What does it take to flourish? We started Flourish FM to share cutting edge research from world experts on how to thrive, so you can take away big ideas and practical steps to enhance your life, the lives of others, and, ultimately, make the world a better place.
Flourish FM is hosted by Dr. Jon Beale and Dr. Nick Holton, and in collaboration with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, and The Shipley School.
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What does it take to flourish? We started Flourish FM to share cutting edge research from world experts on how to thrive, so you can take away big ideas and practical steps to enhance your life, the lives of others, and, ultimately, make the world a better place.
Flourish FM is hosted by Dr. Jon Beale and Dr. Nick Holton, and in collaboration with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, and The Shipley School.
Episode # 79: How to Flourish More Through the Science of Happiness, with Dr. Laurie Santos
Flourish FM
50 minutes
1 week ago
Episode # 79: How to Flourish More Through the Science of Happiness, with Dr. Laurie Santos
Dr. Laurie Santos is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and one of the world’s leading experts on the science of happiness. She is also an expert on the evolutionary origins of human cognition and the ways our minds lie to us about what makes us happy.
Laurie’s course at Yale, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students how the science of psychology can help us make wiser choices and live a happier and more fulfilling life. It’s the most popular class ever taught at Yale, with almost one out of four students enrolled. It has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, [and] NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, GQ Magazine and Slate. The publicly available online version of the class, called “The Science of Well-Being,” has attracted more than 4 million learners worldwide.
Laurie has won numerous awards, both for her science and teaching. She was recently voted one of Popular Science Magazine’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named in Time Magazine as a “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, is a top-3 Apple podcast which has attracted over 100 million downloads.
Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com
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Yale course: “The Science of Well-Being” (publicly available version of the most popular class in Yale’s history)
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Recent article: “Laurie Santos’ Pursuit of Happiness,” The New Yorker, March 19, 2025
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Timestamps:
[00:02:46] Definition of happiness.
[00:04:09] Balancing affective and cognitive happiness.
[00:06:57] Happiness in vs. Happiness with.
[00:10:25] Misunderstandings about happiness.
[00:12:27] Evolutionary perspective on happiness.
[00:16:09] Happiness is within our control.
[00:19:08] Pursuing happiness the wrong way.
[00:23:14] Misguided happiness metrics.
[00:31:40] Social comparison and happiness.
[00:35:25] College student mental health crisis.
[00:39:05] Changing thought patterns for happiness.
[00:45:06] Parenting practices and discomfort.
[00:48:10] Practical steps for happiness.
Flourish FM
What does it take to flourish? We started Flourish FM to share cutting edge research from world experts on how to thrive, so you can take away big ideas and practical steps to enhance your life, the lives of others, and, ultimately, make the world a better place.
Flourish FM is hosted by Dr. Jon Beale and Dr. Nick Holton, and in collaboration with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, and The Shipley School.
