THE HAPPY SCIENCE PODCAST 5l2d5b

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, and see if a smile really is your best asset!

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 are more intertwined than you might think!

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 for the government, and even good citizen behaviors as paying taxes and abiding laws. Tune in to explore how happiness, love, and politics are more connected than you might think! https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1475-6765.12335 

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 villages and tribes around the world with those living in WEIRD society’s – Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich Democracies. Tune in to discover what his research reveals about the universal secrets to happiness! https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.2311703121 

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 those good or bad “air days" might be affecting more than just your lungs! https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-benefit-cost-analysis/article/abs/bad-air-days-the-effects-of-air-quality-on-different-measures-of-subjective-wellbeing/E9967A81411253654AC3D934CDEE8FE0 

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 happiness crossover and how these dynamics can even extend beyond couples to larger groups, like work teams! https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/19485506231207673 

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 your life’s meaning! https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439760.2021.1975159

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 kids really matters when it comes to parenting happiness! https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214804323000927 

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://www.anderson.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/documents/areas/fac/marketing/mogilner/Etkin%20Mogilner%20JCR%202016%20Variety%20and%20Happiness.pdf 

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 d prices on happiness, friendliness and even helpfulness. Tune in to discover how price tags can impact our feelings and behaviors more than we think! https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/mar.22026 

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 happiness rankings reflect – but also impact - how happy people feel!

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