We all go along with things we don't want to do... or worse, things that make us feel uncomfortable or morally uneasy. We comply for lots of reasons. We don't want to make trouble, or upset our friends, our bosses or people in authority. But Dr Sunita Sah says we should be more ready to defy.  

Defy: the Power of No in a World That Demands Yes is one of Dr Laurie's favorite books of 2025, so she invited Sunita to explain how we can say no more often and what that means for improving our happiness. 

(With thanks to the Milgram family for allowing us to use the archive audio in this episode. It's from Stanley Milgram Papers (MS 1406). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.) 

We all go along with things we don't want to do... or worse, things that make us feel uncomfortable or morally uneasy. We comply for lots of reasons. We don't want to make trouble, or upset our friends, our bosses or people in authority. But Dr Sunita Sah says we should be more ready to defy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.sunitasah.com/defy">Defy: the Power of No in a World That Demands Yes</a> is one of Dr Laurie's favorite books of 2025, so she invited Sunita to explain how we can say no more often and what that means for improving our happiness.&nbsp;
(With thanks to the Milgram family for allowing us to use the archive audio in this episode. It's from Stanley Milgram Papers (MS 1406). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.)&nbsp;

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: Getting Unstuck

Why Having the Courage to Defy Makes us Happier (with Dr Sunita Sah)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d79cb4c3-c4a1-43ce-9825-b34e00b5e27c/transcript

Life has a way of upending even our best-laid plans. Breakups, job losses, scary health diagnoses — these unexpected changes can leave us feeling stuck and uncertain about what comes next.

Dr. Laurie speaks with her dear friend and former student, Dr. Maya Shankar, author of The Other Side of Change and host of A Slight Change of Plans, about how to navigate these major shifts, including practical tips for leaning into change instead of resisting it and reimagining the possible selves we can become in the new year.

Life has a way of upending even our best-laid plans. Breakups, job losses, scary health diagnoses &mdash; these unexpected changes can leave us feeling stuck and uncertain about what comes next. Dr. Laurie speaks with her dear friend and former student, Dr. Maya Shankar, author of <a href="https://a.co/d/2jfuZGt">The Other Side of Change</a> and host of A Slight Change of Plans, about how to navigate these major shifts, including practical tips for leaning into change instead of resisting it and reimagining the possible selves we can become in the new year.

How to Bounce Back from Life’s Curveballs (with Dr. Maya Shankar)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7aebf494-307e-47b6-940b-b3c6013874ef/transcript

A lot of us spend our energy on things that aren’t worth it: projects, relationships, or goals that may feel important in the moment but ultimately leave us frustrated and drained.

Dr. Diana Hill, clinical psychologist and author of Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, gives us a roadmap for applying our energy more effectively in the new year — so that our lives feel lighter, more purposeful, and energizing instead of exhausting.

A lot of us spend our energy on things that aren&rsquo;t worth it: projects, relationships, or goals that may feel important in the moment but ultimately leave us frustrated and drained.
Dr. Diana Hill, clinical psychologist and author of <a href="https://drdianahill.com/wise-effort-book">Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most</a>, gives us a roadmap for applying our energy more effectively in the new year &mdash; so that our lives feel lighter, more purposeful, and energizing instead of exhausting.

Stop Wasting Your Energy — Here’s What to Do Instead (with Dr. Diana Hill)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2ed10012-b9fe-4670-b81e-b3c600ff42e2/transcript

Midlife can be a period of immense change and, sometimes, challenging emotions. But it’s also an opportunity to cultivate deeper, more lasting happiness. Dr Laurie recently joined another Pushkin podcast, Decoding Women's Health with Dr Elizabeth Poynor, to share insights on how midlife women can thrive. Dr Laurie breaks down the components of happiness, explains why we’re often mistaken about what makes us happy, and provides practical tools and habits to boost wellbeing, manage negative emotions, and navigate burnout. 

On Decoding Women’s Health, Dr Elizabeth Poynor makes the science of women’s health accessible—from hormones to metabolism to longevity—so you can thrive at any stage of life. A world-renowned gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon, Dr Poynor speaks with leading physicians, researchers, and educators to share the latest science on wellness, disease prevention, and what it really means to age on your own terms. Because mid-life isn’t a crisis—it’s an opportunity.

If you like what you hear, find (00:01:15) Decoding Women's Health wherever you listen to podcasts.

Midlife can be a period of immense change and, sometimes, challenging emotions. But it&rsquo;s also an opportunity to cultivate deeper, more lasting happiness. Dr Laurie recently joined another Pushkin podcast, Decoding Women's Health with Dr Elizabeth Poynor, to share insights on how midlife women can thrive. Dr Laurie breaks down the components of happiness, explains why we&rsquo;re often mistaken about what makes us happy, and provides practical tools and habits to boost wellbeing, manage negative emotions, and navigate burnout. On Decoding Women&rsquo;s Health, Dr Elizabeth Poynor makes the science of women&rsquo;s health accessible&mdash;from hormones to metabolism to longevity&mdash;so you can thrive at any stage of life. A world-renowned gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon, Dr Poynor speaks with leading physicians, researchers, and educators to share the latest science on wellness, disease prevention, and what it really means to age on your own terms. Because mid-life isn&rsquo;t a crisis&mdash;it&rsquo;s an opportunity. If you like what you hear, find (00:01:15) <a href="https://apple.co/4oF1q20">Decoding Women's Health</a> wherever you listen to podcasts.

From Decoding Women's Health: Decoding Happiness in Midlife

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d03a8d5c-dd2d-4c72-9c18-b3bc014ad71a/transcript

Why Having the Courage to Defy Makes us Happier (with Dr Sunita Sah)

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The Happiness Lab: Getting Unstuck

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