Happy Place

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 conversation. Watch Julia Samuel’s What Is How To video Listen to Vex King’s episode Listen to Ruby Wax’s episode Listen to Sonia Choquette’s episode Listen to Tim Peake’s episode Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 tickets are available for his headline shows at Alexandra Palace Park (July 19th), Dublin (June 26th) and Halifax Piece Hall (June 30th).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. If you want to enjoy the benefits of tapping sign up to the Happy Place App today and discover a range of Poppy’s practices that can help with anything from anxiety to motivation or simply bringing a moment of happiness in your day!  Sign up through App Store or Google Play store.  https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/happy-place-fearne-cotton/id1635145849  Hosted on Acast. See acas

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 including arguments, addiction, and cultivating a kinder relationship with yourself.Listen to the full episodes - Bob Waldinger: https://pod.fo/e/17c1d1 Jay Shetty: https://pod.fo/e/164c7dKesha: https://pod.fo/e/17dee1 Professor David Nutt: https://pod.fo/e/19146b Raynor Winn: https://pod.fo/e/15c075 Bronnie Ware: https://pod.fo/e/18f064 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv

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 most complex of questions: what actually is a healthy mind? Alain’s book, A Therapeutic Journey: Lessons From the School of Life is out now.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 done in the past! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ‘negative’ touch you, as well as what impact being aware of death from a young age can have.Through doing the inner work, inviting practices such as manifestation into his life, and reconnecting with his innate passion for music, John is entering his most exciting chapter yet. John’s smash hit single Call Your Name, with DJ/producer Alesso, is out now.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf

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 understand the back story of what it means to be gay in the UK. Matt’s musical children’s book, The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 and available at all good bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 with... LeAnn will be performing at the O2 Arena in London on the 8th May 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What other people think about you is their own business. Actress, musician, and talk show host Jada Pinkett Smith looks internally for her self-worth. In this chat with Fearne, Jada explains why it’s so important to take responsibility for how you feel about yourself. They also talk about why we’re sometimes just as afraid to embrace our own light as we are to acknowledge the shadow parts of ourselves. Plus, Jada details the difference between trauma and adversity, and makes it clear the latter is both necessary and transformative. Jada’s book, Worthy, is out now. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about suicidal thoughts, so do take care while listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sport should unite people; that’s what England women’s football coach Sarina Wiegman believes, and it’s something she achieved when the Lionesses won the Euros in 2022. In this chat with Fearne, Sarina explains that succeeding at a high level is important because it provides a platform to drive meaningful cultural change. She also talks about why a good leader should be empathetic to the individual characters of those they’re managing, and why clarity – being clear and honest in communication – is a key value of hers. Sarina’s book, What it Takes: My Playbook on Life and Leadership, is out on the 9th November. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In moments of worry, it can be useful to zoom out and see the bigger picture. As an astronaut, Major Tim Peake is one of the few people who’s been able to physically gain this kind of perspective, looking back at the planet from space. In this chat with Fearne, Tim explains how his experiences have built resilience that he can bring back into his everyday life back on Earth, as well as how he analyses and compartmentalises risk in a potentially dangerous job. He also talks about coming to the realisation that not setting long-term goals, but instead working with two-year visions, has helped him enjoy the journey more. Tim’s book, Space: The Human Story, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you spoken to your parents and grandparents about their own life experiences? For Sir Lenny Henry, it’s been important to document his family’s stories. In this chat with Fearne, Lenny talks about his community’s culture of overcoming big life events as a collective, explains how his humour won him allies when he was being bullied, and thinks about what still needs to be done to tackle racism in the UK. You can catch episode one of Three Little Birds on ITVX now, and episode two will be on ITV on Sunday 29 October. Lenny’s latest children’s book, The Boy With Wings: Clash of the Superkids, is out now. CONTENT WARNING: This episode frankly discusses incidents of racism.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The band is 34 years old, but Take That feel they’re just getting started. In this chat with Fearne, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald, reveal if they can see themselves on stage well into their 70s and 80s... Plus, they chat about how much of a positive impact having children has had both on their own characters, and on the logistics of being in a band. They also explain what it takes to be physically capable of performing huge live shows – the gym and nutrition both play a part. Take That’s new album, This Life, is out on November 24th.Tickets for the 2024 tour are on sale now, just visit: https://takethat.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you look at yourself and say ‘I am happy’? Supermodel Ellie Goldstein, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, says she can. In this chat with Fearne, Ellie and her mum Yvonne talk about the obstacles she’s overcome to grace the covers of Vogue and Glamour, as well as become the UK ambassador for a Barbie doll based on a person with Down’s Syndrome. They chat about the importance of making sure kids feel a part of a community. It doesn’t matter how quickly they pick up a hobby, or how good they are at it – what matters is that they’re enjoying themselves. Against All Odds By Ellie Goldstein (with foreword by Katie Piper) is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s beauty in letting go and not having your life mapped out for you. That’s something musician Rick Astley has learnt in the years after calling it quits on his successful music career when he was just 27. In this chat with Fearne, Rick gives some brilliant insights into what the music industry was like thirty years ago, how it’s changed, and how it hasn’t. Plus, he reflects on who his parents were and how, despite a difficult childhood, he’s able to see them as multifaceted humans rather than just parents. Rick’s new album, Are We There Yet, is out on October the 13th.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.