You 2.0: The Path to Contentment + Your Questions Answered on Conversations

Hidden Brain

Hidden Brain Media

Arts, Science, Performing Arts, Social Sciences

4.6 • 40.4K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2025

⏱️ 92 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Many of us believe that hard work and persistence are the key to achieving our goals. But is that true when it comes to the pursuit of happiness? This week, we revisit a conversation with psychologist Iris Mauss, who explains why happiness can seem more elusive the harder we chase it, and what we can do instead to build a lasting sense of contentment. Then, we bring you the latest edition of our segment "Your Questions Answered." Behavioral scientist Alison Wood Brooks answers listener questions on how to be a better conversationalist — from what to do when the other person isn't contributing, to how to stop others from interrupting.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Hidden Brain. I'm Shankar Vedant.
0:03.0	In the summer of 1776,
0:07.0	33-year-old Thomas Jefferson drafted one of the most important documents
0:11.0	in the history of the United States.
0:13.0	The Declaration of Independence laid out a vision for a new country
0:17.0	and said all men had God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
0:25.8	86 changes to the draft were made by John Adams, Ben Franklin, and others. Like many writers,
0:32.9	Thomas Jefferson is said to have been unhappy with the changes his editors recommended. But the line
0:39.2	about how we are all entitled to the pursuit of happiness endured. In recent years, many
0:46.8	elements of the Declaration of Independence have come under scrutiny, including its omission of women,
0:51.9	the poor, and enslaved people.
0:58.8	We've examined some of these ideas in an earlier episode that looked at Thomas Jefferson's complicated life story.
1:04.4	Today on the show, we continue our U2.0 series
1:08.2	with a favorite episode that explores Jefferson's psychological claim
1:12.0	about what makes for a good life.
1:14.7	What happens in our minds when we pursue happiness this week on Hidden Brain? When you ask people what they want in life, nearly everyone will tell you they want to be happy.
1:37.3	After all, that's the point of finding a great job, starting a family, or going on wonderful
1:43.4	vacations.
1:54.0	At the University of California, Berkeley, psychologist Iris Moss studies a paradox associated with our pursuit of happiness.
1:57.0	Iris, welcome to Hidden Brain. Thank you so much for having me.
2:00.0	Iris, about a decade ago, you achieved a major
2:03.1	milestone in the life of a scholar. You got tenure at a great university. How long had you dreamed
	...

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