Laurie Santos
Yale Professor, Happiness Expert & Happiness Lab Podcast Host
- Redondo Beach Monday, January 12, 2026 at 7:30 pm
- Thousand Oaks Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 7:30 pm
- Pasadena Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 7:30 pm
- Long Beach Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Laurie is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Where she is the teacher of the most popular class in Yale’s history. In addition to her work on the evolutionary origins of human cognition, Laurie is a leading psychologist and expert on the science of happiness and the ways in which our minds lie to us about what makes us happy.
Her work sheds light on why we often feel overwhelmed, stressed, or unfulfilled in today’s fast-paced world. Her research on human cognition and evolutionary psychology reveals how our brains are wired in ways that can work against us. Her Yale course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students how the science of psychology can provide important hints about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. The class became Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years, with almost one out of four students enrolled. Her course has been featured in the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, GQ Magazine, Slate and O! Magazine. The online version of the class—”The Science of Well-Being’ on Coursera.org—has attracted more than 4 million learners from around the world. A winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching, she was recently voted as one of Popular Science Magazine’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named in Time Magazine as a “Leading Campus Celebrity.”
Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, is a top 3 Apple podcast which has attracted 100+ million downloads since its launch. Dr. Santos explores how science can help us rethink joy, combat stress, and build meaningful lives. Whether you’re seeking personal growth or aiming to boost workplace well-being, Dr. Santos shares practical habits that help turn scientific findings into real-life strategies for living a happier, more fulfilling life.