Season 5 #4 Rosie Wilby
Season 5 #4 Rosie Wilby

How To Be Sad with Helen Russell

Rosie Wilby is a comedian, podcaster and author of The Breakup Monologues – about the unexpected joy of heartbreak and all we can learn from it. BBC Radio 4 described her as the ‘queen of breakups’ (what an accolade!) so she was the perfect guest for...

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43:32•27 Jul 2022

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How To Be Sad with Helen Russell

Helen Russell

Why do we cry? How come love hurts? And what’s a happiness researcher doing talking about sadness, anyway? Helen Russell is a journalist and happiness researcher and How to be Sad is a new podcast based on her book of the same name - exploring why we get sad, what to do when we’re sad, and how we can all get happier by learning to be sad, better. Because let’s be honest – we are in unprecedented times. None of us are where we thought we’d be this time last year and we’re all struggling. We’re having to get better at having difficult conversations and finding ways of handling our sadness. Join Helen as she talks to some high profile people from all walks of life who have done just that. Each week, special guests share their own experiences of everything from heartache to burnout, anxiety to addiction, the differences between sadness and depression - and how they cope. Find out more @MsHelenRussell #HowToBeSad and order How To Be Sad at https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/how-to-be-sad-the-key-to-a-happier-life-helen-russell?variant=39445841018958

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Episodes: 44

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Heartbreak and Healing: Rosie Wilby on Embracing Sadness

“In some ways it can be a brilliant way of exploring what's really going on, and in other ways it can be an escape and a fleeing from what's happening and trying to make light of actually very difficult things that we don't want to perhaps process in the way that we need to.”

Ever wondered if there's a silver lining to heartbreak? Comedian Rosie Wilby, known for her book 'The Breakup Monologues', sits down with happiness researcher Helen Russell to chat about the surprising joys of heartache in this episode of 'How To Be Sad'. Dubbed the 'queen of breakups' by BBC Radio 4, Rosie brings a unique perspective to dealing with sadness and grief.

Together, they cover a wide range of topics, from the agony of breakups and the quicker-than-expected recovery times, to the often-overlooked pain of friendship breakups. They even touch on why divorce rates among gay women are notably high and how boredom can creep into long-term relationships. But it’s not all heavy—there's humor too, like the tale of cheating blackbirds and the stigma around sleeping in separate beds.

They also discuss more serious matters like SSRIs, anti-love drugs, and the hormonal dance of attraction. And yes, monogamy's pros and cons get their moment in the spotlight. By the end of the episode, you’ll find yourself seeing sadness not as an enemy, but as a part of life that can lead to unexpected happiness.

Whether you're navigating a breakup or just curious about the emotional rollercoaster of relationships, this episode is packed with insights and laughs that might just change your perspective.

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