Unhappy - Season 1 (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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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...

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

We are all familiar with fear and know how unpleasant it feels. Should we just accept it or is there a positive way to deal with fears? Ronja von Rönne visits Michelin-starred chef Max Strohe, who has learnt to overcome his panic attacks and fears of loss and failure. Mountain sportswoman Erika Dürr also confronts her fears when paragliding and mountaineering. Which anti-anxiety strategies have proven to be effective?

Life in the big city can be stressful and isolating, but the metropolis can also provide freedom, variety, and cultural sustenance. How can we navigate city life and lead a happy existence there?

Can faith and spirituality contribute to greater life satisfaction - even for notorious doubters like Ronja von Rönne? Eva Jung is the managing director of an advertising agency and a devout Christian. She finds support and orientation in religion. How did she find her way to faith? Paul Düren is a former mechanical engineer and Zen Buddhist. He has found happiness in daily meditation practice and spiritual experience - in techniques that are accessible to everyone and have a clear goal: liberation from unnecessary suffering.

Ronja von Rönne is searching for more sensuality in her everyday life: As a writer and an intellectual, she spends a lot of time in front of screens – like many others. Yet Ronja loves the scent of freshly laundered clothes or the feeling of walking barefoot through a meadow. What strategies can she use to bring more sensuality back into her daily routine?

What makes emigration so rewarding? When Ronja von Rönne thinks of it, clichés immediately spring to mind: spending retirement in Thailand or hanging out in Dubai as an influencer. But who doesn't dream of a better life elsewhere? For some, emigration is a temporary adventure; others stay forever. How do you make it work? How do you find happiness somewhere else?