What does it take to be happy? And why does happiness so often slip away?
In this episode of What Is a Good Life?, Mark McCartney is joined by Rasmus Hougaard for a conversation that moves from childhood questions about happiness, to monasteries in Nepal, to the boardrooms where he now works to transform leadership. Rasmus is the Founder and Chairman of Potential Project and was nominated by Thinkers 50 as one of the eight most important leadership thinkers in the world today. He's the author of The Mind of the Leader, Compassionate Leadership, and More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead.
Together, they explore:
- Why an eight-year-old's question about happiness became a life's work
- The cultural wisdom Rasmus found in Nepal that the West is missing
- How his brother's death inspired his life's purpose
- A profound encounter with an unknown monk that transmitted unconditional love
- The difficulty of being human, even with deep practice and good intentions
- The innate goodness we all carry (and why many of us have forgotten it)
- What changes when leaders ask "how are you?" before "what do we need to do?"
This conversation sits with both the challenge of being human and the incredible capacity we have for loving kindness. It's about the practice of returning to what matters again and again.
What is What is a Good Life??
What is a Good Life? is a podcast about the questions that shape our lives: how we live, who we become, and what truly matters. For the past five years, I've asked more than 300 people one deceptively simple question: What is a good life?
There isn't a single answer. Instead, each conversation offers a different way of seeing the world—through stories, ideas, struggles, joys, and moments of hard-earned wisdom. Together, they form a richer picture of what it means to be human.
Whether you're searching for clarity, purpose, or simply a thoughtful conversation, this podcast is an invitation to reflect on your own answer.
New episodes every Tuesday.