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© Fearne Cotton 2020
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Fearne Cotton talks to incredible people about life, love, loss, and everything in-between as she reveals what happiness means to them.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Do you find it hard to look in the mirror? Have you found yourself controlling what you eat or exercise you do? Actor Sam Claflin has struggled with his body image since he was a child.In this chat with Fearne, Sam explains what having body dysmorphia means to him, and reflects on how it continues to affect everything from the food he eats to his willingness to watch his own films back.Fearne and Sam are both chronic people pleasers, and share how they’re working to stop putting everyone else’s comfort before their own. Sam also thinks about how he was brought up to think about what masculinity is, and what he’s doing to make sure his own son grows up with gentler male role models.Plus, who remembers the days of MSN and webcam chatrooms? They reminisce about the random people they ended up talking to online back in the day...You can watch Sam in Vanished on Amazon Prime from February 27th.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Riley Keogh Jame Laing Katherine May Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There’s a bit too much pressure on reaching an unwavering state of happiness isn’t there? It’s just not realistic. So Fearne’s going to be dropping into your feed every week for some candid nattering about what’s making her feel great, and what’s making her feel crap. This is a cosy little corner for all of us to explore what’s been on our minds, what’s been getting us down, inspiring us, and making us laugh. Wanna join the chat? Send us a voicenote, DM, or comment on Instagram @happyplaceofficial!Today: what joyful little moments are getting Fearne and Team Happy Place through the grey winter, and what are we all leaving firmly in 2025?In this chat, Fearne covers:-The joy (or, maybe not) of finding your inner child through skipping-Transitioning from being a gym-bunny to an intuitive exerciser-Being constantly infantilised by others-Reaching your gardening and electric blanket era-How to deal with mansplaining-A reminder for you to stop people pleasing, please-Why treating yourself to a little gift is a very good idea Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Everyone deserves a safe and dignified birth, but when Louise Thompson gave birth to son Leo, she was left with post-traumatic stress disorder.In this chat with Fearne, Louise talks through how her PTSD manifests, the way she disassociates, and the therapies she’s tried to work through it, including CBT and EMDR.She explains why her own experience has led her to petition the government. She wants to appoint a Maternity Commissioner to improve maternity care for mums and babies in the UK.Four years post-birth, Louise is reflecting on the ways she’s grown from her trauma, and is exploring how she can allow herself to slow down while maintaining her ambitious nature.Louise and Fearne also both share how they use busyness as a distraction from their uncomfortable thoughts, and wonder what being ‘likeable’ even means...Sign Louise’s Maternity Commissioner petition here If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Davina McCall Liberty Mills Ellie Simmonds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1Struggling to know if you’ve achieved enough? If you’re happy enough? Worry everything you’ve built could fall apart? Even national treasures Ant and Dec don’t feel like they’ve ‘made it’.In this chat with Fearne – their first ever podcast appearance – Ant and Dec explain that nearly four decades into their careers they’re still laughing together just as much as they did at the beginning, but now they’ve got far more gratitude for each day they get to be on TV.Both Ant and Dec have children, and explore how fatherhood has changed them... and challenged them at times too. They also share why it’s so vital to have an open mind and let your worldview expand as you’re introduced to new ideas and opinions.Plus, can Fearne convince Ant and Dec to swear on air, and how do they really feel about the PJ and Duncan days...?You can listen to Hanging Out With Ant and Dec from January 22nd.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Greg JamesPaddy McGuinness Prue Leith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What would you do if you weren’t afraid? That’s the question spiritual teacher and intuitive guide Sonia Choquette wants you to think about.In this chat with Fearne, Sonia explains how to have more agency over your own mindset. It’s time to stop thinking the worst, and start expecting the best!Sonia talks through how neuroscience is showing that our guts, skins, and organs are all conscious entities. Once we understand this, we understand why it’s so vital not to surpress our body’s intuition.Do you have repeated physical ailments? Sonia wonders that tending to your emotional troubles could dramatically impact your physical health. Plus, laughter can put you firmly back in your physical body, so is the secret to stopping overthinking to start taking the mick out of your anxious thoughts...?Sonia’s book, Soul Mastery, is out now.Follow Sonia on Instagram.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Sonia’s first Happy Place episodeEstelle BinghamNatalie Lue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Do you constantly replay conversations, wondering if you said the wrong thing? You’re in good company; actor Erin Doherty’s biggest demon is overthinking.In this chat, Fearne and Erin explore how fearful cancel culture has made us all, as well as how to have the courage to speak your mind, even if it means being disliked.Erin has an unapologetic attitude towards ambition, and explains why she wants to see more queer characters on screen. Plus, how do you feel about long-distance relationships? Erin and her girlfriend tried it for a while...Fearne and Erin also bond over their love of the Kardashians.You can watch Erin in A Thousand Blows on Disney+ from January 9th.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Ashley Walters Naomi Watts Kate Winslet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fundamentally tells the story of Nadia, an academic who's been disowned by her puritanical mother and dumped by her lover, so she decides to get away by accepting a UN job in Iraq.Meanwhile, Sara is a precocious and sweary East Londoner who joined ISIS at just fifteen, and Nadia is astounded at how similar they both are: they’re feisty and opinionated, they’re from a Muslim background, and they both love a Dairy Milk and rude pick-up lines...In this Book Club chat with Fearne, author Nussaibah Younis explains how she managed to write an incredibly funny book based on her own experience of creating a de-radicalisation programme... Satire and comedy, she says, is vital in examining tough topics.They also natter about how you’d react if you had to hang out with your teenage self, and why doing the job you love can sometimes mean giving up a little bit of yourself.Thank you to Weidenfeld & Nicolson for the use of the Fundamentally audiobook, narrated by Sarah Slimani.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Book Club Meets: Elizabeth Day Book Club Meets: Elizabeth Gilbert Book Club Meets: Aisha Muharrar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Which episodes of Happy Place have stayed with you this year?Reflecting on some of the chats she’s had this year, Fearne explores her own OCD diagnosis, how she copes when she’s gripped by shame, and why her attitude towards periods has shifted.She also talks about just how powerful her friendship with Davina McCall is, and why her recent episode with Malala has prompted conversations about women’s rights with her own kids.Listen to the full episodes here:Afua HirschWill PoulterCharlie MackesyAshley WaltersDavina McCallMalala Yousafzai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You’ve heard Fearne talking about them loads over the years... now it’s time to meet her best school mates! This episode is basically your girls’ Whatsapp chat come to life; Becky, Rebecca, Lucy, Ally, and Fran are here to talk through navigating Christmas when you’re co-parenting, sober, grieving, single, or just desperately trying to find a new place to put the bloody Elf on the Shelf.Everyone’s wearing their sequinned outfits, and like any good girls get together, there are cheeky games that elicit stories about teenage club nights, muting the school mums chat, and sliding into Craig David’s DMs… Oh, and you lot have been sending in your festive dilemmas too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Footballer Chloe Kelly has played a huge part in the Lioness’ immense success over the last few years, but severe anxiety has meant she’s often had to put on a brave face in public.In this chat with Fearne, Chloe opens up for the first time about how emotional stress led to hair loss, and why being sick often felt like the only way to release the anxiety. She talks through the work she’s done with a psychiatrist to break this habit, and the actions her family and friends took that helped bring her out of this dark place.Fearne and Chloe also explore how taking yourself out of an environment that isn’t good for you – whether that’s a workplace, relationship, or particular location – can change your mental health.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Leah Williamson Mary Earps Sarina Wiegman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Grief can make you feel unnervingly vulnerable; this is how Kate Winslet reflects on losing her mum in 2017. In this chat, Fearne and Kate share their own experiences of both grieving and co-parenting at Christmas.Regularly labelled as “fat” by the media, Kate explains what effect that scrutiny had on her self-esteem, and why it’s made her even more passionate about setting an example to younger women by ageing naturally.Kate also offers advice on how to live by your own gut instinct, rather than other people’s opinions, and how to approach difficult conversations with loved ones.Having recently made her directorial debut, Kate talks through what really goes on behind the scenes on a set, the safe environment she hopes to create for her actors, and the double standards applied to men and women in the film industry.Goodbye June is in cinemas from December 12th, and on Netflix on December 24th.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Joanna Page Trinny Woodall Dr Jenna Macciochi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Elizabeth Day had an urgent need to say something about the way we’re living – about the power, politics, class, sexism, and discrimination that plague the world around us.She explores all of that, plus perimenopause and female rage, through the entertaining lens of her latest novel One Of Us.In this live Book Club chat with Fearne, Elizabeth talks about how she realised that – and wanted to write about – women so often being the victims, survivors, and scapegoats of male power and privilege. They also explore whether getting revenge is ever really as sweet as you hope it’ll be...Elizabeth is famously obsessed with reality TV, so how did The Real Housewives franchise inspire parts of One Of Us, and what does she make of politicians rehabilitating their careers on reality TV and gossip podcasts? Plus, how writing about motherhood in this book allowed Elizabeth to process her own feelings about not having children.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Book Club Meets: Elizabeth Gilbert Book Club Meets: Aisha Muharrar Book Club Meets: Emily Henry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For ten years of her life, Fearne was gripped by a deep feeling of shame; she chats through how she’s now learning to let it go. Shame breeds in silence, so we’re talking about it loudly in this episode...-Shame researcher Brené Brown talks through how to cope with feeling ashamed through self-compassion-Comedian Dawn French explains that we all need to embrace being a bit of a twat sometimes because we learn more from mistakes than success-Artist Charlie Mackesy’s got some thoughts about how shame is stopping us being vulnerable and connecting with others properly -Mental health activist Ben West opens up about the shame he felt after his brother’s suicide -Singer Lulu reflects on how ashamed she was of her difficult childhood -Broadcaster Jamie Laing talks for the first time about his eating disorder and the shame he’s held inside for so long Listen to the full episodes here:Brené BrownDawn FrenchCharlie MackesyBen WestLuluJamie Laing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nervous and embarrassed? Don’t let it show! Comedian Jack Whitehall has died on stage plenty of times, but never gives people the satisfaction of knowing it’s got to him.In this chat with Fearne, Jack explains how to power through the awkward moments and give off an air of confidence, no matter how you’re feeling inside. He also reflects on some of the awful feedback he’s received and how to stay resilient in the face of criticism.Jack comes from an acting family, and started working at a young age; he talks about still wanting validation from his parents, and why and how he settled into his ‘posh’ persona after trying out a few other characters...Fearne admits she sometimes forgets to have a sense of humour in stressful situations, while Jack uses jokes a bit too much to hide from serious topics; can they find a middle ground?You can watch Jack in Malice on Amazon Prime now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Joel Dommett Mo Gilligan Harriet Kemsley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What limiting beliefs do you hold about yourself? Spencer Matthews has embraced his sense of adventure in order to explore his full potential.In this chat with Fearne, Spencer gets into the shame he felt while he was drinking, why he’s now channelling his addictive nature into running instead, and how to avoid blaming everyone else for your own issues. He also explains how seeking approval from his parents drove him, and why his relationship with his own daughter is so special now.Spencer is currently attempting his second World Record - PROJECT SE7EN. This physical and mental feat will see Spencer take on 7 full-distance triathlons (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.4km run) on all 7 continents in just 21 days. Throughout the challenge, Spencer will be raising funds for men's suicide prevention charity James' Place. You can follow the journey via his Instagram @spencermatthews. Donations can be made via the link in his bio and via the official givestar page. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Vogue Williams Jamie Laing Erling Kagge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You might know Elizabeth Gilbert as the author of Eat Pray Love; now, she’s written All The Way To The River, charting her electric, heart-breaking relationship with her partner Rayya, who died in 2018.In this Book Club chat, Fearne explains that she chose this to be part of the Happy Place Book Club because she recognised so many of her own behaviour traits in it – see: chaotic relationships and people pleasing!Elizabeth talks through how to tell if you’re co-dependent, what a love and sex addict really is, and how to block someone’s number for your own emotional safety.Fearne and Elizabeth also get into those moments where you want to react with defensiveness and rage, and how to extend compassion to yourself and others instead.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Book Club Meets: Aisha Muharrar Book Club Meets: Emily Henry Book Club Meets: Lorna Tucker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Malala Yousafzai was shot by Taliban gunmen when she was 15. She then became the youngest ever recipient of the Novel Peace Prize, but since then she’s been desperate to discover who she really is underneath the weight of the world’s expectations.In this chat with Fearne, Malala explains why skipping classes, smoking weed, and chasing bad boys have all played a part in finding herself, and why her own self-discovery has made her more passionate than ever about women having choices around education, work, and marriage.Malala talks through how she dealt with her own PTSD, and reframes what it means to be brave. She also explains the current situation for women and girls in Afghanistan, something that’s being called a ‘gender apartheid’, as well how we can all direct our anger in a positive way to help girls across the world.Malala’s memoir, Finding My Way, is out now.Support women and girls through Malala Fund.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: The Good Girl Rebellion Florence Given Caitlin Moran Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
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love this episode, I wish I had friends like this, the memories of drinking in our 20s and 30s, and the rest. xx
Jeez this has been speeded up surely? So fast not a relaxing listen at all!
Hi Fearn , just listened to the podcast with Owen O’Kane. Wow the tears flowed. Thankyou so much xx
I love this chat with Tulisa. I always liked her. Im glad she's in a better place ❤️
What a fantastic podcast! Fearne Cotton's Happy Place dives deep into the nuances of life, love, and happiness with inspiring guests. It's a great reminder of how personal stories can connect us all. Speaking of connections, developments like Faisal Town Phase 2 are creating vibrant communities that foster happiness and well-being, making them ideal places for those seeking a fulfilling lifestyle. Keep up the great work, Fearne!
starts 7.14
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"Make choices for your own happiness because life is short" ❤️ Best advice Jess Glynn. Really enjoyed this episode, thank you.
This is wonderful. Thank you Leigh - Anne and Fern, so inspiring ❣🙏
this was so powerful!! loved it.
Lovely Billy Potter getting up and making a drink as if he is chatting to a friend ♡
sadly, it is now nearing 7 minutes before the actual podcast begins. This is a shame. I used to like this podcast.
sorry rs sss#'#'#@####Brexitcast ,,.98,;3'the way mx,
♡
the man is a genius - fab episode ❤️🥰😍
oh wow! so interesting and inspiring
amazing episode!
Really enjoyed this episode ! Loved every part of it
Great combo of ppl.
I really enjoyed this episode. Sam comes across as a truly nice guy who deserves all of his success through his own hard work. I had the pleasure of seeing him live at a very small gig in Manchester in Gorrilla just before he announced he was doing Eurovision. he was amazing and his voice is beautiful.