
‘Remember what it's like to fall in love – with a book, a song or a band'
Anita Rani's new podcast, Bright Ideas with Anita Rani, is all about uncovering different ways to live your best life, and this week's guest, Alexander Armstrong, is brimming with ideas.
The host of Pointless, half of comedy duo Armstrong and Miller, musician and author shares his top tips for learning another language – he's currently using Duolingo to brush up on his French – why he's so passionate about children's reading and how to introduce someone when you can't remember their name.
'If you're lucky enough to fall in love with reading when you're seven or eight, you carry this great world full of colour and flavour around in your head,' he tells Rani as they discuss the Read It Forward initiative, which works to provide life-changing books and literacy education to children who need it most.
Armstrong is also a fervent music-lover, having grown up as a chorister, and is using his show on Classic FM to spread the joy of classical music. He shares his advice for getting out of creative ruts: 'You've got to be on the balls of your feet. Remember what it's like falling in love – with a book or a piece of music or a band. All those times you did that, you were doing it because you were out there, ready to be receptive to new ideas.'
Listen to the full episode – where the pair cover nicknames, why high altitude makes you cry and the importance of the right kind of tea – to get all of Alexander Armstrong's bright ideas for how every day can be a little happier.
For more tips, life hacks, insights and stories, listen to Bright Ideas with Anita Rani on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays.
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