The US is sliding down the world happiness rankings - but it's the unhappiness of young people that's really dragging down the average. What has happened to make Gen Z so sad? And what can be done to turn the situation around?

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (director of Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre) has been analyzing the figures for the World Happiness Report. He offers advice to young people and parents, and looks at what happy young Lithuanians can teach the rest of the world.

The US is sliding down the world happiness rankings - but it's the unhappiness of young people that's really dragging down the average. What has happened to make Gen Z so sad? And what can be done to turn the situation around?
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (director of Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre) has been analyzing the figures for the World Happiness Report. He offers advice to young people and parents, and looks at what happy young Lithuanians can teach the rest of the world.

The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won’t protect you.

With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into oversharing, how dumping small talk makes for better conversations, why the kids these days are actually doing just fine, and how men can establish strong bromances. Each episode unpacks a bold, counterintuitive claim — using research, data, and expert insight to question the conventional wisdom around happiness and wellbeing.

The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won&rsquo;t protect you.
With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into oversharing, how dumping small talk makes for better conversations, why the kids these days are actually doing just fine, and how men can establish strong bromances. Each episode unpacks a bold, counterintuitive claim &mdash;&nbsp;using research, data, and expert insight to question the conventional wisdom around happiness and wellbeing.

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

How to Make America's Young People Happier Again

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/270673c1-23ef-4c31-8b79-b14700b2f8fe/transcript

We’ve all had moments we wish we could do over: the relationship we stayed in too long, the opportunity we didn’t take, the thing we said that we can’t unsay. Regret can feel awful. So it’s no surprise that “no regrets” has become a popular life motto. But what if regret isn't actually the enemy?

In this episode from The Happiness Lab archives, Dr. Laurie explores the surprising science of regret with authors Daniel Pink and Liz Fosslien. Together, they explain why our biggest regrets can reveal what we value most, help us make better decisions, and even point us toward a happier future.

If you've ever found yourself stuck replaying an old mistake, this episode offers a more productive way to look back.

Experts Mentioned:
Daniel Pink, non-fiction author
Liz Fosslien, author, illustrator, and expert in workplace culture and emotions
Mollie West Duffy, author, illustrator, and expert in organizational development
Augusten Burroughs, author and memoirist
Bronnie Ware, author and palliative carer 

Resources Mentioned:
“Liz + Mollie”
Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are  Not Okay, by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy (2022)
Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, by Daniel Pink (2022)
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying:  A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing, by Bronnie Ware (2011)
“Making Up for Lost Opportunities: The Protective Role of Downward Social Comparisons for Coping With Regrets Across Adulthood,” by Isabelle Bauer and Carsten Wrosch (2011)

 Related Episodes 
“How to Identify Your Negative Emotions”
“How to Be Angry Better”
“Why Nostalgia Ain't So Rosy”

We&rsquo;ve all had moments we wish we could do over: the relationship we stayed in too long, the opportunity we didn&rsquo;t take, the thing we said that we can&rsquo;t unsay. Regret can feel awful. So it&rsquo;s no surprise that &ldquo;no regrets&rdquo; has become a popular life motto. But what if regret isn't actually the enemy?
In this episode from The Happiness Lab archives, Dr. Laurie explores the surprising science of regret with authors <a href="https://www.danpink.com/">Daniel Pink</a> and <a href="https://www.fosslien.com/">Liz Fosslien</a>. Together, they explain why our biggest regrets can reveal what we value most, help us make better decisions, and even point us toward a happier future.
If you've ever found yourself stuck replaying an old mistake, this episode offers a more productive way to look back.
Experts Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.danpink.com/">Daniel Pink</a>, non-fiction author</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fosslien.com/">Liz Fosslien</a>, author, illustrator, and expert in workplace culture and emotions</li>
<li><a href="https://molliewestduffy.com/">Mollie West Duffy</a>, author, illustrator, and expert in organizational development</li>
<li><a href="https://www.augusten.com/">Augusten Burroughs</a>, author and memoirist</li>
<li><a href="https://bronnieware.com/">Bronnie Ware</a>, author and palliative carer&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.lizandmollie.com/">Liz + Mollie</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Big-Feelings-Okay-When-Things/dp/0593418239">Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are&nbsp; Not Okay</a>, by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy (2022)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Regret-Looking-Backward-Forward/dp/0735210659">Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward</a>, by Daniel Pink (2022)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Top-Five-Regrets-Dying-Transformed/dp/140194065X">The Top Five Regrets of the Dying:&nbsp; A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing</a>, by Bronnie Ware (2011)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0146167210393256?casa_token=wr3_gS7VSLIAAAAA:xVdemmc-HfadLq9Q7yuYv6pSVBsjJSd2VYOZcLoqn_FtS34AyKPqCM9b-RcnTaWqr4qZdkBM-gk">Making Up for Lost Opportunities: The Protective Role of Downward Social Comparisons for Coping With Regrets Across Adulthood</a>,&rdquo; by Isabelle Bauer and Carsten Wrosch (2011)</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;Related Episodes&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-identify-your-negative-emotions">How to Identify Your Negative Emotions</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-be-angry-better">How to Be Angry Better</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/why-nostalgia-aint-so-rosy">Why Nostalgia Ain't So Rosy</a>&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

Why “No Regrets” Is Bad Advice

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e556f954-1364-44bd-8483-b471000b4568/transcript

We hear a lot about rising rates of anxiety, depression, and fragility among kids today. But when Harvard researcher Alexis Redding uncovered a forgotten trove of interviews with college students from the 1970s, she found something surprising: their emotional struggles and developmental challenges sounded nearly identical to those of students today.

Dr. Laurie also talks with psychologist Adam Mastroianni about why our minds are so quick to believe that young people are getting worse over time. Together, they explore what we get wrong about “kids these days,” and how historical perspective can help us respond to young people with a little more compassion.

Experts Mentioned: 
Alexis Redding, developmental psychologist and Co-Chair of Higher Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
William Perry, professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Adam Mastroianni, writer and social psychologist
Nancy Hill, Charles Bigelow Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

Resources Mentioned:
Mental Health in College: What Research Tells Us About Supporting Students, by Alexis Redding (2026)
Forms of Ethical and Intellectual Development in the College Years: A Scheme, by William Perry (1968)
“The Illusion of Moral Decline” by Adam Mastroianni and Dan Gilbert (Nature, 2023)

Related Episodes: 
“How to Make America's Young People Happier Again”
“What is Social Media Doing to Kids?”
“How Smartphones Changed Childhood (And What to Do About It)”

We hear a lot about rising rates of anxiety, depression, and fragility among kids today. But when Harvard researcher <a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/directory/faculty/alexis-redding" data-airgap-id="11">Alexis Redding</a> uncovered a forgotten trove of interviews with college students from the 1970s, she found something surprising: their emotional struggles and developmental challenges sounded nearly identical to those of students today.
Dr. Laurie also talks with psychologist <a href="https://www.adammastroianni.com/" data-airgap-id="12">Adam Mastroianni</a> about why our minds are so quick to believe that young people are getting worse over time. Together, they explore what we get wrong about &ldquo;kids these days,&rdquo; and how historical perspective can help us respond to young people with a little more compassion.
Experts Mentioned:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/directory/faculty/alexis-redding" data-airgap-id="13">Alexis Redding</a>, developmental psychologist and Co-Chair of Higher Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1998/1/28/bureau-of-study-counsel-founder-dies/" data-airgap-id="14">William Perry</a>, professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education</li>
<li><a href="https://www.adammastroianni.com/" data-airgap-id="15">Adam Mastroianni</a>, writer and social psychologist</li>
<li><a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/directory/faculty/nancy-hill" data-airgap-id="16">Nancy Hill</a>, Charles Bigelow Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Health-College-Research-Supporting/dp/B0FQ9HXNB6" data-airgap-id="17">Mental Health in College: What Research Tells Us About Supporting Students</a>, by Alexis Redding (2026)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forms-Ethical-Intellectual-Development-College/dp/0787941182" data-airgap-id="18">Forms of Ethical and Intellectual Development in the College Years: A Scheme</a>, by William Perry (1968)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06137-x" data-airgap-id="19">The Illusion of Moral Decline</a>&rdquo; by Adam Mastroianni and Dan Gilbert (Nature, 2023)</li>
</ul>
Related Episodes:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-make-americas-young-people-happier-again" data-airgap-id="20">How to Make America's Young People Happier Again</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/what-is-social-media-doing-to-kids-with-dr-jean-twenge" data-airgap-id="21">What is Social Media Doing to Kids?</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-smartphones-changed-childhood-and-what-to-do-about-it" data-airgap-id="22">How Smartphones Changed Childhood (And What to Do About It)</a>&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

Are Kids Today Really Worse Off?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8b8de557-a72e-4964-9807-b467011d4816/transcript

We’re kicking off a new season of The Happiness Lab with some happiness hot takes — bold claims that challenge conventional wisdom about what it really takes to feel happier. Today's hot take is all about oversharing.

We’re usually told that revealing too much is cringe-worthy. That it demonstrates social ignorance. That when it comes to overly personal information, save it for your therapist, because less is usually more.

Dr. Laurie argues that revealing more than feels comfortable can actually strengthen our social connections and boost our wellbeing. She speaks with Harvard Business School professor Leslie John, author of Revealing, about why TLI (too little information) is often more dangerous than TMI, and chats with University of Chicago psychologist Nick Epley, author of A Little More Social, about what “embracing the cringe” can teach us about connection, vulnerability, and trust. 

Together, they explore the line between sharing and oversharing, and explain why what feels like “too much information” is often just information.

Experts Mentioned: 
Leslie John, James. E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School
Nick Epley, John Templeton Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Faculty Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Bronnie Ware, author and palliative carer 

Resources Mentioned:
Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing, by Leslie John (2026)
“Putting feelings into words: Affect labeling as implicit emotion regulation” by Jared Torre and Matthew Lieberman (Emotion Review, 2018)
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing, by Bronnie Ware (2011)
A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection, by Nick Epley (2026)
“Undervaluing gratitude: Expressers misunderstand the consequences of showing appreciation,” by Amit Kumar and Nick Epley (Psychological Science, 2018)
“Insufficiently complimentary?: Underestimating the positive impact of compliments creates a barrier to expressing them” by Xuan Zhao and Nick Epley (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2021)

Related Episodes: 
“The Secret to Making Friends as an Adult”
“Why Giving is a Great Daily Habit”
“Caring What You’re Sharing”

We&rsquo;re kicking off a new season of The Happiness Lab with some happiness hot takes &mdash; bold claims that challenge conventional wisdom about what it really takes to feel happier. Today's hot take is all about oversharing.
We&rsquo;re usually told that revealing too much is cringe-worthy. That it demonstrates social ignorance. That when it comes to overly personal information, save it for your therapist, because less is usually more.
Dr. Laurie argues that revealing more than feels comfortable can actually strengthen our social connections and boost our wellbeing. She speaks with Harvard Business School professor <a href="https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=589473">Leslie John</a>, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Revealing-Underrated-Oversharing-Leslie-John/dp/0593545389">Revealing</a>, about why TLI (too little information) is often more dangerous than TMI, and chats with University of Chicago psychologist <a href="https://www.nicholasepley.com/">Nick Epley</a>, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-More-Social-Unexpected-Connection/dp/0593319540">A Little More Social</a>, about what &ldquo;embracing the cringe&rdquo; can teach us about connection, vulnerability, and trust.&nbsp;
Together, they explore the line between sharing and oversharing, and explain why what feels like &ldquo;too much information&rdquo; is often just information.
Experts Mentioned:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.proflesliejohn.com/about">Leslie John</a>, James. E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School</li>
<li><a href="https://www.nicholasepley.com/">Nick Epley</a>, John Templeton Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Faculty Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business</li>
<li><a href="https://bronnieware.com/">Bronnie Ware</a>, author and palliative carer&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Revealing-Underrated-Oversharing-Leslie-John/dp/0593545389">Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing</a>, by Leslie John (2026)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1754073917742706">Putting feelings into words: Affect labeling as implicit emotion regulation</a>&rdquo;&nbsp;by Jared Torre and Matthew Lieberman (Emotion Review, 2018)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Top-Five-Regrets-Dying-Transformed/dp/140194065X">The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing</a>, by Bronnie Ware (2011)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-More-Social-Unexpected-Connection/dp/0593319540">A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection</a>, by Nick Epley (2026)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797618772506">Undervaluing gratitude: Expressers misunderstand the consequences of showing appreciation</a>,&rdquo; by Amit Kumar and Nick Epley (Psychological Science, 2018)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-92058-001">Insufficiently complimentary?: Underestimating the positive impact of compliments creates a barrier to expressing them</a>&rdquo; by Xuan Zhao and Nick Epley (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2021)</li>
</ul>
Related Episodes:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/the-secret-to-making-friends-as-an-adult">The Secret to Making Friends as an Adult</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/why-giving-is-a-great-daily-habit">Why Giving is a Great Daily Habit</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/caring-what-youre-sharing">Caring What You&rsquo;re Sharing</a>&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

The Surprising Case for Oversharing

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cd450628-854b-4c72-974d-b46000f3f353/transcript

How to Make America's Young People Happier Again

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