Episode #84 - House of Janneke

This episode was recorded on 08.01.2026 in Berlin.

Name: Janneke Simpson, @house_of_janneke
Topics: creativity, corporate-world, entrepreneurship, art, Book of Special Days, Berlin
Landed in Berlin: 28th September 2020

I discovered Janneke thanks to the instagram algorithm, while she was launching her project of the Book of Special Days. I loved every bits of it, as much as the way Janneke passionately talks about it and elevated my feed with ideas to bring more creativity in your daily life.

From crafting an object from a family tradition to bring it into our homes to learning how to make compromise between needs and desires, Janneke takes us on the journey of seizing the moment and living life at its fullest.

Enjoy listening! 🎧

Notes from episode #84

In this episode, we talk about:

  • the meditation course that kicks of Janneke’s awakening creativity drive;
  • why and how a full time job could be seen as an enabler;
  • asking yourself the hard questions and working to find a purpose;
  • balancing your budget and choosing your funding to start your endeavor;
  • the biggest learnings from creating a book by yourself and with the help of chosen people.

And also the Duralex funding in France 😉

Chapters

0:00:00 Discovering House of Janneke
0:02:00 The Book of Special Days: from family tradition to shared object
0:05:40 Adulting and creative awakening in the late twenties
0:09:00 Berlin, lockdown, and building something alongside a corporate life
0:12:00 Designing memory: colour, legacy, and personal storytelling
0:20:30 Crisis, purpose, and learning to live with compromise
0:33:00 Creating a product: production, costs, independence, and vision

More about the guest

Date of your arrival in Berlin: 28th September 2020

Why did you come to Berlin?

  • I got a job in Berlin and I thought why not
  • I love building a new life in a new city.

What do you like the most about Berlin? The pace of life – it has all the perks of a large capital city but it’s much more relaxed and I love the lakes in the summer. I also love how it bears the scars of much of the 20th century.

What bothers you the most? March in Berlin – the sky is low and grey and winter is boring.

What are your 3 favorite places in Berlin?

  • Halo Bagels
  • Cycling towards Tegel past all the little gardens
  • Standing on EbertbrĂŒcke – my favourite view of Berlin – you have beautiful buildings, the sun shines beautifully there, the trains go by, people walk along with spati beers and you can see the dance classes by Monbijou.

What is the most Berlin-like thing about you? I’m not sure. Maybe the slower pace of life that gives you time to do more creative things.

Your recipe for a successful integration? Say yes to everything – go at it with an open hear!

Your recipe for homesickness? La KĂ€serie cheeseshop in Pberg

Who would you like to hear on the podcast? Clementine Dijoud – co-founder of Halo Bagels

For what reasons could we contact you? If you want to collaborate on something, if you have ideas, cool workshops to suggest to broaden my creative scope etc…

Do you want to add anything? Thanks so much for the opportunity, I feel now I should have written it on a bottle of champagne!

Contact Janneke

Acknowledgements​

Thank you dear Janneke, it was a brilliant way to kick of the year talking together, I can’t wait to receive my Book of Special Days!