Episode 3: Saamah Abdallah - October 2026
Dr. Saamah Abdullah is Programme Lead People and Wellbeing at Hot or Cool Institute and one of the people behind the highly influential project Happy Planet Index. The Miracle Inn is collaborating with Hot or Cool Institute to create and pilot an education resource to bring the Happy Planet Index to life for 11-13 year olds.
In this third episode of the JUKEBOX podcast, Saamah Abdullah discusses the thinking behind the Happy Planet Index and what it tells us about living well in these troubled times. The three songs Saamah selects for The Miracle Inn jukebox take us from his political awakenings in Barcelona to his current work and life in Berlin, via the years he spent in London at the New Economics Foundation.
Where to listen
You can subscribe (please do) to the JUKEBOX podcast on Spotify, Apple, and Deezer. Listen now to episode 2:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id6796666268
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033YYrG986aKWUWk9ebfww
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/1003446342
About this podcast
JUKEBOX is a podcast by The Miracle Inn, hosted by Dr Morgan Phillips. On the JUKEBOX podcast we ask each guest to choose three songs they'd put on The Miracle Inn jukebox if they were ever to visit. The songs are a starting point for a conversation about their work and their ideas, but we also get to know them a little bit more too.
The Miracle Inn is a community interest company and membership organisation focused on tackling the phenomenon of hyper-individualism.
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Saamah's song choices
“El confort no reconforta” (Comfort does not comfort) - by Ojos de Brujo
"Keine Zeit” (no time) - by Dota Kehr
“We are still here” - by Bukahara
We have created a Spotify playlist featuring all three songs and a song from Euros Child's album The Miracle Inn.
If you have another device within earshot, you could put this playlist on in the background while you listen to the conversation.
Saamah's 'accidently on purpose' item
The item Saamah would 'accidentally on purpose' leave behind at The Miracle Inn is a book “Against Elections” by David van Reybrouck
Mentioned during the conversation
Organisation: New Economics Foundation (NEF)
Organisation: Global Action Plan
Research: Five Ways to Wellbeing — Connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.
Research report: Clone Town Britain by the New Economics Foundation — Research into the homogenisation of British high streets and the decline of independent shops.
Initiative: Earth Overshoot Day — The date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds what the Earth can regenerate in that year.