Unhappy - Season 1

First aired: 10/13/2023 26 episodes

Episodes

1. The Time of Your Life

Aired: 10/13/2023

How can we live a happy life? And should we be pleased that our lives are short? Ronja von Rönne investigates the philosophy of happiness by meeting Jean-Remy von Matt, a major figure in German advertising and Sister Katharine, who left her job in finance to become a nun.

2. Does Money Make Us Happy?

Aired: 10/20/2023

It's the eternal question: Does money really make us happy? To find out, Ronja von Rönne meets two people who have achieved financial success in different ways: Fedor Holz, once the best poker player in the world, became a millionaire in his early twenties. Jasmin Taylor earned a lot of money with a travel agency, but she was rarely truly happy during the hard work.

3. The Promise of Beauty

Aired: 10/28/2023

Can beauty make us happier? If people beautiful people have more career opportunities, are they happier as a result? And what is the real power of beauty? A philosophical exploration hosted by Ronja von Rönne.

4. Happiness and Food

Aired: 11/3/2023

Why can food make us so happy? Could a nutrient for happiness exist? Ronja von Rönne meets two people for whom the art of cooking and the love of food are the key to happiness: French artist Johanna Dumet paints modern still lifes and Nada Abouelsaad organises big cooking evenings.

5. Happiness and Habitat

Aired: 11/18/2023

We come into the world naked and homeless. What criteria must our homes meet for us to be happy? Are we even evolutionarily adapted to city life? Or should we return to the countryside? Ronja von Rönne searches for answers and meets two people whose housing concepts represent completely contrasting strategies for happiness.

6. Happiness and Health

Aired: 11/25/2023

Are we happier when we live a healthy life? Or does being happy make us healthy? To find out, Ronja von Rönne meets biohacker Andreas Breitfeld and international DJ Ellen Allien.

7. Running and Hiking

Aired: 12/1/2023

Ronja von Rönne interviews two people whose lives have been transformed by walking or running. What effects do these activities have on our mental health?

8. Of Men and Horses

Aired: 12/2/2023

Can regular contact with animals make us happier? Ronja von Rönne meets two people who are passionate about animals.

9. Happiness and Creativity

Aired: 12/8/2023

Ronja von Rönne dismisses the myth of the suffering artist. Under what conditions can creativity make us happy? Stefan Sagmeister, one of the world's most sought-after designers, seems to effortlessly produce creative ideas, and has been doing so for decades. Werner Mang, on the other hand, works quite differently in his beauty clinic on Lake Constance...

10. Happiness and Friendship

Aired: 12/15/2023

What characterises friendships? And how can these relationships be nurtured? Focus on our chosen families with Ronja von Rönne, who talks to a range of personalities about their friendships.

11. The Dream Job

Aired: 12/16/2023

Work is such an important part of our lives that it seems essential to choose the right career. But how should we know which job to choose? And do dream jobs really make us happy? Ronja von Rönne investigates.

12. A Good Relationship

Aired: 12/22/2023

What is the secret of a good relationship? Ronja von Rönne meets Anna König and Paul Hoepner, who are in an open relationship and Kalle and Annett Wulf, who have been monogamous for years. How have they managed to preserve their love and build a happy life together?

13. Community and Solitude

Aired: 12/23/2023

Ronja von Rönne sets off in search of happiness amongst other people. With a rowing club, she experiences the power of togetherness and meets older people that want to live in a flatshare to combat loneliness. is happiness all about social contact?

14. Fearless Fashion

Aired: 12/29/2023

What am I going to wear? What impression do I want to leave? And what's my style? Ronja von Rönne wants to feel comfortable and confident in her clothes. She seeks out help from Max Mogg, a designer of made-to-measure English suits, and Leyre Lasierra Viguri, a surgeon who likes colourful and glamorous attire.

15. Happy on Holiday?

Aired: 12/30/2023

How do you create a perfect vacation that leaves you feeling completely relaxed and happy? Ronja von Rönne meets former flight attendant Friederike Sandow and Johannes Bannert, head concierge at a luxury hotel in Berlin. He works as a professional wish-fulfiller, ensuring his guests have a carefree day. From him, Ronja learns what makes a great city break.

16. The Art of a Good Night's Sleep

Aired: 1/5/2024

How do we find healthy, restful sleep? Ronja von Rönne meets Kay von Chamier at the Berlin-Köpenick fire station to discuss night shifts and working on shifts. She also talks with writer Bregje Hofstede and other scientists and philosophers about insomnia and how to stop the nightly mental chatter.

17. The Midlife Crisis

Aired: 4/14/2025

Many people experience their forties and fifties as a difficult time where they reappraise what is important in their lives. But how can we approach these crisis years and get through them unscathed?

18. A Good Separation

Aired: 4/14/2025

Is it best to separate when a relationship is not going well? Ronja von Rönne meets break up coach Thomas Mayer to talk about relationships and heartache. What is important when you want to break up? Jana Polasek and Elmar Goerden managed to work through their separation so well that they are now back together - and help other couples through crises. What have they learnt from this process?

19. Happiness in Nature

Aired: 4/14/2025

Why does nature have such a positive effect on our well-being? Ronja von Rönne meets nature therapist Olivia Köhler, who offers retreats to bring people back to nature and back to themselves. The adventurer Sylvestre Campe is drawn to the extreme places of this world. What happiness does he find in the wild?

20. Parenthood

Aired: 4/14/2025

Is parenthood the key to happiness? How do mothers and fathers find the balance between their own needs and those of their child? Ronja von Rönne meets single mother Luise Haunit and Tillmann Prüfer, who has written a book about being a father with a full-time job. How do you manage to juggle family and career without burning out?

21. An Ordered Life

Aired: 4/14/2025

Is it possible to find happiness by living in an ordered life? Does tidying up make you feel good? Ronja von Rönne interviews Saralisa Volm, film-maker and mother of 4 as well as photographer and yoga teacher Vilas Turske, for whom minimalism is synonymous with clear thinking and inner peace.

22. Happiness and Self Confidence

Aired: 1/1/2026

Whether at work or on a date - self-confidence makes many things easier. Ronja von Rönne meets people who have overcome their insecurities: Anaesthetist and comedian Anissa Loucif regularly performs in front of large audiences, while karate coach Jörg Kohl shows how physical training and good role models promote inner strength. How can you build self-confidence and deal better with insecurities?

23. Our Parents and Siblings

Aired: 1/1/2026

For many, family means love and cohesion but can also be a source of tension and conflict. Ronja von Rönne explores the question of how to find a good relationship with parents and siblings. She meets people such as entrepreneur Maria Kauffmann and author Volker Kitz and asks experts to explain how to manage closeness, boundaries and responsibility.

24. Having Good Sex

Aired: 1/1/2026

In our hectic modern times, sex can sometimes lose out to work deadlines and binge-watching. How can we have better and more fulfilling sex? Ronja von Rönne meets couples and singles who have rediscovered their desire and experts who explain how we can consciously shape our own sexuality.

25. The Good Argument

Aired: 1/1/2026

Having a fight can be painful, but it can also clear the air, resolve underlying issues, and strengthen relationships. But how can we argue better and more productively? Ronje von Rönne explores how to manage conflicts with musician Andrzej Profus and journalist Hasnain Kazim.

26. The Joy of Growing OId

Aired: 1/1/2026

How can we age well? Ronja von Rönne trys to find out by talking to chimney sweep Norbert Skrobek, who is close to retirement and Monika Gutte who defies age with a zest for life. Experts explain how careful planning can help make retirement happy.