Happycast: The Science of Happiness – Details, episodes & analysis

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Happycast: The Science of Happiness

Trina Kushnerik

Science

Education

Frequency: 1 episode/15d. Total Eps: 62

This podcast talks about positive psychology literature in an easily digestible format. This way, you can use the knowledge to learn about happiness and add to your wellbeing.

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🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
26/06/2026
#94
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
25/06/2026
#79
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
24/06/2026
#60
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
23/06/2026
#41
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
27/05/2026
#89
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
26/05/2026
#83
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
25/05/2026
#61
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
12/01/2026
#84
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
11/01/2026
#66
🇩🇪 Germany - socialSciences
09/01/2026
#24

Spotify

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https://ahappieryear.com/
62 shares
http://ahappieryear.com
8 shares
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0008-x
3 shares

https://www.amazon.com/Stages-Psychological-Safety-Inclusion-Innovation/dp/1523087684
2 shares

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Score global : 48%

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Balance, creating space in your life

Thursday, April 22, 2021 • Duration 21:16

What do I need to actually balance? Why is balance so important? How can we achieve more balance? Listen and find out.

A Happier Year is now available on AHappierYear.com! Use the code “happycastlistener” at checkout for 10% off.

[01:00] A metaphor for balance
[02:23] Social relationships
[02:53] Mirror neurons
[03:53] Bowling et al., “What makes your life good?”
[06:13] Creating space for social relationships
[07:31] Meaning and passion
[13:20] Overwork
[15:41] Disconnecting from work
[17:43] Passions
[18:50] Creating space

References:

Schnell, T. (2011). Individual differences in meaning-making: Considering the variety of sources of meaning, their density and diversity. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(5), 667-673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.06.006
Uddin, L. Q., Iacoboni, M., Lange, C., & Keenan, J. P. (2007). The self and social cognition: The role of cortical midline structures and mirror neurons. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11(4), 153-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2007.01.001
Kuroda, S., & Yamamoto, I. (2019). Why Do People Overwork at the Risk of Impairing Mental. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(5), 1519–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0008-x
SONNENTAG, S., & FRITZ, C. (2015). Recovery from job stress: The stressor-detachment model as an integrative framework. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(S1), S72-S103. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1924
Bridekirk, J., Turcotte, J., & Oddson, B. (2016). Harmonious passions support cognitive resources. Motivation and Emotion, 40(4), 646–654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9561-y

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A Happier Year: Healthy selfishness, looking forward, and acceptance

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 • Duration 16:45

A Happier Year is now available — an illustrated calendar with 366 science-based actions. Use the code "happycastlistener" for 10% off at checkout on http://ahappieryear.com

Today we are going to talk about three different papers assessing: healthy selfishness, optimism, and acceptance. These three papers provide the basis for three actions in A Happier Year. Let's dive into these papers and get a sneak peek of what's in A Happier Year.

[00:00] Intro

[02:36] Healthy Selfishness

[06:25] Looking forward to tomorrow

[09:25] Is anything bugging you right now?

References:

Kaufman, S. B., & Jauk, E. (2020). Healthy Selfishness and Pathological Altruism: Measuring Two Paradoxical Forms of Selfishness. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1006. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01006
Littman-Ovadia, H., & Nir, D. (2013;2014;). Looking forward to tomorrow: The buffering effect of a daily optimism intervention. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(2), 122-136. doi:10.1080/17439760.2013.853202
Ford, B. Q., Lam, P., John, O. P., & Mauss, I. B. (2018). The psychological health benefits of accepting negative emotions and thoughts: Laboratory, diary, and longitudinal evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 115(6), 1075–1092. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000157

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Strangers, maybe just friends you’ve never met

Wednesday, October 2, 2019 • Duration 16:07

Those small interactions you have with strangers have quite a few hidden benefits!

A Happier Year is now available — an illustrated calendar with 366 science-based actions. Use the code "happycastlistener" for 10% off at checkout on ahappieryear.com

[00:42] Talk to strangers on your commute, it’ll make you happier

[07:15] Little social interactions make us happier

[09:19] Introverts still need to talk

[11:45] Affective forecasting, the reason we don’t think we’ll enjoy eating spaghetti

[13:28] Smile at strangers, it makes them feel included

[14:18] Put your phone down, you’ll smile more

References

Epley, N., & Schroeder, J. (2014). Mistakenly Seeking Solitude, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 143(5), 1980–1999.
Sandstrom, G. M., & Dunn, E. W. (2014). Is Efficiency Overrated?: Minimal Social Interactions Lead to Belonging and Positive Affect, Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5(4), 437–442. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613502990
Zelenski, J. M., Whelan, D. C., Nealis, L. J., Besner, C. M., Santoro, M. S., & Wynn, J. E. (2013). Personality and Affective Forecasting : Trait Introverts Underpredict the Hedonic Benefits of Acting Extraverted, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(6), 1092–1108. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032281
Wesselmann, E. D., Cardoso, F. D., Slater, S., & Williams, K. D. (2012). To Be Looked at as Though Air : Civil Attention Matters. Psychological Science, 23(2) 166 –168. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611427921
Kushlev, K., Hunter, J. F., Proulx, J., Pressman, S. D., & Dunn, E. (2019). Computers in Human Behavior Smartphones reduce smiles between strangers. Computers in Human Behavior, 91, 12–16.

Work is inevitable, happiness isn’t

Wednesday, September 18, 2019 • Duration 18:15

How do we stay happy while working?

[01:27] Overworking and happiness

[07:25] Self-employment

[10:20] Work Success

[14:57] National well-being

References:

Kuroda, S., & Yamamoto, I. (2019). Why Do People Overwork at the Risk of Impairing Mental. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(5), 1519–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0008-x
Bujacz, A., Eib, C., & Toivanen, S. (2019). Not All Are Equal : A Latent Profile Analysis of Well ‑ Being Among the Self ‑ Employed. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00147-1
Laguna, M., & Razmus, W. (2018). When I Feel My Business Succeeds , I Flourish : Reciprocal Relationships Between Positive Orientation , Work Engagement , and Entrepreneurial Success. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0065-1
Ali, S., Mansoob, S., & Papyrakis, E. (2019). Happiness and the Resource Curse. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00080-3

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Social support, a safety net for your happiness

Wednesday, September 4, 2019 • Duration 14:24

Social support is so important. It can even impact your physiology.

[01:15] Friends make life good

[03:22] What is social support?

[07:40] How can social support make you happier?

[08:55] The biology of social support

[11:54] Hugs

References:

Siedlecki, K.L., Salthouse, T.A., Oishi, S. and Sheena, J. (2014) The Relationship Between Social Support and Subjective Well- Being Across Age. Social Indicators Research, 117, 561-576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0361-4
Hooker, E.D., Zoccola, P.M., and Dickerson S.S. (2018). Toward a Biology of Social Support. In Snyder, C.R., Lopez, S.J., Edwards, L.M., and Marques, S.C. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (3rd ed.), doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199396511.013.41
Cohen, S., Janicki-Deverts, D., Turner, R.B., & Doyle, W.J. (2015). Does hugging provide stress-buffering social support? A study of susceptibility to upper respiratory infection and illness. Psychological science, 26(2), 135-47 .

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Temporal discounting, get future you to thank you

Wednesday, August 28, 2019 • Duration 15:46

How can valuing things in our future make us happier?

[01:06] What is temporal discounting?

[03:33] Those that discount the future and those that do not

[06:00] Happiness and temporal discounting

[09:07] Expecting something negative

[11:30] So what can we do to stop discounting the future?

References

Story, G. W., Vlaev, I., Seymour, B., Darzi, A., & Dolan, R. J. (2014). Does temporal discounting explain unhealthy behavior ? A systematic review and reinforcement learning perspective, 8(March), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00076
Kennedy, J. (2019). Subjective Wellbeing and the Discount Rate. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00096-9
Golub, S. A., Gilbert, D. T., & Wilson, T. D. (2009). Anticipating One’s Troubles: The Costs and Benefits of Negative Expectations. Emotion, 9(2), 277–281. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014716
Kim, H., Schnall, S., & White, M. P. (2013). Similar Psychological Distance Reduces Temporal Discounting. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213488214

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The peak-end rule, why quality matters for your happiness

Wednesday, August 21, 2019 • Duration 16:33

Why are we sometimes less satisfied even though we have more? The peak-end rule can explain that!

[00:00] Introduction

[00:55] How can more pain be better?

[03:15] Quality of years, not quantity

[06:39] The order matters

[08:44] Why we sometimes are satisfied with less

[11:46] Vacation and happiness

References

Kahneman, D., Fredrickson, B. L., Schreiber, C. A., & Redelmeier, D. A. (1993). When More Pain Is Preferred To Less: Adding a Better End, 4(6), 401–405.
Diener, E., Wirtz, D., & Oishi, S. (2001). End Effects of Rated Life Quality: The James Dean Effect. Psychological Science, 12(2), 124–128. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.00321
Do, A. M., Rupert, A. V., & Wolford, G. (2008). Evaluations of pleasurable experiences: The peak-end rule. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 15(1), 96–98. https://doi.org/10.3758/PBR.15.1.96
Kemp, S., Burt, C.D., & Furneaux, L. (2008). A test of the peak – end rule. Memory and Cognition, 36(1), 132-138. https://doi.org/10.3758/MC.36.1.132

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Adventure, there’s risk but there’s reward

Wednesday, August 14, 2019 • Duration 15:58

Let’s dive into what adventure is and how adventure contributes to your well-being.

[00:35] Intro

[02:25] Family adventures

[08:58] Adventure involves risk

[11:05] Outdoor recreation and connection to places

[12:52] Adventure and well-being

References

Pomfret, G., & Varley, P. (2019). Families at leisure outdoors : well-being through adventure. Leisure Studies, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2019.1600574

Kulczycki, C., & Lück, M. (2009). Outdoor Adventure Tourism, Wellness, And Place Attachment. In : Wellness and Tourism: Mind, Body, Spirit, Place (pp. 165-176). Cognizant Communications.

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Emotional contagion at work, unhappy customers and you

Wednesday, August 7, 2019 • Duration 15:40

As a customer, your emotions can rub off on employees. As an employee, you can catch others emotions. Learn how this can affect you. As a customer, your emotions can rub off on employees. As an employee, you can catch others emotions. Learn how this can affect you.

[00:00] Introduction

[01:12] Your attitude can influence your customer experience.

[05:23] Deep acting and reframing the situation

[08:00] Angry customers

[11:00] Fun detour: Psychopaths & emotional contagion

References

Liu, X., Chi, N., & Gremler, D. D. (2019). Emotion Cycles in Services : Emotional Contagion and Emotional Labor Effects. Journal of Service Research, 22(10), 285–300. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670519835309

Hennig-thurau, T., Groth, M., & Gremler, D. D. (2006). Are All Smiles Created Equal ? How Emotional Contagion and Emotional Labor Affect Service Relationships. Journal of Marketing, 57–73. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.70.3.58

Dallimore, K. S., Sparks, B. A., & Butcher, K. (2007). The Influence of Angry Customer Outbursts on Service Providers ’ Facial Displays and Affective States. Journal of Service Research, 10(1), 78–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670507304694

Luckhurst, C., Hatfield, E., & Gelvin-smith, C. (2017). Articles Capacity for Empathy and Emotional Contagion in Those With Psychopathic Personalities. Interpersona. https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v11i1.247

Emotional contagion, not just measles that are contagious

Wednesday, July 31, 2019 • Duration 15:16

Emotions are contagious! Learn how and why so that you can be aware.

[00:00] Introduction

[01:06] Overview of how emotions are contagious

[03:02] What is emotional contagion?

[07:54] Exaggerating your facial expression

[08:54] Botox and emotions

[12:15] Talking on the phone and catching emotions

References

Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., Rapson, R. L., Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., & Rapson, R. L. (1993). Emotional Contagion. Current Directions, 2(3), 96–99.

Hatfield, E., Bensman, L., Thornton, P. D., & Rapson, R. L. (2014). New Perspectives on Emotional Contagion : A Review of Classic and Recent Research on Facial Mimicry and Contagion. Interpersona, https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v8i2.162

Neal, D. T., & Chartrand, T. L. (2011). Embodied emotion perception: Amplifying and dampening facial feedback modulates emotion perception accuracy. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2, 673-678. doi:10.1177/1948550611406138
Coyne, J. C. (1976). Depression and the response of others. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 85, 186–193.

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Happycast: The Science of Happiness – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Apple Podcasts

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Happycast: The Science of Happiness – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other56

Amazon1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other56

Amazon1