
Episode 551: Dr. Laurie Santos: How Modern Life Hijacks Your Happiness And Why Going Analog Fixes It
Descripción del Episodio
Have you noticed how the more we're connected by the internet and have all these gadgets, the lonelier we get? The things we thought would bring us together are actually making us more isolated than ever.
That is the conversation I had with Dr. Laurie Santos. She is a Yale professor, an expert on happiness, and the woman behind Psychology and the Good Life, the most popular class Yale has ever offered. She also hosts her own hit podcast, The Happiness Lab, focused on the science of feeling good.
In this episode, Dr. Laurie breaks down why English-speaking countries are quietly getting unhappier, why manifesting the reward actually makes you less likely to chase it, and why the expert on gratitude herself doesn't love gratitude journaling. She explains the neuroscience of wanting versus liking, why self-care has quietly become self-indulgence, and the mindset shifts that matter more than any routine, supplement, or practice on the internet.
She also gets into why doomscrolling is stealing more from you than your time, the two parts of happiness you actually need both of, and the simple habits the research supports when every trendy protocol around you does not.
If you have been doing everything you are supposed to do and still feel off, this episode might confirm something you’ve known about yourself and your happiness for a long time.
What's Discussed:
-
(01:30) How Dr. Laurie ended up at Yale teaching the most popular class in the school's history.
-
(04:15) Why happiness is a skill you practice, not a personality trait you are born with.
-
(07:40) The two kinds of happiness most people confuse and why you need both.
-
(11:05) Why money past a certain number stops making you any happier.
-
(14:30) The science behind why paraplegics and lottery winners end up at the same happiness baseline.
-
(18:20) Why comparison is the single biggest thief of happiness in modern life.
-
(22:10) Why the silver medalist looks more miserable than the bronze medalist.
-
(26:45) Why non-English speakers are happier according to studies.
-
(31:20) The dopamine trap of social media and why you crave what you don't even like.
-
(35:50) Why your phone is the Nutrasweet of real connection.
-
(40:15) Why boredom is the skill modern kids are losing and why it matters.
-
(44:30) The shock study that reveals how uncomfortable we have become with our own thoughts.
-
(49:10) Why the gratitude expert herself doesn't vibe with gratitude journaling.
-
(52:40) Dr. Laurie's alternative to gratitude that actually sticks.
-
(57:05) Why self-compassion beats self-criticism for every single goal you have.
-
(1:01:30) Why self-care is not a bubble bath and what it actually looks like.
-
(1:06:15) The research that shows manifestation is making you less likely to get what you want.
-
(1:10:40) The WOOP framework and why it is the version of manifesting that actually works.
-
(1:15:20) Why work-life balance is the wrong goal and what to aim for instead.
-
(1:19:45) What Dr. Laurie tells her students to do in just ten minutes a day to feel happier.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code HUSTLE to get up to $300 OFF today! AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, plus a 3-year warranty (an $84 value) FREE!
Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits or 20% OFF
Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% OFF your first subscription.
Therasage: Visit Therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% OFF your order. Your skin deserves this level of care.
Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% OFF sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use the code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.
Rho Nutrition: Go to RhoNutrition.com and try Rho's Liposomal Glutathione. Use code JEN20 for 20% OFF sitewide.
Manna Vitality: Try it now by using the code Jennifer20 at mannavitality.com.
Find more from Jen Cohen:
Website: www.jennifercohen.comInstagram: @therealjencohenBooks: www.jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements
Find more from Dr. Laurie Santos:
Website:www.drlauriesantos.com/Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial Facebook: Dr. Laurie Santos YouTube: @DrLaurieSantosTiktok: @drlauriesantosThreads: @lauriesantosofficialX: @lauriesantos Podcast: The Happiness Lab
Episodios Recientes

Más podcasts de Sociedad y Cultura
Ver toda la categoría →
Grandes Infelices
By shows
"GRANDES INFELICES. Luces y sombras de grandes novelistas" es un podcast literario de Blackie Books presentado y dirigido por el escritor Javier Peña (autor de los libros “Agnes” e “Infelices”).Javier Peña repasará capítulo a capítulo la vida y obra de destacados escritores y escritoras, que a veces tuvieron vida de novela, pero no siempre de las felices.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

OnlyFantasy
By shows
<p>Leon Neyfakh is a journalist and podcaster best known as the co-creator and host of <em>Slow Burn</em>, <em>Fiasco</em>, and <em>Backfired</em>. He has been a reporter for <em>Slate, The Boston Globe</em>, and <em>The New York Observer </em>and is the author of the book <em>The Next Next Level</em>. Listen to his newest podcasts here.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Season 3: OnlyFantasy</strong></p><p>In this provocative investigation into OnlyFans— the adult platform where subscribers around the world spent more than $7 billion in 2024— journalist Leon Neyfakh teams up with comedian and OnlyFans creator Gracie Canaan for a one-of-a-kind exploration into the current state of human connection.</p><p>Throughout, they discover that the site originally built for spicy adult content has quietly and surprisingly become something more complicated— an emotional marketplace where desire, performance, care, fantasy, and vulnerability seemingly blur together.</p><p>As Neyfakh and Canaan navigate timely questions about autonomy, performance, and profit, a question emerges: is connection mediated by a screen still authentic? To find the answer, they meet creators building lucrative businesses, subscribers who believe they’ve found something real, professional “chatters” who are paid to simulate affection, and pioneers who have helped engineer intimacy at scale.</p><p>Captivating and tender, <i>OnlyFantasy</i> is ultimately about the cost of loneliness, the seductive power of desire, and how the rules of human intimacy are being rewritten online.</p><p>Is what’s happening on OnlyFans real? Or is it only a fantasy? </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Season 2: Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer</strong></p><p>Jerry Springer wasn’t supposed to become the host of <em>The Jerry Springer Show</em>. Before the chairs started flying and the fights became a daytime TV staple, the man then known as Gerald Springer was an idealistic rising star in Democratic politics, with ambitions to one day be elected governor of Ohio. </p><p>From Leon Neyfakh and Prologue Projects<em> —</em> the team behind <em>Slow Burn</em>, <em>Fiasco</em>, <em>Backfired, </em>and <em>Think Twice: Michael Jackson —</em> comes <em>Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer</em>.</p><p>You may think you know Springer, the notorious ringmaster of what <em>TV Guide</em> once called “the worst show in television history.” But long before Springer’s name became synonymous with outrageous guests, taboo confessions, and vicious on-stage brawls, he was the mayor of Cincinnati<em> —</em> a serious and popular politician who many believed was the future of the Democratic Party. So, what happened?</p><p>This series traces Springer’s unlikely transformation<em> —</em> from the son of Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany, to a respected public servant, to the face of a show many called a symptom of cultural decline. Through intimate interviews with the people who knew him best<em> —</em> family, political insiders, and the producers who helped shape his show<em> —</em> <em>Final Thoughts</em> will bring you closer than ever to the man behind the spectacle, and maybe even cause you to rethink some of your own life choices.</p><p><em>Final Thoughts</em> isn’t just a story about one man’s improbable career path. It’s about how far someone can go for success and what they’re willing to trade to stay on top. Was Springer pulled into the gutter, or did he just understand it better than anyone else? </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Season 1: Think Twice: Michael Jackson</strong></p><p>More than a decade since Michael Jackson’s death, his legacy remains complicated and unresolved. <em>Think Twice: Michael Jackson</em> is an exploration of the King of Pop’s life and impact — and an investigation into why his global influence continues to endure, despite the disturbing allegations against him. In this ten-part series, journalists Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth bring you a new perspective on the Michael Jackson story, based on dozens of original interviews with people who watched it unfold from up close. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Credits</strong>:</p><p>Hosts — Leon Neyfakh and Gracie Canaan </p><p>Supervisor Producer — Sam Lee</p><p>Editor — Diane Hodson </p><p>Producers — Dustin DeSoto and Betsy Shepherd</p><p>Mix Engineer — Erica Huang</p><p>Theme Song and Score — Billy Libby</p><p>Fact-Checker — Annika Robbins </p><p>Executive Producers — Lara Regan Kleinschmidt, Jules Henderson, and Heather Won Tesoriero</p>

48 Hours
By shows
“48 Hours” uncovers the narrative behind crime and justice cases that have left a lasting mark on society. Award-winning CBS News correspondents thoughtfully examine the complexities of each crime by transporting you to the heart of the investigation through key evidence and gripping interviews with critical figures from the case. The unmatched reporting has made a tangible difference in countless lives, leading to the exoneration of wrongly convicted individuals and the reopening — and resolution — of previously closed cold cases.Listen to a new “48 Hours” episode every Monday and then go deeper into the case on Tuesdays with the immersive “Post Mortem” series — producers and correspondents join host Anne-Marie Green to discuss key evidence, dead ends, mishaps, and stranger-than-fiction twists they faced in the field. Also available on the 48 Hours YouTube channel. Plus, every Wednesday and Thursday, we’ll revisit a classic “48 Hours” episode. Get ad-free access to 48 Hours podcasts by subscribing to 48 Hours+. Subscribe at 48HoursPodcasts.com, then listen in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or use your private link in your favorite podcast app.

Arsénico Caviar
By shows
<p>Un podcast original de Podium, con Beatriz Serrano y Guillermo Alonso, que gira en torno a los sentimientos que mueven nuestras vidas: el odio, la antipatía y el resentimiento. O, más bien, sobre las cosas y las personas que despiertan estos oscuros sentimientos que nosotros intentamos que permanezcan dormidos pero la vida no lo permite. En Arsénico Caviar creemos que el odio une y define más que el amor, y si el amor puede mover montañas, nosotros queremos dinamitarlas.</p> <p>'Arsénico Caviar' ha sido galardonado como Mejor Podcast conversacional (ex aequo) en los II Premios Ondas Globales del Podcast.</p>

Diego Ruzzarin
By shows
Filosofía, noticias, política global, pensamiento crítico y reflexiones, con Diego Ruzzarin, brasileño, políglota y crítico ideológico con maestría en Diseño de Experiencias y consultor en todos los continentes. Todo mi contenido y merch disponible aquí: https://linkpop.com/diegoruzzarin IG: @diegoruzzarin FB: @diegoruzzarin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

En Boca de León
By shows
Con su estilo único y sensibilidad inigualable, León Krauze comenta las noticias y las historias más importantes del día para ti.

Elton John Impact Awards
By shows
<p>Elton John Impact Awards honors the cultural icons championing equality for everyone. Inspiration meets impact in an unforgettable celebration of voices changing the world. Hosts Billy Porter and Elvis Duran lead a series of intimate and candid conversations with Elton John, David Furnish, and six incredible honorees whose work has shaped culture, advanced equality, and driven positive change for the LGBTQ+ community - Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck, and Chappell Roan. These awards are all about recognizing those who cleared the path for us, and the ones who are lighting the way for future generations.</p>

Five Miles From Home
By shows
When beloved high school junior Micaela Costanzo disappears on her way home from track practice, the race to find her leads to unlikely suspects, simmering rage, and unimaginable betrayal. Keith Morrison takes us to a small Nevada casino town to find out what really happened that night under the desert sky.