Meet Helen Russell: Why are Danes – seemingly – so happy? (program in English below)
The International Folk High School, Montebello Allé 1, Helsingør
Saturday, April 12, 2025, 2-3:30 PM CEST (13:00-14:30 BST)
Participation is free, but requires registration below.
Denmark consistently ranks in the top 3 of the world's happiest countries – but what's the secret, if you ask a foreigner?
When British journalist Helen Russell moved to a small Jutland village, she set out to find the answer. Can beer, bacon, cakes, and a strong welfare system really make a stressed Brit happier? Or do the long, dark winters and pickled herring weigh heavier on the happiness scale?
The title 'Living Danishly' is borrowed from Helen's loving and humorous bestselling book, which delves into what Denmark does right (and wrong), the biggest cultural challenges for a foreigner – and how everyone can live a little more Danishly, no matter where we are.
REGISTRATION FOR TALK WITH HELEN RUSSELL AT THE INTERNATIONAL FOLK HIGH SCHOOL SATURDAY, APRIL 12 AT 2:00 PM (CEST)
Participation is free, but requires registration. Please let us know if you need to cancel, so we don't have empty seats. The talk will be in English – with a lovely British accent – and will be live-streamed to an audience in Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK.
After the talk, there will be a chance to mingle over a cup of coffee and a piece of cake.
The talk will take place in the UN Hall at the International Folk High School, which will then offer coffee and cake. The event is organized in collaboration with The International Folk High School and Magnae Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture
About Helen:
Helen Russell is a bestselling author, journalist, speaker, and host. Formerly editor of marieclaire.co.uk, now Scandinavia correspondent for The Guardian, her first book, The Year of Living Danishly, became an international bestseller and was optioned for TV. She is the author of five critically acclaimed books, translated into 22 languages.
Helen writes for magazines and newspapers globally, including The Times and The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, The Observer, Metro, Grazia, Stylist, and Stella. She has spent the last 12 years studying cultural approaches to emotions and now speaks about her work internationally.
Her Action for Happiness and TED talks have been viewed half a million times.
By Helen Russell:
- How to Raise a Viking, The Secrets of Parenting the World's Happiest Children (UK)/The Danish Way of Raising Happy Kids (USA and Canada)
- TED Talk, What happiness looks like around the world
- X/Instagram/Facebook @MsHelenRussell
- Represented by Anna Power at Johnson & Alcock
Living Danishly – with Helen Russell
Saturday, April 12th 1300-1430 BST – (14-15:30 CEST)
Denmark is regularly voted among the happiest nations on Earth, so what’s its secret? Given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, Helen Russell wanted to find out. Could beer, bacon, pastries and a comprehensive welfare safety net along with sky high trust levels really make even a jaded Brit happier? Or would the long, dark winters and pickled herring take their toll?
Living Danishly looks at where the Danes get it right, where they don’t, the cultural hurdles (for one Brit) and how we might all benefit from living a little more Danishly ourselves – wherever we are.
The lecture is organized in collaboration between the International Folk High School and Magnae Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture and will be transmitted live to an audience in Skegness, Lincolnshire.
About Helen:
Helen Russell is a bestselling author, journalist, speaker, and host. Former editor of marieclaire.co.uk now Scandinavia correspondent for The Guardian, her first book, The Year of Living Danishly, became an international bestseller selected for television. She is the author of five critically acclaimed books that have been translated into 22 languages.
Helen writes for magazines and newspapers globally, including The Times and The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, The Observer, Metro, Grazia, Stylist, and Stella. She has spent the last 12 years studying cultural approaches to emotions and now speaks about her work internationally.
Her Action for Happiness and TED talks have been viewed half a million times.
Helen Russell
- How to Raise a Viking, The Secrets of Being a Parent to the Happiest Children in the World (UK)/The Danish Secret to Happy Children (USA and Canada)
- TED talk, What happiness looks like around the world
- X/Instagram/Facebook @MsHelenRussell
Represented by Anna Power at Johnson & Alcock
