35–40 years of happiness research
Dr. Keltner has been tracking stress and meaning data for 35–40 years and reports stress is higher now than ever, with younger people struggling significantly.
Snapshot · The Mel Robbins Podcast
Feeling Lost or Behind in Life? The #1 Happiness Expert Explains How to Find Your Purpose
Explore episode
Jul 13, 2026
Where this was said
Cold Open & Introduction
At 0:08 · chapter starts 0:00
Mel Robbins kicks off with an intimate challenge to the listener — figuring out your purpose is one of the hardest things in life, especially when the world feels insurmountable. She introduces Dr. Dacher Keltner, the founder of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, as the guide for the journey. By the end of the episode, Mel promises, listeners will have answered two scientifically validated questions to discover their purpose, understand six common pathways to meaning, and mastered a one-minute habit that is both free and powerful enough to reduce depression, anxiety, and daily stress. The setup is warm, direct, and designed to hold both the skeptic and the seeker.
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