AFH Podcast 1: Living Danishly with Helen Russell

We kick off the new Podcast for Happiness series with a wonderful interview with Helen Russell. Helen, is the author of 'The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country.  I just finished listening to it on audiobook and it tells the story of her reluctant move from the UK, following her husband and his new job to Denmark. The book details Helen's mission to figure out the their secrets of Happiness.  Helen has written for the Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independant, The Daily Mail and Marie Claire among others.  

4:22 Helen talks about 'arriving somewhere new and having no friends, no family, no support network and not really any purpose' 

9:28 'There is something about making your home environment beautiful that contributes to happiness'

10:53 'There is not bad weather, there is just bad clothing  

 13:10 We break down Maslow's Hierarchy of needs -  this is a must know chart to learn about life

15:29 'If you're worried about keeping a roof over your head, and keeping food on your table, then you don't have the head space to be happy

21:30 the biological Danish advantages and 5HTT (the serotonin transporter, associated with happiness and wellbeing) 

24:10 Lego to manufacture its blocks using sustainable materials 

26:10 How Helen was introduced to the Action for Happiness group

30:40 The benefits of singing, alone and in a group - community

 

Order the book, The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country, through Amazon.com by clicking here

Twitter: @mshelenrussell

facaebook parge the yearofliving danishly 

Check out the action for happiness website (actionforhappiness.org)for more details about the great work they are doing, find out more about the events they hosting, notably the big one in september, where his holiness the dalai lama will be speaking at the event.  He will be promoting his new book, where he does acknowledge action for happiness for the great work they do.  you can also visit their donation page there and help to support this amazing charity, where our co founder Lord Richard Leyard is pioneering happiness as a metric to be considered when calculation the 'wealth of a country'