How did a man who fled New York City find himself in the Badlands? And what does it actually take to do it yourself? Happiness scientist and bestselling author Dr. Arthur C. Brooks walks us through 3 important lessons in finding happiness, each drawn from Theodore Roosevelt’s life. He makes the case that TR had the science of a good life figured out a century before Harvard researchers did. And he brings the same wit and energy to this stage that’s made him one of the most sought-after speakers on happiness in the country. Robbie Lauf, executive director of the TRPL, also joins him, and the conversation opens up into faith, genetics, ambition, and what it means not just to be happy but to be fully alive. Arthur Brooks is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of human happiness, appearing in the media and traveling the world to teach people in private companies, universities, public agencies, and faith communities how they can live happier lives and bring greater well-being to others. Brooks is a professor at Vanderbilt University and a senior fellow at the Harvard Business School. He is a CBS News contributor, columnist with The Free Press, and host of the weekly podcast “Office Hours with Arthur Brooks.” This episode is part of a special 6-part series, recorded live from the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library during its Founding Benefactors Days, July 2-3, 2026, just ahead of the grand opening. Interviews, talks, and panel discussions explored the topics of leadership, conservation, civic life, and Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy today.
How did a man who fled New York City find himself in the Badlands? And what does it actually take to do it yourself? Happiness scientist and bestselling author Dr. Arthur C. Brooks walks us through 3 important lessons in finding happiness, each drawn from Theodore Roosevelt’s life. He makes the case that TR had the science of a good life figured out a century before Harvard researchers did. And he brings the same wit and energy to this stage that’s made him one of the most sought-after speakers on happiness in the country.
Robbie Lauf, executive director of the TRPL, also joins him, and the conversation opens up into faith, genetics, ambition, and what it means not just to be happy but to be fully alive.
Arthur Brooks is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of human happiness, appearing in the media and traveling the world to teach people in private companies, universities, public agencies, and faith communities how they can live happier lives and bring greater well-being to others. Brooks is a professor at Vanderbilt University and a senior fellow at the Harvard Business School. He is a CBS News contributor, columnist with The Free Press, and host of the weekly podcast “Office Hours with Arthur Brooks.”
This episode is part of a special 6-part series, recorded live from the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library during its Founding Benefactors Days, July 2-3, 2026, just ahead of the grand opening. Interviews, talks, and panel discussions explored the topics of leadership, conservation, civic life, and Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy today.
Find more media from the TRPL’s Grand Opening at TRLibrary.com/video.
For more from the podcast, visit goodcitizenpodcast.com.
Follow us on Facebook @TRPresidentialLibrary
Instagram @trlibrary
And sign up for our newsletter at trlibrary.com/newsletter to stay up-to-date on the TRPL!
--
Good Citizen is hosted by Ted Roosevelt V and produced by The Future of StoryTelling in collaboration with Charts & Leisure, on behalf of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. Learn more about T.R.’s presidential library at www.trlibrary.com.
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation
350 Third Avenue
Medora, North Dakota 58645
Future of StoryTelling
Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher
Director, Carolyn Merriman
Producer, Alison Byrne
Assistant Producer, Madison Brown
Production Assistant, Tsuki Carlson
Charts & Leisure
Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer
Producer, Meghal Janardan
Editor, Garrett Crowe
Mix, Andrew Atkin
Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli
With special thanks to Regina D'Alesio, Stephanie Condello, Meg Freshwater, Zineb Benchekchou, Edward F. O’Keefe, Robbie Lauf, Courtland Miller, and Matt Briney.