An Awe Walk Through History and Possibility

The Science of Happiness

PRX and Greater Good Science Center

Social Sciences, Science

4.5 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2026

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Noticing the history and beauty around us can shift how we see ourselves—and our communities. An awe walk through Harlem reveals how the stories embedded in public spaces can spark connection, perspective, and a sense of what’s possible.

Summary: Cities are full of quiet moments of wonder—if we know how to notice them. In this episode of The Science of Happiness we explore the science of awe while taking an awe walk with students at City University of New York in Harlem. We learn how everyday urban spaces can deepen our sense of connection, belonging, and curiosity.

How To Do This Practice:

Choose a familiar place: Pick a street, park, campus, or neighborhood you move through often—somewhere ordinary.
Slow your pace: Walk more slowly than usual and give yourself permission to notice, rather than rush.
Look for signs of story: Pay attention to buildings, names, textures, and small details that hint at history, culture, or the people who’ve been there before.
Ask yourself: Who stood here before me? What happened here? What journeys passed through this space?
Notice your response: Pause when something catches you—a feeling of wonder, curiosity, or even goosebumps—and stay with it for a moment.
Reflect on connection: As you finish, consider how this place and the stories within it connect to your own life, sense of belonging, or what feels possible for you.

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.

Today’s Guest:

BOB MCKINNON is an author, teacher, and Director of the Social Mobility Lab at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York

Learn more about Bob here: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/bob_mckinnon

This episode is supported by The Gambrell Foundation, who believe a great life grows from strong relationships, a sense of belonging, and moments of awe and wonder. Learn more about their work at gambrellfoundation.org

Related Science of Happiness episodes:

Cities of Awe Series: https://tinyurl.com/2vyhxvny

How Cities Can Make Space for Awe: https://tinyurl.com/yr7m2zb5

What Humans Can Learn From Trees: https://tinyurl.com/48te84ps

Related Happiness Break episodes:

How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm

Pause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3

Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/mrutudeh

Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod

We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.

Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap

Help us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap

Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/4j5sveye

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is supported by the Gambrell Foundation, who believe a great life grows from strong relationships,
0:07.0	a sense of belonging, and moments of awe and wonder.
0:11.0	Learn more about their work at gambrelfoundation.org.
0:15.0	I've been teaching at City College probably for like four or five years.
0:21.6	And one day I was invited to an event and I was walking around the corner and I was like,
0:27.6	oh my gosh, I had no idea that Alexander Hamilton's house was around the corner from campus.
0:33.6	I remember the feeling when I saw it. It literally was a feeling of awe. I'm like,
0:38.1	it is here. And I find such awe in history and standing in places where other people have stood
0:45.6	or major events have happened. And then I started thinking about what are all the other things
0:49.8	around here? And if I'm not singing it, I wonder if my students are seeing it. And if the community is seeing it, how can we tell these stories? And so I was like, wow, I think there's some potential here.
1:02.0	If we just go ahead and try to figure out a handful of places in this neighborhood that could really inspire students and sort of stop them in their tracks. Be like, I didn't know that.
1:17.0	This is the Science of Happiness.
1:18.2	I'm Dachr Keltner.
1:22.2	Welcome to the second episode in our ongoing series, Cities of Aw.
1:26.7	Together, we'll explore how we can invite a sense of awe and wonder into our experiences of
1:29.0	public spaces and how they can strengthen our collective well-being and connection to the
1:34.0	world around us.
1:36.0	Recently, I traveled to New York City to meet up with psychologist Bob McKinnon.
1:40.8	He's one of the world's experts on the science of what it takes to get ahead in life even
1:46.6	when we face headwinds.
1:48.4	It's called social mobility.
1:50.8	Research shows that actually kids who believe that they don't have a chance of moving up,
	...

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