“I think the worst!” How to manage anxiety and intrusive thoughts

Do you have a chip on your shoulder? Actors Daisy May and Charlie Cooper say growing up working class made them angry, but that feeling like outsiders in their industry has been a powerful motivator.In this chat with Fearne, Daisy May and Charlie explain how they’ve dealt with feeling threatened by authority and power. They also reveal why This Country almost didn’t happen because a contract meant they might have to pay £350,000 to buy back their own characters... They chat about the importance of trusting your gut when no one else believes in you.Is your sibling the funniest person you’ll ever meet? Quite possibly. Daisy May and Charlie explore their shared interest in the paranormal, and their wildly different parenting styles.Plus, how has Daisy May found inner peace now? Rules including no phone, no alcohol, and no people pleasing have definitely helped...You can watch Daisy May and Charlie on their new BBC show NightWatch now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Joanna PageRahul JandialKirsty Gallagher Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fearne’s anxiety and OCD have been pretty loud recently, so she wanted to find a bit of solace in listening back to some other people with their own experiences of feeling anxious, low, having panic attacks, going through therapy, and accepting they’ll never be fully ‘fixed’... In this episode –-Musician Perrie Edwards explains why she brings her therapist to work with her-Actor Will Poulter’s taking a personalised approach to his OCD-Comedian Julian Clary reckons age and perspective have calmed his anxiety-Broadcaster Vogue Williams chats about medication and catastrophising-Musician YungBlud talks through learning to like yourself-Writer Natalie Lue explains how to recognise what’s beneath the anxious thoughts Listen to the full episodes here:Perrie EdwardsWill PoulterJulian ClaryVogue WilliamsYungBludNatalie Lue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can learn a lot from scientists about getting comfortable with being wrong, says physicist Professor Brian Cox.In this chat with Fearne, Brian explains the difference between ‘having an argument’ and ‘making an argument’. The latter gives us confidence to ask curious questions, come to our own conclusions, and remain open to being wrong, without letting ego get in the way of connection or progress.Brian talks through what the physics behind the universe says about the meaning of being human, including finding personal motivation and purpose, and whether there’s life after death.Fearne and Brian also wonder how we can make sure young girls aren’t discouraged from pursuing science, and Brian tells the story of being on the set of a famous alien movie...Tickets for Brian’s 2026 world tour – Emergence – are available now. Brian’s reading list:Richard Feynman – The Value of ScienceCarl Sagan – The Demon Haunted WorldJohannes Kepler – Harmonice MundiArthur C. Clark – 2001Erwin Schrödinger – What is Life?Sir Paul Nurse – What is Life? If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Jane GoodallBjorn Natthiko LindebladMajor Tim Peake Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Broadcaster and entrepreneur Jamie Laing had big fears about having kids... and yet he’s about to become a dad any day now.In this chat with Fearne, Jamie’s honest about the pros and cons he deliberated over before deciding to have children. He talks through how his parents’ divorce expanded his world in beautiful ways, as well as why he chose to re-kindle his relationship with his dad as an adult.Jamie also talks for the first time about his body image and eating disorder. Given Fearne has been through her own experience of bulimia, Jamie looks to her for advice on how to break free from the shame that’s gripped him for much of his life.Jamie can now say he genuinely likes himself, but explains how throughout his teens and twenties he felt a real need to be popular, liked, and validated by others. How did he learn to cultivate self-compassion in his thirties? And what does he reckon is the best way to get men to open up to their mates?Jamie’s book, Boys Don’t Cry, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Erling KaggeEmily EnglishBen West Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blame isn’t helpful. Illustrator and author Charlie Mackesy thinks learning to forgive yourself and others will lead to more peace.In this chat, Fearne and Charlie talk from personal experience about just how physical shame can feel. Charlie explains how fear of abandonment keeps us silent about our insecurities, but that in reality the moment we start talking about our shame is the moment real human connection is made.Charlie and Fearne also chat about how polarised the world is becoming, and offer advice for how to cope with fear, as well as why it’s important to disagree respectfully.Plus, why did Charlie feel he needed to hide away in the toilets at the Oscars?Charlie’s latest book, Always Remember: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, The Horse, and The Storm, is out now.CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains some conversation about suicidal ideation.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Teddy SwimsWill PoulterOlly Alexander Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did you love doing when you were 10 years old? Broadcaster Greg James reckons we all need to prioritise fun and silliness more, and thinking about your childhood passions is a great place to start.In this chat, Fearne and Greg talk about how bleak, boring, and anxiety-inducing being a responsible grown up can be sometimes, and why that means it’s vital to choose to laugh every day.Greg also explains why it’s important to stop and ask yourself if you really want to get married, have kids, or earn lots of money, or if you’re sleepwalking into someone else’s vision of a perfect life.Plus, why did 21 year old Greg think he had a chance with Fearne when he first arrived at Radio 1...?Greg’s book, All The Best For The Future, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Scott MillsNick GrimshawAnnie Mac Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Loved Ones – the Happy Place Book Club pick for September – tells the story of Julia, whose first love Gabe dies aged 29, launching her into a world-wide quest to recover the possessions he left with friends and acquaintances across the world. It also brings her into contact with the last woman Gabe loved...In this chat, Fearne and author Aisha Muharrar wonder what would happen if you met others who had dated the same person as you. Would you get on and have loads in common? Or would there be intense jealousy? They also explore the strange idea that different people know and love very different sides of you.Aisha was a script writer on TV show Parks and Recreation, and she brings that comedy and levity to the messy topic of grief in Loved Ones. Writing her debut novel was very much a new challenge though – Aisha explains to Fearne why she pretty much had to re-write the whole book!Enter our competition with Bookshop.org to be in with a chance of winning books for life here: https://woobox.com/9jfwesThank you to Fourth Estate for the use of Loved One audiobook, narrated by Emma Ladji.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Book Club Meets: Cally Beaton Book Club Meets: Emily Henry Book Club Meets: Lorna Tucker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September always has a back-to-school feeling, so this episode is all about getting back into a successful work routine after the summer, without burning yourself out...In this episode –-Entrepreneur Grace Beverley chats through how to set boundaries to create a work life balance that works for you, and how to create new organisation habits so you can spend less time procrastinating-Researcher Brene Brown tackles perfectionism and how self-compassion can stop you putting so much pressure on yourself-UniLad founder Alex Partridge offers some practical tips if you’re feeling anxious at work, including asking for flexible hours and advocating for walking meetings-Fashion and beauty mogul Trinny Woodall explains how she’s built her professional confidence and how she deals with rejection-Olympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds gives relatable advice about how to know when it’s time to quit and find a new career passionListen to the full episodes here – Grace BeverleyBrene BrownAlex PartridgeTrinny WoodallEllie Simmonds  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lulu shot to fame at 15, and she’s been playing that part, masking who she really is – Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie – for the six decades since.In this chat with Fearne, Lulu explains how she felt that everything from her real name and accent, to her personality and childhood weren’t good enough, so she created a character for the public to love. However, this kind of emotional suppression can have painful consequences, and she’s since learned to stop running from her messy parts.Lulu talks through the moment she realised she was an alcoholic, and how recovery has helped her truly like herself. They chat about how to trust your intuition, and reinvent yourself in every decade should you want to... but prepare for others to find your growth uncomfortable.Plus, there are revelations about her relationship with David Bowie that Lulu’s never publicised before, and details about how she put her father in jail as a child.Lulu’s new book, If Only You Knew, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Jon Bon JoviZandra RhodesJada Pinkett Smith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Page didn’t want kids, until she suddenly did at 35! In this chat with Fearne, Joanna explains how she had to bring her baby on set in order to keep working as a new mum, and why she ultimately decided to focus on family over career.They chat about why it’s ok to do average – or even shit – work sometimes, and why perfection doesn’t need to be the goal. Joanna’s noticed on set that younger women seem to have much higher self-worth than she had at their age; what can we learn from their assertiveness?Plus, which Hollywood actor did Joanna fart in front of, and how did the Love Actually sex scenes work behind the scenes?Joanna’s new book, Lush, is out on September 25th.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Sophie Ellis BexterColeen RooneyPerrie Edwards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.