Podcast · Health

Office Hours with Arthur Brooks

by Arthur Brooks · English · Health

Hi Friends, I’m Arthur Brooks, a social scientist, Vanderbilt professor, and columnist at The Free Press. I write, speak, and teach about the science of human happiness, blending neuroscience, behavioral science, philosophy, and religion for insights on how to live better and be happier. Each…

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 47 min
Latest: 12 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026 · 50 minNew

My 3-Step Protocol for Managing Anxiety

If you struggle with anxiety, you might wish you could get rid of it altogether. But your brain’s alarm system exists for a reason. The trouble is that the way we live today can set it off far more often than it should. In this episode of Office Hours , I break down what anxiety actually is and what chronic anxiety does to your body. The key is understanding when anxiety is hurting us and when it can help us. I share three simple but powerful strategies to manage your anxiety and create more opportunities for happiness, adventure, and meaning in your life. — Brought to you by: • Noble Mobile…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

5 Oct 2026 · 47 min
3 Ways to Stop Letting Your Past Control Your Life
Are painful memories keeping you from enjoying your life today? Maybe you avoid a particular place or person because of an experience you can’t seem to let go of. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore how memory works, why our recollections are less reliable than we think, and how the past shapes the future we imagine. As always, I share practical steps to help you find more happiness, meaning, and gratitude as you move forward. — Brought to you by: • Noble Mobile —With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull Plan. It’s simple. It’s transparent. And if you use less data, you get…
28 Sep 2026 · 51 min
4 Ways to Avoid Your Professional Decline
What happens when the abilities that brought you professional success start to decline? In this episode of Office Hours , I explore how our strengths change with age and how to be happier as they do. Drawing on my book From Strength to Strength , I explain fluid and crystallized intelligence and contrast how Darwin and Bach responded to professional decline. As always, I leave you with practical steps to help you navigate this transition and find more happiness, meaning, and fulfillment as you age. — Brought to you by: • LMNT —A science-backed electrolyte drink mix that helps you feel and…
21 Sep 2026 · 56 min
How to Be More Optimistic with Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek is an optimist, bestselling author of Start with Why , and founder of The Optimism Company. In this special episode of Office Hours , part of the Be Hope podcast takeover during the United Nations General Assembly, Simon joins me to explore what optimism really requires. We discuss how optimism differs from hope, why relationships help us sustain a belief in a better future, how our expectations shape others, and why pessimism has become so powerful. We also explain how leaders can turn optimism into action through a clear vision, and how each of us can become more optimistic by…
14 Sep 2026 · 51 min
5 Ways to Kill Your Envy and Get Happier
Dante had a particularly gruesome punishment for the envious: their eyes were wired shut. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore why envy is such a powerful happiness killer—and how to stop feeding it in your own life. — Brought to you by: • ⁠ Noble Mobile ⁠ —With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull Plan. It’s simple. It’s transparent. And if you use less data, you get cash back. Get an exclusive offer at: ⁠ ⁠ ⁠https://noblemobile.com/arthurbrooks⁠ — Where to find Arthur Brooks: • Website:…
7 Sep 2026 · 51 min
What Is the Happiest Personality? (It Actually Might Be Yours)
If you’re an introvert, you might not like what the research has to say: Extroverts tend to be happier. But before you start striking up conversations with strangers in the elevator, there’s more to the story. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore how your personality might shape your happiness, what introverts and extroverts can learn from each other, and why understanding your natural tendencies can help you cultivate habits towards a more connected and, therefore, happier life. — Brought to you by: • Noble Mobile —With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull Plan. It’s simple.…
31 Aug 2026 · 51 min
5 Ways to Find Your Faith
Why do so many people drift from faith in early adulthood, only to feel drawn back to it later in life? In this episode of Office Hours , I explore the Hindu concept of Ashramas and the parallels with what modern science tells us about how our priorities change with age. As we get older, the worldly rewards we once chased can start to feel less satisfying. We begin asking deeper questions about wisdom, meaning, and transcendence. That’s what happens when you enter Vanaprastha —the stage of life when we turn our attention inward. I also share five practical steps for beginning (or…
24 Aug 2026 · 46 min
The Three Secrets to Raising Great Kids
Being a parent is one of the most meaningful things you can do with your life, and one of the easiest things to worry about getting wrong. Most of us ultimately want the same things for our children: for them to grow up to be good people and have a good life. But how much influence do parents actually have over those outcomes? In this episode of Office Hours , I explore what the research can teach us about raising happy, well-adjusted kids, including how much of our children’s personalities are inherited, where we as parents really can make a difference, and why what we model often matters…
17 Aug 2026 · 49 min
Success Secret: Finding People Who Disagree With You
Most of us prefer spending time with people who are like us. They think like us, share our values, and make us feel comfortable. But while similarity may be easy, it isn't always what helps us grow. In this episode of Office Hours , I explain why some of the greatest benefits in life come from building relationships with people who think, believe, and live differently from us. I explore the science behind why diversity of thought can make us wiser and more successful, and share three practical ways to bring more variety of opinions and values into your life. And if you want to get better at…
10 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
One Year of Office Hours: Lessons on Love and Friendship
In this special one-year anniversary episode of Office Hours, I'm joined by six young adults to discuss the modern crisis of meaning and why so many people feel disconnected despite having more ways to connect than ever. Together, we explore why friendship and romantic love seem harder to find and maintain, what gets in the way of deep connection, and what young adults are actually looking for in relationships, community, and life. Along the way, the participants share their experiences navigating friendship, dating, marriage, graduate school, and major life transitions. If there's one hope…
3 Aug 2026 · 37 min
Why You Should Let People Help You More
We usually think generosity means helping other people. But what if accepting help is generous, too? In this episode of Office Hours , I explore why letting others help us can be a gift. We’ll look at the science of why helping makes people happier, why others enjoy doing us favors more than we expect, the four rules for asking well, and how receiving with grace creates a virtuous cycle of generosity. — Brought to you by: • Noble Mobile —With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull Plan. It’s simple. It’s transparent. And if you use less data, you get cash back. Get an exclusive offer at:…
27 Jul 2026 · 45 min
The Power of Sunlight: Protocols for Better Mood, Sleep & Happiness
It's easy to assume that we'd be happier if we lived somewhere with more sunshine. But how much does sunlight actually matter? In this episode of Office Hours , I examine what the research says about the relationship between sunlight and happiness, why some people benefit more than others, and how much sunlight you really need. I also share three practical ways to build healthier light habits. — Brought to you by: • Noble Mobile —With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull Plan. It’s simple. It’s transparent. And if you use less data, you get cash back. Get an exclusive offer at:…
20 Jul 2026 · 50 min
How Lying Sabotages Your Happiness
Most people don't start with huge lies. They start with little white lies meant to avoid conflict, spare someone's feelings, or make life a little easier. But what if those small compromises are quietly making us less happy? In this episode of Office Hours , I make the case that honesty is one of the deepest expressions of love. I explore why we're afraid to say what we really think, why even well-intentioned lies can undermine trust and happiness, and how practicing radical honesty—with compassion—can strengthen our relationships and help us live more authentically. I also share three…
13 Jul 2026 · 44 min
Use Music to Change Your Brain and Get Happier
There's a reason music has mattered to people for thousands of years. Across cultures and generations, we’ve treated it as more than entertainment—as a kind of language that can express what words can’t and help us connect with the meaning and mystery on the right side of our brain. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore why that idea has endured and what modern science has to say about it. I also share two simple ways to amplify music’s positive effects, plus four practical strategies for building a music practice that fits your goals—so you can get more out of the music you already…
6 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
How to Stay in Love with Your Soul Mate, with Special Guest Ester Brooks
Thirty-five years ago, I somehow convinced an extraordinary woman to marry me. Our relationship began like any other—attraction, a leap of faith, and eventually the decision to embark on the unknown journey ahead of us together. In this episode of Office Hours , my wife, Ester Munt-Brooks, and I reflect on what we’ve learned over 35 years of choosing each other—from the risks we took early on, to why love is much more than a feeling. Drawing on the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas, we explore what it truly means to love—and how that understanding can transform every relationship. — Brought to you…
29 Jun 2026 · 45 min
Why Success Never Feels Like Enough
Do you find yourself chasing success, working long hours, doing far more than is required, and thinking about work all the time? Congratulations—you might be a workaholic. (There’s no trophy for this, by the way. I checked.) In this episode of Office Hours , I dig into what workaholism is, where it comes from, and why it can be so damaging to your happiness and relationships. We discuss the connection between work addiction and the belief that love has to be earned (which turns out to be a surprisingly ineffective strategy). There’s good news: I also share three practical steps you can take…
22 Jun 2026 · 53 min
How to Beat Burnout
If you feel emotionally exhausted, cynical about your work, or like you’re no longer enjoying parts of the job you used to, you may be experiencing burnout. In this episode of Office Hours , I explain what burnout is, how psychologists define it, and what the research shows about its effects on the brain and body. We discuss the workplace conditions most likely to cause burnout, why some occupations experience it more than others, and the self-reinforcing cycle that makes even meaningful work feel draining. I also share five things employers can do to protect their employees from burnout and…
15 Jun 2026 · 42 min
9 Rules for a Happier Vacation
Many people come home from vacation feeling disappointed. Not because the trip was bad, but because they expected it to do more than any vacation possibly can. In my previous episode on leisure , I discussed its importance to happiness and well-being. A vacation, done well, is really an opportunity to practice leisure more intentionally—whether that means a chance to reconnect with the people you love, lose yourself in nature or culture or read a book you've been meaning to for three years. In this episode of Office Hours , I share nine research-backed protocols that can help you return from…
8 Jun 2026 · 42 min
How to Stop Dating the Wrong Person
Finding the right person is hard. Being attracted to the wrong one is just as common. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore why some people find themselves stuck in the same dating patterns over and over again, pursuing partners who are unavailable, manipulative, emotionally destructive, or struggling with addiction. I explain why attraction can override good judgment, why certain personality types are especially alluring, and how to learn from past mistakes and create healthier patterns in love. This episode focuses on choosing the right person in the first place. If you haven't yet…
1 Jun 2026 · 49 min
The Real Cost of Family Estrangement
Family estrangement is strangely common—affecting one-third of American adults today. While cutting ties can bring temporary relief, research suggests that, over time, it often resembles grief. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore why family, one of the four pillars of happiness, is central to meaning, what is driving the rise in estrangement, and why conflicts over values and identity have become so difficult to repair. Most importantly, I discuss what it actually takes to mend broken relationships: the difference between healthy boundaries and permanent rupture, and the two…
25 May 2026 · 46 min
The Diet Protocols for Happiness
We obsess over diets, fasting, and weight-loss drugs in the name of health. But we rarely ask a more important question: what kind of eating actually makes us happier? In this episode of Office Hours , I explore what the science say about the relationship between food and well-being. Eating gives us pleasure, but meals bring deeper enjoyment when they also combine people and memories. I explore what that means in practice along with seven other practical rules for “happy eating.” In the end, happiness at the table depends less on the food than the company. As my Spanish wife likes to say:…
18 May 2026 · 48 min
4 Ways to Get Better at Friendship
We spend much of our lives building our careers. We chase success, recognition, and expansive networks—yet despite all of it, many of us still experience a quiet, persistent loneliness. In this episode of Office Hours , I turn to Aristotle and his work, the Nicomachean Ethics , to ask an age-old question: what makes a good friend? I’ll explore Aristotle’s three types of friendship, and suggest something that sounds counterintuitive: the best of friends are perfectly useless. I also share four practical ways to deepen the friendships you already have, and cultivate more of these useless…
11 May 2026 · 44 min
Stop Trying to be Perfect
Sometimes, the most insidious thing someone can tell you to make you feel better is the age-old phrase, “but you’re perfect!” While research suggests this may ease emotional pain temporarily, it might actually be holding you back from growth and, consequently, satisfaction. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore why we avoid uncomfortable truths when feeling down, and why the better path towards fulfillment is honest self-acceptance—embracing your imperfections, and taking on the challenge to improve. — Brought to you by: • Noble Mobile —With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull…
4 May 2026 · 36 min
How to Enjoy Your Life
Want to miss (or forget) life’s sweetest moments? Easy: don’t savor anything. My late mother, an artist, knew this was a terrible strategy for happiness. Through her art, she was an expert at savoring—and the first to teach me its benefits. In this episode of Office Hours , I connect her lesson to what we now know from behavioral science: because of our built-in negativity bias, we tend to overlook positive experiences unless we make an effort to notice them. I’ll share three simple ways to do that—so you can experience your life more deeply, remember it more clearly, and find meaning even…
27 Apr 2026 · 41 min
How to Manage Grief
Grief is part of the human experience. If you love, you will lose. And when you do, the pain is inescapable. It can be disorienting, overwhelming, and in the case of acute grief, the symptoms can even resemble something like psychosis. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore what grief actually is, how it is lived and felt by those who are bereaved, and why these reactions—however unsettling—are not signs of dysfunction. They are, in fact, evidence of something profoundly good: the depth of our love and devotion to one another. The aim is not to eliminate grief—that is neither possible…
20 Apr 2026 · 33 min
Why You Literally Need to Touch Grass
In a previous episode on leisure , I talked about how fewer and fewer people are spending time outdoors. Today, the average child spends just minutes outside each day, a dramatic shift from how most of us grew up and from how humans have lived for thousands of years. In today’s episode of Office Hours , I explain why reconnecting with nature is essential for your happiness and well-being. Drawing on research from psychology and neuroscience, I show how time outdoors can reduce anxiety and depression, improve cognitive function, and even help you break free from the constant cycle of…
13 Apr 2026 · 50 min
6 Big Lessons to Build Your Dream Life with Sahil Bloom
Sahil Bloom is an entrepreneur and investor, and the author of the New York Times bestselling book The 5 Types of Wealth . Most of us chase success that doesn’t reflect what we truly value. In this episode, Sahil and I explore how to close that gap and live more intentionally—starting with the bold decision he made to move his family for more time with loved ones. We unpack the difference between what you want and what you wish you wanted, dive into the five types of wealth, and end with six practical lessons to help you build a life that actually aligns with your values. — Where to find…
6 Apr 2026 · 37 min
How to Create Your Calling
Your professional calling is a mysterious idea. It’s the ineffable sense that you are meant to do something . Many people get tripped up in their pursuit of their calling, because they conceive of it like buried treasure—something hidden that they must find. In truth, your calling can be built no matter your present circumstances. So, how do you do it? In this episode, I explain how to move from chasing an objective career—titles, status, money—to building a more subjective one based on what you care about and what genuinely interests you. I also share three simple steps to help you evaluate…
30 Mar 2026 · 40 min
6 Protocols to Find Meaning and Build a Happier Life
Pre-order The Meaning of Your Life (out March 31). This is the final episode in my 3-part series on meaning, and it begins with a question I couldn’t ignore when I returned to campus five years ago: why do so many successful, driven people feel anxious, depressed, and lonely? In this episode, I share three real-life stories from my new book, The Meaning of Your Life . These stories reveal what’s missing—and why the problem isn’t a lack of enjoyment or satisfaction, but rather the third macronutrient of happiness, meaning . I finish by sharing the six protocols from my book to help you move…
23 Mar 2026 · 42 min
How the Meaning of Life Affects Your Brain: Part 2 of 3
Don’t miss The Meaning of Your Life Virtual Experience, my free live global book launch event this Friday (3/27), where I’m joined by an extraordinary lineup of guests to dive into all things meaning. Learn more at themeaningofyourlife.com . This is Part Two of my series on meaning, where I explore the science behind the meaning crisis, a central theme in my upcoming book, The Meaning of Your Life (out March 31). In the last episode, we looked at boredom . Today, I dive into the link between a lack of meaning and rising anxiety and depression—and why avoiding life’s biggest questions may be…

About Office Hours with Arthur Brooks

Office Hours with Arthur Brooks is a English health podcast from Arthur Brooks. 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.

Publisher: Arthur Brooks
Language: English
Category: Health
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 47 min
Latest episode: 12 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1832119842
Website: arthurbrooks.com
Rights: Arthur Brooks

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