Mary Berry: "I didn't want to leave the house!" How gardening helped me through grief

What’s been going on for you this week? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s here with more chat about what’s putting her, Team Happy Place team, and you lot in a good mood, and what’s feeling a bit heavier.This is our space to explore what’s been on our minds. Want to join the chat? Send us a voicenote, DM, or comment on Instagram @happyplaceofficial!In this chat, Fearne explores:-The joyful chaos of the girls’ WhatsApp group -Taking time to chill before a big life change-Why it feels so good putting the washing out in the garden-The time she unfortunately became a bit of a kn*b after red wine-Tiredness messing with your day-Worrying about things you can’t control-How to speak more kindly to your body-The rage she feels at the Instagram algorithm Happy Place episodes mentioned in this chat:Take That Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Grace Campbell used to call herself crazy before anyone else could get in there first. Now, Grace wonders whether telling herself this story was affecting how other people interacted with her...In this chat, Fearne and Grace explore how your inner self-talk will impact how others perceive you. So, how has Grace re-framed her ADHD, OCD, and anxieties? And given Grace has spent a lot of time seeking male validation, how has she become ok with so many men finding her “annoying”?Grace also reflects on her childhood, growing up amongst the political elite thanks to her dad Alastair Campbell. She explains how she learnt to speak up for herself by watching the powerful men around her.Plus, why life is too short for bad sex and a lack of orgasms!You can get your tickets for Grace’s stand up tour here!If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Gillian AndersonFlorence BarkMiranda July  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you coming to one of the Happy Place Festivals this year? We hope so! Have you been before and wondered how it all comes together? Maybe you’re unsure about coming and want to know what the vibe’s like...Fearne’s joined by Team Happy Place’s Nicky Darling – she heads up all the live events – to get the behind the scenes goss on what it takes to make sure you have a gorgeous time at the festivals. They chat about –-Why it takes a whole year to plan the festivals-Making sure there’s something for everyone, including yoga, breathwork, arts and crafts, shopping, book signings, live poetry, and DJs-How your feedback changes future festivals-Learning the hard way that more toilets and food trucks are needed-The new area for 2026: The Happy Hub, where there’ll be hula-hooping, line dancing, and a silent disco-Who’ll be doing brilliant talks on stage this year-What happens when the weather doesn’t play ball-Fearne’s mum living for the festivals’ logistical dramas-Encouraging more men to come along – there’s loads for you too guys!-The naughtiest things people have been found doing at the festivals-The joy of surprising someone with the title of Happy Place Hero In 2026 the Happy Place Festival will be at Old Deer Park in London on the 11th and 12th of July, and Tatton Park in Cheshire on the 5th and 6th of September.Get your tickets now!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Ashley Roberts, dance was her self-expression and meditation. Then, at the height of her Pussycat Dolls fame the art she loved became tangled up in extreme burnout and body shaming.In this chat with Fearne, Ashley explains how discovering breathwork brought her back to herself after a period of intense anxiety and physical ill-health. Now, the Pussycat Dolls are making a comeback in their 40s, and this time round they’re doing it with a bigger focus on having more fun and giving fewer f*cks.There’s a lot of mental illness in her family, so Ashley talks about the mental health toolkit she’s creating for herself, as well as the grief of losing her dad to suicide. Plus, she and Fearne both suffer from insomnia, so share what works – and what really doesn’t – for each of them.The Pussycat Dolls will be touring Europe in summer 2026.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Leigh-Anne PinnockLeAnne RimesPaloma Faith  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Heller is a tradwife influencer online. She’s got the perfect life: a brood of beautiful children and a handsome cowboy husband who eat her homemade bread and jams in their gorgeous red barn. What her millions of followers don’t know is that she’s got a whole army of hidden staff and industrial kitchen appliances helping her out.Then, one day... she wakes up in the 1800s, and is forced to live this traditional fantasy for real.Yesteryear was our Happy Place Book Club read for May. In this chat, author Caro Claire Burke joins Fearne to talk about the manosphere, motherhood, religion, and modern feminism. Plus, what does Caro make of Anne Hathaway turning her book into a film?In June, we’ll be reading Honey by Imani Thompson.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Book Club Meets: Josie Lloyd and Emlyn ReesBook Club Meets: Emma GannonBook Club Meets: Maggie O’Farrell  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary Berry has been married for 60 years and says she and her husband have never had a cross word. Her secret? Do a lap of the garden before saying the thing you might regret.In this chat with Fearne, Mary shares the simple principles that have guided her life: be kind, contribute to community, and prioritise time in nature.Mary’s 91, and her mum lived to 105. She believes a busy mind makes a happy person, so offers advice for getting into your gardening era (Fearne’s not quite there yet) regardless of how much outdoor space you have.Mary also reflects on the wartime childhood in Bath that saw her school being bombed and her family needing to grow their own food. Plus, how do you move through the grief of losing a child?Mary’s book, My Gardening Life, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Mary Berry’s first Happy Place chatRuth LangsfordLiz Earle  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Cumming's dad told him he was worthless, and his mum told him he was precious. Figuring out how he feels about himself has been a life’s work.In this chat with Fearne, Alan’s open about the ways he’s allowed people to treat him badly, and how he’s learnt to get comfortable with confrontation and setting boundaries. He also explains why the rage in the script of his new TV show triggered painful childhood memories.Fearne and Alan share their experiences of oscillating between relentless, excited creativity (constantly manifesting bigger and better jobs) and a desire to rest (Alan’s fantasies about becoming a tradwife...!)Plus, what really happens on the Traitors’ set and how on earth does Alan manage to keep that poker face all the time?Alan will be creatively involved in four different productions at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre this year, and you can watch Alan in Channel 4’s new show Tip Toe from May 31st.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Nicole LePeraShauna TiffanyZayn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever looked in the mirror and told yourself “I am enough” ...and not believed a word of it? Psychologist Dr Julie Smith reckons affirmations only work to boost confidence if – deep down – you already believe them.In this chat with Fearne, Julie explains why your brain needs evidence, not mantras, to change your critical inner voice and build self-worth. She also talks through why criticism from others can hit so hard, and why the discomfort felt is often an echo of a much older wound. Julie breaks down how the patterns we developed in childhood keep replaying in adulthood.Julie also talks about her breast cancer diagnosis, and how it tested everything she’d been teaching everyone else about fear, agency, and mental health.Plus, what’s the simple therapy exercise that could change how you carry pain?Dr Julie’s best-selling book, Open When, is available now in paperback.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Dr Julie’s first Happy Place episodeEstelle BinghamAdele Roberts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One in six women arriving at Dr Louise Newson's menopause clinic have suicidal thoughts. 92% see those thoughts reduce with natural hormones, so why are women still being prescribed antidepressants instead?In this chat with Fearne, Louise explains why women are being misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety when the root cause is hormonal. Fearne admits she's the woman with her head in the sand about perimenopause, so Louise walks her through what the many (many!) different symptoms could look like, and how to talk to a GP about how you’re feeling mentally and physically.Plus, is there any truth to the myth that HRT causes breast cancer? Why is testosterone the most misunderstood hormone in women's health? And would the contraceptive pill be approved if it was created today...?Louise’s new book, The Power of Hormones, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Liz EarleCally BeatonNaomi Watts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Without something creative to pour himself into, actor Joseph Fiennes says he'd eat himself alive.In this chat with Fearne, Joseph thinks about why if he doesn't have a challenge to wear him out, restlessness and doubt will take over entirely. They also explore the strange duality of loving your craft... but dreading the judgment that comes with it.Joseph has played England football manager Gareth Southgate on stage, and now on TV; he draws parallels between their principles around negotiating fear and encouraging vulnerability in men.Plus, Joseph explains what struggling with reading and writing taught him about knowing who he is, and reveals the hilarious reality of forgetting your lines mid-Shakespeare...You can watch Joseph in Dear England on the BBC from May 24th.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Gareth SouthgatePippa GrangeJack Whitehall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.