Tim Phillips Show,9/1/26
6:10
We all want to be happy and where you live can have a big impact on that. Some people thrive with 300 days of sunshine a year and would be miserable in the rainy Northwest, while others want to be somewhere with plenty of cultural events and nightlife, so quiet country living isn’t for them. While the things that make us happy aren’t the same for everyone, a new study ranks the happiest states in the country.
The research from Manhattan Mental Health Counseling looks at factors including work-life balance, economic stability, health, environment, and safety as predictors of overall happiness and well-being.
States were rated on 20 metrics, including their physical activity rate, violent crime rates, depression rates and income-to-cost-of-living ratio.
After comparing all of that, Utah tops the list as the happiest state in the U.S.
It stands out for affordability and community connection, with high scores for its income-to-cost ratio and high volunteer rate.
Nebraska lands at number two, thanks in part to a low unemployment rate and high scores for mental health.
At the bottom of the list is Louisiana, making it the least happy state overall. It ranks near the bottom for leisure time, poverty, sleep, physical activity and violent crime, and residents there work the longest average hours in the country.
West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky complete the bottom five.
The Top 10 Happiest States in the U.S.
Utah
Nebraska
Vermont
Minnesota
Idaho
North Dakota
South Dakota
Iowa
Wyoming
Colorado⠀
Source: NY Post - Montana is #13
6:30
Two For Tuesday -
7:15
Top 10 Most-Searched Slang Terms ... According to a new survey by Word Unscrambler
- “6-7” — A mostly meaningless sequence tied to Gen Alpha humor that generated more than 1.6 million Google searches from January through August 2026.
- “Chud” — A loser, with roots in the 1984 movie “C.H.U.D.”
- “Rizz” — Short for charisma, meaning charm, smoothness, style or attractiveness.
- “Gooning” — In its PG usage, becoming completely absorbed in an activity.
- “Cap” — A lie or major exaggeration, while “no cap” signals honesty.
- “Mog” — To outshine or outperform someone.
- “Bop” — A catchy song
- “Larping” — Fantasy role-playing or pretending to be someone else.
- “Aura” — Coolness, style and swagger, with imaginary “aura points” measuring coolness.
- “Sigma” — A self-assured, independent and driven person portrayed as a lone wolf.
