Happy Enough
Happy Enough is a podcast from The Globe and Mail that explores the concept of happiness in a world filled with stress, bleak news, and burnout. Host Garvia Bailey speaks with experts and real people each week to demystify the pursuit of happiness, examining topics like technology's impact and whether money can buy happiness. The show offers practical tips for listeners to implement in their own lives.
Episodes
Why do we feel so much better around animals?
The bond between humans and animals reaches beyond companionship. It can shape how we feel, connect and find meaning in our lives.In this episode, Garvia speaks with Colleen Dell, a professor of sociology at the University of Saskatchewan and founder of the Positive Connections Lab, about what makes the human-animal connection so powerful, how it affects our wellbeing, and what these relationships
People-pleasing: Why do we keep saying yes when we want to say no?
People-pleasing means putting everyone else’s needs ahead of your own. It can look like kindness, but it can gradually take a toll on our well-being. On this episode of Happy Enough, we explore why so many of us learn these behaviours in a bid for belonging.Garvia is joined by Zainib Abdullah, a psychotherapist and founder of Wellnest, an Ontario-based therapy clinic. Together, they discuss where
Volunteering makes us happier. So why are fewer Canadians doing it?
Studies suggest that volunteering can make us happier, healthier, and more connected to our communities. So why are fewer of us doing it? The share of Canadians who volunteered for an organization fell from 41% in 2018 to 32% in 2023. Over the same period, annual volunteer hours dropped to 1.2 billion from 1.7 billion, according to Statistics Canada.On this episode, Garvia speaks with Megan Conway
Do we need sex to be happy?
From relationship advice to popular culture, sex is often treated as a vital ingredient in a happy, healthy life. But how much does it really matter? Garvia Bailey speaks with Amy Muise, a psychology professor and director of York University’s Sexual Health and Relationships Lab. They explore why the relationship between sexual frequency and happiness isn’t as simple as “more sex equals bette
Can being happier help us save the planet?
After a summer of heatwaves and wildfires, thinking about the climate can be downright depressing. But what if the choices that make us happier could also help save the planet?In this episode, Garvia speaks with Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, a University of British Columbia psychology professor, happiness researcher, and co-author of Leave the Lights On: How Joyful Decisions Can Save Our Species.Dr. Dunn ex
Coming soon: Happy Enough, season five
Garvia Bailey returns to host season five of Happy Enough, a podcast from The Globe and Mail podcast about happiness—and why it matters in an age of stress and bad news. This season, we’ll explore how happiness can benefit the climate, why volunteering brings us joy and whether humans really need sex to be happy. Season five of Happy Enough launches September 23. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz c
What do the happiest cities in the world have in common?
As of 2021, roughly 72 percent of Canadians lived in cities with populations of more than 100,000 — and that number continues to climb. Yet urban life comes with trade-offs: costly housing, less space, gridlock, poor air quality and relentless noise. Which prompts the question: Is city living at odds with our happiness?
This week on Happy Enough, Garvia speaks with Houssam Elokda, a community pla
Why you should add laughing to your to-do list
“Laughter is the best medicine” isn’t a cliché—it’s biology. Research finds that laughter increases your endorphins, activates and calms your stress response system, improves your immune system, and, critically, connects you with the people you love. But these days, it can feel hard to overcome the bad news and find time for a good chuckle.
To dig into why laughter matters—and why we should make
Can letting go of ambition make you happier?
In our society, ambition is viewed as a good thing. A force to be reckoned with, a badge of hard work and dedication. But does ambition come at the cost of happiness? It can leave us wanting more, never stopping to consider what “enough” even is. What if leaning into “good enough” is the secret to true happiness?
In this episode, Garvia sits down with Amil Niazi, writer, producer and author of Li
Why friendship is the most important relationship you're ignoring
As kids and young adults, friendship is front and centre. Then careers, marriages, and mortgages crowd it out — despite global research showing that friendship is one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing.
In this episode, Garvia speaks with Dr. Marisa Franco, psychologist, professor, and bestselling author of Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make–and Keep–Friends. She expla
Why fandom feels so good: Heated Rivalry’s happiness effect
Heated Rivalry, the Canadian-made, R-rated TV show about two hockey superstars who fall in love, was a breakout hit in late 2025 with more than 10 million viewers per episode. People who love the series, based on the hit books by author Rachel Reid, are finding great joy and delight in a show that seems to depict a far kinder and more empathetic world than the one we see every day.
On today’s epi
Beats, brains and life: How music shapes our happiness
You know that feeling when the music just hits? You’re on the treadmill at the gym, your song comes on, and you feel like you could run through a wall. You hum a lullaby to a screaming baby, and they suddenly calm down. You hear a track you haven’t listened to in years, and in a heartbeat, you’re 16 again.
Today on Happy Enough, we’re exploring the powerful connection between music and happiness
Coming Soon: Happy Enough, season four
Garvia Bailey is back hosting season four of Happy Enough, a Globe and Mail podcast on happiness – and why it matters – in an era of stress and bad news. This season, we’ll discuss how music affects our well-being, why the hit TV show Heated Rivalry sparked joy for millions of fans, and how smarter design can make our cities and communities feel happier. The new season of Happy Enough launches on
Why winter feels so bad – and what you can do about it
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, affects millions of people each year. But what causes it, who is most at risk, and is there anything you can do to avoid the winter blues? In this episode, Garvia talks with Dr. Raymond Lam, a psychiatrist and BC Leadership Chair in Depression Research at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Lam shares how daylight and weather can influence our mood, explain
Is your job making you miserable? How to know when it’s time to go
Work is a big part of our lives, and its effects often show up in our relationships, our health, and how we see ourselves. To explore how our jobs influence our happiness and well-being, Garvia talks with Jennifer Moss, a Canadian author and workplace well-being expert who wrote The Burnout Epidemic and Why Are We Here?. Together, they discuss why it’s getting harder to separate our work and perso
Are single people happier than those in relationships? It's complicated
We often hear that finding “the one” is the secret to happiness. But singledom is on the rise worldwide, leaving us to rethink what we know about coupling up. In today’s episode, we look at how both romantic relationships and being single affect our well-being. Garvia talks with Professor Yuthika Girme, a relationship and singlehood scientist who leads the Secure Research Lab at Simon Fraser Unive
Canadians are among the worst sleepers on Earth. What’s it doing to our well-being?
We know how significant sleep is to our physical and mental health, so why are so many of us struggling to achieve quality rest - and what is it doing to us? On today's episode, we delve into the intricate relationship between sleep and happiness. Garvia sits down with Dr. Michael Mak, a sleep medicine specialist and staff psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Dr. Mak discuss
Is resiliency personality or practice?
We’ve all heard the saying, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” But is it really true? In today’s episode, we explore resilience and how bouncing back from setbacks is a key to a happier life. To help us understand how we handle adversity, Garvia talks with Jenny Liu, Head of Scientific Development and Knowledge Mobilization at MacDonald Franklin OSI Research and Innovation Centre, which foc
Coming Soon: Happy Enough, season three
Garvia Bailey is back hosting season three of Happy Enough, a Globe and Mail podcast on happiness – and why it matters. This season, we’ll discuss how to cultivate resilience, how our romantic relationship status affects our well-being and why a good night’s sleep is one of the keys to the good life. Season three of Happy Enough launches on January 27th. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company.
The joy of feeling small: Why awe makes us happier
What happens when we stop rushing around and pause to take in the vastness of the world around us? In this episode of Happy Enough, we explore awe — the emotion that can make you feel surprisingly small, and, at the same time, happier. To break down the science behind awe and why it makes us feel better, Garvia speaks with Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the author of ‘A
The mood-boosting power of creativity
Creativity can improve our happiness, according to several research studies. It doesn’t have to be an all-consuming project, but a small daily dose of creativity, like journaling or painting, can improve our mental health. Garvia speaks with @Brittlestar, a comedian and social media personality, about how his daily creative practice improves his wellbeing through catharsis and connection. Hoste
Why does giving feel better than getting?
What makes you happier: giving someone $20 or spending it on yourself? The results might surprise you. In this episode, we discuss how giving and generosity affect happiness for individuals and for society as a whole. Garvia speaks with Lara Aknin, a distinguished professor at Simon Fraser University and an editor of the World Happiness Report. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.
Fired up: Why anger doesn’t need to be the enemy of happiness
Anger seems to be the collective vibe these days, whether we’re talking about politics, scrolling through social media or reading headlines. Outrage can be harmful or violent. But used correctly, experts say it can be a tool that leads to long-term happiness. Garvia speaks with Brett Ford, associate professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, about how we can manage our anger and, hopefu
Gut feeling: Can changes to your diet make you happier?
Everyone these days is talking about the microbiome, the trillions of bacteria that live in our gut and help regulate our physical health. But what about our happiness? Recent studies show how this gut-brain connection can directly affect our moods, our anxiety levels and our sense of well-being. Garvia speaks with Dr. Mary Sco, a Toronto-based family doctor with a PhD in nutritional sciences, abo
Are psychedelics a potential tool for improving mental health?
Psychedelics, substances like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms that cause altered states of consciousness, often remind people of hippies in the 1960s. But more researchers are looking into their potential benefits for our well-being. Scientists say psychedelics – which are illegal for recreational use in Canada – could have massive implications on how we treat and heal from major mental health disord
Coming soon: Happy Enough, season two
The Globe’s podcast about happiness is back for season two. Join host Garvia Bailey each week as she speaks with both experts and real people to demystify our pursuit of happiness. This season, we’ll dive into the latest research on psychedelics and mental health, how what you eat can affect your mood, and how feeling a bit of rage can actually be good for your happiness. Season two of Happy Enou
Canada is slipping in global happiness rankings. Should our policymakers care?
Tips to be happier often read like a self-help menu: make friends, meditate, spend time in nature. But governments are increasingly looking at happiness as a collective goal. There’s even a ‘World Happiness Report’ that ranks well-being across nations. A decade ago Canada ranked fifth in the report, but over the last 10 years has slipped to 18th. Garvia speaks with Felix Cheung, who worked as a re
Can money buy you happiness?
For decades, economists have studied the question of whether getting richer makes you happier – and exactly how much money tips the scales. In the world happiness rankings, richer societies tend to fare better than poorer ones, and within societies richer people do, in fact, report being happier. However surprising new research reveals that people in non-industrialized communities are just as sati
Why you (yes you, the skeptic) should try meditation
Meditation, a practice that can calm your mind, has been around for thousands of years. Science shows it can help people feel happier. Yet many people feel resistant to meditation – like it’s not for them, or that they don’t have the time for it. Garvia speaks with Jeff Warren, a meditation teacher and practitioner who writes the daily meditations on the Calm app. They discuss how Jeff got into me
What can we learn from some of the happiest people in Canada?
This week, Garvia gets some crowd-sourced wisdom from people nominated by loved ones as ‘the happiest people in Canada’ for a recent Globe and Mail feature. They live across the country, in cities and rural areas. They include toddlers and seniors, men and women, and people who have been through extremely hard times. She speaks with Erin Anderssen, The Globe and Mail’s happiness reporter, about th
Hey Siri, make me happy: Why your relationship with tech is probably not working
Most of us need technology for work and for play. The internet and our phones can help us maintain our social connections – and we know those are key to happiness. But many people are addicted to these tools in a way that’s decidedly not making us happier. Mindless scrolling, constant comparisons and the avalanche of bad news can leave us feeling numb, disconnected and anxious. So how do we strike
What is happiness, anyway?
Happiness. We all know what it feels like, but it can be tricky to define. In the first episode of Happy Enough, we’re looking to get on the same page. What is happiness, anyway? Garvia speaks with Bruce Hood, professor of developmental psychology at the University of Bristol, and author of the new book ‘The Science of Happiness’. They discuss the definition of happiness, how people can learn to
Coming soon: Happy Enough, a new podcast about happiness
Happiness. We all know what it feels like, but it can seem elusive in our world of constant stress, bleak news and burnout. In Happy Enough, a new podcast from The Globe and Mail, we explore what it truly means to be happy – and why it matters. Join host Garvia Bailey each week as she speaks with both experts and real people to demystify our pursuit of happiness. From our relationship with technol
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