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The 85-Year Harvard Study That Reveals the Secret to Happiness

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What if the key to happiness isn't what we think? This episode unpacks Harvard's groundbreaking 85-year study on human well-being, featuring insights from Robert Waldinger's 'The Good Life' and Matthew Killingsworth's revolutionary research. Discover why relationships trump wealth and how 'social fitness' might be more vital than your next promotion.

The 85-Year Harvard Study That Reveals the Secret to Happiness
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How This Personalized Podcast Was Made

This podcast was created using BeFreed’s AI, based on selected books, the creator’s learning goals, and their preferred tone.

Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/flourish-a-visionary-new-understanding-of-happiness-and-wellbeing-by-martin-e-p-seligman
Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17084240-happy-money
The Magic Relationship Ratio, According to Science
link
https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-according-science/
Spending money on others promotes happiness
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18356530/
Counting blessings versus burdens: an experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12585811/
A Wandering Mind Is an Unhappy Mind
link
https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1192439
Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2753527.Loneliness_Human_Nature_and_the_Need_for_Social_Connection
The How of Happiness
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-how-of-happiness-by-sonja-lyubomirsky
Does spending money on others promote happiness?: A registered replication report
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32250135/
The Good Life
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/the-good-life-by-robert-waldinger
Triumphs of Experience: The Men of the Harvard Grant Study
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19009058-triumphs-of-experience
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation
link
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html
Income and emotional well-being: A conflict resolved
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36857342/
Stumbling on Happiness
link
https://www.befreed.ai/book/stumbling-on-happiness-by-daniel-gilbert
Positive psychology interventions: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
link
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-119
Matt Killingsworth TEDx Talk
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_killingsworth_want_to_be_happier_stay_in_the_moment
Susan Pinker TED Talk
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_pinker_the_secret_to_living_longer_may_be_your_social_life
Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year
link
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2016976118
Prosocial Spending and Happiness: Using Money to Benefit Others Pays Off
link
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11189976
Math and marriage: Five-to-one ratio predicts who will stay married
link
https://www.washington.edu/news/2004/02/12/math-and-marriage-five-to-one-ratio-predicts-who-will-stay-married/
Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/144406386-build-the-life-you-want
Huberman Lab Podcast
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/science-based-tools-for-increasing-happiness
Harvard Study of Adult Development (Second Generation)
link
https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/
High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being
link
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1011492107
Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20668659/
Robert Waldinger TED Talk
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness
Dan Gilbert TED Talk
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_the_surprising_science_of_happiness
The Harvard Study and Lifespan Research Foundation
link
https://www.lifespanresearch.org/harvard-study/
Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris
link
https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/robert-waldinger-549
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Input question

What does Harvard's 85-year study reveal about what truly makes us happy?

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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comments12
likes108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments254
likes17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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likes4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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thumbsUp16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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comments37
likes483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments12
likes117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments12
likes108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments254
likes17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments96
likes4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments201
thumbsUp16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
starstarstarstarstar

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments37
likes483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
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