This solo podcast is inspired by the BBC journalist Fergal Keane who has written an article about his search for happiness, a quest that has lasted 30 years.  Did he find the answer?  Yes, but not what he expected.

I go through his main points and add thoughts from my own journey, such as moments we have both had that can be described as the "lightness of being".  Other points are:

• the science of happiness - "our minds are biased to interpret things very negatively", Professor Bruce Hood, University of Bristol
• there is such a thing as the Happiness Poverty Line, and too many of us are living below it
• it's difficult to achieve inner contentment in a "happy-obsessed world" where we are told to simply "be happy" (American psychotherapist Whitney Goodman)
• work is the great permissive addiction
• start with the simple small stuff to change your energy, your mind chatter
• acts of kindness are part of the solution (Finnish philosopher Frank Martela)
• ancient yogic scriptures support our life journey to help us get to a state of contentment

So, what is the secret to happiness?  There is no secret.