The Midlife Chrysalis7 Nov 2025

The Science of Awe: Rediscover Wonder with Dacher Keltner

What if awe was the secret ingredient to happiness? 🌿 In this episode, I sit down with UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner to explore how awe, compassion, and moral beauty can transform the way we live and age. We dive into the science of wonder — from the power of collective joy to how simple “awe walks” can boost your health, purpose, and connection.

✨ Join us as we uncover why we’re truly born to be good and how awe might just be the key to midlife renewal.

🎧 Tune in for the full conversation and get inspired to see life with fresh eyes.

Timestamps:

00:00 Chip welcomes Dacher and reflects on their friendship

00:18 Why people smile when they talk about Dacher

01:06 How early experiences shaped his empathy

03:32 Journey into psychology and emotion science

06:42 Discovering emotion in the human face

07:31 Writing Born to Be Good and redefining human nature

09:42 Science of compassion, gratitude, and kindness

13:15 How the study of awe began

14:17 What awe is and how it feels

18:24 Collecting awe stories from around the world

20:33 The eight wonders of awe

21:00 Collective effervescence and shared joy

23:44 Synchronizing with others through movement and emotion

25:01 How screens disrupt human connection

27:00 Moral beauty and the power of witnessing goodness

31:32 Moral beauty within community and everyday life

32:39 Awe and moral beauty in midlife

36:33 The Awe Walk study and its health benefits

39:47 Finding awe in daily moments

41:25 Inside Dacher’s “Cultivating Awe” workshop

43:51 Practicing awe through grief and gratitude

45:09 Wisdom bumper sticker: seeing hidden beauty in people

47:35 Love (agape) as the essence of awe

49:10 Closing reflections and gratitude

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

#awe #DacherKeltner #ChipConley #MidlifeChrysalis #CultivatingAwe #BornToBeGood #MoralBeauty #CollectiveEffervescence #ScienceOfAwe #HumanConnection #Mindfulness #EmotionalIntelligence #MidlifeWisdom #GratitudePractice #FindingPurpose

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