Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

046 | Stefan Sagmeister (The Happy Film)

Posted on June 6, 2017March 5, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 046 | Stefan Sagmeister (The Happy Film)

My Summer Lair Chapter #46: What Makes You Happy?

You know Stefan Sagmeister even if you don’t know Stefan Sagmeister.

Did you see or buy Bridges to Babylon by The Rolling Stones? OK GO’s self titled album? Once in a Lifetime by the Talking Heads of course? Last one: Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come? All album covers designed by Stefan…see you know Stefan Sagmeister even if you don’t know Stefan Sagmeister.

Rather than commissioned worked by a client…as a graphic designer he’s done work for Levi’s, Coke…the usual good looking corporate gang he’s in Toronto for a screening of The Happy Film. I guess you could say…he’s the client.

The brief is that as successful as he appears to be (success can be defined as working with Levi’s and Jay-Z but that’s a definition of success, not the definition of success) he is not happy. So can he become…happy? The Happy Film documents 3 controlled experiments of meditation, therapy, and drugs, grading himself along the way: a path that includes death, setbacks and more.

I’m fascinated he could oscillate between paid commission work and self-initiated projects like this documentary. That would make me happy. I wish I’d spent a bit more time fleshing out that process as we talked.

Instead we cover the negativity bias, social media, gratitude, the darkness in a movie about happiness and ultimately music…he’s currently digging Shaky Graves and Devil Makes Three.

Check out the doc if you’re curious about what makes you happy.

Stefan Sagmeister @ W • T • F

Host Sammy Younan

Recorded: Friday May 19, 2017 at 3:00 pm (at Girth Radio)

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some design an amazing pop culture life!

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:Designer, Directors, Documentaries, Graphic Design, Movies, Stefan Sagmeister

Post navigation

Previous Post: 045 | Heidi MacDonald (The Beat)
Next Post: 047 | Cornel West (The Radical King)

More Related Articles

Arlen Aguayo-Stewart (Human Animals) 108 | Arlen Aguayo-Stewart (Human Animals) My Summer Lair
Paul Vermeersch Shared 167 | Paul Vermeersch (Shared Universe) My Summer Lair
Nick Reynoldson (I'll Be Fine) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 158 | Nick Reynoldson (I’ll Be Fine) My Summer Lair
292 | Matt Singer (Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever) My Summer Lair
294 | Stephen Winn (StockX) My Summer Lair
David Peisner (Homey Don't Play That!: The Story of In Living Color & the Black Comedy Revolution) 103 | David Peisner (Homey Don’t Play That!: The Story of In Living Color & the Black Comedy Revolution) My Summer Lair

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: September 29 – October 05, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Like a man in the basement I got TV recommendations that are a Chef's Kiss. On The Lost Bus, this is your stop: It's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: September 22-28, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    I got the Lowdown on this week's TV Recommendations so you don't hafta Go Into The Void all Wayward and lost. Just as The Simpsons keep going, so too does #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 15-21, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's TV Recommendations are not a Stop Gap Measure. Rather it's a Lilith Fair celebration of charming TV presented as #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 08-14, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Lots of TV Recommendations for you to Sheen this week. Like your Cable Guy, I got you hooked up with #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 01-07, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Have I Got News for You: I got TV Recommendations for you Winter Spring Summer or Fall. From the Highest 2 Lowest this is #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 25-31, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is dedicated to my Stans.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 18-24, 2024
    by Sammy Younan
    Night Always Comes and like a TV Gambler you seek bold TV Recommendations without going Eenie Meanie. Once again #SetTheVCR is here to help, always cooler than Devo.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 11-17, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week’s TV recommendations are all locations from The Kingdom to Magic City to Alien: Earth. When it comes to Sammy Suggestions for #MustSeeTV I’m a #SetTheVCR Rainmaker.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 04-10, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    If your Hobby is to Pickup dope TV Recommendations like an American Prince this week's #SetTheVCR is funner than a Clown in a Cornfield.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 28 – August 03, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    From a Red Eye to Area 51 this week’s TV Recommendations will make you put up your Twisted Metal. I dunno what that means, either, though I do know it’s #SetTheVCR time.
  • Morning Tea: Happy UFO Day 2025!July 2, 2025
    What's popping in popular culture? My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan steeps some seriously serious tea which prompts reflections.
  • Trial By Trailer: The Running Man (A Remake…)July 1, 2025
    Trail By Trailer is judging a book by its cover or in this case...a movie by its trailer. Are you 100% IN or is it a Hard Pass?
  • #CouchWorthy: Barbara Walters: Tell Me EverythingJune 22, 2025
    Exploring the pioneering career of Barbara Walters. Delving into her influential role in broadcast journalism and the challenges women face in achieving success.
  • #CouchWorthy: Bono: Stories of SurrenderMay 29, 2025
    Bono: Stories of Surrender is a vivid reimagining of his one-man stage show Stories of Surrender now streaming on Apple TV.
  • #CouchWorthy: Super Team CanadaMay 16, 2025
    Super Team Canada follows six lesser known and underrated Canadian superheroes, tasked with saving the world.
  • #CouchWorthy: Murderbot: Season 1 May 15, 2025
    Murderbot a private security cyborg hides its acquired autonomy, while completing dangerous assignments is simultaneously drawn to humans.

  • Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    Under-Review: Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Batman - Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: OvertureL Volume 1,
  • New Book Alert: California Bear
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Music Was Just Getting Good
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Ascent
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: Fantastic Four by Ryan North Volume 2
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?

Copyright © 2025 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme