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Intelligence Squared

Michael Rosen on Hope, Happiness and Finding Joy in the Small Things (Part Two)

Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.21.1K Ratings

🗓️ 26 December 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Michael Rosen has known – and given – great joy in his life. And he has suffered immense sorrow.  Rosen is an author, poet and former children’s laureate, much-loved for his playful humour. He has written over 200 books, including the modern children’s classic, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. In recent years, he has become an eloquent voice on grief and sadness, and how we deal with it. His powerful writing about the death of his son and his near-lethal battle with Covid became Getting Through It, an acclaimed one-man show exploring love, loss and mortality. In 2023 he was awarded the PEN Pinter prize for what judges called a ‘fearless’ body of work that provides a ‘lesson in humanity.’ In September 2025, he came to the Intelligence Squared stage to introduce his new book, Good Days: An A-Z of Hope and Happiness. He celebrated the small things that bring joy and happiness, and explores how we can live well, even through difficult times.  Host Elle Osili Wood guided us through an inspiring conversation about grief, recovery, hope and how we can find meaning and happiness in everyday moments.  -- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Our days start with water. Our whole lives revolve around it.

0:04.0

Health, education, livelihoods, they all start with water.

0:08.0

But one in ten people around the world don't have clean water.

0:12.0

People like 13-year-old Nestilene in Madagascar,

0:15.0

who collects dirty water every day before school

0:18.0

because she doesn't have any other choice. 50% of people in Madagascar don't have clean water close to home.

0:24.6

But by donating to Water Aid, you can help change that.

0:28.6

Water Aid is working with communities in Madagascar and around the world to have clean water.

0:33.6

When a community gains clean water, everything changes.

0:36.6

Children stay in school, women reclaim

0:39.0

their time and safety, health improves, livelihoods thrive. The ripple effect is immediate and

0:44.7

it lasts for generations. Just £5 a month over a year can buy five standpipe taps so children

0:51.1

like Nestilene and her whole community can have clean water for years to come.

0:55.7

Please donate £5 a month today and help Water Aid to work alongside communities to bring clean water

1:01.3

to everyone everywhere. Visit water.org to find out more.

1:05.7

Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where Great Minds meet. I'm producer Mia Serenti. For this episode,

1:13.1

we're rejoining for part two of our recent live event with author, poet and broadcaster Michael

1:18.3

Rosen. Rosen joined us live at the Shaw Theatre to explore grief, recovery and the everyday

1:24.2

moments that give us joy and meaning. He was in conversation with presenter and broadcaster, El O'Silly Wood.

1:31.7

If you haven't heard part one, do just jump back an episode and get up to speed.

1:36.0

But now let's rejoin the conversation live at the Shaw Theatre in London.

1:41.0

I feel like that leads very nicely into the next chapter I want to talk about, where you talk about the

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