Episodes
‘If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry’, as the saying goes. These heightened emotions often sit very close to each other, and there’s a split second where we can decide whether to despair, or to see the funny side of a situation. Today, Fearne revisits Happy Place conversations that highlight the crossroads where people have decided to cope with shitty incidents by laughing at them, or at themselves. Amongst other guests, Adele Roberts tells the absurd story of what happened to her stoma the night before running the London Marathon, and Dawn French chats about owning the moments you were a bit o...
When was the last time you enjoyed some silence? Musician Norah Jones appreciates the importance of silence – it allows us to tune into what our minds are trying to tell us. In this chat with Fearne, Norah explains that the rare moments of quiet are when creativity flows most freely. They talk about the feeling of being embarrassed by your work when you’re young, but that it’s important to be ever evolving and honing your craft just by getting on and doing it.Norah’s new album, Visions, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often do you connect with strangers? There’s something magical about those fleeting moments of intimacy and connection. Today, Fearne introduces an episode of Where Are You Going, a podcast that sees host Catherine Carr chatting to strangers and asking a simple question: “where are you going?” The stories people end up sharing with her go to all sorts of unexpected places – some are funny or loving, and others moving or shocking. In this episode, Catherine meets women who’ve been cold water swimming, and a group of childhood friends who’ve found solace and connection in fishing. New epi...
Perfection has taken on a life of its own in recent years. Dawn French worries that the pursuit of perfection is stopping us from being who we are, and from making mistakes we can grow from. In this chat, Fearne and Dawn explore why when we have low tolerance for others making mistakes, we’re likely judging ourselves for our mistakes too. So, in order to have more self-compassion, we have to talk about the cringey times we’ve held inside for fear for being shamed. They also discuss the best ways to apologise when we’re in the wrong, and to allow space for robust debate that might just chang...
Cancer, and having a stoma, has changed DJ and broadcaster Adele Roberts’ perception of her own body for the better. It’s shown her it’s ok to cry, and it’s ok to ask for help. In this chat with Fearne, Adele talks through the symptoms of bowel cancer, what the experience has taught her about positive mindset, as well as the realities of going through chemo. They also chat about why it’s never too late to embrace and practice a new passion later in life, and why it’s important not to write off the entire day just because it started a bit crap. Personal Best, Adele’s memoir, is out on the 11...
Don’t underestimate the power your voice has. This is the key message to come from Happy Place Book Club read, Killjoy, which tells the incredible true story of the No More Page 3 campaign, and the unlikely everyday women who made a generational change possible. Fearne chats to author Jo Cheetham about their early memories of Page 3, street harassment, and how cultural messages can affect the way we relate to our own bodies. They also talk about acknowledging anger and channelling that rage into something productive, and Jo shares how self-sabotage nearly stopped her writing this book in th...
“Am I mad, or did it happen?” This is a question that poet Lemn Sissay regularly finds himself asking. Having grown up in care, he has no family members to bear witness to his life experiences; is his understanding of his own identity correct? In this chat with Fearne, Lemn talks through why it’s important for us not to compare trauma, that everything’s relative, and no one deserves more or less empathy. He also exposes the reality of the care system in the UK, and offers practical ways for all of us to help those who’ve been in care better integrate into society. Between them, they suggest...
A disciplined lifestyle isn’t restrictive, it’s freeing. That’s how dietician, nutritionist, and plant-based cook Radhi Devlukia-Shetty feels about the habits, boundaries, and guidelines she's implemented. They allow her to be in control, rather than outside factors controlling how she lives. In this chat with Fearne, Radhi explains why committing to something – and following through – increases self-worth as it proves you can trust yourself. Trusting your instincts is something she wants you to be doing more of when it comes to nourishing food in particular. They chat through some practica...
How can you support your child’s healthy brain development? How can you strengthen your connection with your children? And have you already messed them up too badly to make a change? These are all questions broadcaster-turned-child therapist Kate Silverton answers in her new book, There’s Still No Such Thing As Naughty. Kate joined Fearne on the podcast earlier this week to discuss how to help your child regulate their emotions, how screens affect development, neurodivergence, and more. Now, you can listen to an exclusive extract from Kate’s new book, all about separation anxiety. Listen to...
Did you learn to regulate your emotions as a child? Broadcaster turned child therapist Kate Silverton says our ability to regulate our emotions has been found to be the best indicator of future happiness. In this chat with Fearne, Kate definitively explains why it’s never too late to change your relationship with your kids regardless of how much you think you’ve already messed up. Kate talks through why it’s not about changing our children, it’s about changing their environment. Similarly, it’s not that you’re bad at parenting, it’s that you’re being expected to parent while under often mor...
How often do you honour your emotions, and ask yourself “how are you, in this moment?” Spiritual coach and meditation teacher Kirsty Gallagher guides you through a meditation that helps you connect with your inner wisdom, and to get beneath the noise and chaos of the outside world. So, find yourself somewhere quiet and comfortable for this gorgeous 10 minute meditation. While you’re doing that, you can first listen to a chapter from Kirsty’s new book, The Goddess Path, which is published by Happy Place Books. It’s a powerful read that will help you reclaim your self-worth, establish boundar...
Some people are born driven; Zara Larsson is one of them. Sixteen years into her career, she’s still got huge ambitions for what she wants to achieve and what she expects of herself. In this chat, Fearne and Zara talk about how to make sure we’re content and satisfied in the moment, while acknowledging that we continuously want to evolve and grow. We have to be curious about our human potential by pushing our own boundaries. Plus, Fearne and Zara realise they’re the total opposite person – one being an introvert who craves time alone, the other being an extrovert who thrives on social inter...
Change is scary but liberating. Grief has galvanised musician Jess Glynne, changing her outlook on life and making her more fearless. In this chat with Fearne, Jess explains why learning that life is short has helped her trust her gut and make decisions that really serve her personally and professionally, rather than internalising other people’s feedback. Fearne and Jess also talk through how to forgive both yourself and others for fucking up. We’re all going to make mistakes, so they chat about how we can give each other some grace and a space to learn, rather than creating a culture of fe...
Distress can be transformed into growth. Having had breast cancer, a double mastectomy, and Crohn’s, music icon Anastacia knows all too well how to be resilient through health scares. In this chat, Fearne and Anastacia discuss how mindset and perspective can make a huge difference to our reality, especially for someone like Anastacia, who says she’s both an anxious and an optimistic person. Plus, given the voices in her head that often told her she wasn’t pretty enough, Anastacia also gives advice on how to be ok with not looking like everyone else on the internet, and how to resist the urg...
What do you want to say that you’re not saying? After decades in the music industry Natasha Bedingfield has learnt from experience that being true to ourselves has to be more important than being liked. In this chat, Fearne and Natasha explore practical ways to speak up and assert yourself, with Natasha drawing inspiration from the way legends like Tina Turner physically take control of their voice in order to be seen and heard. Plus, not concerned by prescriptive parenting guidelines, they share their own unique techniques, proving every family should feel able to live by the rules that ma...
The Playboy mansion was supposed to be a place of freedom, expression and empowerment for Crystal Hefner, but it turned out to be the total opposite. As one of the girlfriends – and then wife – of Hugh Hefner, she had to be seen and not heard. In this chat with Fearne, Crystal explains how living in the Playboy mansion saw her pitted against other women and picked apart for her appearance. Recognising the financial abuse in particular, she began saving her own money, which eventually created a foundation from which to rebuild her life, and self-worth, when Hef died. Fearne and Crystal also...
A good life isn’t necessarily a comfortable, easy life. Neuroscientist Tj Power knows that an element of effort and challenge is vital in keeping our minds happy. In this chat with Fearne, Tj explains why it’s an issue for our mental health that the modern world enables us to get dopamine hits with zero effort. Similarly, he reckons being bored is a really solid antidote to being overstimulated and anxious. They talk through ways to naturally boost and balance brain chemicals like oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, using his science-backed DOSE method. Plus, Tj offers tips on how to reinf...
Are we making ourselves unhappy by setting unrealistic expectations for our relationships? Matchmaker Paul C Brunson thinks we might just be. In this chat, Fearne and Paul explore attachment theory, communication styles, and the idea that instead of looking for ‘the one’ we should prioritise doing more of the things that light us up. Plus, Paul explains why the biggest rule of dating is to find the person you want to break the rules with... Paul’s book, Find Love, is published by Happy Place Books on February 1st. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When judge ourselves less, we judge each other less too, and vice versa. Activist and broadcaster Emma Dabiri’s academic work critiques the image-conscious society we live in. In this chat, Fearne and Emma explore attitudes to everything from ageing, to weight, to race. Plus, Emma explains how much of our beauty culture is specific to the West, by comparing it to other cultures around the world. They also talk about how we can critique beauty culture while still loving the magic of self-expression and adornment and art. Emma’s book, Disobedient Bodies: Reclaim Your Unruly Beauty, is out now...
Fearne wants to f*ck Blue Monday and help you make it whatever kind of Monday you want! Today, she’s revisiting past podcast conversations (and some never heard before on the show!) to help you address the Shitty Committee in your mind. No matter how loud those rubbish voices in your heard are right now, these chats might just trigger a tiny mindset or perspective shift that’ll help you feel better able to cope when those shitty voices next pop up. If you’re in need of a real mood boost, head over to @happyplaceofficial on Instagram to watch the F*ck Blue Monday video, and join in the conve...
The character trait you feel most tortured by is probably your best one too. Musician Tom Odell feels his perfectionism can make life challenging, but acknowledges it also plays a part in his success. In this chat, Tom talks about feeling fewer physical symptoms of anxiety since his last chat with Fearne in 2019, as well as how music helps him feel emotions more deeply, and understand them with more clarity. Plus, they talk about how a wedding day can bring out real tenderness in people. Tom's new album, Black Friday, is out on January 26th. His UK tour in March is sold out and final ticket...
Imposter syndrome is likely to affect all of us at some point in our life; Michelle Keegan still feels it every time she finishes an acting job. In this chat with Fearne, Michelle talks about her disciplined work ethic, as well as how she’s learnt to cope well with the amount of rejection in her industry. They also chat about why setting boundaries – especially drawing lines between personal and professional life – is so important. Plus, they wonder why it still feels important in adulthood to seek validation from our parents. Fool Me Once is available to watch on Netflix now. Hosted on Aca...
What if instead of New Year New Me, we switched it to New Year More Me? ‘Tapping Queen’ Poppy Delbridge shares a simple way to unlock the potential we already have inside us. In this chat with Fearne, Poppy talks through the practice of tapping, and how it can help with everything from dealing with phobias, to breaking negative thought patterns, and visualising the future you want. They also talk about why acknowledgement and acceptance are big parts of moving forward from your current difficult situation. Plus, there’s a live tapping session to help you go confidently into the new year. I...
Which parts of your life are put under a microscope over the festive period? Maybe you notice niggling difficulties amongst family members, or perhaps as we approach the new year you want a bit of motivation to help you take control of the life you want to live. In this episode, Fearne chats about the Happy Place conversations that have had a tangible impact on her own life in 2023, as well as the episodes that could be particularly helpful for all of us at this time of year. Fearne reflects on her chats with Jay Shetty, Kesha, Professor David Nutt, and many others, covering issues includin...
Breaking patterns of intergenerational trauma could have a profound effect on the state of the modern world. Writer Alain de Botton believes love – or a lack thereof – is at the heart of our personal and societal issues. In this chat with Fearne, Alain explains why so-called ‘attention seekers’ are precisely the people who need to be wrapped in love and attention. He also talks about why our defence mechanisms usually have real logic behind them, and why we should be curious about other peoples’ odd characteristics rather than getting frustrated by them. Plus, he answers the simplest and mo...
Why does having deep conversations matter, and why are podcasts the perfect place to have those conversations? In this episode, Fearne sits down with Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes from High Performance, Elizabeth Day from How To Fail, and Rangan Chatterjee from Feel Better Live More to reflect on what their shows have taught them. They chat about how conversations on their podcasts have affected their personal lives, and why it’s important to acknowledge that everyone has a story, and that everyone knows something you don’t know... Plus, Fearne and Jake reveal the weirdest TV gigs they’ve...
Ask your inner child what brings them most joy: that’s how we can start to find happiness and purpose as adults. DJ, producer, singer, and songwriter John Newman has recently pivoted his career in order to better serve his inner child. In this chat with Fearne, John talks about how rejection in his childhood, coupled with the intoxicating feeling of being wanted by everyone as a famous artist, led him down a volatile path. Fame, he says, is a drug that was having an impact on those around him as well as himself. They also chat about what happens when you’re fearful of letting anything ‘nega...
Are you approaching the festive season without loved ones? Comedian, presenter, and author Matt Lucas has been thinking a lot about what it’s like to be grieving around this time of year. In this chat with Fearne, Matt talks through some of the personal experiences that led him to write a children’s book about a boy who’s approaching Christmas without his mum. They also share that creativity has the ability to pull them out of depressions. Plus, using parts of his own life as examples, Matt explains why we might need to think more about the prison population, and why it’s important to under...
Stripped of her character and confidence, Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock felt she was fading away in the band. In this chat with Fearne, Leigh-Anne details the moment it clicked how big a part racism was playing, and why she now feels a duty to speak out. She explains how – as well as re-building her self-worth through therapy – she finds it helpful to ask herself what her fearless children would do. Fearne and Leigh-Anne also wonder whether we always have to know exactly who we are, or whether we can just let ourselves be... Leigh-Anne’s book, Believe, is out now, published by Headline an...
Do you know how to set boundaries without feeling like a mean-spirited person? Singer songwriter LeAnn Rimes has learnt to give herself permission to politely say no. In this chat, Fearne and LeAnn share their experiences of learning to find fun when life had been so business-oriented for both of them from such a young age. They also compare notes on step-parenting, and talk about how children can trigger important revelations about your own insecurities. Plus, they chat about the concept of wellness, and why we need to be careful not to just let it become another stick to beat ourselves wi...