In this episode of Frontiers in Health and Happiness, host Ayla Fudala speaks with Richard Weissbourd, senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and director of the Making Caring Common Project, about what it means to raise caring, moral, and thriving children in today’s world.

Weissbourd explains why moral development is not just about beliefs, but about capacities like empathy, perspective-taking, justice, and caring for people beyond our immediate circles. He discusses how parents and schools can help children develop these capacities, why achievement and happiness often crowd out caring, and how an over-focus on children’s moment-to-moment emotions can unintentionally undermine their well-being.

The conversation also explores Making Caring Common’s work with families and schools, the Turning the Tide initiative to reform college admissions, the impact of social media and public life on children’s moral growth, and why caring for others is essential not only for children’s happiness, but for the health of our communities and democracy.

Resources related to Richard Weissbourd's work:

• Making Caring Common Project: https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/
• Resources for families: https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families
• Resources for educators: https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-educators
• Turning the Tide / college admissions work: https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-colleges

Stay connected with the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness:

• Website: https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/health-happiness/
• Newsletter: https://harvard.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=35add2adf1&u=3ea9a13653576b4d74c77a0dc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/harvard-chan-health-happiness
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harvardchan_healthhappiness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarvardCenterHealthHappiness/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ095u5aSCFD8Wv0zxcGs5A

What if the path to a happier, healthier life starts with a simple act of kindness? In this episode of Frontiers in Health and Happiness, social psychologist Dr. Sara Konrath—one of the world’s leading researchers on empathy and generosity—explores the surprising science behind giving. Drawing on decades of research and insights from the 2025 World Happiness Report, she explains how generosity can boost mental well-being, strengthen relationships, reduce stress, and even contribute to longer life. She also shares why many people underestimate the benefits of giving, and why helping others often brings more lasting happiness than spending money on ourselves.

Dr. Konrath answers questions such as: What’s the difference between healthy and unhealthy empathy? Are there economic benefits to kindness? Do younger and older people benefit from generosity in different ways? And how can we give sustainably without sacrificing our own well-being? Along the way, she offers practical strategies for cultivating empathy in everyday life, introduces the “three Cs” of sustainable giving, and shares the personal experiences that inspired her life’s work. Whether you're looking to deepen your relationships, improve your well-being, or make a greater difference in the lives of others, this conversation offers powerful, evidence-based insights into the transformative impact of empathy and generosity.