Learn research-tested strategies for a happier, more meaningful life, drawing on the science of compassion, gratitude, mindfulness, and awe. Hosted by award-win...
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/3jz8rnevAre You Following Your Inner Compass: https://tinyurl.com/y2bh8vvjThe Healing Effects of Experiencing Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/bde5av4zThe Value of Variety and Novelty: https://tinyurl.com/3rm58m3eRelated Happiness Breaks:A Walking Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/mwbsen7aA Meditation on Becoming a Gift to Life: https://tinyurl.com/3et7rz4pToday’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 [email protected] 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/2p9h5aapTranscript: https://tinyurl.com/2466rnm4
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23:26
Happiness Break: A Meditation to Inspire Awe in the New Year
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:
Find a quiet, comfortable space. Sit or lie down, close your eyes if you wish, and take deep breaths to center yourself.
Bring your awareness to the present moment—notice your breath, body sensations, and surroundings without judgment.
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.
Focus on a recent moment of awe that touched you. Notice how it feels in your body and let the sensations linger.
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 [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share The Science of Happiness! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscript: https://tinyurl.com/3pdp8nky
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6:50
Why Dancing Is The Best Medicine
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/5t4ssxy4Guests: Lori Arnett, Associate Director for Digital Transformation for the Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities (AETC) within the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) at NASALearn More About Lori Arnett: https://tinyurl.com/2bbhr7htBronwyn Tarr, Research at The Social Body Lab within the Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion at the University of OxfordLearn More About Bronwyn Tarr: https://tinyurl.com/mxvm5mr8Related 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/3uuef5keHelp 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/2p9h5aapEmail us at [email protected] or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod.Transcript Link To Come.
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20:09
Happiness Break: A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout
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:
Sit in a quiet, comfortable space, close your eyes if you wish, and take deep breaths to center yourself.
Observe how you’re feeling—physically and emotionally—without judgment.
Acknowledge your struggle: This is hard. Burnout is a natural human response to stress.
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.
Let these words fill you with warmth and calm.
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/y4ze59h8Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/485y3b4y
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10:15
The Contagious Power of Compassion
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/2wk5h72zJAMIL 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-b0b4a9192Follow Zaki on X: https://x.com/zakijamRead 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/4cpm8m3aWhen It’s Hard to Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/bde6wyu7Why Compassion Requires Vulnerability: https://tinyurl.com/yxw4uhpfMore Happiness Breaks like this one:Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5Radical Acceptance, with Tara Brach: https://tinyurl.com/ycec7jwtTell us about your experiences and struggles with compassionate listening. Email us at [email protected] 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/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/3x7w2s5s
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.
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