Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Welcome to The Quest Pod Season 1: Episode 17 with Dan Harris: the ABC News anchor talks about panic attacks and the renaissance of individual happiness.
Could you imagine what it would be like to suffer a panic attack in front of five million people on live television? Journalist, author, and co-founder of Ten Percent Happier, Dan Harris, was subjected to this terrifying experience as a news anchor on Good Morning America. Since this ordeal, he has embarked on a mission to encourage us to ask an important question: what is happiness, and how can we work towards it?
I've been following Dan's journey for a long time. His work really resonates with me and I have applied a lot of similar ideas in my own journey to happiness, specifically his advocacy for meditation, exercise, and developing healthy social habits to increase mindfulness.
We dive deep into Buddhist concepts, the dangers of extrinsic comparison, the Hedonic Treadmill, rescuing the idea of ‘love’, and dealing with depression and anxiety. Despite a world of growing excess, we often still feel like we are missing something. Dan’s mission of encouraging more people to seriously consider happiness is something we need now more than ever.
*Due to tech issues, this episode is audio-only.
00:00 Intro
00:50 ‘Hotel Regina, that’s how I’m gonna roll’
05:48 Becoming a journalist at ABC News
09:17 Happier, or bigger expectations?
12:12 Cocaine, panic attacks and self-help
17:37 Motivations, meditation and the Awakening
32:25 Dan’s experience with psychedelics
34:56 Love no matter what
39:05 Being a founder (Ten Percent Happier)
41:35 Quest Fellow (Trici)
48:46 Key lessons and takeaways
THE QUEST POD:
🎧 Join Twitch co-founder, Justin Kan (aka your favorite founder's favorite founder), on a quest to discover the human stories behind icons in tech, business, sports, music, and beyond. Let’s F**king Grow.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE QUEST MEDIA ► @FractalRadio
SUBSCRIBE TO MY ADVICE AND LIFE STORIES ► @JustinKanTV
LISTEN TO THE QUEST POD ON APPLE POD/SPOTIFY:
🔴 Apple: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-quest-with-justin-kan/id1533022759
🟢 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7zLH9PYMRqjkvfgjGa4iHo
FOLLOW ME ON:
🕊Twitter: twitter.com/justinkan
📂 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justinkan
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/justinkan
🤳 TikTok: tiktok.com/@justinkan
READ ABOUT THE QUEST POD IN PRINT:
👉 https://thequest.media
#TenPercentHappier #TheQuestPod #JustinKan
Welcome to The Quest Pod Season 1: Episode 17 with Dan Harris: the ABC News anchor talks about panic attacks and the renaissance of individual happiness.
Could you imagine what it would be like to suffer a panic attack in front of five million people on live television? Journalist, author, and co-founder of Ten Percent Happier, Dan Harris, was subjected to this terrifying experience as a news anchor on Good Morning America. Since this ordeal, he has embarked on a mission to encourage us to ask an important question: what is happiness, and how can we work towards it?
I've been following Dan's journey for a long time. His work really resonates with me and I have applied a lot of similar ideas in my own journey to happiness, specifically his advocacy for meditation, exercise, and developing healthy social habits to increase mindfulness.
We dive deep into Buddhist concepts, the dangers of extrinsic comparison, the Hedonic Treadmill, rescuing the idea of ‘love’, and dealing with depression and anxiety. Despite a world of growing excess, we often still feel like we are missing something. Dan’s mission of encouraging more people to seriously consider happiness is something we need now more than ever.
*Due to tech issues, this episode is audio-only.
00:00 Intro
00:50 ‘Hotel Regina, that’s how I’m gonna roll’
05:48 Becoming a journalist at ABC News
09:17 Happier, or bigger expectations?
12:12 Cocaine, panic attacks and self-help
17:37 Motivations, meditation and the Awakening
32:25 Dan’s experience with psychedelics
34:56 Love no matter what
39:05 Being a founder (Ten Percent Happier)
41:35 Quest Fellow (Trici)
48:46 Key lessons and takeaways
THE QUEST POD:
🎧 Join Twitch co-founder, Justin Kan (aka your favorite founder's favorite founder), on a quest to discover the human stories behind icons in tech, business, sports, music, and beyond. Let’s F**king Grow.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE QUEST MEDIA ► @FractalRadio
SUBSCRIBE TO MY ADVICE AND LIFE STORIES ► @JustinKanTV
LISTEN TO THE QUEST POD ON APPLE POD/SPOTIFY:
🔴 Apple: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-quest-with-justin-kan/id1533022759
🟢 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7zLH9PYMRqjkvfgjGa4iHo
FOLLOW ME ON:
🕊Twitter: twitter.com/justinkan
📂 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justinkan
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/justinkan
🤳 TikTok: tiktok.com/@justinkan
READ ABOUT THE QUEST POD IN PRINT:
👉 https://thequest.media
#TenPercentHappier #TheQuestPod #JustinKan
