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Why are the most privileged young people in America—those with every advantage, opportunity, and resource—suffering from anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation at rates that would shock you?
The reality behind this crisis challenges everything we think we know about human flourishing and reveals why we’re so spectacularly bad at the one thing we want most: to be happy.
My guest today is Dr. Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University, where she teaches “Psychology and the Good Life”—the most popular course in Yale’s 320-year history. A cognitive scientist who once studied primate behavior, she pivoted her entire career after moving into a residential college and confronting the devastating truth of a generation in crisis.
“Happy people are not focused on themselves. Happy people are very others oriented.”
– DR. LAURIE SANTOS
Today, we discuss:
- The Mental Health Crisis Among Students
- Why Our Brains Systematically Mislead Us About Happiness
- Evidence-Based “Rewirements” for Authentic Well-Being
- Social Connection vs. Self-Care & Digital Pseudo-Community
- Time Affluence, Negative Visualization & The Science of Joy
For those who prefer a visual experience, the conversation is available on YouTube. As always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Peace + Plants,
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- Connect With Laurie: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | TikTok | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube
- Laurie’s Podcast: The Happiness Lab Podcast
- CBS Interview: Crash Course on Happiness
- NBC News: Meet the Harvard Professor Who Teaches a Course on Happiness
- The Today Show: ‘Happiness Lab’ Professor Laurie Santos Shares Five Ways to Feel Better
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Thank The Team: I do not do this alone. Send your love to Jason Camiolo for audio engineering, production, show notes and interstitial music; with additional audio engineering by Cale Curtis and additional music by Moby; Dan Drake & Morgan McCrae for video, & editing; graphics by graphics by Alejandro Ribadeneira & Bryan Lawrence; portraits by Davy Greenberg; copywriting by Ben Pryor; and theme music by Tyler Piatt, Trapper Piatt & Hari Mathis.
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