In Pursuit of Happiness

In Pursuit of Happiness

The Atlantic’s In Pursuit of Happiness event returns in the spring of 2022 to help people build more intentional and happy lives. Watch our inaugural In Pursuit of Happiness event from 2021 on this site.

What does it take to be happy?

America’s founding document states that the pursuit of happiness is an unalienable right. But this question has preoccupied philosophers, fascinated scientists, inspired artists, launched an enormous self-help industry—and continues to elude many of us.

The Atlantic hosted a live event that explored the human hold on happiness—and aimed to find ways to build a more meaningful life. The event considered happiness and relationships; the role of spirituality; how social media and other technology are affecting our happiness; and the ways in which a year of social isolation has reframed our understanding of a lasting sense of joy.

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  • Ellen Cushing

    Special projects editor, The Atlantic

    Twitter
  • Angela Duckworth

    Founder and CEO, Character Lab

    Twitter
  • Jordan Fisher

    and the Global Company of Dear Evan Hansen

    Twitter
  • Jeffrey Goldberg

    Editor in chief, The Atlantic

    Twitter
  • Julianna Goldman

    Founder, MamaDen

    Twitter
  • Gerald C. Grant, Jr.

    President, G Financial Group / Equitable Advisors

    Underwriter Session

  • Emma Green

    Staff writer, The Atlantic

    Twitter
  • James Hamblin

    Staff writer, The Atlantic

    Twitter
  • Dan Harris

    Co-anchor, weekend edition, Good Morning America, and author, Ten Percent Happier

    Twitter
  • Dustin Isom

    Instructor, barre3

  • Tracie Jenkins

    Executive Director, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation

  • Kate Julian

    Senior editor, The Atlantic

    Twitter
  • Sadie Lincoln

    Co-founder and CEO, barre3

    Twitter
  • Alexis Madrigal

    Contributing writer, The Atlantic

    Twitter
  • Thomas Mingone

    Founder and Managing Partner, Capital Management Group / Equitable Advisors

    Underwriter Session

  • Candace Montgomery

    General Manager, AtlanticLIVE and Senior Vice President, The Atlantic

  • Brian Offutt

    Board of Directors Chairman, Project Healthy Minds

    Twitter
  • Amit Paley

    CEO and Executive Director, The Trevor Project

    Twitter
  • Evelyn Lewis Prieto

    Director of Meditation, Mindfulness Teacher, Headspace

  • Rebecca J. Rosen

    Senior editor, The Atlantic

  • Laurie Santos

    Professor of psychology, Yale University and podcast host, The Happiness Lab

    Twitter
  • Susan Saulny

    Contributor, AtlanticLIVE

  • Alison Stewart

    Contributor, AtlanticLIVE, and WNYC host, “All of It”

    Twitter
  • Jean Twenge

    Professor of psychology, San Diego State University, and author, iGen

    Twitter
  • Molly Reese Ward

    Founder, Well Lived Wealth / Equitable Advisors

    Underwriter Session

  • Connie Weaver

    Chief Marketing Officer, Equitable

    Underwriter Session

  • Jazmin Williams

    Financial Professional, Equitable Advisors

    Underwriter Session

AgendaMay 20

8:30 am EDT

Lobby Opens

Virtual / In-Person
9:30 am EDT

Breakfast and Barre

Virtual / In-Person
11:00 am EDT

OPENING FORUM: What Is Happiness?

Virtual / In-Person

The Science of Happiness

Virtual / In-Person

Stepping Stones to Happiness

Virtual / In-Person

Equitable Presents: Emerging Happier from the Pandemic: Client Stories by Equitable Advisors

Virtual / In-Person

A Message from the Dalai Lama

Virtual / In-Person

Exploring The Four Tendencies

Virtual / In-Person
12:20 pm EDT

Breakout - Networking

Virtual / In-Person
12:20 pm EDT

Breakout - Headspace Guided Meditation

Virtual / In-Person
12:20 pm EDT

Breakout - “Dear Therapist” LIVE

Virtual / In-Person
1:30 pm EDT

AFTERNOON FORUM: Roadblocks to Happiness

Virtual / In-Person

Revisiting “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”

Virtual / In-Person

A Message from the Dalai Lama

Virtual / In-Person

How Our Story Shapes our Future

Virtual / In-Person

Breaking the Silence on the Struggle

Virtual / In-Person

Navigating Loneliness Amid a Pandemic

Virtual / In-Person
2:45 pm EDT

Breakout - Networking

Virtual / In-Person
2:45 pm EDT

Breakout - Netflix Screening: Headspace Guide to Sleep

Virtual / In-Person
2:45 pm EDT

Breakout - “How to Build A Life” LIVE

Virtual / In-Person
3:30 pm EDT

CLOSING FORUM: The Tools to Find Happiness

Virtual / In-Person

“You Will Be Found”

Virtual / In-Person

Parenting Amid a Pandemic

Virtual / In-Person

How to Be Happier

Virtual / In-Person

A Message from the Dalai Lama

Virtual / In-Person

The Role of Faith

Virtual / In-Person

Letting Happiness Find You

Virtual / In-Person
4:45 pm EDT

What We Learned

Virtual / In-Person

Event Details

Virtual Event

Thursday, May 20, 2021

11:00 am EDT

Sponsorship

Johanna Mayer-Jones

jmj@theatlantic.com

Audience

Audience Engagement

events_audience@theatlantic.com

Speakers

Speaker Pitches

speakerpitches@theatlantic.com