Stephanie Harrison & New Happy Book (Episode 16)

Send us Fan MailThe science of happiness has a lot to say about nature. And it's not just that being outside is nice — it's that we were never meant to be separate from it.Old Happy teaches us that we are separate from the world around us — that the self is the center of everything. New Happy says the opposite: we are a part of nature, not above it. And when you operate from that understanding — when you step outside, notice what's around you, feel small among tall trees — something shifts. Measurably.Stephanie Harrison, creator of The New Happy philosophy and author of New Happy, joins The Parks Podcast to make the scientific case for why the outdoors is one of the most powerful on-ramps to a happier life.In this episode: — What New Happy is — and why Old Happy has been making us miserable — Why the belief that we are separate from nature is at the root of so many of our problems — The research on nature and wellbeing — decreased depression, decreased anxiety, better connection, greater self-esteem — Why feeling small among tall trees is one of the best things you can do for your mental health — The five things you can do right now to move toward a happier life — How parks serve as a safe space to try new things, rediscover play, be away from screens, and reconnect — The New Happy book — 10 years of research, 60 pieces of original artwork, hundreds of scientific referencesResources mentioned: — New Happy: thenewhappy.com — Follow: @NewHappyCo — Book: newhappybook.com — The Nature Fix by Florence WilliamsSupport the show