Happy Place

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.

How good are you at saying no to people, plans, and dynamics that don’t serve you...? Just in time for the festive season (A huge work load! Time with family! Social events!) Fearne is reflecting on Happy Place chats that’ll help you stop people pleasing and start setting boundaries... In this episode: Melissa Urban is the queen of boundaries – what are they, and how do we set them? Life coach Michelle Elman talks about why we’re often reluctant to set boundaries, and Kirsty Gallagher explains how to take ‘radical responsibility’ for our own lives. Plus, there’s LeAnn Rimes on navigating difficult family dynamics, Grace Beverley on setting boundaries for work life balance, and Michelle Keegan on saying no to social events because sometimes we just want to be happy little hermits at home! If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Melissa Urban Michelle Elman Kirsty Gallagher LeAnn Rimes Grace Beverley Michelle Keegan Tell self-limiting beliefs to bugger off  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you have dreams of being extraordinary when you were a kid? For many of us, adult life starts chipping away at those big hopes and goals, but actor and disability campaigner Adam Pearson has no interest in being ‘normal’ or ‘mediocre’. In this chat with Fearne, Adam explains how never having the luxury of being invisible – he was born with neurofibromatosis – has given him confidence to really stand out. So how did he go from being bullied at school to boldly starring on the big screen? They talk about systemic ableism within the film and TV industries, and Adam explains why it shouldn’t be the job of the disability community to fix a problem they didn’t create... but often is. Plus, why is it that it’s always the movie villains who are facially disfigured, never the heroes?Plus, the three types of people you need in your life: a truth teller, a confidant, and a ride or die... If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Jono Lancaster Samantha Renke Sophie Morgan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve got to give new things a go and not give up when you’re a bit crap at first. Team GB Olympic rower Helen Glover is clear that a huge part of her success is thanks to her mindset that it’s better to try and fail than not try at all. In this chat with Fearne, Helen explains how to have the discipline to stick at stuff that feels important to you, even if it doesn’t always feel easy. By her own admission, Helen “couldn’t have been further from an Olympian” when she started training... At Tokyo 2020, Helen was the first mum to represent Great Britain in rowing at an Olympic Games. She’s passionate about pushing back on the perception that age or parenthood should be a barrier in anything you’re trying to achieve. She and Fearne unpick the narrative that says women probably won’t be all that ambitious once they’ve had kids! Plus, what’s the weirdest place you’ve found yourself breastfeeding in? Fearne and Helen share theirs... If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Molly McCann Leah Williamson Adele Roberts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How good are you at being honest with other people? Go on, be honest with yourself about that one! Coleen Rooney would always rather tell the truth before a situation escalates. In this chat with Fearne, Coleen explains how she’s instilling that honesty is the best policy in her four sons, as well as why she’s so grateful to have a village around her to help raise her boys. With four children, Coleen is in a lot of school gate WhatsApp groups, so she and Fearne spill what really goes down in those wild group chats... They also chat about how she and husband Wayne prioritise time as a couple, especially after so many years together, and what it was really like being thrust into the public eye as a teenager just because her boyfriend was a footballer. Plus, Coleen has dealt with some incredibly stressful situations in her life, so what does she do to make sure it doesn’t overwhelm her? Coleen is an ambassador for the protein, vitamins and collagen brand Applied Nutrition.  If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Lemn Sissay Ashley John Baptiste Gary and Emma Neville Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you cringe at other people’s joy? Author and illustrator Florence Given reckons cringing at others is telling you something about how you feel about yourself... In this chat Fearne and Florence get into how to really start living unapologetically as your full delicious self. Cringing at others might be showing you’re a bit pissed off that someone else is able to do something you want permission to. Florence explains how anxiety from being bullied at school kick-started her questioning everything the world was telling her. Why do I have to be ‘pretty’? Why am I ‘too much’? Why do I care about being liked? You can’t let other people shrink your self-expression; Florence talks Fearne through how to not take comments and opinions personally. Plus, why resting feels like such a radical thing to do... Florence’s book, Women Living Deliciously, is out now. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Paloma Faith Beverley Knight Caitlin Moran Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you rip up your current life and reinvent yourself if you had the chance? Do you have desires you’d want to explore? Maybe there are hidden parts of yourself you’ve never had the chance to get to know? Which societal rules would you want to ignore? Author Miranda July asks all these questions in October’s Happy Place Book Club novel: All Fours. She picks apart how we can fall into the monotony of every day routine instead of acknowledging the wild emotions and longings inside us. In this chat, Fearne and Miranda talk about fluctuating hormones, pressures of motherhood, sexual fantasies (some of which may or may not involve tampons), and menopause as an incredibly exciting and sacred transitional period. Fearne asks Miranda to help her be even more painfully unfiltered in her own writing, while Miranda exclusively reveals how she originally intended the novel to end. Plus, what about this book made Fearne say it was the ‘one of the hottest, sexiest things’ she’d ever read...?Thank you to Canongate Books for the use of All Fours audiobook, read by Miranda July. Listen to Book Club Meets: Gillian Anderson Listen to Book Club Meets: Patric Gagne Listen to Book Club Meets: Holly Gramazio Listen to Book Club Meets: Sofie Hagen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A panic attack can feel like you’re dying from a heart attack; this is something former Little Mix member Perrie Edwards has experienced numerous times over the last few years. In this chat, Perrie talks about how her anxiety feels like her adult is ‘going offline’, leaving the child in her crying for help, and Fearne shares how she’s managed to stop having panic attacks (for now, at least). You might be good at advocating for the people you love, but how good are you at advocating for yourself and your own needs? Possibly a bit rubbish? Perrie explains how she’s got better at speaking her mind, as well as getting emotional about how important friendships are to her. Plus, why do Fearne and Perrie both reckon the term ‘hands-on dad’ can fuck right off...? Perrie’s new single, You Go Your Way, is out now. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Jesy Nelson Leigh-Anne Pinnock Poppy Delbridge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s ADHD Awareness Month, so Fearne’s reflecting on some of the conversations she’s had about neurodiversity on the show that’ll hopefully help you understand either yourself, or someone you love, even better... First, what are the signs and symptoms of ADHD? Do you recognise more of the hyperactive & impulsive symptoms like rashly spending money and substance addiction, or the inattentive ones like problems with working memory and organisation? Then there’s chat about how having undiagnosed ADHD can lead to mental health problems, why there’s so much shame in the neurodivergent community, and how to advocate for your needs in the workplace. Can ADHD be managed with lifestyle factors like nutrition and movement, or might you or a loved one benefit from medication? Plus, why it’s so important to differentiate between neurodivergence and the emotional dysregulation everyone can experience. Watch Dr Shy Mashru on What Is How To Listen to Gemma Style’s episode Listen to Alex Partridge’s episode Listen to Jordan Stephen’s episode Listen to Lucinda Miller’s episode Listen to Kate Silverton’s episode Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can choose to be bitter, or you can choose to be at peace. This is something Tulisa has learnt after numerous testing life experiences: that we each have the power to choose contentment over anger.In this chat with Fearne, Tulisa talks about the real sink or swim moments that could have seen her drown, but helped build resilience instead, including multiple high profile court cases.She explains how she’s got to a point where she genuinely doesn’t mind if she’s liked or not – something Fearne wants to learn how to get better at – as well as how being a young carer for her mum still affects her today.Plus, Tulisa explains the strange reason Britney Spears has a British accent in the song Scream & Shout...If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Matt Haig YungBlud Zayn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Botox, fillers, and surgeries – you’re judged if you do and you’re judged if you don’t. Love Islander & documentary maker Olivia Attwood is clear that the critical narrative about women’s looks is just a tactic used to control us regardless of what we choose to do to our bodies. In this chat, live from the Happy Place Festival, Fearne and Olivia ask if our mental health is suffering in our pursuit of physical perfection. Plus, they’re both candid about what work they have and haven’t had done. Olivia also opens up about how fearful and shy she used to be. Maybe you often feel blocked by a lack of self-confidence; Olivia explains how making a point of putting herself in situations that scared her helped build her self-worth. Olivia Attwood’s ITV2 show ‘Bad Boyfriends’ is out now on ITV and ITVX, and episodes of her podcast So Wrong It’s Right drop every Thursday. Stick two fingers up to beauty standards – listen to our body image episode!   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you get stage fright? You might not be an actor but perhaps you feel the fear when it comes to work presentations or small talk at parties... well, even critically acclaimed actor David Tennant has anxieties around performing under pressure. He reckons little bit of fear can be good to keep you from getting complacent though... In this chat, Fearne and David talk through how to work through those moments when you feel your brain is going to give up on you. The naivety of youth can give you a sense of self-confidence, but with age comes the security of having more concrete experiences of things going well to drawn on. This is a really useful coping mechanism to have in your back pocket for when anxiety starts to creep in. Plus, LGBTQ+ ally David gives his take on whether celebrities like him should use their voice for social activism, and verifies some of the stories Fearne read online about him... The Rivals is on Disney+ from October 18th. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Jason DonovanBillie PiperDawn French Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’re more capable than you think you are. Footballer Leah Williamson has learnt that setbacks are often an opportunity to prove and strengthen your resilience. In this chat with Fearne, Leah explains how getting through a major injury has made her love the person she is now more than the one she was before because of the way she looks after herself. Leah talks about the importance of listening to your own body, and trusting what it’s trying to tell you rather than ignoring or overriding it. There’s also food for thought on why we shouldn’t feel guilty for taking proper time out from our relentless lives.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Sarina Wiegman Molly McCann Iwan Thomas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you A) assume everyone probably hates you? B) react impulsively to criticism? C) feel intense shame about the way your brain works? These are all things UNILAD founder Alex Partridge has felt across his life, but at 34 he was diagnosed with ADHD and his character started to make a little more sense...In this chat with Fearne, live from the Happy Place Festival, Alex explains how his diagnosis allowed him to reframe the characteristics he had previously been troubled by, turning shame into compassion.If you personally don’t have a neurodivergent brain, you probably work with someone, have a family member, or are in a relationship with someone who does, so Alex talks through ways you can help create an environment for them to thrive in.Plus, there are loads of really practical coping mechanisms you can enact yourself if you’re the anxious one, or the one with ADHD. Listen to Alex’s podcast, ADHD Chatter. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Gemma Styles Lucinda Miller Jordan Stephens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you a Gary or an Emma? He thrives with a super social, demanding itinerary, and she’s all about lovely calm solitude. Gary Neville has had an ambitious drive instilled in him by his parents and his football career; his wife Emma is more reserved and serene, but they reckon opposites definitely attract. Fearne had two goals for this chat, live at the Happy Place Festival: to get Gary into wellness, and to marry the subjects of football and menopause... Emma experienced early menopause, and Gary admits to some of the errors he’s made in talking to her about her symptoms, but they also talk through the ways he’s helped her build her confidence along the way (spoiler: there were spreadsheets involved). Do you ever wonder if you’re selfish for putting yourself first? Emma explains how she found the self-belief to start a new career later in life after slightly losing her identity to motherhood. Meanwhile, Gary explains why his football career has made him into a solution-finder who wants to control problems in a practical way rather than dwelling on the emotional. What has he learnt about validating how his partner feels? Plus, has your relationship with alcohol changed as you age? Gary definitely can’t drink the way he used to... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your brain isn’t broken; this is the reassurance influencer Gemma Styles wants you to have. Your brain is doing its best to cope with modern society – we need to be fixing our systems not blaming our brains for poor mental health. In this chat with Fearne, Gemma – who’s an ambassador for MQ Mental Health Research – explains why understanding the science behind how her ADHD brain works helps her be kinder to herself. Do you compare and despair whenever you scroll through social media? Gemma has over 10 million followers on Instagram and offers advice for checking in with yourself on how being online is really making you feel. Plus, are you the type of person who leaves every social interaction convinced you’ve pissed someone off? Fearne and Gemma have some useful thoughts to make you feel less alone on that one... Gemma’s book, Why Am I Like This, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is your deepest sexual desire? Where do you think it comes from? Gillian Anderson has collected a series of anonymous fantasies in her new book, Want, and she wonders that at the heart of so many fantasies is the longing to be seen for who we really are. In this chat Fearne and Gillian explore why a lack of self-esteem might be affecting women’s experience of sex, and what a deeply personal fantasy might say about gender relations in wider society. Gillian offers advice about how to ‘act as if...’, that is, fake it ‘til you make it if you’re lacking confidence in the bedroom. She talks about how stepping into sexy, strong characters on screen has allowed her to embrace that power in her real life. Plus, learn how to think of fantasy as a creative and empowering act, one that allows you to literally write your own life story. Gillian’s book, Want, is our Happy Place Book Club pick for September, and it’s out now.Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for the use of Want audiobook, read by Gillian Anderson and Anonymous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you be a different version of you if you’d surrounded yourself with different people? This is something the plot of The Husbands, the Happy Place Book Club pick for August, explores. In this chat with Fearne, live at the Happy Place Festival, author Holly Gramazio explains why she wanted to examine the idea that different relationships could significantly impact your lifestyle and personality. She reckons there’s more than one way for you to be happy and for you to be yourself; there’s not necessarily a clear, correct choice about who you should date, what job you should have, or where you should live. Fearne and Holly also give advice about how to start writing a novel if you feel you have one in you, including finding a friend who’s rubbish at lying to read your drafts...Thank you to Penguin Audio for the use of The Husbands audiobook, read by Miranda Raison. Listen to Book Club Meets: Sofie Hagen Listen to Book Club Meets: Fearne Cotton Listen to Book Club Meets: Jo Cheetham Listen to Book Club Meets: Jennie Godfrey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What you eat is having a direct effect on your mood and behaviour. Naturopath and functional medicine practitioner Lucinda Miller wants to help your brain thrive. In this chat with Fearne, Lucinda talks about her own ADHD diagnosis and how changing her eating habits has changed her ability to cope with day-to-day life. Learn what it means to have a neurodivergent brain, and how symptoms can be managed with diet and nutrition. A neurodivergent brain may use five times the brain area of a neurotypical brain to do just one simple task, so proper fuelling with nutritious food is essential. Lucinda talks through the nutrients that best support emotional regulation, memory and mood, regardless of whether you’re neurodivergent or not. Plus, how the antibiotics you took years ago might still be affecting your gut health, and in turn, how your brain functions. Lucinda’s book, Brain Brilliance, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you confidently say: “I like myself”? What would it take for you to get to that place? The Happy Place Festival Talk Stage hosted loads of speakers across the weekend at Chiswick House and Gardens, and Fearne wants to bring you in on the Festival magic! You’ll hear parts of the talks given by Gabby Bernstein, Roxie Nafousi, Lisa Snowdon, Paul C Brunson, Will Young, and Dawn O’Porter, and learn a little bit from each of them about how to unapologetically be yourself.During this episode, you’ll explore what limiting beliefs are holding you back, how to get clarity around who you want to be, and how to identify what values are important to you (not the ones you’re being told to value!) Then, how to align your behaviour with your values to make tangible change for your future self, and – of course – how to put boundaries in place with other people so your values aren’t compromised... Listen to Gabby Bernstein’s full episode Listen to Paul C Brunson’s full episode Listen to Will Young’s full episode Listen to Dawn O’Porter’s full episode Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.