Dan Harris

Personal Life and Family Background

Born in 1971, Dan Harris is an American journalist raised in a highly educated family. His father, Dr. Jay R. Harris, is a prominent radiation oncologist who received a gold medal in 2007 from the American Society for Radiation Oncology. His mother, Dr. Nancy Lee Harris, is a pathologist affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. His brother works in the field of venture capital.

Harris married Dr. Bianca Harris, a pulmonologist, in 2009. The couple resides in New York and shares a love for animals—they have three cats. In his free time, Harris enjoys photography, often capturing daily moments ranging from his meals to candid shots of his pets.

Education and Career Journey

Dan Harris graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. With strong encouragement from his family, he pursued a career in journalism. He began his professional journey as a news anchor at WLBZ, the NBC affiliate in Bangor, Maine.

In 2000, Harris joined ABC News, where he quickly rose through the ranks. From 2006 to 2011, he served as an anchor for World News Sunday. He later became co-anchor for the weekend editions of Good Morning America in 2010 and of the late-night news program Nightline in 2013. Throughout his career, he has covered major global and national events, including Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, the Newtown school shooting, and multiple terrorist attacks. He also reported on the 2013 papal conclave in Vatican City that elected Pope Francis. He left ABC News in September 2021 to focus on his meditation venture, Ten Percent Happier.

Harris has appeared occasionally on Christian Broadcasting Network’s The 700 Club, demonstrating his versatility across various media platforms.

Overcoming Personal Challenges and Advocating Mental Health

In 2004, Dan Harris experienced a panic attack on live television during a segment on Good Morning America. Shortly afterward, he publicly acknowledged past struggles with drug use. Since then, he has been open about his journey toward mental wellness, emphasizing the role of meditation in his recovery and stress management.

He is a well-known advocate for mindfulness and authored the best-selling book 10% Happier (2014), which explores his personal experiences and encourages meditation as a tool for mental clarity. The book received wide acclaim from both critics and readers for its approachable tone and authenticity, and it reached No. 1 on The New York Times best-seller list. He also hosts the 10% Happier podcast.