buy happiness? Or could you find just as much (or even more) happiness living deep in the Amazon rainforest, in the mountains of Nepal, or in a desert village? Professor Eric Galbraith from McGill University shares insights from his unique research, where he compares the happiness of people in 19 small, remote...

Is the air you’re breathing making you happy, or unhappy? In this episode, we explore how the quality of air can impact your mood, and even your overall happiness. Professor Paul Dolan of London School of Economics shares his surprising findings on how air quality influences well-being, to an extent that can even be comparable to making thousands of extra dollars or not. Tune in to discover how th...

In this fun episode, we explore how happiness - or unhappiness - spreads between couples. Does the happier partner rub off more, or is the other way around? Professor Olga Stavrova of University of Lübeck shares insights from her research on emotional contagion, revealing how partners affect each other's happiness and well-being in unexpected ways. Tune in to discover who holds the most influence...

In this fun episode, we explore how looking at art can not only impact happiness but also meaning in life. Professor Kathleen Vohs of University of Minnesota shares insights from her research on how people feel when looking at fine and not so fine art. Surprisingly, both can have positive, but very different, effects. Tune in to discover what kinds of art might elevate your happiness or deepen you...

In this fun episode, we dive into the surprising impact on parental happiness when having one more kid of the same versus opposite sex. Professor Paul Dolan of London School of Economics shares insights from his research on how the dynamics of raising boys versus girls can influence parent wellbeing, over a whopping 20-year time span. Tune in to discover whether and how having opposite or same sex...

In this fun episode, we explore how your daily activities — whether you focus on a few things or vary between more — impact happiness. Professor Jordan Etkin of Duke University shares insights from her research on how what you do can affect happiness on a daily basis (or even by the hours and minutes!) Tune in to discover how and why structuring your time is more important than you think! https://...

In this fun episode, we explore how expensive or cheap prices impact your happiness, even for stuff you don’t want. Professor Helge Thorbjørnsen of Norwegian School of Economics shares insights from his research on the surprising effects of advertised prices on happiness, friendliness and even helpfulness. Tune in to discover how price tags can impact our feelings and behaviors more than we think!...

In this fun episode, we dive into what happens to happiness when your country is ranked the happiest in the world. How did Finland’s top spot affect its citizens' happiness, and how did Swedes feel about being ranked fourth? Professor Kristina Heinonen of Hanken School of Economics shares fascinating insights from her research on the impact of these rankings. Tune in to discover how national happi...

Discover the science of happiness, one episode – one study!