After reporting as a fashion journalist and later running her own content agency, Stephanie Neumann changed course to become a certified yoga teacher and illustrator - now with her own line of hand-painted affirmation cards. She’s lived throughout Europe and loves to explore, and she shared a bit of her incredible story with us below.

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You’ve had such an amazing career so far, what would you say has inspired you?

Curiosity. I am always open to trying something new, and I’m always looking for the next adventure.

“I’m always looking for the next adventure.”

Tell us more about how you became the Happie Hippie. 

In the summer of 2018, I was very ill. I was undergoing cancer treatment and travelling on public transport. My bald head was covered with a turban when some random guy spotted me. He smiled at me and said, “peace to the hippy!” He hadn’t noticed that I was ill. That made me so happy. The Happie Hippie project for a positive approach towards cancer was born.

That is so beautiful. What is your life philosophy? 

I have two: the first one is from my childhood; If somebody talks badly about you, let them, and then live your life so that nobody believes them. The second is from Leonard Cohen: There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.

What’s your last memorable dining experience? 

Pizza, pasta and a bottle of red with friends at Cecconi’s.

Sounds delicious. Where could you eat every day? 

At Café Daluma on Weinbergsweg, delicious and healthy.

What is on your restaurant bucket list?

I have been meaning to try Kreuzberger Himmel for ages. It’s a restaurant project where Syrian refugees are invited to cook, and a beautiful example of how integration can work.

What do you like most about living in Berlin? Describe a typical day for us. 

I love how Berlin is international. There’s a start-up buzz, and there’s a unique mix of things in the city. You can lead all sorts of different lives from very remote and humble to outgoing and wild. Along those lines, I don’t really have a typical day. I start with meditation and yoga, and take it from there. Sometimes I go to my office, sometimes I work from home, sometimes I write, sometimes I draw, sometimes I meet somebody for lunch, sometimes I cook for myself. I try not to get caught up in routine, and Berlin is the perfect place for this.

What’s next for you? 

I’m currently writing a book about my journey through cancer. I am about to go on a trip to South Africa for a travel article, and soon I will begin to give yoga lessons to cancer patients which I am particularly excited about.

That is incredible. Speaking of travel, you’ve lived in Paris, London and Berlin - What do you love most in each city? 

London is certainly the most inspirational city I have ever come across, there is something new and unexpected behind every corner. Paris is simply beautiful, I particularly love the cute, narrow streets of the Latin Quarter and the chic old ladies from Saint-Germain-des-Prés. In Berlin, I settled down because of the people. I found the best friends ever here and the love of my life.

What are your favorite places that you have travelled to and where do you want to go next? 

Marrakesh is the place I keep going back to. Getting lost in the Souk and being woken up by the morning prayers is part of the magic. Next on my list are the Dolomites. I have a friend from there, and her stories and pictures are so amazing that I need to see it for myself.

“Marrakesh is the place I keep going back to. Getting lost in the Souk and being woken up by the morning prayers is part of the magic.”

What has been your favorite hotel/resort to stay in?

The Grand in Ahrenshoop. A gem by the Baltic sea run by a lovely couple, it’s the perfect weekend getaway if you want a break from Berlin.

You traveled around the world for your job as a journalist. What were some of your most memorable trips?

In the early 2000’s, I was invited to do an interview during New York Fashion Week. It happened to coincide with Christo’s art project “The Gates” in Central Park. The other journalists and I went ice skating in the middle of all of this, which was pretty special. Another amazing journey was a road trip in an oldtimer to Portofino following the jet set glamour of the 1950s.

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Thanks so much for sharing your amazing story with us, Stephanie! Your Berlin list has inspired us to plan a trip there ASAP.