Can awe improve mental health? This episode previews the science of everyday wonder
Based on the show notes, this episode features UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner on why awe matters for mental health and relationships. It appears to explore how experiences like starry skies, ancient ruins, music, and even a mosh pit can make life feel richer.
## Should you listen? If you’re curious about whether a feeling as slippery as **awe** can actually be studied, this episode looks like a strong pick. Based on the show notes, host Alie Ward talks with Dr. Dacher Keltner — a UC Berkeley psychology professor, author, and founding director of the Greater Good Science Center — about his research on what sparks awe and why it may matter for mental health. The preview suggests this conversation connects awe to both **personal well-being** and **relationships**, with an emphasis on the feeling of vastness that can make us feel “smaller in the best way.” The examples mentioned are broad and approachable: looking up at starry skies, passing ancient ruins, listening to a favorite song, and, unexpectedly, jumping into a mosh pit. That mix hints at an episode that treats awe as something available in both grand and everyday moments. This seems especially suited for listeners who enjoy psychology episodes that stay grounded in lived experience rather than abstract theory alone. If you like the idea of practical wonder — and want to hear how ordinary experiences might deepen connection or perspective — this one may be worth queuing up. A quick note: this is a **preview based only on the published show notes**, not a recap of the full audio, so the actual conversation may cover these ideas in more depth or with additional nuance.
About this episode
<p>Awe?! You can study this? You can, and it turns out it’s really important for our mental health. Dr. Dacher Keltner, the legendary UC Berkeley psychology professor, author, and founding director of the Greater Good Science Center, lent us some time to chat about his research into what makes us feel awe, and how that sense of vastness can make our lives and relationships richer. From spending some time under starry skies, to walking past ancient ruins, to listening to a favorite song, these big and little moments can help us feel smaller in the best way. Also: hop into a mosh pit. </p> <p>Visit Dr. Keltner’s <a href="https://www.dacherkeltner.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a></p> <p>Buy his book, <i>Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life</i>, on <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/awe-the-new-science-of-everyday-wonder-and-how-it-can-transform-your-life-dacher-keltner/92627722b0d00a9e?ean=9781984879707&next=t" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bookshop.org</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Awe-Science-Everyday-Wonder-Transform/dp/1984879685/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amazon</a></p> <p>Listen to his series, <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/series/cities_of_awe_the_science_of_happiness" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cities of Awe</a>, on the Science of Happiness podcast</p> <p>A donation went to the <a href="https://www.collectivefreedom.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bay Area Freedom Collective</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/awepsychology" rel="noopener noreferrer">More episode sources and links</a></p> <p>Other episodes you may enjoy: <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/eudemonology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eudemonology (HAPPINESS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/awesomeology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Awesomeology (GRATITUDE FOR LITTLE THINGS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/molecularneurobiology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/psychedeliology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psychedeliology (HALLUCINOGENS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/museology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Museology (MUSEUMS)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/fanthropology" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fanthropology (FANDOM)</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/eclipse" rel="noopener noreferrer">FIELD TRIP: I Chase the 2024 Eclipse with Umbraphiles</a>, <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/fieldtripnhm" rel="noopener noreferrer">FIELD TRIP: How to Change Your Life via the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies-by-topic" rel="noopener noreferrer">400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topic</a></p> <p><a href="https://pod.link/1746567248" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes</a></p> <p><a href="https://alieward.com/ologies-sponsors" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sponsors of Ologies</a></p> <p><a href="https://alieward.com/ologies-extras" rel="noopener noreferrer">Transcripts and bleeped episodes</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/ologies" rel="noopener noreferrer">Become a patron of Ologies</a> for as little as a buck a month</p> <p><a href="https://www.ologiesmerch.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">OlogiesMerch.com</a> has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!</p> <p>Follow Ologies on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ologies" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/ologies.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bluesky</a></p> <p>Follow Alie Ward on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alieward" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alie_ologies" rel="noopener noreferrer">TikTok</a></p> <p>Editing by Mercedes Maitland of <a href="http://maitlandaudio.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maitland Audio Productions</a> and <a href="https://www.jecmusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jake Chaffee</a></p> <p>Managing Director: Susan Hale</p> <p>Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth</p> <p>Transcripts by Aveline Malek </p> <p>Website by <a href="https://www.kellyrdwyer.com/photo" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kelly R. Dwyer</a></p> <p>Theme song by Nick Thorburn</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>