Happy Place

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.

Parenting your parent isn’t something any child thinks they’ll need to do, but TV personality, podcaster, and author Vicky Pattison found herself looking after her alcoholic dad. This in turn made her reassess her own relationship with alcohol. In this chat, live from the Happy Place Festival, Fearne and Vicky talk about everything from social anxiety, to PMDD, to cultivating a positive body image. They also explore the idea that we often think we have to wait until we’re a ‘better version’ of ourself before we can do something we’ve always wanted to do. Vicky reckons we should just take a chance – take the risk – right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you notice yourself reacting to situations, rather than taking the time to respond with a clear mind? Visionary writer Vex King explains why consciously responding rather than quickly reacting can have a positive effect on your mental health. In this chat with Fearne, live from the Happy Place Festival, Vex talks about the significance of gratitude, and why it’s important to sit with our feelings. Plus, he explains the difference between pain and suffering, as well as how to allow yourself to be vulnerable with new people. Vex's new book, Closer to Love: How to Attract the Right Relationships and Deepen Your Connections, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens after you’ve ticked achieving your big dream off the to do list? Broadcaster Nick Grimshaw had always wanted to present the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, which he did, extremely successfully. Then in 2021, he left the station, and has had to carve out new goals. In this chat with Fearne, live from the Happy Place Festival, Nick talks about how he’s created a new routine – and reveals the slightly misguided wellness hacks he tried out along the way... They also explore why it’s useful to make your goals as specific as possible, as well as the idea of feeling like an outsider. Nick’s autobiography, Soft Lad, is out now in paperback. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fabulousness and seriousness can co-exist. In fact performer Billy Porter is clear that it’s important that they do co-exist.  In this chat with Fearne, Billy explains why he feels artists have an obligation to speak truth to power if they can, and together they explore why art in all its forms can be such a powerful medium for all of us when we feel we have something to say. Plus, he explains why his singing voice – his greatest gift – became his armour against an often cruel world. Billy’s single, Broke A Sweat, is out now.CONTENT WARNING: In this episode Billy tells stories of his own life experiences that include homophobic language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you noticed yourself repeating negative patterns of behaviour throughout your life? Comedian and best-selling author Ruby Wax has become aware she was doing this in order to feel safe after a tumultuous childhood. In this chat with Fearne, Ruby acknowledges that her depression will most likely always come back, but working to understand it means she has the tools to cope a little better each time it does. They also talk about why it’s so important for mental health that we allow people to be multi-faceted humans. Ruby’s book, I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many times have you looked at a couple and labelled them ‘goals’? Couple goals is a phrase Tom and Giovanna Fletcher are keen to steer clear of, because they acknowledge all relationships go through their highs and lows, and that’s ok. In this chat with Fearne, live from the Happy Place Festival in Chiswick, Tom and Gi explain how they manage family time alongside thriving creative careers, as well as why it’s so important to be aware of your own difficult behaviours in a relationship. Plus Fearne reveals how Tom played a big part in helping her speak about her own mental health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If outward accomplishment is coupled with great internal distress, is that really success? It’s a question Tan France had to ask himself when his business was doing brilliantly, but his mental health wasn’t. In this chat, Fearne and Tan swap thoughts about the realities of having a new born baby, and why it’s so important to establish what marriage means to you before you get married. They also chat about the power of using clothes to express creativity and identity. You can watch Tan on all-new Say Yes To The Dress UK on Really from the 16th of August, and can catch up on Discovery+. This interview took place prior to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about suicidal ideation, so do take care while listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More exercise, more therapy, and less alcohol: these are some of the things artist Tom Grennan knows he needs in order to stay mentally well. In this chat with Fearne, live from the Happy Place Festival in Chiswick, Tom explains how he’s learnt to ‘flip’ negative thoughts to positive ones using small language changes. They also share how anxiety manifests for each of them – from crying to trouble sleeping. Plus, how has Tom’s mum affected the way he interacts with crowds at his gigs? Tom’s album, What Ifs and Maybes, is out now.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psychedelics have been stigmatised and criminalised for over 50 years, but David Nutt, a professor of neuropsychopharmacology and a leading worldwide authority on drugs, feels we’re on the cusp of a major revolution in psychiatric medicine and neuroscience that could see psychedelics being used to treat mental health conditions. In this chat with Fearne, David explains the difference between the brain and the mind, and how psychedelics switch the latter off so the former can heal and lay down new thinking patterns. They discuss the potential therapeutic purposes of these drugs for conditions including PTSD, addiction, anxiety, and eating disorders. David’s new book, Psychedelics, has recently been published by Yellow Kite and is available as a hardback, ebook and audio book.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Engaging with death can help us live more in the present. That’s one of the many lessons Bronnie Ware, who worked in palliative care, has discovered over the years. In this chat, Fearne and Bronnie explore the idea of using death as a tool for living well. Bronnie’s collected stories about the most common regrets of the dying – everything from wishing they’d had the courage to express their feelings, to wishing they hadn’t worked so hard, and wishing they’d stayed in touch with friends. Bronnie’s book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.