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According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Finland is believed to be the happiest country in the world, while the U.S. once again does not appear in the top ten. New York Times Best-selling author and Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor at Harvard University, Arthur Brooks, explores how happiness is measured differently across cultures. He explains the impediments to happiness, which often center around human mortality, detailing why the fear of not existing overrides the fear of dying. Arthur also discusses how religion plays a role in the fear of death and describes why 'working on the soul' will help remove the barriers to happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Linda Mintle, the relationship doctor, offers some analysis to the recently released World Happiness Report. What are your pursuing for happiness? She also addresses how smart families learn from their mistakes. Jennifer Hadden Stokes, author of The Pioneer's Way," shares about how trailblazing nursing student Carol Ferrans prayerfully helped create an important medical diagnostic tool that incorporates the patient's thoughts and concerns. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here
Un estudio del World Happiness Report 2025 destaca que comer en familia o acompañado es uno de los indicadores más sólidos de bienestar, comparable a factores como el empleo o los ingresos; revela que las comidas sociales activan el sistema cerebral de endorfinas, oxitocina y dopamina, vinculadas con el afecto, la confianza y el placer.
For eight years running, Finland has been rated the happiest country in the world by a peculiar United Nations-backed project called the World Happiness Report, started in 2012. Soon after Finland shot to the top of the list, its government set up a “happiness tourism” initiative, which now offers itineraries highlighting the cultural elements that ostensibly contribute to its status: foraging, fresh air, trees, lakes, sustainably produced meals and, perhaps above all else, saunas.Instead of adhering to one of these optimal itineraries or visiting Finland at the rosiest time of year (any time except the dead of winter), Molly Young arrived with few plans at all during one of the bleakest months. Would the happiest country on earth still be so mirthful at its gloomiest? Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Hello Interactors,This week, I've been reflecting on the themes of my last few essays — along with a pile of research that's been oddly in sync. Transit planning. Neuroscience. Happiness studies. Complexity theory. Strange mix, but it keeps pointing to the same thing: cities aren't just struggling with transportation or housing. They're struggling with connection. With meaning. With the simple question: what kind of happiness should a city make possible? And why don't we ask that more often?STRANGERS SHUNNED, SYSTEMS SIMULATEDThe urban century was supposed to bring us together. Denser cities, faster mobility, more connected lives — these were the promises of global urbanization. Yet in the shadow of those promises, a different kind of city has emerged in America with growing undertones elsewhere: one that increasingly seeks to eliminate the stranger, bypass friction, and privatize interaction.Whether through algorithmically optimized ride-sharing, private tunnels built to evade street life, or digital maps simulating place without presence for autonomous vehicles, a growing set of design logics work to render other people — especially unknown others — invisible, irrelevant, or avoidable.I admit, I too can get seduced by this comfort, technology, and efficiency. But cities aren't just systems of movement — they're systems of meaning. Space is never neutral; it's shaped by power and shapes behavior in return. This isn't new. Ancient cities like Teotihuacan (tay-oh-tee-wah-KAHN) in central Mexico, once one of the largest cities in the world, aligned their streets and pyramids with the stars. Chang'an (chahng-AHN), the capital of Tang Dynasty China, used strict cardinal grids and walled compounds to reflect Confucian ideals of order and hierarchy. And Uruk (OO-rook), in ancient Mesopotamia, organized civic life around temple complexes that stood at the spiritual and administrative heart of the city.These weren't just settlements — they were spatial arguments about how people should live together, and who should lead. Even Middle Eastern souks and hammams were more than markets or baths; they were civic infrastructure. Whether through temples or bus stops, the question is the same: What kind of social behavior is this space asking of us?Neuroscience points to answers. As Shane O'Mara argues, walking is not just transport — it's neurocognitive infrastructure. The hippocampus, which governs memory, orientation, and mood, activates when we move through physical space. Walking among others, perceiving spontaneous interactions, and attending to environmental cues strengthens our cognitive maps and emotional regulation.This makes city oriented around ‘stranger danger' not just unjust — but indeed dangerous. Because to eliminate friction is to undermine emergence — not only in the social sense, but in the economic and cultural ones too. Cities thrive on weak ties, on happenstance, on proximity without intention. Mark Granovetter's landmark paper, The Strength of Weak Ties, showed that it's those looser, peripheral relationships — not our inner circles — that drive opportunity, creativity, and mobility. Karl Polanyi called it embeddedness: the idea that markets don't float in space, they're grounded in the social fabric around them.You see it too in scale theory — in the work of Geoffrey West and Luís Bettencourt — where the productive and innovative energy of cities scales with density, interaction, and diversity. When you flatten all that into private tunnels and algorithmic efficiency, you don't just lose the texture — you lose the conditions for invention.As David Roberts, a climate and policy journalist known for his systems thinking and sharp urban critiques, puts it: this is “the anti-social dream of elite urbanism” — a vision where you never have to share space with anyone not like you. In conversation with him, Jarrett Walker, a transit planner and theorist who's spent decades helping cities design equitable bus networks, also pushes back against this logic. He warns that when cities build transit around avoidance — individualized rides, privatized tunnels, algorithmic sorting — they aren't just solving inefficiencies. They're hollowing out the very thing that makes transit (and cities) valuable and also public: the shared experience of strangers moving together.The question isn't just whether cities are efficient — but what kind of social beings they help us become. If we build cities to avoid each other, we shouldn't be surprised when they crumble as we all forget how to live together.COVERAGE, CARE, AND CIVIC CALMIf you follow urban and transit planning debates long enough, you'll hear the same argument come up again and again: Should we focus on ridership or coverage? High-frequency routes where lots of people travel, or wide access for people who live farther out — even if fewer use the service? For transit nerds, it's a policy question. For everyone else, it's about dignity.As Walker puts it, coverage isn't about efficiency — it's about “a sense of fairness.” It's about living in a place where your city hasn't written you off because you're not profitable to serve. Walker's point is that coverage isn't charity. It's a public good, one that tells people: You belong here.That same logic shows up in more surprising places — like the World Happiness Report. Year after year, Finland lands at the top. But as writer Molly Young found during her visit to Helsinki, Finnish “happiness” isn't about joy or euphoria. It's about something steadier: trust, safety, and institutional calm. What the report measures is evaluative happiness — how satisfied people are with their lives over time — not affective happiness, which is more about momentary joy or emotional highs.There's a Finnish word that captures this. It the feeling you get after a sauna: saunanjälkeinen raukeus (SOW-nahn-yell-kay-nen ROW-keh-oos) — the softened, slowed state of the body and mind. That's what cities like Helsinki seem to deliver: not bliss, but a stable, low-friction kind of contentment. And while that may lack sparkle, it makes people feel held.And infrastructure plays a big role. In Helsinki, the signs in the library don't say “Be Quiet.” They say, “Please let others work in peace.” It's a small thing, but it speaks volumes — less about control, more about shared responsibility. There are saunas in government buildings. Parents leave their babies sleeping in strollers outside cafés. Transit is clean, quiet, and frequent. As Young puts it, these aren't luxuries — they're part of a “bone-deep sense of trust” the city builds and reinforces. Not enforced from above, but sustained by expectation, habit, and care.My family once joined an organized walking tour of Copenhagen. The guide, who was from Spain, pointed to a clock in a town square and said, almost in passing, “The government has always made sure this clock runs on time — even during war.” It wasn't just about punctuality. It was about trust. About the quiet promise that the public realm would still hold, even when everything else felt uncertain. This, our guide noted from his Spanish perspective, is what what make Scandinavians so-called ‘happy'. They feel held.Studies show that most of what boosts long-term happiness isn't about dopamine hits — it's about relational trust. Feeling safe. Feeling seen. Knowing you won't be stranded if you don't have a car or a credit card. Knowing the city works, even if you don't make it work for you.In this way, transit frequency and subtle signs in Helsinki are doing the same thing. They're shaping behavior and reinforcing social norms. They're saying: we share space here. Don't be loud. Don't cut in line. Don't treat public space like it's only for you.That kind of city can't be built on metrics alone. It needs moral imagination — the kind that sees coverage, access, and slowness as features, not bugs. That's not some socialist's idea of utopia. It's just thoughtful. Built into the culture, yes, but also the design.But sometimes we're just stuck with whatever design is already in place. Even if it's not so thoughtful. Economists and social theorists have long used the concept of path dependence to explain why some systems — cities, institutions, even technologies — get stuck. The idea dates back to work in economics and political science in the 1980s, where it was used to show how early decisions, even small ones, can lock in patterns that are hard to reverse.Once you've laid train tracks, built freeways, zoned for single-family homes — you've shaped what comes next. Changing course isn't impossible, but it's costly, slow, and politically messy. The QWERTY keyboard is a textbook example: not the most efficient layout, but one that stuck because switching systems later would be harder than just adapting to what we've got.Urban scholars Michael Storper and Allen Scott brought this thinking into city studies. They've shown how economic geography and institutional inertia shape urban outcomes — how past planning decisions, labor markets, and infrastructure investments limit the options cities have today. If your city bet on car-centric growth decades ago, you're probably still paying for that decision, even if pivoting is palatable to the public.CONNECTIONS, COMPLEXITY, CITIES THAT CAREThere's a quote often attributed to Stephen Hawking that's made the rounds in complexity science circles: “The 21st century will be the century of complexity.” No one's entirely sure where he said it — it shows up in systems theory blogs, talks, and books — but it sticks. Probably because it feels true.If the last century was about physics — closed systems, force, motion, precision — then this one is about what happens when the pieces won't stay still. When the rules change mid-game. When causes ripple back as consequences. In other words: cities.Planners have tried to tame that complexity in all kinds of ways. Grids. Zoning codes. Dashboards. There's long been a kind of “physics envy” in both planning and economics — a belief that if we just had the right model, the right inputs, we could predict and control the city like a closed system. As a result, for much of the 20th century, cities were designed like machines — optimized for flow, separation, and predictability.But even the pushback followed a logic of control — cul-de-sacs and suburban pastoralism — wasn't a turn toward organic life or spontaneity. It was just a softer kind of order: winding roads and whispered rules meant to keep things calm, clean, and contained…and mostly white and moderately wealthy.If you think of cities like machines, it makes sense to want control. More data, tighter optimization, fewer surprises. That's how you'd tune an engine or write software. But cities aren't machines. They're messy, layered, and full of people doing unpredictable things. They're more like ecosystems — or weather patterns — than they are a carburetor. And that's where complexity science becomes useful.People like Paul Cilliers and Brian Castellani have argued for a more critical kind of complexity science — one that sees cities not just as networks or algorithms, but as places shaped by values, power, and conflict. Cilliers emphasized that complex systems, like cities, are open and dynamic: they don't have fixed boundaries, they adapt constantly, and they respond to feedback in ways no planner can fully predict. Castellani extends this by insisting that complexity isn't just technical — it's ethical. It demands we ask: Who benefits from a system's design? Who has room to adapt, and who gets constrained? In this view, small interventions — a zoning tweak, a route change — can set off ripple effects that reshape how people move, connect, and belong. A new path dependence.This is why certainty is dangerous in urban design. It breeds overconfidence. Humility is a better place to start. As Jarrett Walker puts it, “there are all kinds of ways to fake your way through this.” Agencies often adopt feel-good mission statements like “compete with the automobile by providing access for all” — which, he notes, is like “telling your taxi driver to turn left and right at the same time.” You can't do both. Not on a fixed budget.Walker pushes agencies to be honest: if you want to prioritize ridership, say so. If you want to prioritize broad geographic coverage, that's also valid — but know it will mean lower ridership. The key is not pretending you can have both at full strength. He says, “What I want is for board members… to make this decision consciously and not be surprised by the consequences”.These decisions matter. A budget cut can push riders off buses, which then leads to reduced service, which leads to more riders leaving — a feedback loop. On the flip side, small improvements — like better lighting, a public bench, a frequent bus — can set off positive loops too. Change emerges, often sideways.That means thinking about transit not just as a system of movement, but as a relational space. Same with libraries, parks, and sidewalks. These aren't neutral containers. They're environments that either support or suppress human connection. If you design a city to eliminate friction, you eliminate chance encounters — the stuff social trust is made of.I'm an introvert. I like quiet. I recharge alone. But I also live in a city — and I've learned that even for people like me, being around others still matters. Not in the chatty, get-to-know-your-neighbors way. But in the background hum of life around you. Sitting on a bus. Browsing in a bookstore. Walking down a street full of strangers, knowing you don't have to engage — but you're not invisible either.There's a name for this. Psychologists call it public solitude or sometimes energized privacy — the comfort of being alone among others. Not isolated, not exposed. Just held, lightly, in the weave of the crowd. And the research backs it up: introverts often seek out public spaces like cafés, libraries, or parks not to interact, but to feel present — connected without pressure.In the longest-running happiness study ever done, 80 years, Harvard psychologist Robert Waldinger found that strong relationships — not income, not status — were the best predictor of long-term well-being. More recently, studies have shown that even brief interactions with strangers — on a bus, in a coffee shop — can lift mood and reduce loneliness. But here's the catch: cities have to make those interactions possible.Or they don't.And that's the real test of infrastructure. We've spent decades designing systems to move people through. Fast. Clean. Efficient. But we've neglected the quiet spaces that let people just be. Sidewalks you're not rushed off of. Streets where kids can safely bike or play…or simply cross the street.Even pools — maybe especially pools. My wife runs a nonprofit called SplashForward that's working to build more public pools. Not just for fitness, but because pools are public space. You float next to people you may never talk to. And still, you're sharing something. Space. Water. Time.You see this clearly in places like Finland and Iceland, where pools and saunas are built into the rhythms of public life. They're not luxuries — they're civic necessities. People show up quietly, day after day, not to socialize loudly, but to be alone together. As one Finnish local told journalist Molly Young, “During this time, we don't have... colors.” It was about the long gray winter, sure — but also something deeper: a culture that values calm over spectacle. Stability over spark. A kind of contentment that doesn't perform.But cities don't have to choose between quiet and joy. We don't have to model every system on Helsinki in February. There's something beautiful in the American kind of happiness too — the loud, weird, spontaneous moments that erupt in public. The band on the subway. The dance party in the park. The loud kid at the pool. That kind of energy can be a nuisance, but it can also be joyful.Even Jarrett Walker, who's clear-eyed about transit, doesn't pretend it solves everything. Transit isn't always the answer. Sometimes a car is the right tool. What matters is whether everyone has a real choice — not just those with money or proximity or privilege. And he's quick to admit every city with effective transit has its local grievances.So no, I'm not arguing for perfection, or even socialism. I'm arguing for a city that knows how to hold difference. Fast and slow. Dense and quiet. A city that lets you step into the crowd, or sit at its edge, and still feel like you belong. A place to comfortably sit with the uncertainty of this great transformation emerging around us. Alone and together.REFERENCESCastellani, B. (2014). Complexity theory and the social sciences: The state of the art. Routledge.Cilliers, P. (1998). Complexity and postmodernism: Understanding complex systems. Routledge.David, P. A. (1985). Clio and the economics of QWERTY. The American Economic Review.Granovetter, M. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology.Hawking, S. (n.d.). The 21st century will be the century of complexity. [Attributed quote; primary source unavailable].O'Mara, S. (2019). In praise of walking: A new scientific exploration. W. W. Norton & Company.Roberts, D. (Host). (2025). Jarrett Walker on what makes good transit [Audio podcast episode]. In Volts.Storper, M., & Scott, A. J. (2016). Current debates in urban theory: A critical assessment. Urban Studies.Waldinger, R., & Schulz, M. (2023). The good life: Lessons from the world's longest scientific study of happiness. Simon & Schuster.Walker, J. (2011). Human transit: How clearer thinking about public transit can enrich our communities and our lives. Island Press.West, G., & Bettencourt, L. M. A. (2010). A unified theory of urban living. Nature.Young, M. (2025). My miserable week in the ‘happiest country on earth'. The New York Times Magazine. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit interplace.io
Michael Smerconish sits down with Dr. Byron Johnson of Baylor University for a thought-provoking conversation that explores groundbreaking findings from the Global Flourishing Study—the largest longitudinal research effort ever conducted on well-being, spanning 200,000 people across 22 countries. They discuss why wealthier nations like the U.S. may be falling behind in true life satisfaction, the importance of social relationships, and how isolation, technology, and the decline of in-person interaction are reshaping global happiness trends. Drawing comparisons to the well-known World Happiness Report, Johnson and Smerconish highlight how flourishing is more than just financial prosperity—it's deeply tied to relationships, meaning, and purpose: It is tied to MINGLING! An essential listen for anyone trying to understand what it really means to live a "good life" in the modern world.
Wir sollten öfter gemeinsam essen! Zu diesem Schluss kommt der neue World Happiness Report, der von der Universität Oxford gemeinsam mit dem Umfrageinstitut Gallup und dem UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network herausgegeben wird. Warum gemeinsames Essen so gut tut, wie Österreich im internationalen Vergleich dasteht und wie man es schafft, seltener allein zu essen, darum dreht sich die neue Folge von "Besser leben". Mahlzeit!
People are searching for happiness, especially in the United States. The 2025 World Happiness Report shows that the U.S. continues to fall on the list of happiest places. If you, like myself, live in the U.S. and struggle to find happiness, you're in luck. The 2025 World Happiness Report mentioned something that has been a practice of our Heavenly Father for quite some time — the importance of sitting down at a table and having a meal with someone. I want to tell you how God has gone about this and what actually happens at the table that contributes to our happiness. I also want to tell you how you can emulate this in order to bring happiness to your children. Happiness is not as far away as you may think. Happiness is found at the table. Dads Only Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16UYyggrkN/ — Get your FREE 7-day devotional download: https://fatheringourfuture.com/2025/03/22/free-7-day-devotional/ Get your copy of the new devotional for dads, Following Our Father: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=VA6KP8OJ9Nh6EJM8xkhLDg1exkXKTtM9kswBjBoKxmD (Amazon options: https://amzn.to/427aK4L) Get your free gift, a copy of Cut The Crap (E-book): https://fatheringourfuture.com/2024/08/04/free-download-for-new-dads/ MERCH: https://fatheringourfuture.printify.me/products Become a financial partner with Fathering Our Future and make a direct impact on dads: https://fatheringourfuture.com/support/
A recession may be headed our way. How can we prepare? I'm walking through our family's 5 step financial plan to prepare for a recession. Second, we're back with our Mortgage Free Family segment! This month we're featuring Sandra Park from Texas. She's going to share how she paid off her mortgage in his 40s and how it allowed her more cash flow and the ability to help her son pay for college. Last, we're sharing the Good Word once again. My son Calvin and I are sharing the latest World Happiness Report, how the United States ranks, and how service to others matters. EPISODE RESOURCES: Sponsors + Partners + Deals Sandra Park: https://engineerherpath.com Good Word Story - CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/19/world-happiness-report-2025-finland-is-the-happiest-country.html CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro 01:50 – Step 1: Shore Up Your Emergency Fund 04:35 – Step 2: Continue Investing According to Your Plan 05:50 – Step 3: Reduce Expenses, Not Your Happiness 11:30 – Step 4: Earn More Without Burning Out 13:55 – Step 5: Be Generous Where It's Needed 16:40 – Mortgage-Free Family: Interview with Sandra Park 17:45 – Sandra's Mortgage-Free Journey 20:00 – Budgeting, Downsizing, and Mindset Shifts 29:00 – Post-Mortgage Life and Financial Freedom 32:50 – Generational Wealth and Lessons for the Next Generation 38:00 – Good News Segment with Calvin Hill 46:35 – Shoutout of the Month MKM RESOURCES: MKM Coaching: Want 1-on-1 support with your family finance journey? Book a time with me today. Make My Kid a Millionaire Course: Want to build generational wealth and happiness for your kid? Learn more about my course! Coast FIRE Calculator: A free calculator to help you find out when you can slow down or stop investing for retirement. Mortgage Payoff Calculator: A free calculator to help you see how fast you can become mortgage free. YouTube: Subscribe for free to watch videos of these episodes and interviews. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES): Monarch Money - Best Budget App for Families & Couples Empower - Free Portfolio Tracker Crew - HYSA Banking Built for Families - Get an Extra 0.5% APY with my partner link Ethos - Affordable Term Life Insurance Trust & Will - Convenient Estate Planning HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER: This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. Opinions are the creators alone. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS: Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Support: Nev Maraj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 2025, the United States is experiencing a troubling downward trend in its ranking on The World Happiness Report. This is a significant departure from its usual position within the top 20 globally. The exact causes are complex, but emerging evidence suggests that various psychosocial stressors are leading to a decrease in life satisfaction among US citizens, a trend that should concern us all.Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with social psychologist and co-editor of The World Happiness Report, Lara Aknin, PhD, to explore what manifests as happiness and life satisfaction in the US and worldwide.Dr. Lara Aknin shares specific findings from The World Happiness Report and provides valuable insights into the global cultural factors that contribute to life satisfaction. She particularly emphasizes the role of generosity, volunteerism, and donations as significant sources of happiness, shedding light on these often overlooked contributors to our well-being. WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.
Did you know one of the simplest ways to boost your happiness might be sitting right at your dinner table?In this solo episode, I dive into a fascinating chapter of the World Happiness Report 2025 that explores something near and dear to my heart: the power of sharing meals.From the data to the dinner table, I'm connecting the dots between science, culture, and personal experience — showing how something as ordinary as a shared meal can have extraordinary effects on our well-being.You'll hear reflections on:
In 2025, the United States is experiencing a troubling downward trend in its ranking on The World Happiness Report. This is a significant departure from its usual position within the top 20 globally. The exact causes are complex, but emerging evidence suggests that various psychosocial stressors are leading to a decrease in life satisfaction among US citizens, a trend that should concern us all.Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with social psychologist and co-editor of The World Happiness Report, Lara Aknin, PhD, to explore what manifests as happiness and life satisfaction in the US and worldwide.Dr. Lara Aknin shares specific findings from The World Happiness Report and provides valuable insights into the global cultural factors that contribute to life satisfaction. She particularly emphasizes the role of generosity, volunteerism, and donations as significant sources of happiness, shedding light on these often overlooked contributors to our well-being. WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.
We cover who are the happiest citizens on earth, according to the annual study, The World Happiness Report published by the University of Oxford. Also, where does the U.S. rank? Surprise – we're far below the Top 10. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-which-country-is-ranked-1-as-the-happiest-in-the-world-where-does-the-u-s-fall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Top headlines for Monday, April 14, 2025We discuss President Donald Trump's recent nomination of a former congressional leader and pastor as the U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, a pivotal role in promoting global religious liberties. Then, we shift to Finland, the newly anointed happiest country in the world according to the annual World Happiness Report by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Plus, we delve into the surprising resurgence of Bible engagement in the U.S., with nearly 10 million more Americans connecting with the Scriptures compared to past years. Join us as we unpack these stories and their broader implications.00:11 Trump nominates former pastor for top religious freedom post01:01 Kansas legislature overrides veto of religious freedom bill01:52 Supreme Court orders return of deported El Salvadoran national02:42 US drops to its lowest ranking in ‘Happiness Report'03:35 France could recognize Palestinian state in coming months: Macron04:22 More men turning to the Bible across every generation05:10 Amy Grant fights to save church founded by great-grandfatherSubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsTrump nominates former pastor for top religious freedom post | PoliticsKansas legislature overrides veto of religious freedom bill | PoliticsSupreme Court orders return of deported El Salvadoran national | PoliticsUS drops to its lowest ranking in ‘Happiness Report' | WorldFrance could recognize Palestinian state in coming months: Macron | WorldMore men turning to the Bible across every generation | U.S.Amy Grant fights to save church founded by great-grandfather | U.S.
I forlengelsen av mandagens episode, hvor vi snakket om World Happiness Report 2025, deler vi enkle og konkrete tips du kan bruke i hverdagen for å dyrke mer lykke i praksis! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Essentially You, host Mark Mathia delves into the 2025 World Happiness Report, exploring the secrets behind the world's happiest countries and how their joy can be replicated in our own lives. Discover the three key factors that contribute to national happiness and learn six practical ways to enhance your own joy, irrespective of where you call home. Through engaging anecdotes and actionable insights, this episode empowers you to take control of your happiness journey.
World Happiness Report 2025 เพิ่งประกาศผลล่าสุด และมีหลายสิ่งที่น่าสนใจมากกว่าแค่การจัดอันดับ เพราะหลายประเทศที่ติดท็อป 10 กลับไม่ได้มี GDP สูงที่สุด แถมบางประเทศยังอยู่ท่ามกลางสภาพแวดล้อมที่ท้าทาย . ใน Mission To The Moon EP. นี้ เราจะพาไปสำรวจว่าความสุขของประชากรวัดกันอย่างไร ทำไมกลุ่มประเทศนอร์ดิกถึงครองอันดับต้นๆ มาตลอด เหตุใดประเทศในละตินอเมริกาอย่างคอสตาริกาและเม็กซิโกถึงมีความสุขมากกว่าประเทศที่ร่ำรวยกว่า และแม้แต่ประเทศที่อยู่ในความขัดแย้งอย่างอิสราเอลก็ยังติดอันดับท็อป 10 . มาร่วมถอดรหัสความสุขและเรียนรู้บทเรียนสำคัญว่า ความสุขที่แท้จริงอาจไม่ได้อยู่ที่ความมั่งคั่ง แต่อยู่ที่ความสมดุลของชีวิต ความไว้วางใจในสังคม และระบบสถาบันที่มีคุณภาพต่างหาก . . #WorldHappinessReport #Happiness #missiontothemoon #missiontothemoonpodcast
Learn more about the World Happiness Report here.
This week, we're tackling some wild stats—like how 46% of Gen Z would choose to be "severed" to avoid experiencing their workday (as inspired by Apple TV's Severance). We're also looking at the World Happiness Report where Finland is still the happiest (obviously), and the U.S. is now chilling at 24th place even though the current admin would have us believe we're #1. Since happiness is impacted by lacking social connections and eating too many meals alone, we chat about how the emphasis on solo travel and dining in recent years may be contributing to the loneliness epidemic. Another important way to boost happiness? Getting real about moving your body! We share our own experiences, whether we're crushing it at home or the gym, and what some of our biggest challenges for consistency are. We also talk being intimidated by going to the gym, and we have some good news: it's not all gym bros and sexy LA-types there, and fitness is for every BODY! And as always, we've got all the best recs for y'all: Don't sleep on your local community center gym (Pam), Meetup groups for dining, (Andrew), and Fitness Blender for free work out routines (Laura). And in this week's installment of After Dark, Andrew spills some tea he's been sitting on for a hot minute that we can only discuss behind the paywall. Pam and Laura offer some helpful (and maybe a little toxic) suggestions, but Andrew is PROTECTING HIS PEACE thank you very much! Head on over to our Patreon to listen in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
En este episodio de Peras y Manzanas, Valeria Moy invita al Dr. Gerardo Leyva Parra, Coordinador del Laboratorio Interdisciplinario de Encuestas y Datos Sociales de la Universidad Iberoamericana, a platicar sobre el World Happiness Report 2025. ¿Qué mide realmente y cuáles son los países más felices según su medición? Platican sobre el caso particular de la región nórdica y en contraste, los países latinoamericanos reconocidos por la calidez de sus relaciones interpersonales haciendo énfasis en México. Además, comentan la importancia del valor estadístico que se le puede dar a los resultados del reporte, dónde ser cautos y el tema de la ciudadanía activa versus otras variables. ¡No te lo pierdas!
The just-released World Happiness Report places the United States 24th globally. That's the bad news. The good news is that a big part of our problem is based on a fixable misperception that we have about each other. Bradley outlines a new regimen of building better vibes. Plus, he explains why Trump is shredding our system of checks and balances so easily (because it's actually reliant on norms, which Trump does not observe), how Trump's rejection of good politics should eventually sap his momentum, and what Bradley learned from reading Graydon Carter's memoir, When the Going Was Good.LIVE EVENT: Join Bradley for a live Firewall recording at P&T Knitwear on Wednesday, April 2 and 6:30PM. After his discussion with Spencer Greenberg, host of the Clearer Thinking podcast, Bradley will answer audience questions on-air. Space is limited. RSVP today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clearer-thinking-x-firewall-a-live-podcast-recording-tickets-1261541337099?aff=oddtdtcreatorThis episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.
The US had its lowest ranking in the World Happiness Report since it was first published. How can we be more happy and grateful in our lives? We get some tips from our friend, Dr. Judy Ho, a licensed clinical therapist.
Why does the United States continue to fall behind other nations in the annual World Happiness Report? What's making us such an apparently unhappy society? (at 12:01) --- To Your Health: March is Anal Cancer Awareness Month, an uncomfortable but important topic (at 21:01) --- Flag City Honor Flight launches its 2025 slate of missions this week, with some changes to make the experience even better for the veterans they serve (at 27:05) --- It's a big week at Habitat for Humanity... Raising the Wall on three simultaneous projects to kick off their biggest year of home builds to date (at 51:03)
At one point in time, Canada was ranked as the 5th happiest country out of 147 countries across the globe. 10 years since that ranking, and Canada has dropped to 18th place...a ranking that's continued on a steady decline since 2020. But why? How do Canadians express happiness? How much of their well-being is shaped by the economy, their friends, their perception of the world around them, or all three? And what can we do if we want to climb back to the top 5 area? Host Pooja Handa speaks with Felix Cheung, Canada Research Chair in Population and Wellbeing, and assistant professor at U of T's department of psychology, about this year's World Happiness Report to discuss why Canadians seem to have a declining outlook on the overall perception of happiness, and what the future generations can focus on if they're interested in making their way closer to the top of the list. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter
The latest edition of the annual World Happiness Report has been released, offering a fascinating insight into global well-being. Compiled by the Gallup World Poll in collaboration with the University of Oxford and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report analyzes data from over 140 countries to determine where people are happiest. If you're familiar with the World Happiness Report or similar rankings, you won't be surprised to learn that European nations continue to dominate the list—especially the Nordic countries, which consistently rank among the happiest in the world. But what factors make a country happier than others? And which nations have climbed or dropped in the rankings this year? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: How can I beat Monday morning syndrome? Could loud budgeting help you save money ? How can I beat my work addiction ? Production : Bababam A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, I explore one of Einstein's most powerful questions and connect it to the latest World Happiness Report, which reveals something surprising about trust, happiness, and the goodness of people. You'll learn how our beliefs about the world shape our joy, our relationships, and even our success. And how building inner trust might be the first step toward seeing the world differently. Because maybe… the universe and the people in it are more trustworthy and friendlier than you think! Tune in for a powerful reminder that you're not alone, and that life still holds infinite possibilities. If you found this podcast enjoyable, kindly consider subscribing and leaving a rating or review. Additionally, I'd appreciate it if you could share it with your friends to spread the love! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you are interested in my work, please check out my books, The Gift of Maybe: Finding Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times (including a new audiobook), A Year Without Men: A 12 Point Guide To Inspire and Empower Women and my new Audiobook, Maybe Everything Is Okay, A Parent's Guide To Less Stress and Worry. Also you can check out my new Maybe Cards: A Path to Stress-Free Living or my new digital Maybe Journal. Above all, my sincere wish is that this podcast has contributed to less suffering and more joy in your life!
The recent World Happiness Report highlights a striking link between social trust and voting preferences, revealing that individuals with low social trust are more prone to supporting right-wing political parties. In this episode, I dive into this fascinating finding, which highlights how our personal dissatisfaction with life often translates into political choices that can influence societal outcomes. It's a wake-up call for all of us to reflect on our role in fostering social connections and trust within our communities. Despite our natural pessimism about kindness, studies show that people generally underestimate the empathy and support available around them. We have the power to change this narrative—by actively nurturing trust and connection, we can improve not only our own well-being but also the fabric of our society.Takeaways:The World Happiness Report indicates that low social trust correlates with voting for right-wing parties. Individuals with lower satisfaction in life tend to reject traditional political systems and seek alternatives. Social connection is vital for our happiness, health, and longevity, and we must prioritise it. Many young adults feel they lack social support, often underestimating the kindness of others around them. Our perceptions of others' empathy significantly influence our willingness to connect and engage socially. Rebuilding social trust requires individual responsibility in recognising the goodness in others and fostering connections. Links:World Happiness Report 2025Connect with CassEmail: hello@crappytohappypod.comwww.crappytohappypod.comwww.instagram.com/crappytohappypodwww.tiktok.com/@crappytohappypodSubscribe to Cass's Newsletterhttps://cassdunn.substack.comYour feedback is important!To receive a FREE subscription to Beyond Happy, the subscriber only podcast and community, please take a minute to fill in our listener survey so we can keep making the show the best it can be.www.crappytohappypod.com/survey
Kort smakprov, för att höra detta avsnitt bli prenumerant för 39 kr i månaden på https://underproduktion.se/stormensutveckling Om det uppstår problem mejla support@underproduktion.se Ola om "World Happiness Report" och vad det egentligen betyder att Finland är världens lyckligaste land. Jonatan om Ola - Sveriges mest hatade person. Bok som refereras: Väinö Linna - Högt bland Saarijärvis moar
A new passport supplier, a podcast interview with the President, the World Happiness Report, a night market, iVerify Malawi, the Lake of Stars Festival, and much more! Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at info@rorshok.com You can also contact us on Instagram @rorshok_malawi or Twitter @RorshokMalawiLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.The President's Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-l15v6Tvx8We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate
The release of the World Happiness Report each year offers insight into our global well-being. This week, host Paula Felps is joined by Dr. Felix Cheung, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and a faculty fellow at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society. He's also the Canada Research Chair in Population Well-being at the University of Toronto and one of the co-authors of this year's report. Felix shares what the report tells us about social connections – and where the U.S. stands on this year's list of Happiest Countries. In this episode, you'll learn: What a wallet taught researchers about well-being. The role that sharing meals with others plays in our happiness. Where the U.S. stands on this year's list of happiest countries.
It's Tuesday, March 25th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson 3 Iranian Christians get 42 years of prison time Three Iranian Christians have been sentenced to a cumulative 42 years in prison for their involvement in Christian activities. The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced a pregnant woman named Narges Nasri to 16 years. And two men were also given harsh sentences. Abbas Soori got 15 years and Mehran Shamlooei received 10 years for organizing a house church in Tehran. According to Open Doors, Iran is the 9th most difficult country worldwide for Christians. 3 men arrested by KGB in Tajikistan Also, The Worldview received news that three men were arrested by the KGB in Tajikistan last week, for simply possessing Bibles and meeting to worship on Sunday. From last report they are still in prison. Remember our brothers and sisters in chains in your prayers. Maine Univ. listens to Trump, bans biological men from women's sports The University of Maine has agreed to comply with the Trump administration's requirement that no men should be allowed to participate in women's collegiate sports. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had temporarily frozen $30 million of funding to the University of Maine's system comprised of eight universities. The USDA issued a press release announcing the change of policy on the part of the University of Maine, noting that “UMaine's decision to side with sanity is a win for women and girls in Maine.” However, the president is demanding a full-throated apology from Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills, reports The Western Journal. At a February meeting with governors at the White House, Mills threatened to sue the Trump administration over the women's only federal policy, according to a video posted on X. 80 U.S. hospitals continue to mutilate kids in transgender surgeries Despite the U.S. president's recent policy statements to the contrary, almost 80 hospitals are still offering mutilation surgeries for children, reports the TransHealth Project. On January 28th, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stating that “it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.” Judge: Ban on drag performances is unconstitutional A federal judge ruled Monday that a Texas A&M University ban on drag performances is unconstitutional. Judge Lee Rosenthal, a female appointee by George H. W. Bush, argued that drag performances are an expression of freedom of speech, and should be allowed on public universities. She further stated that “Shakespeare's literary works that, when his plays were written and performed, female characters were played by young men dressed in women's attire.” The judge also referenced to major motion pictures like Mrs. Doubtfire and Hairspray, in which cross-dressing was essential to the plot of the movie. Deuteronomy 22:5 brings out the moral principle that “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.” More men attending church than women That surprising gender gap of American church attendees has widened even more, according to the latest Barna poll. Now, preliminary numbers indicate that 40% of men attend church weekly, compared to only 28% of women. From 2000 to 2015, women attended church at higher rates than men. Then, from 2016 to 2021, men and women attended at about the same rate. Eating meals alone is mentally unhealthy And finally, Americans are increasingly eating meals alone. Interestingly, 26% of Americans ate all their meals alone yesterday. That's up from 17% two decades ago. The percentage of young people -- 20-35 years of age -- eating alone has almost doubled in twenty years. However, the Asian countries of Korea, Japan, India, and the Philippines, are the nations least likely to share meals. The World Happiness Report claims that “Sharing meals proves to be an exceptionally strong indicator of subjective wellbeing – on par with income and unemployment. Those who share more meals with others report significantly higher levels of life satisfaction.” Proverbs 18:1 warns of this: “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, March 25th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Nick Pitts of the Institute for Global Engagement helps break down the latest research findings around the state of religion in America. Also, he and Carmen look at the latest World Happiness Report and what makes for real happiness. The Philos Project's Luke Moon helps update us on the situation between Israel and Hamas, as well as other issues of unrest in the Middle East and in the US around it. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here
U.S. drops to lowest-ever standings in “World Happiness Report”; Bergamot notches double-digit cholesterol improvements in new study; Benefits of collagen peptides; Addressing post-chemotherapy fatigue; Solutions for knee pain; Tattoos linked to skin cancer, lymphoma risk; High-dose vitamin D slows progression of MS; Advances in AI lead to smart prosthetics, brain control of robot arms for paralytics.
Every year several world organizations study the data to find where in the world people are the happiest and why? Jan shares the newly released latest findings and shows just how poisonous negativity can be and how powerful positivity is in changing the quality of our lives right now, today.
Class, welcome to another new week! Despite our best efforts at cheer, we're finding it hard to be all smiles to start this week. And we find that sentiment reflected in our nation's continually declining happiness index. For the second consecutive year, America ranks at a new low on the World Happiness Report. Why is our happiness declining? Well, when we look around at the uncertainty in the economy, willful denial of climate catastrophe, and lack of investment in the future the answer appears... Next, the news we've been waiting for since November 5th, 2024. President Trump officially ordered the beginning of the end at the federal Department of Education. Dr. Tim and Dr. Johnny address this news as their educated educator selves: with a short civics lesson. By the way, it's not as if teachers universally adore the federal department. The department needs massive reform to address the needs of students, teachers, and families. But gutting it and leaving states without critical funds only spells harm for many millions of Americans. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!
Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Brady Report - Friday March 21, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Brady Report - Friday March 21, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com
The World Happiness Report for 2025 is out. Today, Michael's eye was drawn toward Chapter 3, because of its connection to mingling: "Sharing Meals With Others Supports Happiness And Social Connections." Listen to his conversation with one of the authors of this chapter, Micah Katz, a doctoral student in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a research associate at the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford, and a senior analyst at the Happiness Research Institute. Original air date 21 March 2025.
Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Brady Report - Friday March 21, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Brady Report - Friday March 21, 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and Heather Wilhelm (Columnist for National Review) discuss Laura Ingraham's interview last night with Sam Corcos, a DOGE team leader working at the IRS. They also question - why the World Happiness Report is a sham, why Snow White is a train wreck, and why Gavin Newsom lied about LatinX? Then, Tom Bevan interviews Mark Penn, CEO of Stagwell, about the state of the Democratic party. And finally, Unknowns host Charlie Stone interviews author and lawyer - Scott Turow.
In this edition of Baron Trend: Computer Hacker, Jack and Miles discuss Baron Trump being really good at computer, Andrew Schulz's take on all the Elon hate, Trump dismantling the DOE, calls for Chuck Schumer to step down, the World Happiness Report and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the International Day of Happiness, we're sharing a special episode from The Happiness Lab. It's a chance to talk about happiness and what we can all do to be happier. March 20th also sees the release of the World Happiness Report. A big finding of 2025's report is that more of us are dining alone—and that's bad news. The report's editor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve shares the stark figures showing that shared meals are in decline, while Dr. Anne Fischel of The Family Dinner Project gives tips on how to dine better with friends, families and colleagues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the International Day of Happiness, we're sharing a special episode from The Happiness Lab. It's a chance to talk about happiness and what we can all do to be happier. March 20th also sees the release of the World Happiness Report. A big finding of 2025's report is that more of us are dining alone—and that's bad news. The report's editor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve shares the stark figures showing that shared meals are in decline, while Dr. Anne Fischel of The Family Dinner Project gives tips on how to dine better with friends, families and colleagues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the International Day of Happiness, we're sharing a special episode from The Happiness Lab. It's a chance to talk about happiness and what we can all do to be happier. March 20th also sees the release of the World Happiness Report. A big finding of 2025's report is that more of us are dining alone—and that's bad news. The report's editor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve shares the stark figures showing that shared meals are in decline, while Dr. Anne Fischel of The Family Dinner Project gives tips on how to dine better with friends, families and colleagues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Rising, Several of President Trump's executive orders are getting blocked by Federal Judges. Trump administration fired Democratic commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's split with California Gov. Gavin Newsom over MAGA. Ed Pierson, the executive director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety explains Boeing's slew of near-disasters and deadly failures. Author of "The Red Letter" on Substack, Tara Palmeri, discusses whether Elon Musk's welcome at The White House is wearing out. Ben & Jerry's accused its parent company of firing its CEO for ice cream brand's public comments on progressive issues. Wall Street Journal's senior political correspondent Molly Ball elaborates on her reporting on the NYC mayoral Democratic primary. The U.S. fell to it's lowest-ever spot on the World Happiness Report, 2025. All this and more. #Rising Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We’re live from our Paris studio with panellists Michele Barbero and Florence Martin-Kessler to discuss the EU’s leaders summit in Brussels, why the pension debate in France will never go away and why King Charles III is losing representation on the Australian five-dollar bill. Plus: who’s happy and who’s jealous in the World Happiness Report 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the International Day of Happiness, we're sharing a special episode from The Happiness Lab. It's a chance to talk about happiness and what we can all do to be happier. March 20th also sees the release of the World Happiness Report. A big finding of 2025's report is that more of us are dining alone—and that's bad news. The report's editor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve shares the stark figures showing that shared meals are in decline, while Dr. Anne Fischel of The Family Dinner Project gives tips on how to dine better with friends, families and colleagues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.