We live in crazy times - the Corona virus has got us all under its malevolent spell. In this edition I talk to psychologist Vassia Sarantopoulou about tips on keeping sane during this time of fear and social distancing.

Vassia is the woman behind Antiloneliness.com

There are lots of tips in the podcast and here are some links Vassia wanted to share too.

Washington Post tips for couples

Tips from an astronaut on isolation from New York Times

What if you are stuck with an abusive person - from The Mighty 

Quarantine coping - parenting

Apps to boost mental health - Antiloneliness.com

More apps to boost mental health - Antiloneliness.com

Stress and coping - CDC

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I've been working on a new idea - a podcast all about dog stories. Having recently become a dog owner for the first time it struck me how many stories people start telling you when you are out with your pooch. So, let's do it, I thought, and here is the first ever Shaggy Dog Stories podcast. 

Please share with anyone you think will like it and if you have a dog story you would like to share with me then please please get in touch. There's email - [email protected] - and there's even a What's App line if you want to share your story via an audio message. If it's a good one I'll use it in future episodes.  Wherever you are in the world I'd love to hear from you.
WhatsApp storyline:  +31 6 124 28 387

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This a collection of funny stories recorded at the Feel at Home Fair in The Hague.

Internationals from around the world share their thoughts on the wonderfully weird world that is The Netherlands.

The fair was organised by The Hague Online in February 2020. Thanks to Billy and the team for letting me roam free with my microphone.

At the end of the podcast there is a bonus story from a pilot project - Shaggy Dog Stories. I am collecting dog stories so thought I would share one here. Let me know what you think.

And if you have a story to share - dog or human related - please get in touch.

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In this episode I'm joined by author Ben Coates. Ben is a Brit and he's been in The Netherlands for about ten years - he previously wrote a book about his experiences here "Why the Dutch are Different" and he featured in an earlier podcast talking about that.

This time he talks about his new book - The Rhine. The book starts in The Netherlands and follows the river Rhine all the way to its source in Switzerland.

From Ben's site: "For five years, Ben Coates lived alongside a major channel of the river in Rotterdam, crossing it daily, swimming and sailing in its tributaries. In The Rhine, he sets out to follow the river for its entire course, through the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein, to its source in the icy Alps. He explores the impact that the Rhine has had on European culture and history and finds out how influences have flowed along and across the river, shaping the people who live alongside it."

Get The Rhine at Bol.com

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What to do when things get tough and you start getting into a negative spiral…we all feel down at times but what to do to stop this getting out of control? 

And how can we develop habits that will keep us happy and in balance?

Internationals can often feel disoriented so how best to organize your life to be happy and fulfilled.

I’m joined by Psychologist Bjarne Timonen who has written a book – the Life Style Guide Against Somberness – De Leef Stijlgids Tegen Somberheid. It’s full of practical tips. It’s in Dutch so if you read Dutch highly recommended and if you don’t well that’s why Bjarne is here to share his expertise in English. 

Bjarne’s Facebook page

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What's it like being an international mum in The Netherlands? And what's it like as a woman here when trying to combine a career and a family. My guest in the podcast is Steliana van de Rijt-Economu she's originally from Romania and has been bringing up her kids in The Netherlands for the last four years.

She is also an Organisational Development Consultant and executive coach. And she has written a book Mothers as Leaders. It presents inspirational real-life stories of twenty  women from across the world who have overcome hardship to emerge as true leaders. 

Mothers As Leaders

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There's a famous quote about Dutch politics which says: "if  Dutch politics ever gets interesting then something has gone terribly wrong."
This is nonsense. Dutch politics is fascinating. This time in the podcast I'm joined by historian and Dutch politics expert and insider Pieter Gerrit Kroeger.
We talk about what's hot now in Dutch politics, how the system works, what the Dutch stand for internationally and there's anecdotes to finish off.

You can use chapter marks to skip straight to your favourite bit.

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More than 50% of internationals in the Netherlands have mental health issues according to new research from Healthcare for Internationals, a non-profit focused on improving healthcare for internationals in the Netherlands.

These are initial findings and more will follow - but it's an alarming rate. Internationals are suffering anxiety, loneliness and depression.

In this episode I talk to psychologist Vassia Sarantopoulou from Antiloneliness.com

She mentions two apps as being good starting points for mindfulness which can help people develop a positive mental health regime.

Headspace  and Simple Habit

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This time an interview with Marjan Minnesma the director of Urgenda. The organization achieved international fame after taking the Dutch government to court and winning. The first case in 2015 was a landmark ruling with the court saying the government had a duty of care to tackle climate change an take it seriously. A reduction of 25% CO2 emissions by 2020 was the minimum requirement the court ruled.

The government appealed and lost - the next court ruled, in 2018, it was also a human rights issue and the 25% reduction by 2020 stands. Now the government is scrambling to see what it can do to meet the target.

A fascinating interview with Marjan Minnesma on the gap between perception and reality when it comes to the Netherlands and its environmental record.

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This time a story I made when I was working at Radio Netherlands in 1998 - it's a documentary I made about running the Rotterdam Marathon. The music is a bit over the top - but what the hell. I thought I would share here as more than 20 years on I have dusted off my running shoes.

If you want to share a story with Here in Holland you can record it via the Whats App number 06 124 28 387 - or see the links below to get in touch. Funny stories, weird stories or stories that make you pull your hair out - all are welcome.

If you like Here in Holland why not become a patron? For a small monthly contribution you’ll be supporting the show and with more patrons then I'll have the chance to make more shows and try new stuff. Become a patron today Links: Here in Holland email: [email protected] Subscribe in iTunes or Android app of choice. Now on Spotify

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Recorded at the Feel at Home Fair 2019 in the Hague this edition of the podcast has internationals rating their lives in the Netherlands out of 10.

There's lots of sharing of funny stories and experiences too.

If you want to share a story with Here in Holland you can record it via the Whats App number 06 124 28 387 - or see the links below to get in touch. 

The Feel at Home Fair is organised by the Hague Online.

If you like Here in Holland why not become a patron? For a small monthly contribution you’ll be supporting the show and with more patrons then I'll have the chance to make more shows and try new stuff. Become a patron today Links: Here in Holland email: [email protected] Subscribe in iTunes or Android app of choice. Now on Spotify

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