The Science of Happiness

Consider what you want to make space for in your life in this 6-minute contemplation guided by Alex Elle. Find a quiet placeBreathe deeplyNotice the fears, doubts, or stressesPick one phraseIn the presence of chaos, I will make space for inner peaceClose your practiceScroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break host: ALEX ELLE is a breathwork coach, author and restorative writing teacher. Learn more about Alex here: https://www.alexelle.com/about Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_elle/ Follow Alex on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@easewithalex Related Happiness Break episodes: Who Takes Care of You: https://tinyurl.com/5xmfkf73 Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 A Meditation on Original Love: https://tinyurl.com/5u298cv4 Related Science of Happiness episodes: How to Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xc How Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6 How To Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xc We love hearing from you! Tell us about your experience of holding silence. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave us a 5-star review and copy and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/yk6nfnfv

Trees aren’t just competing for sunlight and soil—they’re also looking out for one another. Scientist Suzanne Simard reveals the unexpected ways trees communicate, share resources, and support us. Summary: We dive into what we can learn from the neural networks of forests, evolution and cooperation, and how trees are a fundamental solution to the climate crises we are facing today with ecologist Suzanne Simard. She also shares her forest gratitude practice and invites us to reflect on what it means to feel a sense of belonging in the forest. How To Do This Practice: Go to a forest or natural spaceSit quietlyAcknowledge the presenceOffer your gratitudeIf you're with loved ones,Feel the connectionReturn to this practiceScroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Guests: DR. SUZANNE SIMARD is a professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia and the author of Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest. Read her book here: https://tinyurl.com/bdfy463z Related The Science of Happiness episodes: How Water Heals: https://tinyurl.com/utuhrnh3 Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher (Encore): https://tinyurl.com/aj34s585 The Healing Effects of Experiencing Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/49pkk6eu Related Happiness Breaks: How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm Pause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3 A Walking Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/mwbsen7a Tell us about your experience connecting with nature. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription:

When we feel cared for, our cortisol levels drop, we feel safe, and we handle stress better. Dacher leads a meditation to help us focus on the people who make us feel supported. How To Do This Practice: Get Comfortable:Think of a Friend:Think of a Family Member:Think of a Mentor:Feel the Support:Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Related Happiness Break episodes: Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 A Meditation on Original Love: https://tinyurl.com/5u298cv4 Wishing Others’ Well, With Anushka Fernandopulle: https://tinyurl.com/jrkewjs8 Related Science of Happiness episodes: Are You Remembering the Good Times: https://tinyurl.com/483bkk2h Why Friendships Matter More Than We Think: https://tinyurl.com/y99tc9nm Why We Should Seek Beauty: https://tinyurl.com/yn7ry59j Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription:

We're sharing a new show from our friends at Higher Ground, hosted by Michelle Obama, called IMO. You know that on The Science of Happiness we have conversations things like compassion, resilience and empathy, and we share research-backed strategies for a more fulfilled life. Similarly on IMO, Michelle and her big brother Craig Robinson bring candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. In this episode, Michelle and Craig are joined by actor and writer Issa Rae for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about friendship. Each week, they’re joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real people just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. Topics range from dating and relationships, to family and faith. Michelle and Craig share stories about being there for each other throughout their lives, from first crushes and fraught college years, to landing at the White House, to losing their mom. For six decades they’ve been each others’ most trusted counsel—and now, they want to be that counsel for you. You can find more episodes of IMO at https://lnk.to/imomichellecrai... Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/bddahkjb

What happens when we replace sky-gazing with screen-scrolling? Discover how digital life impacts happiness and what Gen Z can teach us about reclaiming control over our well-being. Summary: Smartphones have become our constant companions, but at what cost? This episode of The Science of Happiness explores how our digital lives are reshaping how we think, feel, and connect. From social media’s pull to the decline of face-to-face connection, we look at what we lose—and what we can regain—by stepping away from screens and into nature, quiet, and deeper connections. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Ways To Do A Digital Detox: Turn off your phone before bedWait to turn it on in the morningDo meaningful work beforeKeep notifications silencedTurn off WiFi and browsersTake regular breaksPractice readingPause when you crave scrollingCreate your own digital detox planToday’s Guests: ADAM BECKER is an astrophysicist and author of the book, More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley’s Crusade To Control The Fate Of Humanity. Learn more about Adam Becker here: http://freelanceastrophysicist.com/ JEAN TWENGE is a psychologist and best-selling author. She’s spent years studying how the digital world shapes our minds and bodies, and the way different generations experience life. Learn more about Jean Twenge here: https://www.jeantwenge.com/ Related The Science of Happiness episodes: ​​Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher (Encore): https://tinyurl.com/aj34s585 How Exploring New Places Can Make You Feel Happier: https://tinyurl.com/4ufn2tpn Why We Should Look up at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/mpn9vj2t Related Happiness Breaks: How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm Tap into the Joy That Surrounds You: https://tinyurl.com/2pb8ye9x Pause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3 Tell us about your experience with taking a break from technology. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/e7rhsakj

Embrace the beauty of your accent in this self-compassion meditation that guides you in a reflection of your history, heritage, and connection to your ancestors. How To Do This Practice: Find a Comfortable PositionFocus on Your BreathAcknowledge Your AccentRepeat Self-Compassion Phrases“my accent makes me unique,” “my accent carries my story,” “my accent connects me to my ancestors.”Place a Hand on Your HeartClose with GratitudeScroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break host: CRISS CUERVO is a mindfulness and meditation teacher, Bridging Differences Coordinator at the Greater Good Science Center, and author of PERTENÆCER: Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Training and Practices for Latinx Immigrants in the United. Learn more about Criss Cuervo here: https://tinyurl.com/4npjwn6m Read her book here: https://tinyurl.com/3byby84b Related Happiness Break episodes: A Meditation on Original Love: https://tinyurl.com/5u298cv4 Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 Where Did You Come From: https://tinyurl.com/2y9uyjj6 Related Science of Happiness episodes: How to Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xc How to Tune Out The Noise: https://tinyurl.com/4hhekjuh How to Feel Better About Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/42fn62a2 Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/kv5ycj3v

Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider tries a body scan meditation to sharpen her focus and calm her nerves as she prepares for the Tournament of Champions. Summary: Simple mindfulness practices, like a body scan, can help cultivate presence and reduce stress. By tuning into the body with curiosity and awareness, we can deepen our connection to ourselves and those we care for. The practice encourages a gentle shift from overthinking to embodied presence, fostering calm and resilience. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or simply seeking more ease in daily life, this episode offers a practical tool for grounding and self-care. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. How to do this practice: Get comfortableFocus on your breathScan your bodyRefocus as neededClose with stillnessToday’s Guests: AMY SCHNEIDER is the most successful woman to compete on the quiz show Jeopardy! and won 40 consecutive games. Follow Amy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jeopardamy JONATHAN GREENBERG is a psychology professor in Harvard University’s Clinical and Translational Science Center. His research focuses on the role of mindfulness and relaxation. Learn more about Jonathan here: https://tinyurl.com/mrd6r8tb Follow Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/2j2b7muy Related The Science of Happiness episodes: How To Breathe Away Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/3v9vts5a How To Tune Out The Noise: https://tinyurl.com/4hhekjuh How To Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xc Related Happiness Breaks: How To Relax Your Body Through A Standing Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2fv4c9h8 5-Minutes of Progressive Muscle Relaxation: https://tinyurl.com/yc3cvhsz A Breathing Technique to Help You Relax: https://tinyurl.com/mryh6c72 Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/p23n2kn7

Take a break from ruminating with Lama Rod Owens as he leads you in a meditation to cultivate a sky-like mind. How to Do This Practice: Get Comfortable:Settle into Your Body:Observe Your Thoughts: Visualize the Sky: Detach from Thoughts: “This is just an experience, passing through.”Return to the Present: Today’s Happiness Break host: LAMA ROD OWENS is a Buddhist teacher, author and activist passionate about creating engaging and inclusive healing spaces. Learn more about Lama Rod Owens: https://www.lamarod.com/ Follow Lama Rod Owens on Instagram: @lamarodofficial Follow Lama Rod Owens on Facebook: @lamarod Follow Lama Rod Owens on Twitter: @LamaRod1 Related Happiness Break episodes: How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm Pause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3 A Mindful Breath Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/mr9d22kr Related Science of Happiness episodes: How Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6 How To Find Calm Through Walking: https://tinyurl.com/ycervtah Breathe Away Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/3u7vsrr5 Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3u8k2j8h

An art-form powerful enough to prescribe — from ancient traditions to modern neuroscience, we uncover how music, including lullabies, function as a form of medicine. Summary: Music has a unique ability to calm, heal, and bring people together, and lullabies are one of the earliest ways we experience this connection. In this episode, we explore how music affects the brain, reduces stress, and strengthens bonds between caregivers and children. Through science and personal stories, we reflect on the deep emotional power of lullabies and their role in both everyday life and moments of challenge. From ancient traditions to modern research, we uncover why lullabies remain a universal source of comfort. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Guests: ALEXIS CARIELLO is a social worker who was prescribed music to help manage her perinatal anxiety. DR. DANIEL LEVITIN is a neuroscientist, musician, and bestselling author of the books, Music as Medicine: How We Can Harness Its Therapeutic Power and I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music As Medicine. Follow Dr. Levitin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/daniellevitinofficial Bringing Lullabies into Everyday Life You don’t need to be a professional musician to bring the healing power of music into your caregiving routine. Here are some simple ways to incorporate lullabies into your daily life: Sing, Even If It’s Just for You:Create a Caregiving Playlist:Write Your Own Lullaby:Share the Experience:Our Caring for Caregivers series is supported by the Van Leer Foundation, an independent Dutch organization working globally to foster inclusive societies where all children and communities can flourish. To discover more insights from Van Leer Foundation and others on this topic, visit Early Childhood Matters, the leading platform for advancing topics on early childhood development and connecting diverse voices and ideas across disciplines that support the wellbeing of babies, toddlers and caregivers around the globe. Music has the power to uplift, soothe, and connect. What lullabies, songs, or musical rituals bring you comfort? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or message us on Instagram @ScienceOfHappinessPod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/49svzn4v

How to Do This Practice: Find a Comfortable Space: Start with a Basic Clap: Add Chest Percussion: Incorporate Leg Taps: Repeat the Full Pattern: Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today’s Happiness Break host: KEITH TERRY is a percussionist and body musician who uses a variety of surfaces to create interesting rhythms. Learn more about Keith Terry: https://tinyurl.com/5av66v5f Watch Keith Terry in action: https://tinyurl.com/299vuw4a Related Happiness Break episodes: A Humming Technique to Calm Your Nerves: https://tinyurl.com/mr42rzad The Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/y4ze59h8 How to Relax Your Body Through a Standing Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2fv4c9h8 Related Science of Happiness episodes: Why Dancing Is The Best Medicine: https://tinyurl.com/y66hxxy9 The Science of Humming: https://tinyurl.com/4esyy6nd How Music Can Bridge Cultures: https://tinyurl.com/5ar3c8yy Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/275tna6h

In a world that emphasizes romantic relationships, we explore the science of friendships in humans and our primate relatives—how we make them and how they not only influence health and happiness, but our survival. Episode Summary: Romantic love gets plenty of attention, but what about the friendships that sustain us through life’s ups and downs? In this episode, we explore the science and significance of deep friendships, how they contribute to our mental and emotional health, and why they deserve just as much care as romantic relationships. We also discuss practical ways to strengthen friendships and rethink how we define meaningful connections. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. This is part of our series The Science of Love, supported by The John Templeton Foundation. Sign up for The Science of Happiness podcast's 7-Day Love Challenge to receive these science-backed practices delivered directly to your inbox: tinyurl.com/7daylovechallenge Today’s Guests: DR. MARISA G FRANCO is a psychologist and professor at The University of Maryland and author of the book “Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make – and Keep – Friends.” Learn more about Dr. Marisa G Franco here: https://drmarisagfranco.com/ Follow Marisa on Instagram: @drmarisagfranco DR. LAUREN BRENT is an evolutionary biologist and professor at the University of Exeter. She studies the ecological and evolutionary basis of social relationships and networks. Learn more about Lauren Brent here: http://www.laurenbrent.com/ Related The Science of Happiness episodes: 36 Questions to Spark Love and Connection: https://tinyurl.com/ktcpz78u How 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhr Why We Need Friends With Shared Interests: https://tinyurl.com/bp8msacj Related Happiness Breaks: A Meditation on Love and Interconnectedness: https://tinyurl.com/ye6baxv3 A Guided Meditation on Embodied Love: https://tinyurl.com/3dmpfam6 Visualizing Your Best Self in Relationships: https://tinyurl.com/4797z2vf Tell us about your experience building lasting friendships. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription to come.

Experience the physical sensations of love through this guided meditation that nurtures connection, relaxation, and emotional awareness. How To Do This Practice: This episode is part of our series The Science of Love, supported by a grant from The John Templeton Foundation on spreading love through the media. Sign up for The Science of Happiness podcast's 7-Day Love Challenge to receive these science-backed practices delivered directly to your inbox: tinyurl.com/7daylovechallenge Today’s Happiness Break Host: Dacher Keltner is the host of The Science of Happiness podcast and is a co-instructor of the Greater Good Science Center’s popular online course of the same name. He’s also a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Related Happiness Break episodes: A Meditation on Original Love: https://tinyurl.com/5u298cv4 Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 A Meditation for Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/485y3b4y Related Science of Happiness episodes: 36 Questions to Spark Love and Connection: https://tinyurl.com/ktcpz78u How 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhr How to Use Your Body to Relax Your Mind: https://tinyurl.com/yckyft6t How To Tune Out The Noise: https://tinyurl.com/4hhekjuh How To Breathe Away Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/msmxtyes Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3dmpfam6

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Can a simple set of 36 questions build love and intimacy? We explore the science behind how the questions we ask and the way we listen shape our closest relationships. Episode summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we break down the science behind a practice designed to deepen connection—whether in romantic relationships or friendships. We’re joined by Amber and Ben Wallin, the hilarious and heartfelt couple who’ve shared their marriage and parenting journey with millions on TikTok. They put these 36 questions to the test. Later, we’ll dive into the power of listening and how it shapes our relationships with Yale psychologist Jieni Zhou. This is part of our series The Science of Love, supported by The John Templeton Foundation. Sign up for The Science of Happiness podcast's 7-Day Love Challenge to receive these science-backed practices delivered directly to your inbox: tinyurl.com/7daylovechallenge Today’s Guests: AMBER WALLIN is an LA-based comedian, host, and storyteller with over a million followers on TikTok and Instagram. She creates family, relationship and comedy content with her husband Ben Wallin. Follow Amber on Instagram: @burr_iam Follow Amber on TikTok: @burr_iam BEN WALLIN is a writer, content creator and social media personality who creates family, relationship and comedy content with his wife Amber Wallin. Follow Ben on Instagram: @beynfluencer Follow Ben on TikTok: @benjaminwallin5 JIENI ZHOU is a Post-doctoral associate at Yale University and an expert in how positive experiences in romantic relationships impact our well-being. Learn more about Jieni here: https://tinyurl.com/mr3nkf2s Related The Science of Happiness episodes: How 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhr Why We Need Friends With Shared Interests: https://tinyurl.com/bp8msacj Who’s Always There For You: https://tinyurl.com/yt3ejj6w Related Happiness Breaks: Meditation on Original Love: https://tinyurl.com/ye6baxv3 Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 Visualizing Your Best Self in Relationships: https://tinyurl.com/4797z2vf Tell us about your experience with this practice. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/ktcpz78u

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Cultivate a sense of original love — a universal connection that nurtures joy, safety, and belonging — with meditation teacher Henry Shukman. How to Do This Practice: Today’s Happiness Break Guide: Henry Shukman, is a poet, mindfulness teacher, and author of Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening. Learn more about Shukman’s work: https://henryshukman.com/about Order his book, Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening: https://tinyurl.com/mwv5cuxr This is part of our series The Science of Love, supported by The John Templeton Foundation. Related Happiness Break episodes: Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm Our Deep Interconnectedness: https://tinyurl.com/jthxkpjd Related Science of Happiness episodes: How Water Heals: https://tinyurl.com/utuhrnh3 How To Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xc How Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6 Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/ye6baxv3

From daily check-ins to meaningful compliments and planned dates nights, we explore a 7-day love challenge to help couples strengthen their relationships. Summary: Developed by renowned psychologists Julie and John Gottman. Based on decades of research, this week-long practice offers simple, actionable steps to deepen connection and nurture relationships. From meaningful check-ins and heartfelt compliments to the importance of touch, we uncover how small, intentional actions can create lasting bonds. Whether you're looking to reignite romance or strengthen your partnership, the 7-day love challenge provides practical tools to bring more love and connection into your life. Sign up for The Science of Happiness podcast's 7-Day Love Challenge to receive these science-backed practices delivered directly to your inbox at greatergood.berkeley.edu/7daylovechallenge This is part of our series The Science of Love. More about the 7-day love challenge: Check out their book, The Love Prescription, Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy: https://tinyurl.com/34nt5vv9 This episode is supported by The John Templeton Foundation. Related The Science of Happiness episodes: Who’s Always There For You?: https://tinyurl.com/yt3ejj6w When It’s Hard to Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/bde6wyu7 Are Your Remembering The Good Times: https://tinyurl.com/483bkk2h Related Happiness Breaks: Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 A Meditation on How to Be Your Best Self: https://tinyurl.com/3b38pw2f Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription to come.

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode Cultivate more joy in your life with this practice led by meditation teacher and author Spring Washam. How to Do This Practice: “May my joy and my happiness increase.”“May your joy and happiness increase.”“I’m happy for your happiness. May your happiness continue.”Today’s Happiness Break Guide: Spring Washam, is a meditation teacher based in Oakland, California. She is also the author of the book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground.Learn more about Spring and her new book: https://www.springwasham.com/ Follow Spring on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/springwasham/ Check out Spring’s YouTube channel: https://tinyurl.com/22njyd29 Related Happiness Break episodes: https://tinyurl.com/2pb8ye9xhttps://tinyurl.com/jrkewjs8Related Science of Happiness episodes: https://tinyurl.com/5n7thrh4https://tinyurl.com/483bkk2hhttps://tinyurl.com/yn7ry59jFollow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/a6shdsae

We explore how embracing awe can uplift caregivers, providing tools to nurture themselves while nurturing others. This week on The Science of Happiness, we explore how moments of awe can transform caregiving. By incorporating awe through music, nature, and shared experiences, Noam Osband and Devora Keller found ways to refresh themselves and foster connection within their two young children. Their stories illuminate the impact of awe on parenting and caretaking, and the importance of intentionally cultivating wonder to enhance caregiving and strengthen bonds. This episode was supported by the Van Leer Foundation, an independent Dutch organisation working globally to foster inclusive societies where all children and communities can flourish. To discover more insights from Van Leer Foundation and others on this topic, visit Early Childhood Matters, the leading platform for advancing topics on early childhood development and connecting diverse voices and ideas across disciplines that support the wellbeing of babies, toddlers and caregivers around the globe. Related The Science of Happiness episodes: The Science of Awe (3 episode series): https://tinyurl.com/3jz8rnev Are You Following Your Inner Compass: https://tinyurl.com/y2bh8vvj The Healing Effects of Experiencing Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/bde5av4z The Value of Variety and Novelty: https://tinyurl.com/3rm58m3e Related Happiness Breaks: A Walking Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/mwbsen7a A Meditation on Becoming a Gift to Life: https://tinyurl.com/3et7rz4p Today’s Guests: NOAM OSBAND is a radio producer and anthropologist whose work explores themes of culture, identity, and human connection. DEVORA KELLER is a physician with a decade of experience building and leading transitional care programs in the safety net. She is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine. Tell us about your experiences and struggles with compassionate listening. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @ScienceOfHappinessPod. Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcript: Coming soon.

A meditation to cultivate a sense of awe by focusing on new beginnings -- whether it’s a budding plant, a new friendship, or a recent moment of wonder. How to Do This Practice: Today’s Happiness Break Host: Dacher Keltner is the host of The Science of Happiness podcast and is a co-instructor of the Greater Good Science Center’s popular online course of the same name. He’s also a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3pdp8nky

Dance, one of humanity's oldest art forms, traces its roots back over 10,000 years. Its rhythmic movements are known to release endorphins, strengthen connections, and even increase our pain tolerance. Summary: This week on The Science of Happiness, we explore how dancing connects us, enhances well-being, and fosters community. Lori Arnett, a NASA engineer, shares how a month-long dance practice brought her closer to her daughters and colleagues, offering moments of calm and joy. She reflected on how dancing parallels her work at NASA, where teamwork enables extraordinary achievements. Dr. Bronwyn Tarr, an expert on the science of dance, also reveals how synchronized movement not only enhances mood and reduces stress but also raises our pain threshold by triggering the release of endorphins. Guests: Lori Arnett, Associate Director for Digital Transformation for the Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities (AETC) within the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) at NASA Learn More About Lori Arnett: https://tinyurl.com/2bbhr7ht Bronwyn Tarr, Research at The Social Body Lab within the Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion at the University of Oxford Learn More About Bronwyn Tarr: https://tinyurl.com/mxvm5mr8 Related Science of Happiness Episodes: The Science of Happiness and Music: https://tinyurl.com/4f9axvca A three-episode series exploring how music helps to boost our mood, make us feel connected to others, and bridge divides. How Music Evokes Awe: https://tinyurl.com/3uuef5ke Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod. Transcript Link To Come.

Feeling burned out? Join Dr. Kristen Neff as she guides us through a calming practice to bring kindness and support to ourselves during tough times. How to Do This Practice: This is hard. Burnout is a natural human response to stress.I’m here for you, you’re doing your best, you’re loved just as you are.Today’s Happiness Break Guide: Dr. Kristin Neff is an associate professor in the University of Texas at Austin's department of educational psychology. She's also the co-author of 'Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout,' which offers tools to help individuals heal and recharge from burnout. More Happiness Breaks like this one: The Healing Power of Your Own Touch: https://tinyurl.com/y4ze59h8 Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5 We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/485y3b4y