10% Happier with Dan Harris

Dan Harris had a panic attack on live television in front of five million viewers, and that moment sent him on a journey into meditation that he initially approached with deep skepticism. That skepticism is what makes this podcast so good. Harris calls it "self-help for smart people," and he means it. He's not going to ask you to light incense or align your chakras. He's going to bring on neuroscientists and meditation teachers and ask them hard questions. The show has been running since 2016 and has racked up over 1,100 episodes. It sits at 4.6 stars with more than 12,000 ratings. Harris was an ABC News correspondent for years, and his journalistic instincts make him a sharp interviewer. He pushes back on vague claims, asks for evidence, and isn't afraid to say when something sounds like nonsense. But he's also genuinely open to being convinced, which keeps the conversations from feeling combative. Episodes drop twice a week, and the format varies. Some weeks you get a deep interview with a Buddhist teacher or a psychologist studying compassion. Other weeks feature guided meditation practices or live listener Q&As. Harris brings a dry humor that makes even heavy topics approachable. His whole premise is refreshingly modest: meditation won't fix everything, but it might make you about 10% happier. And that might be enough.