Happy Place

Ben West was 17 when his younger brother died by suicide. He’s since gone on to become a mental health campaigner, and has found humour can help communicate deeply traumatic messages. In this chat with Fearne, Ben talks through what signs to look for if you’re concerned about someone’s mental health. Then, how do you break the awkward silence when you both know you need to talk about a big topic like poor mental health? You’ll be able to approach the conversation in a compassionate, rather than confronting, way. Or, maybe you’re the one keeping big thoughts and feelings inside but have become a master of masking your truth. Fearne shares her experience of feeling defensive and telling people she’s ‘fine’ when they asked concerned questions. Ben also takes a thorough look at the mental health system and explains the reality of what care looks like in the UK (and what he’s doing to change it for the better!) Plus, how have people like Andrew Tate affected boys’ mental health? And why is finding the right therapist is a bit like dating...? CONTENT WARNING: This episode is all about the reality of suicide. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Richard E. Grant Ashley CainRoman Kemp  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making better food choices isn’t about changing who you are, but about making you the most energetic, vibrant version of you. Emily English, aka Em the Nutritionist, talks through how food directly impacts mood. In this chat Fearne and Em both share their experiences of having eating disorders. Was it more about weight and appearance or control and secrecy? They also offer advice for those trying to support a loved one who has a difficult relationship with food. So, how has Em gone from weighing out spinach leaves to piling plates with delicious nutritious foods? Her mindset is all about adding energising foods and movement into your life rather than restricting or taking away joy! Plus, Em explains that we’re all allowed to – and should – eat differently to each other (and to that person you follow online!), and they talk through how to build sustainable habits you’re actually going to be able to stick to. Emily’s recipe book, So Good, is out now. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Ella Mills Lucinda Miller Radhi Devlukia-Shetty   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you find yourself keeping quiet when you have plenty to say? Dame Harriet Walter – who has played 21 of Shakespeare’s female characters – has written She Speaks, which goes between the lines and imagines what Shakespeare’s women might really have wanted to say. She Speaks was our Happy Place Book Club read for December. In this chat with Fearne, Harriet explains why she felt it was so important to finally let these female characters speak their minds. Harriet also expands on the characters in order to comment on modern day issues like the way ageing women are treated. Fearne and Harriet chat about whether art mirrors the social hierarchy of its day, or perhaps offers an alternative worldview. Plus, Harriet reveals how female actors keep themselves in character when they’re waiting (often a long time) to speak on stage... Thank you to Little Brown Audio for the use of She Speaks audiobook, narrated by Harriet Walter. Listen to Book Club Meets: Liane Moriarty Listen to Book Club Meets: Miranda July  Listen to Book Club Meets: Gillian Anderson Listen to Book Club Meets: Patric Gagne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a big year on Happy Place! Who was Fearne “shitting her pants” to meet? Who does she want to go for a spicy marg with? And who is she surprised went viral? In this episode, Fearne reflects on the 2024 episodes that you really resonated with, and that have changed the way she lives her own life too. Plus, she’s got a lot of behind the scenes gossip to share! You’ll hear from Michelle Keegan about being a happy little hermit at home, Perrie Edwards about coping with panic attacks, and Patric Gagne about being a sociopath. Then, Kate Silverton chats about why kids aren’t ‘naughty’, Paloma Faith calls out the idea of women ‘having it all’, and Zayn explains why he’s not losing his Bradford accent any time soon... Listen to Michelle Keegan’s episode Listen to Perrie Edwards’ episode Listen to Patric Gagne’s episode Listen to Kate Silverton’s episode Listen to Paloma Faith’s episode Listen to Zayn’s episode  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Sometimes you have to just power through the self-loathing. Doing stand up comedy has helped Joanne McNally build resilience, take responsibility, and not take things so personally. In this chat, Fearne and Joanne share experiences of being hyper-independent; but can trusting and relying on yourself go too far? They chat about learning to delegate and ask for help too. Joanne was adopted as a baby, and she opens up about the process of piecing her identity together when she met her birth parents. Are you able to find the funny in distressing periods of your life? Joanne points out that in taking the piss out of yourself you ultimately have to take accountability for your own part in a difficult situation. Plus, Fearne and Joanne make some big admissions about their own pelvic floor health... If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Spencer Matthews Dawn French Matt Lucas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you feel pressured to look a certain way as you age? CEO and beauty expert Caroline Hirons reckons it’s no one else’s business if you want to get tweakments or simply wash your face at night. In this chat, Fearne and Caroline pivot looking after your face from something you do to look good... to something you do to feel good. Concerned about the texture or structure of your skin? Caroline clarifies when you might want to get tweakments, and when you just need a solid skincare routine. Caroline also talks through the effect hormones, diet, alcohol, and stress are having on the way you look, and explains why you should avoid washing your face in a hot shower! Plus, do you secretly love being busy and rushed off your feet? Fearne and Caroline bond over being ambitious women, but get real about how impossible it is to get any kind of work / life balance if you run a business... If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Olivia Atwood Emma Dabiri Matt Haig  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There should be no shame in being who you are. Musician and actor Olly Alexander has felt first hand how grappling with your identity can lead to poor mental health. In this chat with Fearne, Olly explains why he feels there’s such a high level of mental distress in the queer community, and how acting in It’s A Sin helped him unpack his own lived experience. Both Fearne and Olly share their experiences of poor body image, wondering if bulimia felt like a helpful tool to regain control in an intimidating world. How can you go from disliking your body to recognising the brilliant things it can do for you? Plus, how to let yourself off the hook when you’ve messed up at work or in a social situation, and what to do when you don’t feel you’ve ‘achieved’ enough to be of value... Olly’s solo album, Polari, is out in February. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about suicide, self-harm, and bulimia, so take care while listening. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Perrie Edwards Rebel Wilson YungBlud Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is your fate already pre-determined? Or do you feel you have true free will to dictate your own destiny? ...and if you could, would you want to find out when you’re going to die? These are the questions Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment grapples with. Here One Moment was our Happy Place Book Club read for November, and Liane joins Fearne to chat about why she wanted to explore chaos, chance, mortality, and psychic abilities in this novel. Fearne and Liane talk about the importance of having ‘main character energy’ in your own life, while also acknowledging that others are living their own fully formed lives too. Plus, how good are you at expressing yourself creatively without worrying how your efforts will be received? They talk through how to find intrinsic motivation for creative pursuits rather than relying on external praise...Thank you to Penguin Audio for the use of Here One Moment audiobook, narrated by Caroline Lee.Listen to Book Club Meets: Miranda July Listen to Book Club Meets: Gillian Anderson Listen to Book Club Meets: Patric Gagne Listen to Book Club Meets: Holly Gramazio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How quickly does your social battery drain? Do you know what you need to do to recharge it? Broadcaster Scott Mills admits he’s worked too hard and not relaxed enough in the past, but that’s all changing now... This episode is brought to you by British Airways Holidays, so Scott tells Fearne what he now does to take his holidays more seriously, including locking his phone away because – spoiler – nothing bad happens when you properly switch off from the world! Scott has advice if you feel like it’s too late to meet the love of your life... He reflects on his recent wedding, as well as revealing how the grand gesture of a helicopter ride in the early days of dating nearly ruined the whole relationship! How would you cope if you felt a relationship was moving a little too fast, or too slow, for you...? Plus, is it Fearne or Scott who reckons they were ‘The White Wine Queen’ during their chaotic Radio 1 days? They both think about when habitual drinking becomes problematic. If you’re ready to take your holidays more seriously, head to BA.com/holidays If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Rylan Jason Donovan Will Young Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How good are you at letting yourself feel your feelings? Actor Riley Keough thinks it’s important to embrace the sad and angry moments as much as the joyful, hopeful ones. In this chat with Fearne, Riley explains how her own grief at losing her brother and mum has taught her that fighting or repressing emotions only makes you more anxious in the long term. Riley’s mum was Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley. Riley talks about Lisa’s ability to live in a place of truth – she’d never do anything that didn’t feel authentic to her. What can we all learn about how to lean into our own pleasure? It’s liberating to not care if others like you! Fearne and Riley also discuss how impactful it can be when divorced parents are able to co-parent with grace. Plus, Riley reveals why she thinks her mum and Michael Jackson had such a deep connection. Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir, which Riley finished, is called From Here To The Great Unknown, and it’s out now. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Taylor Jenkins Reid Gabor Mate Ashely Cain  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.