Laurie's former student and friend, Dr. Maya Shankar, has a Pushkin podcast we love called A Slight Change of Plans. If you like The Happiness Lab, then this show is right up your alley. In this episode, Maya and author Michael Pollan discuss the fascinating science of psychedelics and how they have the power to transform our minds and improve our mental health. You’ll also get a glimpse into Michael’s personal experience with psychedelic trips and how they unlocked a singular kind of joy within him. Plus, you'll hear him try and convince scaredy-cat Maya to give them a try. 

You can hear more from A Slight Change of Plans wherever you get your podcasts. 

Laurie's former student and friend, Dr. Maya Shankar, has a Pushkin podcast we love called <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-slight-change-of-plans/id1561860622">A Slight Change of Plans</a>. If you like The Happiness Lab, then this show is right up your alley. In this episode, Maya and author Michael Pollan discuss the fascinating science of psychedelics and how they have the power to transform our minds and improve our mental health. You’ll also get a glimpse into Michael’s personal experience with psychedelic trips and how they unlocked a singular kind of joy within him. Plus, you'll hear him try and convince scaredy-cat Maya to give them a try. 
You can hear more from <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-slight-change-of-plans/id1561860622">A Slight Change of Plans</a> wherever you get your podcasts.

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Awe and Psychedelics with Michael Pollan

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d34a2c85-7228-40e2-b670-b0ca01616d99/transcript

Buying something new can trigger a rush of dopamine, leading to a momentary boost in happiness. But the rush is fleeting, and over time, our possessions can end up weighing us down more than they lift us up.

As part of our series on spring cleaning your wellbeing, Dr. Laurie explores why material things so often fail to make us happier, and why experiences are usually a better investment in our long-term wellbeing. Along the way, she talks with psychologist Bruce Hood, researcher Amit Kumar, and writer Cait Flanders, who reflects on the psychological benefits of shifting from a maximalist lifestyle to a minimalist one.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s actually worth the time and effort to clean out your closet, this episode offers some answers.

Experts Mentioned:
Bruce Hood, professor of developmental psychology in society at the University of Bristol
Amit Kumar, assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas at Austin
Cait Flanders, author of The Year of Less and Adventures in Opting Out
Richard Easterlin, economist and professor at the University of Southern California, originator of the Easterlin Paradox

Resources Mentioned:
Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need, by Bruce Hood (2019)
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store, by Cait Flanders (2018)
“Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence” by Richard A. Easterlin (Nations and Households in Economic Growth, 1974)

Related Episodes:
"The Unhappy Millionaire"
"Why Giving Money to Others Makes Us Happier"
"You Can't Always Want What You Like"

Buying something new can trigger a rush of dopamine, leading to a momentary boost in happiness. But the rush is fleeting, and over time, our possessions can end up weighing us down more than they lift us up.
As part of our series on spring cleaning your wellbeing, Dr. Laurie explores why material things so often fail to make us happier, and why experiences are usually a better investment in our long-term wellbeing. Along the way, she talks with psychologist Bruce Hood, researcher Amit Kumar, and writer Cait Flanders, who reflects on the psychological benefits of shifting from a maximalist lifestyle to a minimalist one.
If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered whether it&rsquo;s actually worth the time and effort to clean out your closet, this episode offers some answers.
Experts Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://brucemhood.wordpress.com/">Bruce Hood</a>, professor of developmental psychology in society at the University of Bristol</li>
<li><a href="https://www.kumar-amit.com/">Amit Kumar</a>, assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas at Austin</li>
<li><a href="https://www.caitflanders.com/">Cait Flanders</a>, author of The Year of Less and Adventures in Opting Out</li>
<li><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pBYzJL8AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Richard Easterlin</a>, economist and professor at the University of Southern California, originator of the Easterlin Paradox</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/possessed/id1472993321">Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need</a>, by Bruce Hood (2019)</li>
<li><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-year-of-less/id1420584142">The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store</a>, by Cait Flanders (2018)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://huwdixon.org/teaching/cei/Easterlin1974.pdf">Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence</a>&rdquo; by Richard A. Easterlin (Nations and Households in Economic Growth, 1974)</li>
</ul>
Related Episodes:
<ul>
<li>"<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/the-unhappy-millionaire">The Unhappy Millionaire</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/giving-tuesday-why-giving-money-to-others-makes-us-happier">Why Giving Money to Others Makes Us Happier</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/you-cant-always-want-what-you-like">You Can't Always Want What You Like</a>"</li>
</ul>

Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2cd84ad8-a301-4096-8315-b43601345a6e/transcript

Our surroundings affect our happiness in ways we often don’t notice. The layout of a room, the amount of clutter in our home, and even small changes to lighting can shape our mood, focus, and relationships.

As The Happiness Lab continues its spring cleaning series, Dr. Laurie sits down with University of Virginia Professor Leidy Klotz, author of In a Good Place, to explore the hidden ways our spaces shape our inner lives. Why do certain places make us feel calm, connected, and grounded, while others leave us distracted or drained?

From creating more connection at home to using our surroundings to remember loved ones we’ve lost, these practical ideas will refresh your space and your wellbeing.

Experts Mentioned:
Leidy Klotz, professor of engineering and architecture at the University of Virginia
Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid activist and former president of South Africa
Jane Jacobs, writer and urban activist

Resources Mentioned:
In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive, by Leidy Klotz (2026)
Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less by Leidy Klotz (2021)
“Spatial Patterns of Solar Photovoltaic System Adoption: The Influence of Neighbors and the Built Environment” by Marcello Graziano and Kenneth Gillingham (Journal of Economic Geography, 2015).
“Fire Drill: Inattentional Blindness and Amnesia for the Location of Fire Extinguishers” by Alan D Castel, Michael Vendetti, and Keith J Holyoak. (Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 2012)
“Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being” by Richard M. Ryan and Edward L. Deci (American Psychologist, 2000).
“Neighborhoods and Violent Crime: A Multilevel Study of Collective Efficacy” by Robert J. Sampson, Stephen W. Raudenbush, and Felton Earls (Science, 1997).
“When Choice Is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing?” by Sheena S. Iyengar and Mark R. Lepper (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000).

Related Episodes:
"Choice Overload" by The Happiness Lab (2019).
"How to Make Better Choices (with Barry Schwartz)" by The Happiness Lab (2025).
"How to Design a More Meaningful Life (with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett)" by The Happiness Lab (2026).

Our surroundings affect our happiness in ways we often don&rsquo;t notice. The layout of a room, the amount of clutter in our home, and even small changes to lighting can shape our mood, focus, and relationships.
As The Happiness Lab continues its spring cleaning series, Dr. Laurie sits down with University of Virginia Professor Leidy Klotz, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Good-Place-Spaces-Where-Thrive/dp/0316567361">In a Good Place</a>, to explore the hidden ways our spaces shape our inner lives. Why do certain places make us feel calm, connected, and grounded, while others leave us distracted or drained?
From creating more connection at home to using our surroundings to remember loved ones we&rsquo;ve lost, these practical ideas will refresh your space and your wellbeing.
Experts Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://leidyklotz.com/">Leidy Klotz</a>, professor of engineering and architecture at the University of Virginia</li>
<li><a href="https://www.nelsonmandela.org/">Nelson Mandela</a>, anti-apartheid activist and former president of South Africa</li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Jacobs">Jane Jacobs</a>, writer and urban activist</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/in-a-good-place/id6749524867">In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive</a>, by Leidy Klotz (2026)</li>
<li><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/subtract/id1525220124">Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less</a> by Leidy Klotz (2021)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://resources.environment.yale.edu/gillingham/GrazianoGillingham_15_SpatialPatternsPVSystems.pdf">Spatial Patterns of Solar Photovoltaic System Adoption: The Influence of Neighbors and the Built Environment</a>&rdquo; by Marcello Graziano and Kenneth Gillingham (Journal of Economic Geography, 2015).</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13414-012-0355-3">Fire Drill: Inattentional Blindness and Amnesia for the Location of Fire Extinguishers</a>&rdquo; by Alan D Castel, Michael Vendetti, and Keith J Holyoak. (Attention, Perception, &amp; Psychophysics, 2012)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/SDT/documents/2000_RyanDeci_SDT.pdf">Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being</a>&rdquo; by Richard M. Ryan and Edward L. Deci (American Psychologist, 2000).</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9252316/">Neighborhoods and Violent Crime: A Multilevel Study of Collective Efficacy</a>&rdquo; by Robert J. Sampson, Stephen W. Raudenbush, and Felton Earls (Science, 1997).</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/jdb/345/345%20Articles/Iyengar%20%26%20Lepper%20(2000).pdf">When Choice Is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing?</a>&rdquo; by Sheena S. Iyengar and Mark R. Lepper (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000).</li>
</ul>
Related Episodes:
<ul>
<li>"<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/choice-overload/id1474245040?i=1000455959891">Choice </a><a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/choice-overload">Overload</a>" by The Happiness Lab (2019).</li>
<li>"<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-make-better-choices-with-barry-schwartz/id1474245040?i=1000729897270">How to Make Better Choices (with </a><a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-make-better-choices-with-barry-schwartz">Barry</a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-make-better-choices-with-barry-schwartz/id1474245040?i=1000729897270"> Schwartz)</a>" by The Happiness Lab (2025).</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-design-a-more-meaningful-life-with-dave-evans-and-bill-burnett">How to Design a More Meaningful Life (with Dave Evans and Bill Burnett)</a>" by The Happiness Lab (2026).</li>
</ul>

Your Environment Affects Your Happiness More Than You Think with Dr. Leidy Klotz

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aef8f3ac-7d73-468d-912b-b42f01495255/transcript

Breaking bad habits often feels like a test of willpower. We tell ourselves we’ll stop scrolling, eat better, or exercise more — and then fall right back into the same routines. So why is lasting change so hard?

As part of our spring cleaning series, we’re revisiting a powerful episode from The Happiness Lab archives that reveals a surprising truth about behavior change: it’s not about willpower at all. Dr. Laurie Santos sits down with psychologist Wendy Wood to explore what the science of habits really says about why we get stuck — and how we can finally change.

Along the way, we hear the remarkable story of American soldiers in Vietnam who abruptly overcame heroin addiction after returning home, offering a powerful clue about how habits really work. If you’re looking to break a bad habit or build a better one, this episode shows how small changes to your environment can make lasting change feel almost automatic.

Experts Mentioned:
Wendy Wood, Provost Professor of Psychology and Business, University of Southern California.
Dr. Richard Ratner, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Resources Mentioned:
Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick, by Wendy Wood (2019)
“How Do People Adhere to Goals When Willpower Is Low? The Profits (and Pitfalls) of Strong Habits,” by David T. Neal, Wendy Wood, and Aimee Drolet (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2013)
“The Pull of the Past: When Do Habits Persist Despite Conflict with Motives?,” by David T. Neal, Wendy Wood, Mengju Wu, and David Kurlander (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2011)
“Ironic Processes of Mental Control,” by Daniel M. Wegner (Psychological Review, 1994)
“How Permanent Was Vietnam Drug Addiction?,” by Lee N. Robins, Darlene H. Davis, and David N. Nurco (American Journal of Public Health, 1974)
CBS News Lottery Draft 1969 (Archival Footage)
"G.I. Heroin Addiction Epidemic in Vietnam" (The New York Times, 1971)
G.I. Junkie (Documentary, 1971)

Related Episodes:
"A New Hope"
"You Can Change"
"Happiness Lessons of the Ancients: Sikhism and Daily Habits"

Breaking bad habits often feels like a test of willpower. We tell ourselves we&rsquo;ll stop scrolling, eat better, or exercise more &mdash; and then fall right back into the same routines. So why is lasting change so hard?
As part of our spring cleaning series, we&rsquo;re revisiting a powerful episode from The Happiness Lab archives that reveals a surprising truth about behavior change: it&rsquo;s not about willpower at all. Dr. Laurie Santos sits down with psychologist <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ljLqYGEAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Wendy Wood</a> to explore what the science of habits really says about why we get stuck &mdash; and how we can finally change.
Along the way, we hear the remarkable story of American soldiers in Vietnam who abruptly overcame heroin addiction after returning home, offering a powerful clue about how habits really work. If you&rsquo;re looking to break a bad habit or build a better one, this episode shows how small changes to your environment can make lasting change feel almost automatic.
Experts Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://dornsife.usc.edu/wendy-wood/">Wendy Wood</a>, Provost Professor of Psychology and Business, University of Southern California.</li>
<li><a href="https://faculty.smhs.gwu.edu/richard-albert-ratner">Dr. Richard Ratner</a>, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/good-habits-bad-habits/id1455846455">Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick</a>, by Wendy Wood (2019)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-18890-001">How Do People Adhere to Goals When Willpower Is Low? The Profits (and Pitfalls) of Strong Habits</a>,&rdquo; by David T. Neal, Wendy Wood, and Aimee Drolet (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2013)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0146167211419863">The Pull of the Past: When Do Habits Persist Despite Conflict with Motives?</a>,&rdquo; by David T. Neal, Wendy Wood, Mengju Wu, and David Kurlander (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2011)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://dtg.sites.fas.harvard.edu/DANWEGNER/pub/Wegner%20Ironic%20Processes%201994.pdf">Ironic Processes of Mental Control</a>,&rdquo; by Daniel M. Wegner (Psychological Review, 1994)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.64.12_Suppl.38">How Permanent Was Vietnam Drug Addiction?</a>,&rdquo; by Lee N. Robins, Darlene H. Davis, and David N. Nurco (American Journal of Public Health, 1974)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p5X1FjyD_g">CBS News Lottery Draft 1969</a> (Archival Footage)</li>
<li><a href="https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/05/16/issue.html">"G.I. Heroin Addiction Epidemic in Vietnam"</a> (The New York Times, 1971)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5860066/">G.I. Junkie</a> (Documentary, 1971)</li>
</ul>
Related Episodes:
<ul>
<li>"<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-new-hope/id1474245040?i=1000461663335">A New Hope</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-can-change/id1474245040?i=1000449594792">You Can Change</a>"</li>
<li>"<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happiness-lessons-of-the-ancients-sikhism-and-daily-habits/id1474245040?i=1000605762631">Happiness Lessons of the Ancients: Sikhism and Daily Habits</a>"</li>
</ul>

How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/891105ad-e382-4f28-82fe-b428014d0d53/transcript

Awe and Psychedelics with Michael Pollan

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