Happy Place

Meditation is chaos – it’s ok if you can’t completely quiet your mind. In fact, meditator, poet, and New York Times best-selling author Yung Pueblo says that’s kind of the main point.In this chat with Fearne, he explains that while meditation isn’t a ‘click your fingers and all your problems go away’ solution, it can have a very powerful effect on how you react to your problems. They also discuss how acknowledging that everything is always changing can help us be more present and appreciate the moment now.‘Lighter’ by Yung Pueblo is out now, and is a guide to deep healing and self love.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel like you’re in your own way? Like the only obstacle stopping you achieving success is your own lack of self-belief? This is something pop icon and Queen front man Adam Lambert has spent a career navigating.In this chat with Fearne, Adam opens up about how he came to understand that he has anxiety. Looking back, he’s clear that having to supress his queer identity for a long time compounded his stress, and that while becoming famous alleviated some stresses, it created many others, including a huge pressure to constantly perform at a high level. They also talk about the positive impact Adam’s personally found taking medication has had on his mental health.Adam’s single, Ordinary World, is out now, and you can pre-order his album, High Drama’, now too.Britain Get Singing airs on ITV on Christmas Eve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When was the last time you impressed yourself by doing something you didn’t think you could? Bear Grylls reckons putting ourselves in slightly uncomfortable situations is where we grow.In this chat with Fearne, Bear explains why those who take on epic adventures or challenges have to be really good at being mindful and living in the present, and what lessons about mental resilience we can all learn there. They also talk about why being negative and being optimistic are both just habits, so positivity is a skill we can learn.Bear’s book, Mind Fuel, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kelsey’s husband, The Wanted’s Tom Parker, publicly announced in October 2020 that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. He died in March 2022. Since then, Kelsey’s been learning how to navigate her own grief as well as that of their small children. In this chat, she and Fearne explore the idea that we’re all allowed to be multiple things at once; Kelsey is clear she needs space to be strong and resilient, and fall apart at the same time. Kelsey’s new documentary, Kelsey Parker: Life After Tom, is out now on ITVBe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the 200th episode of Happy Place! To celebrate, Fearne replays some of her favourite moments from the show, revealing behind the scenes anecdotes and explaining why these conversations have been so important to her. Dave Grohl, Jada Pinkett Smith, and David Harewood all make an appearance. Plus, she hears from you about your favourite moments too. You’ve been sending voicenotes to Fearne and asking her your questions, including which guest she’s been most nervous to interview, and what advice she’d have for a woman heading into her 30s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel held back by shame or judgement? Not just from others but perhaps from yourself too? Do you default to self-deprecation? In this chat with Fearne, comedian, musician, and producer Tim Minchin talks about how he’s learnt to let himself appreciate his own talents. They also chat about their own parenting choices, knowing full well that their children’s characters will be shaped by them, and the importance of a diagnosis for neurodivergence. Plus, Tim has some interesting thoughts about why we shouldn’t necessarily be seeking happiness. Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, which Tim wrote the original music and lyrics for, is in UK cinemas on the 25th of November. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Model, NY Times best-selling author of My Body, and host of new podcast “High Low with EmRata,” Emily Ratajkowski has spent a lot of time thinking deeply about being a woman working in an industry that wants to commodify and objectify you. In this chat, Fearne and Emily explore female sexual empowerment, implicit gender roles, choosing to expose or cover up your body, and the tricky complexities and hypocrisies within all of those areas. High Low with EmRata is available to listen to wherever you’re listening to Happy Place right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stereotypes – the cat lady, the mother, the wife – can make us feel we need to play a part to fit the role others have cast us as. Broadcaster and author Dawn O’Porter wonders whether, far from being an entirely negative thing, sometimes that’s a necessary survival method.In this chat, Fearne and Dawn share their experiences of grief after losing their cats, as well as their thoughts on making a point of crying when they’re alone. Dawn says she has a bit of a rebellious spirit, and explores how she’s very much a product of her early years.Dawn’s novel, Cat Lady, is available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you ok? It’s a question that’s often worth repeating with the people we love. Capital Breakfast Show host Roman Kemp lost his best friend and radio producer to suicide in 2020, and is now more adamant than ever that we must keep asking our friends and family if they’re really ok.In this chat with Fearne, Roman explains why he feels it’s important to share both his ongoing grief, and stories of his own mental health with the nation each day. They also talk about why it’s important to be bold about using the word suicide; in naming it, we’re more able to do something about it.Roman’s book, Are You Really Ok? is out now.CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about suicide throughout, so do take care while listening.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We don’t just feel grief after a bereavement, we can feel it as a result of many different types of loss: loss of health, loss of a childhood, loss of the creative part of yourself. Coach and therapist Donna Lancaster explains why grief is valid in all these scenarios, and how to work through the heart break both mentally and physically.In this chat, Fearne and Donna explore how to be an emotional detective – how to be curious and search for the things in your past that have made you who you are – and how to recognise what your personal boundaries are.‘The Bridge: A nine step crossing into authentic and wholehearted living’ by Donna Lancaster is available now (Penguin Life, £16.99). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When others share their grief, it gives us permission to feel it ourselves. That’s what Richard E Grant has learnt over the last year as he’s shared every part of his own grieving process online. His wife Joan died in 2021, but before she did she told Richard he must try to find a ‘pocketful of happiness’ in each day. In this chat with Fearne, he explains why being given permission to be happy was so powerful. They also talk about how to set boundaries with family members, especially during difficult times, and how a trauma can show who your friends really are. Richard’s memoir, A Pocketful of Happiness, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been an incredible few months for sport, and broadcaster Gabby Logan has been at the heart of it, reporting as the Lionesses made history. In this chat with Fearne, she talks about how we now need to capitalise on successes like these for the future of women in sport.Gabby also shares her experience of watching someone she loves go through addiction, the impact that having a devoted mentor has had on her career, and what intense breathwork has taught her about emotion.Gabby’s book, The First Half, is out on October 13th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unrelenting positivity isn’t always healthy. Over a career spanning decades, best-selling artist Craig David has learnt that sometimes it’s best to lean into pain in order to validate how you’re feeling. In this chat with Fearne, Craig explains why his desire to people please was ultimately hurting him, and explores the childhood experiences that led to an addiction to exercise.Craig’s book, published by Happy Place Books, is called What’s Your Vibe: Tuning Into Your Best Life, and it’s out on October 6th.His new album, 22, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nerves and excitement are very closely related, but following a stratospheric rise to fame thanks to Eurovision, Sam Ryder makes a point to choose to feel the excitement. In this chat with Fearne, he reveals the truth about those glitzy afterparties and why he’d rather be at home playing with Lego... They also talk about how to understand what your purpose is, and why cool is the enemy. Sam’s album, ‘There’s Nothing But Space, Man!’ is out on November 18th, and you can get your tickets for his world tour here: https://www.sam-ryder.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How good are you at being alone, both with your thoughts, and physically in public places? Rylan says that last year was the first time he really had to confront his own mental health, but doing so has helped him appreciate the joy in spending time alone.In this chat with Fearne, Rylan talks about how he’s been able to manifest what he wanted his life to look like, and not seek permission from others when it comes to deciding what he can and can’t do. They also share experiences of whether they’ve personally found it more helpful to stop or continue working during difficult times.Rylan’s new book, TEN: The Decade That Changed My Future, is published by Seven Dials on the 29th September in Hardback, Audio and Ebook.You can join Rylan in his first exclusive event to celebrate the launch of TEN on the 21st September at Royal Festival Hall. Buy tickets here https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/literature-poetry/evening-rylan?eventId=907414 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you personally express love? Author, philanthropist, and award winning producer Olivia Harrison has a lifetime of memories with late husband George Harrison, the intricacies of which she felt compelled to write about in poetry.In this chat with Fearne, Olivia recounts stories from her life with George – including how important practices like meditation and gardening were to them – as well as talking about the undulating nature of grief.Olivia’s beautiful book of poetry, Came The Lightening, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Addiction has dictated much of Matt Willis’ life, but the musician and actor has since learnt how to take responsibility for his actions and reactions. In this chat, Fearne and Matt explore the concept of shame, and how it can keep you suffering in silence, as well as why we need to be careful of celebrating addiction of any kind, even if it’s something society fundamentally values like work or exercise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our body’s stress response is cleverly designed to keep us safe, but the trouble now is that it’s being triggered by every day life – emails, caring commitments, social media, loneliness. Dr Rangan Chatterjee explains what the stress response is, and how using your physically body can often be the best way to calm your mind. In this chat, Fearne and Rangan also talk in great detail about the importance of sleep, and how to trust your own feelings rather than always needing science to back up your lived experience.Rangan is the host of the Feel Better Live More podcast and author of 5 Sunday Times bestselling books including his latest Happy Mind Happy Life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DJ Fat Tony has spent time actively learning what love is after being in abusive relationships and being an addict. Having done trauma therapy, he’s not only begun to understand what healthy relationships with others look like, but also how it feels to love himself, to have self-worth and self-compassion, and not be forced into silence by shame.In this chat, Fearne and Tony talk about the power and freedom that comes with saying out loud that you need help, as well as how much of a challenge it is to unlearn and re-learn behaviours.Tony’s memoir, I Don’t Take Requests, is available now at all major book retailers.CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about child abuse and suicide, so do take care while listening.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when busy people stop being busy? Like everyone else, singer songwriter Tom Walker was forced to pause during the pandemic, and he’s clear that it did affect both his songwriting and the pace he lives at day to day.In this chat with Fearne, Tom explains how despite the music industry wanting to measure success by numbers, he’s able to measure his success by his own inner satisfaction. They also talk about the emotional power of epic songs, how even if they weren’t written about whatever we’re personally going through, they can deeply resonate and be genuinely life changing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.