Do you ever find it hard to say "no", especially to the people you care about most? In this episode of "But Are You Happy," Dr. Anastasia Hronis shares a practical, step-by-step guide to setting healthy boundaries without damaging your relationships and tells you exactly what to say. You will also learn: How to recognise the signs of a toxic relationship The psychology behind our instinct to say "yes" Why disappointing others feels so uncomfortable The underrated power of pausing before you comm...
May 30, 2025•28 min
Do you ever get stuck asking yourself a bunch of hypothetical, “what if” questions that make you more and more stressed, even though the situation isn’t actually happening? You've probably found yourself in a stress spiral. In this episode of But Are You Happy, Dr. Anastasia Hronis will teach you the 5-minute method to stop a stress spiral in its tracks. You will also learn: The difference between a panic attack and stress When to seek help, and how. Why anxiety isn’t always a bad thing - and wh...
May 23, 2025•40 min
But Are You Happy is coming back to your favourite podcast lineup every Saturday morning! Join cohosts Ashani Dante and Dr. Anastasia Hronis as they explore all the self-development and mental health topics and challenges that we know you want to learn more about. From exactly what to do if you’re experiencing anxiety, to how to stop dating the wrong person…How to spot the narcissist in your life and how to stop people pleasing…And so much more…we’ve got you covered. See you for your Hot Girl Wa...
May 16, 2025•1 min
Why are so many women being diagnosed with ADHD later in life? What does your partner’s penis have to do with your bacterial vaginosis diagnosis? And when to worry about a lumpy boob. In this episode, psychiatrist and ADHD specialist Dr Kieran Kennedy discusses how women often experience more inattentive features of ADHD and why they may try to mask the symptoms. We also talk about time blindness, memory issues and emotional dysregulation. And is ADHD making you feel more sensitive to rejection?...
May 13, 2025•33 min
Have you been wondering where we've been? Well, here's a little update. If you'd like to follow Clare Stephens, add her on Instagram . Clare is also writing her debut novel, The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done . Keep your eyes peeled! THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia GET IN TOUCH: We're taking suggestions for the next season of But Are You Happy. Send us a voice message or email us at [email protected] and let us know who you want to hear on the podcast. CREDITS: Host: C...
Feb 12, 2025•1 min
In this Australian exclusive with New York Times bestselling author and internationally acclaimed guru Deepak Chopra - Clare Stephens puts her signature “But Are You Happy” questions to the pioneer of new age spirituality himself. We know Deepak Chopra is peaceful…but is he happy? Did he grow up in a happy family? Clare and Deepak Chopra also dive deep into his most recent book - Digital Dharma: How AI Can Elevate Spiritual Intelligence and Personal Well-Being - where Chopra takes a much more op...
Nov 27, 2024•46 min
Did you think we were done for the season? Surprise! We’ve got a special treat for you—a live episode featuring Olympic gold medalist and beloved athlete, Noémie Fox. In this episode, Clare dives into Noémie’s journey, from growing up in an Olympic family to overcoming self-doubt and failure—topics Noémie has some powerful insights. So, is Noémie Fox happy? You would think so, wouldn’t you? THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia GET IN TOUCH: We're taking suggestions for the next season of But Are Yo...
Nov 06, 2024•55 min
What are the pivotal experiences in your life that have shaped who you are today? Australian actress Tammin Sursok has plenty of experiences to share, and she’s grateful for each one, no matter how challenging. In this season finale of But Are You Happy? , Clare invites Tammin to share her story candidly. At first glance, you might not see the struggles she’s faced, but beneath the surface, she has battled feelings of shame and moments that shattered her self-esteem. She’s lived through serious ...
Oct 30, 2024•45 min
We've all faced those biting comments about our looks or how we act, and we often let those words affect us, even though they shouldn’t. Lucinda Price, AKA Froomes, grew up convinced that to fit in with the 'right' crowd, she had to be hot. Back then, certain traits were seen as the ultimate beauty standard, leading her to believe she had to change parts of herself to be accepted. In this episode, Froomes—who’s an author, comedian, broadcaster, and internet personality—sits down with Clare to ch...
Oct 23, 2024•54 min
This is the first But Are You Happy interview that made Clare a little nervous...in a good way. Because saying the quiet part out loud can be risky...but it's also where great ideas are born, where creativity flourishes, and where authenticity lives: all things that matter a lot to Tim Minchin. In this conversation, we get a glimpse of a different side of Tim as he reflects on the highs and lows of his success. He talks about why compliments don’t sit well with him, the fakery in the performance...
Oct 16, 2024•57 min
Have you ever had to walk away from something you thought you wanted? In this deeply vulnerable conversation, actress and author Steph Tisdell discusses leaving a toxic relationship, moving on from jobs that didn’t fit her anymore, and taking a break from social media. On her journey to happiness—whatever that looks like for her—Steph also talks about the unique struggle she faces as an Indigenous woman trying to connect with both her own community and the wider Austr...
Oct 09, 2024•46 min
We’ve all had that experience of working hard to achieve “the thing”—the big dream. Rejection is part of the journey, but when you finally reach that goal...it’s a feeling like no other - or at least, it should be, right? Turns out it's more complicated than that. Amy Shark knows this all too well. After a decade of trying to break into the music scene, her hit song "Adore" landed her a deal with a major record label. Suddenly, she was in the spotlight, winning ARIA...
Oct 02, 2024•59 min
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this podcast so far, it’s that things aren’t meant to be perfect. But try telling that to a perfectionist. Zoë Foster Blake, a self-described perfectionist, doesn’t always see it as a positive trait. In her conversation with Clare Stephens, she shares what she’s learned about embracing failure, recognising when she needs space to recharge, and the interviews and events she chooses not to do. Is Zoë Foster Blake happy? You’ll have to listen to find out. THE...
Sep 25, 2024•56 min
Failure is something we all face at some point—whether it’s a big setback or a small disappointment. After losing his boxing match at the Paris Olympics, Harry Garside felt like he had failed the entire country of Australia. In this episode, Clare Stephens chats with Harry about the surprising emptiness he felt after winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He opens up about the moment he was publicly arrested for something he didn’t do and how that experience helped him build a bette...
Sep 18, 2024•52 min
Welcome to the first episode of Season Four of But Are You Happy . In this episode, Clare Stephens sits down with one of her idols, Missy Higgins—the Australian musician whose emotive songwriting has deeply connected with so many people. They discuss prioritising happiness over expectations, navigating a new phase of life, and how music can be therapeutic when processing pain. Missy shares how creating her latest album, The Second Act , has helped her heal. Is Missy Higgins happy? You’ll have to...
Sep 11, 2024•53 min
Does the world lie to us about happiness? That’s the question Clare Stephens is exploring with a new group of guests in Season 4 of But Are You Happy? , launching on Thursday, September 12th, R U OK? Day. This season promises to be our most powerful yet, with guests opening up like never before, sharing happiness hacks and life habits that can help you redefine your own life. Follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a thing, wherever you listen to your podcasts. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia G...
Sep 04, 2024•3 min
In this special mid-season episode of But Are You Happy, Clare Stephens talks to Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa. Alexis describes her work as combining neuroscience, psychology and tough love - and that’s exactly what she does with her books and in her podcast, Do You F*cking Mind. Alexis and Clare discuss the science of happiness and so much more - including how to make meaningful friendships as adults, how to end a toxic relationship and open yourself to a healthy one, how to move through hear...
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr
How would you feel if you failed at the one thing you’ve worked tirelessly towards for so long? Imagine being an Olympian, feeling the weight of an entire nation's expectations to win gold. That's the reality for Ariarne Titmus right now. Ariarne Titmus, a record-holding swimmer, is just days away from competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. And, although we all see her as a high-performing athlete, that’s not always how she sees herself. In this conversation, Ariarne shares how success changes re...
Jul 17, 2024•27 min
LISTEN TO PART ONE OF THIS CONVERSATION HERE. This is part two of our conversation with Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus. If you haven't listened to part one yet - click here. In part two, Ariarne talks about the reality of preparing for the Olympic Games and how she would feel if she didn’t win gold in Paris. Plus, she discusses her biggest personal insecurities outside of swimming and what she wants to do when she retires from the sport. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia Want more Olympics conve...
Jul 17, 2024•27 min
This is part two of our conversation with actor, musician and mental health advocate Rob Mills. If you haven't listened to part one yet - click here . In part two, Rob opens up about his relationship with TV presenter Georgie Tunny and gives us a sneak peek into their wedding planning. Plus, he also shares his thoughts on why it's so important for men to open up about their mental health and reflects on his journey with his sexuality after years of media speculation. THE END BITS Subscribe to Ma...
Jul 11, 2024•22 min
Picture this: you're standing on stage, about to perform in front of thousands of people, feeling your absolute lowest then... the stage lights come up. It’s the nightmare we’ve all had, but Rob Mills has actually lived it. Rob is a singer, actor, writer, and — Australia’s boyfriend. He’s a big advocate for mental health, having had moments in life where he’s suffered in silence. In this chat, one of the most vulnerable we’ve had on this podcast, Rob opens up about his once all-consuming relatio...
Jul 10, 2024•32 min
Imagine stepping into the spotlight on a TV show, finding love, and then facing nationwide scrutiny—not for anything you did, but simply for how you look. Laura Byrne knows this all too well, and it's taken her years to reclaim her self-love. Laura is a podcaster, an author, and a business owner, who entered Australian homes when she won The Bachelor in 2017, ending up with her now-husband, Matty J. In this candid chat, Laura opens up about the relationship challenges and mum guilt that comes wi...
Jul 03, 2024•45 min
Talking about mental health can be tough, and many of us just laugh it off. Khanh Ong often does this to make others comfortable, but this conversation is different. Khanh is a chef, author, and media personality who has been able to taste so much success since bursting onto our screens on Master Chef. However it was his time in the "I’m A Celebrity" jungle that helped him realise the one thing stopping him from happiness. In this chat, he opens up about that one thing, how success doesn’t chang...
Jun 26, 2024•50 min
Brooke Blurton is the perfect example of never really knowing what’s going on in someone’s life, when they look so happy and successful on the outside. Brooke is a media personality, author and podcaster who you may know as the first Indigenous and bisexual Bachelorette. In this chat, she opens up about processing trauma, balancing the pursuit of individual happiness with the struggles of her community, and the moment she found love on national TV and received news of a personal tragedy simultan...
Jun 19, 2024•55 min
You'd think the lead singer of one of the world's biggest bands would be extremely happy, right? But for Dave Bayley from Glass Animals happiness is fleeting. Dave is at a point in his life where he's grappling with meaning and purpose, questioning whether his pursuit of music is ultimately selfish and trying to understand what success really means. In this chat, he discusses how his career and life have changed since his song "Heatwaves" became the number one song around the world, and why crea...
Jun 12, 2024•47 min
When Australian actress Angourie Rice was cast in the starring role in the much-anticipated Mean Girls remake - she had no idea the backlash and personal criticism that would come her way. Meanwhile, her mum, Kate, who was also an actress, had a very different time within the industry and has used her experience to ensure Angourie remains grounded and finds happiness. In this chat, we speak to both Angourie and Kate about what it was like to grow up in the public eye, her fears of the industry, ...
Jun 05, 2024•48 min
You might think Hollywood celebrities are happier than the rest of us, but are they really? Josh Thomas doesn’t think so. Josh is a wildly funny and successful comedian, known for creating one of Australia’s best comedy dramas Please Like Me , which he wrote based on his own life. In this chat, he talks about success, creativity, being diagnosed with autism and ADHD as an adult, and what living in Hollywood has taught him about happiness. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia Get tickets to see Josh...
May 29, 2024•45 min
What do we mean when we talk about happiness? And, is there a genuine way to experience more of it, especially in a time where it feels so flippant or out of reach? These are the questions we wanted to ask happiness expert Dr Tim Sharp (he's literally Dr Happy). And even though he specialises in positive psychology, Dr Happy knows how difficult it is to feel joy when the state of the world is so ugly. So, what can he tell us about our expectations of happiness? Is it a worthy pursuit, or are we ...
May 23, 2024•41 min
Welcome back to ‘But Are You Happy?’ the podcast asking the people who appear to have it all the most vulnerable question you can ask: are you truly happy? Over the next eight weeks, Clare Stephens will be speaking with high-profile guests who, from the outside, seem very happy and fulfilled. She’s joined by the likes of Josh Thomas, Brooke Blurton, Khanh Ong, Dave Bailey from Glass Animals, Angourie, and Kate Rice, among many more. THE END BITS Subscribe to Mamamia GET IN TOUCH: Share your stor...
May 18, 2024•3 min
Have you ever felt stuck in a season of your life that you wish you could just move on from? Hugh van Cuylenburg has. Hugh is the founder of The Resilience Project, a best-selling author, a former school teacher and co-hosts The Imperfects podcast, which aims to show how perfectly imperfect we all are. As this season of But Are You Happy? comes to an end, Hugh talks about the seasons he’s found most challenging, his biggest insecurities and the things he regrets sharing with the world that he ca...
Oct 11, 2023•51 min