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PRX and Greater Good Science Center

Learn research-tested strategies for a happier, more meaningful life, drawing on the science of compassion, gratitude, mindfulness, and awe. Hosted by award-winning psychologist Dacher Keltner. Co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. Follow us on Instagram @HappinessPod.

The Science of Happiness

Playfulness can improve your relationships, help you excel at work, and reduce stress. We explore a strategy shown to help you become more playful.

Link to episode transcript: http://tinyurl.com/b5xc78r3

Episode summary:

Patricia Mebrahtu used to have so much fun as a child. Now, as a medical assistant and mother of two young children, she found herself feeling burnt out and irritable. For our show, Patricia tried a practice to infuse more playfulness into her life. From singing karaoke with her family to playing in the rain, she tapped into her inner child. Through this practice, Patricia recognized the importance of taking time out for yourself, and that she can carve out opportunities to have fun and be playful, even as a busy adult. Later, we hear from psychologist René Proyer about the different types of playfulness, and how incorporating play can benefit our sense of wellbeing.

Practice:

Each day for a week, incorporate one playful activity into your routine – it can be anything you find enjoyable and playful.

Every evening, write about the experience, and how it made you feel in the present moment.

Today’s guests:

Patricia Mebrahtu is a mother and medical assistant in California.

René Proyer is a psychologist from the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.

Learn about René’s work: http://tinyurl.com/4sa9vye9

Follow René on Twitter: http://tinyurl.com/3x5986u6

Resources from The Greater Good Science Center:

Can We Play? http://tinyurl.com/prhv22rf

What Playfulness Can Do for Your Relationship: http://tinyurl.com/n9b3h7e4

Tuesday Tip: Play with Some Friends: http://tinyurl.com/mu837nwr

More Resources on Being Playful:

BBC - Playtime: Is it time we took 'play' more seriously? http://tinyurl.com/4jmx89vn

NYT - Why We All Need to Have More Fun: http://tinyurl.com/335z4bdu

Washington Post - Why it’s good for grown-ups to go play: http://tinyurl.com/5w8shen

TED - The Importance of PLAY in adulthood and childhood: http://tinyurl.com/4hsn9um4

How do you incorporate play into your life? Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

Help us share The Science of Happiness!

Rate us on Spotify and share this link with someone who might like the show: http://tinyurl.com/up29j8zk

Why Grownups Should Be Playful Too

Trouble sitting still? Learn to practice meditating by simply walking in this practice guided by 10% Happier host Dan Harris. 

Scroll down for a transcript of this episode.

How to Do This Practice:

 1. Begin walking.

 2. Bring your awareness to the present moment, noticing sights and sounds around you. When your mind wanders to worries or other thoughts, gently bring yourself back to what you notice around you.

 3. See if you can notice the sensations in your leg as you take each step.

 4. Continue walking this way as long as you wish.

***
The Science of Happiness is committed to sharing stories and research that inspire resilience, compassion, and connection. As we reflect on the past few years, these values feel more essential than ever. Help us continue to provide this free resource and expand its reach.

Through December 31, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Visit GGSC.Berkeley.edu/donate to support the show and make an even bigger impact.
***

Today’s Happiness Break host:

Dan Harris the host of 10% Happier, a podcast about mindfulness and other practices and thoughts that can support our well-being. 

Check out Dan’s podcast, 10% Happier: https://tinyurl.com/48cxcbjm

Order his most recent book, Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book: https://tinyurl.com/44cmjuvd

Follow Dan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/danbharris
Follow 10% Happier on Twitter: https://twitter.com/10percent
Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danharris/
Follow 10% Happier on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenpercenthappier/
Follow Dan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-harris-91ba5716b/
Follow 10% Happier on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tenpercent/

If you enjoyed this Happiness Break, you may also like:

Moving Through Space, With Dacher Keltner - https://tinyurl.com/5n8dj5v6

Check out these episodes of The Science of Happiness about walking and mind-body awareness.

How To Do Good For The Environment (And Yourself) (Walking, With Diana Gameros) - https://tinyurl.com/3zfhhpus

How To Focus Under Pressure (Mindful Body Scan, With Amy Schneider) - https://tinyurl.com/5fkdre2v

We love hearing from you! Tell us about your experiences with mindful walking. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

Find us on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzus

Help us share Happiness Break! Rate us and copy and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzus

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mwbsen7a

Happiness Break: A Walking Meditation with Dan Harris of 10% Happier (Encore)

Compassionate dialogue isn’t just about talking and listening—it's a meaningful way to bridge divides, cultivate belonging, and reimagine education as a space for connection.

Summary: In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we explore the role of compassion in education and connecting across differences. We explore the bravery it takes to have tough conversations, how to create spaces where everyone feels they belong, and the profound impact of addressing marginalization in the classroom. Plus, we uncover practical ways to turn these classroom lessons into meaningful, real-world connections and community building.

This episode is sponsored by The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.

Today’s Guests:

JACKIE JUSTICE, M.A.E.T., is an English and humanities professor at Mid Michigan College, where she teaches courses in writing, literature, culture, and compassion studies. 

Read Justice’s article about how learning to bridge differences can help students succeed: https://tinyurl.com/mw7r845h 

Learn about our Bridging Differences online course at GGSC: https://tinyurl.com/2wk5h72z

JAMIL ZAKI is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. 

Follow Zaki on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamil-zaki-b0b4a9192
Follow Zaki on X: https://x.com/zakijam
Read Zaki’s Book Hope for Cynics: https://tinyurl.com/mrxtzhmw 

More episodes like this one:

How to Talk to People You Disagree With: https://tinyurl.com/4cpm8m3a
When It’s Hard to Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/bde6wyu7
Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/yxw4uhpf

More Happiness Breaks like this one:

Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5
Radical Acceptance, with Tara Brach: https://tinyurl.com/ycec7jwt

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

Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3x7w2s5s

The Contagious Power of Compassion

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:

 1. Sit in a quiet, comfortable space, close your eyes if you wish, and take deep breaths to center yourself.

 2. Observe how you’re feeling—physically and emotionally—without judgment.

 3. Acknowledge your struggle: 
This is hard. Burnout is a natural human response to stress. 4. 

 5. Offer yourself kindness. Imagine a compassionate voice saying: 
I’m here for you, you’re doing your best, you’re loved just as you are. 6. 

 7. Let these words fill you with warmth and calm.

 8. When ready, open your eyes and bring this renewed energy into your day.

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

Happiness Break: A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout

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.

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5t4ssxy4

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.

Why Dancing Is The Best Medicine

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:

 1. Find a quiet, comfortable space. Sit or lie down, close your eyes if you wish, and take deep breaths to center yourself.

 2. Bring your awareness to the present moment—notice your breath, body sensations, and surroundings without judgment.

 3. Reflect on new beginnings in your life. Picture meeting someone new and feeling curiosity about their stories, recall a moment of awe, like hearing a piece of music that moved you, imagine the growth of a budding plant, reaching for the light.

 4. Focus on a recent moment of awe that touched you. Notice how it feels in your body and let the sensations linger.

 5. When ready, gently open your eyes and carry this renewed sense of wonder into your day.

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

A Meditation to Inspire Awe in the New Year | Happiness Break

We explore how embracing awe can uplift caregivers, providing tools to nurture themselves while nurturing others.

Sign up for our Caring for Caregivers Newsletter!
Join our newsletter community by providing your information below and we'll send you 4 research-backed podcast episodes and articles on how to nurture well-being and build stronger caregiver-child relationships over the next year… For free! 

Summary: 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: https://tinyurl.com/2466rnm4

How Awe Helps You Navigate Life's Challenges

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:

 1. Reflect on an area of your life that brings you joy—whether it’s a small moment, an activity, or a connection.

 2. Imagine experiencing that joyful moment. Feel the smiles, peace, and lightness it brings. Let yourself fully connect with the positive emotions.

 3. As you reflect, silently say to yourself, 
“May my joy and my happiness increase.” 4. Allow this intention to sink into your heart.

 5. Bring to mind someone in your life who is experiencing happiness or success. Picture them in their joyful state.

 6. In your mind, say to them, 
“May your joy and happiness increase.” 7. Or, 
“I’m happy for your happiness. May your happiness continue.” 8. 

 9. Remind yourself that joy is limitless, like the stars in the universe. Celebrating the joy of others enhances your own happiness.

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:

 • Tap into the Joy That Surrounds You: 
https://tinyurl.com/2pb8ye9x • 

 • Wishing Others’ Well, With Anushka Fernandopulle: 
https://tinyurl.com/jrkewjs8 • 

Related Science of Happiness episodes:

 • Where to Look for Joy: 
https://tinyurl.com/5n7thrh4 • 

 • Are You Remembering the Good Times: 
https://tinyurl.com/483bkk2h • 

 • 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: https://tinyurl.com/a6shdsae

How to Awaken Joy, with Spring Washam | Happiness Break

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode

From daily check-ins to meaningful compliments and planned dates nights, we explore a 7-day love challenge to help couples strengthen their relationships. 

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.

Day 1: Do a 10-minute check-in. This is great to do at the beginning or end of the day, but can be done any time that works for you.

Day 2: Ask a Big Question. Ask your partner one big question and see where it goes.

Day 3: Say Thank You! Take some time today to be a spy, looking out for all the positive stuff your partner does throughout the day.

Day 4: Give a Real Compliment. If you were to paint a verbal portrait of your partner's strengths, which 3 to 5 words would you use? This is a chance to express to your partner the core, essential things you love and appreciate about them.

Day 5: Ask For What You Need … By Describing Yourself. Ask what you need by talking about how you feel and what you need, not what they're lacking.

Day 6: The Magic of Mini-Touch Create as many moments of consensual physical connection as possible -- and it doesn't have to be about sex.

Day 7: Declare A Date Night! Invite your partner on a mini date. It doesn't have to be a fancy dinner, it can happen in the backyard, or on your porch.

More about the 7-day love challenge:

 • Drs. John and Julie Gottman are psychologist and the co-founders of The Gottman Institute. They created this practiced based on decades of research studying over 3,000 couples.

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.

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: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhr

How 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship

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:

 1. Find a comfortable position, either seated with a balanced, unsupported spine or resting back into support.

 2. Sense the solidity of your body resting on the earth, recognizing your deep connection with it.

 3. Observe the sounds around you, the sensations in your body, and any passing thoughts.

 4. Remember that you are not separate. Your nervous system, your emotions, and even your breath are part of a vast, shared experience. You are connected not only to other humans but to all living beings.

 5. Sense the loving quality in this awareness—an unconditional, foundational love that is always present.

 6. If continuing, remain in stillness and deepen your awareness.

 7. When finished, bring small movements into your body, breathe deeply, and return to your surroundings with a sense of connection and calm.

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

A Meditation on Original Love and Interconnectedness, with Henry Shukman | Happiness Break

Did you know what you wanted when you were in high school? Our guest takes on the challenge of figuring out her purpose in life.

Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3be748x8

How to Find Your Purpose in Life

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