Good Place

Nuthan is a researcher, yoga teacher, and the founder of the Happiness Tour: a project that's experimenting with a radical idea: that the cure to burnout might not be rest at home, but gentle adventure in good company. We sat down in Woerden, the town where it all started, and where she moved to for love. 1 in 5 people in the Netherlands is diagnosed with burnout. 82% of young people show symp...

You know that feeling of fitting in somewhere but never truly belonging? Laura de Franchis, half Dutch, half Italian, joins us on a bench in Emma's Hof, a hidden community garden in The Hague, to talk about a life lived across cultures and why collective action is the answer to urban disconnection. Enjoy this Good Place episode, part of a series of bench conversations about life, the places we...

I was on holiday! And Bali has the beaches, the sunsets, the palm trees. But I wanted to ask the people who actually live and work there about why Bali is a good place. And thanks to Merusaka Nusa Dua (not sponsored), I was able to meet four people wonderful people, who call Bali home, and talked about culture, belonging, and why this island makes you want to come back. Meet Nova (from Jakarta), P...

Sitting on a bench in a Barcelona superblock, I talk with Courtney Hunter, a Texan who left Dallas burnt out and found something she wasn't quite expecting: the simple joy of just being somewhere beautiful, like the city of Barcelona. A conversation about burnout, slow living, and why romanticizing your life, wherever you are, might be the most radical thing you can do. 🗺️ Watch this episode o...

Now live on thisisagoodplace.com. In this episode, from a public bench in the garden of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Jeroen Janssen and I discuss the modern challenges to human connection, particularly for "Generation Z" who are increasingly avoiding social drinking. We explore the growing issue of loneliness and social isolation in our communities, and how we should design spaces and h...

What if you could design your life around creativity and freedom? In this episode, I sit with Alice Katter, founder of Out of Office Network, on a bench in Poblenou, Barcelona. Alice moved here with her family just months ago, and she's already living proof of the philosophy she teaches others. We talk about her journey from Austria to New York to a fully remote life, what drove her to build a...

From all the benches in The Hague, we hadn't been on one at the Hofvijver. This time, I share a bench with Charlotte, who has made it her mission to promote sustainability in life through education in nutrition, tools, and awareness. It's a conversation about a vegan lifestyle, plant-based nutrition, starting from when she was 6-years old, to participating in the Miss World pageant as a ve...

In this episode of Good Place, we sit down on a blue bench with Jakob Hurrle, the councillor for Prague 7. In a city of 57 different districts, we explore how care, community, and inclusion can be built into everyday urban life. From social policy and accessible services to integration, housing, and public space, Jakob shares how local government can actively strengthen belonging — and why neighbo...

This time, I shared a bench with Laura and Tetyana, both colleagues at Volunteer The Hague. It was supposed to be the final episode of 2025, but we're making it the first of 2026 :) Listen to these passionate souls for helping others feel at home in the city of The Hague through volunteering. Both moved here from abroad, so they know what it takes to connect with new people and to start all over....

We connected some months ago, when Bianca asked me: can I send you my book? Although I didn't know what it was about, I was amazed when I received the copy. it covered the topics that we care about on this channel: belonging, identity, and connection. It was my absolute pleasure to invite Bianca for a conversation on a bench, to discuss her book and share the topics we care about so much. What...

I sit down with Darice on a public bench at Lange Voorhout in The Hague. Quite an out-of-the-ordinary conversation, this time with an extra microphone and a screen, because she's late-deaf. In this open-hearted conversation, Darice shares how she lost her hearing later in life, the challenges she has overcome, and how to find connection in a city like The Hague. For me, so many new perspective...

She moved from Seattle to Barcelona because of the bohemian vibe and the sense of freedom. But after 20 years, Anna Oje is at a stage in her life where she is asking herself some key questions. Will she stay or follow the pulse of life? Enjoy this insightful conversation on a (half) bench at this amazing Superilla square in the center of #barcelona, full of beautiful personal anecdotes. Want to co...

For the Placemaking Week Europe festival, we traveled to Reggio Emilia in Italy and we had the pleasure of speaking to the local tourism board represented by Domenico Martino. Thanks to him, I was able to learn more about the city and why it is a good place. Thanks for your enthusiasm Domenico! More about Reggio Emilia Welcome: https://www.reggioemiliawelcome.it/en    / reggioemiliawelcome   #good...

On a bench in Segbroekpark of The Hague, I sat down together with Charlie. And I must admit, I'm impressed with this young woman: her perspective on life, and her bold decisions to follow her own path, a life built around feeling and fire. Enjoy this episode with Charlie and you can follow her work here:https://www.instagram.com/charliesfika/ Enjoy the entire episode, and please don't forg...

From Berlin to The Hague, Tina is a biologist, and her work revolves around: People, Nature, and the World. As an Outdoor Coach, she has made it her mission to create awareness and help people rediscover their connection with, and bring them outside, in nature. A beautiful concept and journey she's embarking on. Follow her here: https://hipsy.nl/shop/tina-fischbach-life-coaching https://tinafi...

Sometimes you need to interview someone before they leave for a new city. Meet Alex, an entrepreneur, coffee lover, and a person I've known for quite some years within the Amsterdam scene. Although this city has shaped him into the person he is today, he has decided to leave after 18 years and build a new home abroad. Find out more about Alex's journey, why he has decided to move on, and w...

We are so grateful to everyone who joined our first Good Place Park Session in Amsterdam last week. Thanks for all the enthusiasm and connection, and for making this first edition one to remember. During the live podcast recording, we were excited to host the conversation on the bench with:Lily Heaton, analogue photographer,Dean Media, singer-songwriter and founder of Amsterdam Music Project,Sophi...

With 55 recorded Good Place conversations held on public benches around the world, we’ve witnessed the quiet power of a single bench. It brings people together: with each other, with their surroundings, and with their own sense of place in the world. This idea is especially close to our hearts in a time when society feels increasingly disconnected. That’s why this interview with Fred Kent (fondly...

A shout-out to our community led us to Hannah, who moved to Helsinki for the second time, together with her young family. Originally from Brisbane, with her husband from Melbourne, they’ve chosen Finland’s capital as their home base. In this episode, we talk about moving abroad, parenting in a new culture, building friendships, and what it takes to feel at home in a foreign country. Enjoy! Check o...

I discovered Janica's journey via one of her vlogs about living abroad that she shares on YouTube. And I liked the style and honest reflection of the places she visited. So I wanted to know more about her journey from Helsinki to The Hague. Follow our conversation from a public bench in the harbour of Scheveningen and ofcourse her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/  ⁨@JanicasJourneys⁩  🚀 Oppo...

This has been a very special conversation with Tore van Dreumel, who reached out to share his personal journey of gender, identity, and finding place in public on a bench. He's originally from Poland, but has found his home in the Netherlands 14 years ago. For the love of photography, please check out his Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/torevand/🚀 Opportunity: Interested in taking part in...

What once started as a holiday has become his home for more than 34 years. Living in Tenerife and setting up a news service and radio channel, Chris Elkington reflects on the island’s evolution—from culture and community to tourism and supporting sustainability. Originally from Solihull, UK, Chris shares his knowledgeable perspective on what’s changed, what has been going well, and what should be...

Convivencia stands for: Living Together. Cliodna O'Flynn works for the municipality of Adeje, a town of 50,000 inhabitants on Tenerife. She shares with us why she moved to the island 25 years ago and what she loves about living here. Enjoy this conversation on a bench on Plaza de España in Adeje. 📌 Would you like to know more about Good Place, the podcast, program, events, and community? Then...

After a family round-trip through Europe, Melissa & Chris Bruntlett made a life-changing decision—leaving Vancouver to build a new home in Delft, Netherlands. Join us for a wonderful conversation about moving abroad, family life, becoming a Dutch citizen, urban mobility, and shaping happier, healthier, and more human-scale cities. More about Melissa & Chris, their books and work: https://w...

What was intended as a gap year abroad, changed to a different experience in The Hague. After two years, Bernard and his little family decided to move back to Lagos, Nigeria. Join this conversation on a bench about living abroad, losing a family member, and how Faith functions as an anchor in life. More about Bernard and his photography:https://www.instagram.com/kabenny_/ _____ Would you like to k...