Self-help for smart people. World-class insights and practices from experts in modern science and ancient wisdom. Hosted by veteran journalist and best-selling author, Dan Harris.
The liberation that comes from realizing that you're never going to get everything done. Oliver Burkeman is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Four Thousand Weeks , The Antidote , and most recently, Meditations for Mortals . His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychologies and New Philosopher. He has a devoted following for his writing on productivity, mortality, the power of limits, and building a meaningful life in an age of bewilderment. This episode originally appeared in April 2024. In this episode we talk about: What the term "imperfectionism"…
Surviving the News: Buddhist Strategies for Staying Sane, Engaged, and Not Completely Furious | Pascal Auclair
You don't get to choose what's thrown at you — only how you respond. Karma as a tool for agency, attention sovereignty as a political act, and what to do when you feel completely helpless. The news is a lot right now. And for most of us, the usual options — doom scroll until midnight, or unplug entirely — don't actually help. Meditation teacher Pascal Auclair joins Dan for a live community conversation on how to stay engaged with what's happening in the world without letting it wreck your nervous system, your relationships, or your sleep. In this conversation, Pascal Auclair and Dan Harris…
30 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Annoying Partners, Aging Parents, Impossible Coworkers: Buddhist Advice for Conflict, Communication, and "Patience with Teeth" | devon and nico hase
Which conflict style are you? Plus: avoiding the "trance of nice," walking the high wire, and an uber-hack for getting over irritation. devon + nico hase serve as guiding teachers of the online dharma community Refuge of Belonging . They teach at the Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock, and other centers, offer online and in-person retreats, and speak with students in one-on-one sessions. They are the co-authors of How Not to Be a Hot Mess and the new This Messy, Gorgeous Love: A Buddhist Guide to Lasting Partnership . In this episode we talk about: Why friction in relationships is a…
28 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
Your 'Inner Child' Runs Your Life. Here's How To Spot It and Take Back the Wheel. | Dr. Galit Atlas
Six archetypes: Which one are you? Plus, a simple question to help you distinguish real, current fears from old, outdated ones. Dr. Galit Atlas is an internationally renowned psychoanalyst and leader in relational psychoanalysis. She teaches at NYU and Columbia University and lectures internationally on sexuality, desire, and emotional inheritance. Her latest book is Come Closer . You can also read her essays on Substack, Wild Analysis with Dr. Galit Atlas . In this episode we talk about: The six childhood archetypes that quietly run your adult relationships Why the version of you that felt…
25 Sep 2026 · 47 min
Your Inner Critic Won't Stop Adding Rules. Here's The Fix. | Julian Shapiro-Barnum
What kids can teach you about how to handle anger, being uptight, and rejection, according to the creator of Recess Therapy. Julian Shapiro-Barnum is a comedian, writer, and interviewer known for Recess Therapy, Celebrity Substitute , and Outside Tonight . He's won seven Webby Awards, was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30, and received a Family Entertainment Award from Variety. His first book is How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up . In this episode we talk about: The playground question kids ask that adults are too scared to say out loud Why Julian stopped calling it your "inner child"…
23 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Amanda Knox On: Finding Meaning in Tragedy, Not Needing an Apology, and Refusing to Own What Other People Think
The famed exoneree on making life worth living every day, flipping the narrative on the bad things, and the ancient Japanese practice of kintsugi. Amanda Knox is an exoneree, journalist, comedian, and bestselling author of Waiting to Be Heard and FREE: My Search for Meaning . She hosts the podcast Hard Knox and advocates for criminal justice reform and media ethics. In this episode we talk about: The one question Amanda Knox asks herself whenever something bad happens Why understanding someone who wronged you can matter more than forgiving them What a centuries-old Japanese art form taught…
21 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
The Science Of Emotion Regulation: A Five-Step Plan For Not Losing Your Sh*t | Marc Brackett
Plus: why being your 'best self' isn't about being nice or passive, why regulation starts before things go wrong, and how 'polyregulation' can help you up your game. Marc Brackett, Ph.D. is the author of Dealing with Feeling: Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want and the bestselling Permission to Feel . He is the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University. You can watch Marc's podcast interviews here . In this episode we talk about: Why your "true self" might be the worst version of you The five-step…
18 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Comedian Josh Johnson On: Handling News Cycle Anxiety, His Insane Work Ethic, and Why AI is BS
Plus: Why acceptance isn't the same as resignation, a trick for gaining perspective, and the role faith plays in his life. Josh Johnson is an Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up comedian, actor, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. He was just named as the newest correspondent on Comedy Central's Emmy & Peabody Award-winning program The Daily Show, where he was previously a writer for the past six years. Johnson is also a former writer and performer on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he made his late-night debut in 2017. In addition, he is Comedy Central's…
16 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
The Reset for Anxiety, Overthinking, and Losing Yourself in the Wrong Story | Diana Winston
A simple daily check-in you can do anywhere, a four-part practice for handling hard emotions, and a new way to relate to negative judgments. Plus, why transcendence is more accessible than you think. Diana Winston is the Director of UCLA Mindful , with three decades of experience teaching mindfulness for health and well-being. She has authored three books, including The Little Book of Being , and has taught at Spirit Rock Meditation Center for 25 years. A founder of the International Mindfulness Teachers Association , she continues to guide individuals and organizations in cultivating…
14 Sep 2026 · 57 min
What's Worth Living For? | Dr. Atul Gawande
A surprisingly uplifting conversation on aging, sickness, and death. Plus: why you get happier as you get older, hard-earned tips for handling tough diagnoses, and how to think about AI in your health care. Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, is a surgeon, author, and public health innovator. He holds the Fish Chair in Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He is the Samuel O. Thier Professor of the Practice of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and Professor of the Practice at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Gawande was Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID from 2022-2025.…
11 Sep 2026 · 58 min
Neal Brennan On: Talking Back to Your Inner Critic, Why Chasing Validation Doesn't Work, and His Harrowing Psychedelic Journeys
The legendary comedian says you don't have to be tortured to be an artist, he doesn't need an index card of achievements in his pocket anymore, and even the bad trips have led to good destinations. Neal Brennan is a three-time Emmy-nominated writer, director, producer, and standup comedian known for his critically acclaimed Netflix specials 3 Mics, Blocks, and Crazy Good and for co-creating Comedy Central's iconic Chappelle's Show. He also hosts the hit Blocks podcast, where he talks with guests about their own personal blocks. In this episode we talk about: Talking back to your inner critic…
9 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Top 10 Practices for Resetting Your Time, Space, Body, Inner Critic, and Social Life | Laurie Santos and Gretchen Rubin
How to understand your tendencies and identify what's keeping you stuck. Plus: advice on treating resistance as data, reclaiming time affluence, and avoiding "procrasticlearing." Laurie Santos is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale University. In addition to her work on the evolutionary origins of human cognition, Laurie is an expert on the science of happiness and the ways in which our minds lie to us about what makes us happy. Her podcast, The Happiness Lab , is a top-3 Apple podcast which has attracted 150+ million downloads since its launch. Gretchen Rubin is…
7 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
The Science Of Building The Life You Want | Arthur Brooks
Plus: the benefits of a "reverse bucket list"; clear formulas for happiness, enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose; and how to engage in the world's problems without being miserable. Professor and writer Arthur Brooks on his recent book (co-authored with Oprah Winfrey): Build The Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier . Arthur has seen the themes of this book play out in his own life. He started his career as a classical French horn player, then got his PhD in public policy analysis, and went on to run a think tank called the American Enterprise Institute . He is currently a…
4 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
The Psychology Of Success | Guy Raz
A podcast pioneer on failure, resilience, luck, work/life balance, and the power of questions. Guy Raz has been instrumental in creating some of the most iconic podcasts in the world, including Wondery's How I Built This , Wow in the World and TED Radio Hour . The New York Times has described him as "one of the most popular podcasters in history." We talk about: The challenge – and gift – of failure Getting comfortable with discomfort and risk The notion of luck The balance between your relationships and your work Why scale isn't always the answer Success vs. happiness And much more Get the…
2 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
When Life's Not Working, Don't Try Harder. Change Your Situation Instead. | Angela Duckworth
How the people, places, and things around you can bring out your best. Plus, why willpower is unreliable, why AA works for so many people, and where to put your phone. Angela Duckworth is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance and the recently released Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best. In this episode we talk about: Why willpower alone rarely creates lasting…
31 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
The Science of Habit Change, Why GLP-1s are Disrupting It, and How To Use It To Have Better Conversations | Charles Duhigg
There's a three-part framework for analyzing, breaking, or building any habit. There's also a simple way to identify which ones might be "keystone habits" for you. And the surprising discovery of the GLP1 "habit window" suggests that some people may be benefiting more from the drugs than others. Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and the author of The Power of Habit, which spent over three years on bestseller lists and has been translated into 40 languages; Supercommunicators, also a bestseller published in 2024; and Smarter Faster Better, a third bestseller. Mr. Duhigg…
28 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Sara Bareilles On: The Feelings You Fear Might Destroy You, What Antidepressants Actually Did to Her Creativity, and Why There's Nothing to Fix
Plus: her complicated relationship with antidepressants, weathering fertility struggles, and aging in public. Sara Bareilles joins Dan to discuss her new album Good Grief, a record she made after losing three close friends — Chad Joseph, Gavin Creel, and poet Andrea Gibson. The conversation covers grief as a transformative force, medication and mental health, fertility struggles and miscarriage, the creative process as spiritual transmission, aging without intervention, and patriotism as grief. In this episode we talk about: Grief is a shortcut to the truth — it strips away distraction and…
26 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
How To Handle AI Anxiety: A Computer Scientist and a Buddhist Teacher On Managing Uncertainty | Cal Newport & Matthew Brensilver
Will AI take our jobs? Kill us? This episode provides both fact-checking and a psychological survival guide. Cal Newport is a Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, where he is also a founding faculty member of the Center for Digital Ethics and the inaugural Director of the Computer Science, Ethics and Society academic program. He is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including, most recently, Slow Productivity, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. Newport is also a long-time contributing writer for the New Yorker and the host of the…
24 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
Longevity Secrets (And Controversies) From The Blue Zones | Dan Buettner
Insights from the places on the planet where people apparently live the longest and healthiest lives. Dan Buettner is an explorer, National Geographic Fellow, and journalist. He has written a series of bestselling books, including The Blue Zones of Happiness and The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes for Living to 100 . He is also the host of the Netflix show, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones . In this episode we talk about: The origin story of the Blue Zones The nine common denominators, or Power Nine, to longevity. The surprising information about much maligned foods such as pasta and…
21 Aug 2026 · 59 min
The Evidence for Aliens, the Afterlife, Bigfoot, Sea Monsters, and More | Miguel Sancho
An investigative journalist on why reincarnation, ghosts, and unexplained phenomena deserve more scrutiny; plus, why our need to believe in something bigger isn't something to be embarrassed about. Miguel Sancho is an Emmy Award–winning television producer and author. He is a veteran of ABC News, where he helped run 20/20, and he is now the executive producer of The Proof Is Out There on the History Channel. His latest book is Evidence of the Extraordinary: Discoveries from the Series The Proof is Out There . In this episode we talk about: How to walk the line between skepticism and…
19 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
You Can Stop Fixing Yourself: Buddhist Advice on Boundaries, Rituals, and Dropping Your Self-Aggression | Susan Piver
Plus: Why you're a "mystic" even though you don't know it, how to find the "magic" in meditation, and the power of simple apologies (and cleaning the dishes). Susan Piver is a 30 year student of Tibetan Buddhism, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of The Open Heart Project , an online meditation community with close to 20,000 members. Her latest book is Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics . In this episode we talk about: Why meditation's real payoff can't be explained The crucial difference between mindfulness and awareness Why you can't think your way into oneness The…
17 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
You Can Get Through It: How to Handle the Hardest Things That Will Ever Happen to You | Dr. Lucy Hone
Why the five stages of grief are a myth, a go-to phrase for when everything's falling apart, and three steps for getting through loss. Dr. Lucy Hone is an adjunct fellow at the University of Canterbury and a sought-after professional speaker, a bestselling author, and an award-winning internationally published science educator. She is regularly featured in international media, including in The Guardian, Hidden Brain, and The Washington Post. Dr. Hone is a columnist for Psychology Today. In this episode we talk about: A three-step recipe for getting through any major loss Why the five stages…
14 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
The Science of Journaling: How 15 Minutes of Writing Can Free Up Your Brain, Improve Your Health, and Make You a Better Friend | Dr. James Pennebaker
Writing can reduce overthinking, rumination, and anxiety. Here's what the researcher who pioneered the science suggests. James Pennebaker is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. He is known for his early research on expressive writing and health. More recently, he has pioneered ways to study people's personalities and behaviors through the analysis of their language use. His text analysis program LIWC is used across disciplines. Author of over 300 scientific articles and 8 books, his research has affected our understanding and treatment of mental and…
12 Aug 2026 · 58 min
The Non-BS Science of Manifestation: How Your Imagination Can Help With Pain, Anxiety, Conflict, and Recovery | Cassi Vieten
How elite athletes use visualization to improve performance, why visualization can turbo-charge physical recovery, and the mental trick that can make your nervous system feel safe. Cassi Vieten, PhD , is a licensed clinical psychologist and director of research at the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at the University of California, San Diego, where she also directs the Center for Mindfulness. She is the author Imagine That: Transform How You Think, Feel, and Live with the Science of Imagination . In this episode we talk about: Why imagination is the oldest human technology The…
10 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
The Neuroscience of Likability, Social Connection, and Brain Health | Ben Rein
Ben Rein , PhD is a neuroscientist who studies the biology of social behavior and explains the brain to an audience of over 1.2 million people online. He serves as Chief Science Officer of the Mind Science Foundation, Head of Science Communication at ResearchHub Foundation, and teaches at Stanford University. In this episode we talk about: Distinguishing between science and online "neurobullshit" Three research-backed ways to protect your brain health and boost social connection, even for introverts Why isolation shows up in the body like a low-grade injury The real difference between…
7 Aug 2026 · 56 min
Self-Help Without Other People Is Just Selfish — and Here's the Science to Prove It | Dan Harris
Dan doesn't usually sit in the interviewee's chair — but when journalist and author Allison Gilbert invited him to speak at the 92nd Street Y as part of their Connected Lives series, he said yes. What followed was one of the more wide-ranging conversations Dan has had about his own practice, his own anxieties, and why he's become convinced that inner work divorced from relationships is just selfishness dressed up as self-care. The evening also included a guided loving-kindness meditation — metta practice — that Dan led live with the audience. They talked about: Why Dan thinks the meditation…
5 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
Resetting Your Nervous System When You're Anxious, Hurting, or Just Powering Through | Johanna Franzel
How to calm down fast with an 'inventory' practice, how to build 'resources' you can call on anytime, and why 'healing' might be the wrong goal to chase. Plus, living with autoimmune disorder, writing as a practice of embodiment, and why white-knuckling isn't worth it. Johanna Franzel is a teacher, somatic practitioner, educator, and author of the new book Write Yourself Home: A Creative Guide for Living Well in the Body You Have Through Embodied Writing and Movement Practice . She brings both professional expertise and the lived experience of navigating chronic illness for more than two…
3 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
For The Lonely, Suffocated, or Overextended: How To Balance Your Relationships When Others Won't Change | Nedra Glover Tawwab
Plus: how to build a village, why your attachment style isn't your destiny, and a two-step method for asking for help that actually works. Nedra Glover Tawwab is a licensed therapist and the author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace , an instant New York Times best-seller translated into over 35 languages worldwide. In addition, she has authored seven other books, including Drama Free and, most recently, The Balancing Act . A sought-after relationship expert, she has practiced relationship therapy for almost 20 years. In this episode we talk about: The difference between healthy dependency and…
31 Jul 2026 · 42 min
When You Don't Know What You Actually Want: How To Say No, When To Say Yes, and The One Question That Cuts Through It | Yara Shahidi
Plus: The "hard yes" list, the intentional pursuit of being bad at things (and how that opens doors you didn't know were closed), being "on intimate terms with catastrophe," and optimism as a daily practice. From How To Be A Better Human. Today we're sharing an episode from another show we love: How to Be a Better Human , hosted by Chris Duffy. In this conversation, Chris talks with actor Yara Shahidi — known for Black-ish and Grown-ish, and now host of The Optimist Project podcast — about what she's learned from building a career and an identity at the same time. Yara explains why she…
29 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
You're Gonna Be Alright No Matter What: On Facing Anger, Aging, and Loss With Humor and Grace | Sylvia Boorstein
The legendary dharma teacher on self-acceptance, the two-sentence trick she uses on her own anger, and what actually makes her happy after 90 years of living. Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, LCSW is a co-founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre California and the author of five books on Buddhism, Mindfulness, and particularly That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist. In this episode we talk about: Why turning 90 makes the Buddha's teachings on impermanence feel real instead of theoretical The line Sylvia repeats to herself that's…
About 10% Happier with Dan Harris
Self-help for smart people. World-class insights and practices from experts in modern science and ancient wisdom. Hosted by veteran journalist and best-selling author, Dan Harris.
10% Happier with Dan Harris is a English health podcast from 10% Happier. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
