Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Elizabeth Dunn and Jiaying Zhao are professors at the University of British Columbia, where they study social psychology and climate behavioral science, respectively. Together, they explore the intersection of human happiness and environmental action, challenging the traditional "guilt and shame" narratives that dominate climate communication. We talk about their new book: Leave the Lights On: How Joyful Decisions Can Save Our Species, which explores how you can address climate change by taking actions that make you feel happy. We see how reframing environmental choices around joy can create a more effective, contagious movement for behavior change.
For more, head to this episode's webpage: opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/happiness-as-a-tool-for-change-with-liz-dunn-and-jiaying-zhao
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Opinion Science is a psychology podcast exploring the science of our opinions, where they come from, and how we talk about them. Each episode, I talk to social scientists and professional communicators about how the work they do reveals key insights about public opinion and persuasion.
Follow this psychology podcast...
Website: opinionsciencepodcast.com
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/opinion-science/id1506227206
Elizabeth Dunn and Jiaying Zhao are professors at the University of British Columbia, where they study social psychology and climate behavioral science, respectively. Together, they explore the intersection of human happiness and environmental action, challenging the traditional "guilt and shame" narratives that dominate climate communication. We talk about their new book: Leave the Lights On: How Joyful Decisions Can Save Our Species, which explores how you can address climate change by taking actions that make you feel happy. We see how reframing environmental choices around joy can create a more effective, contagious movement for behavior change.
For more, head to this episode's webpage: opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/happiness-as-a-tool-for-change-with-liz-dunn-and-jiaying-zhao
==================
Opinion Science is a psychology podcast exploring the science of our opinions, where they come from, and how we talk about them. Each episode, I talk to social scientists and professional communicators about how the work they do reveals key insights about public opinion and persuasion.
Follow this psychology podcast...
Website: opinionsciencepodcast.com
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/opinion-science/id1506227206










