Happy Place

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.

Is success down to luck, or obsessive hard work? For chart-topping artist Jason Derulo routine and discipline are at the heart of his success. In this chat with Fearne, Jason explains why he feels it’s his obsession with his craft that’s helped him create the life he dreamed of as a kid. They also wonder when taking risks is reckless, and when it’s important in order to keep growing. Plus, why is it often the case that we grow most immediately after failure? Jason’s book, Sing Your Name Out Loud, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Artist Dua Lipa is definitely the latter, choosing to unwind by surrounding herself with old friends, going to galleries, and exploring new restaurants. In this chat Fearne and Dua talk about the role yoga, meditation, and boundaries play in their lives, and Dua wonders how her childhood moving between London and Kosovo shaped her resilient character. Service95 is the name of Dua’s newsletter – you can sign up for all her cultural recommendations, listen to the accompanying podcast At Your Service, and sign up to the Service95 Book Club at service95.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born with a facial difference that meant he felt he didn’t fit in, Jono Lancaster has spent a lifetime practicing self-acceptance. Having been abandoned at birth, his adoptive mum provided immense support and care, but the confidence he felt at home was often chipped away at by the rest of the world. In this chat with Fearne, Jono talks about how severe lows have forced him to take control of his inner narrative, transforming those lows into strength. He also explains why representation of facial differences is so important on TV and in film, and the positive impact it would have on his own sense of self if it wasn’t just the villains who have scars, burns, and other differences. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about suicidal ideation, so do take care while listening.  Jono’s book, Not All Heroes Wear Capes, is published by Happy Place Books on July 20th, and is available to pre-order now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It starts with you. Those are the words life coach Sam Adams lives by. She also likes to wonder how our lives would be different if we believed the universe was conspiring for us, not against us, as our paranoid minds might be telling us. In this episode, Fearne celebrates 100 million podcast downloads by meeting Sam, Matt, and Mel, Happy Place listeners who’ve all been through their own tough stuff, but have been open to learning about themselves along the way. While Sam shares the origins of her own low self-worth, Matt Kendall’s story begins with a painful break up. Recognising that he’d made mistakes in the relationship, and that he hadn’t shown up for his partner, he began looking into attachment theory, and the role toxic masculinity was perhaps playing. Mel Anderton also joins Fearne; after losing her son to suicide in 2015, she’s been working to explore the question ‘is suicide preventable, or inevitable?’ Working in mental health in Greater Manchester, Mel is now able to reflect on how her son’s experience of medical and mental health services might have been different today thanks to progress being made in this area. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about suicide, so do take care while listening.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a difference between routine, and real ritual. Kirsty Gallagher is a moon mentor, a soul alignment coach, and a yoga and meditation teacher; she says ritual is so important because it’s about being present. In this chat with Fearne, Kirsty explains why there’s also a difference between ritual and superstition. Kirsty’s work teaches us how to live back in alignment with an ancient cycle, a rhythm and flow guided by the moon, that aims to connect us back to our inner wisdom and purpose. Plus, what can we learn from nature about living in rhythmic cycles, and the power of making visceral sounds? Kirsty is the bestselling author of books including Lunar Living and Sacred Seasons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting older is something to be celebrated. Queen of British Soul, West End star, and Olivier winner Beverley Knight is celebrating turning 50 by releasing new music, and is clear that life has only continued to get better as she’s become more confident in her own skin over the years. In this chat, Fearne and Beverley talk about the importance of celebrating artistic expression, and why it’s freeing not to care what other people think about how we dress. Plus, Beverley describes the moment her body gave her a clear signal that she needed to slow down for her own physical and mental wellbeing. Beverley’s album, The Fifth Chapter, is out September 29th. Beverley will be on tour in the UK during October and November, get your tickets here: https://www.beverleyknight.com/live-events Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have main character energy? Comedian, model, and social media megastar Fats Timbo reckons we should all have the confidence to play the main role in our own lives, but that being confident is a skill that needs to be learned. In this chat with Fearne, she explains why so much of life is how we choose to perceive it. We can choose whether to laugh or cry at a certain situation... and Fats’ family definitely taught her to laugh. She also talks about how, having been born with achondroplasia, the loving support she experienced at home wasn’t necessarily mirrored out in the rest of the world. Fats’ book, Main Character Energy, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Masturbation should be as big a part of your self care routine as your meditation, breathwork, or morning walk. Content creator and sex & relationships expert Florence Bark feels masturbation is central to our self-esteem and wellbeing. In this chat with Fearne, Florence explains why it’s so important to understand our own anatomy, and why masturbation should be prioritised as much as partnered sex. Plus, they chat about how to begin overcoming the shame society has made so many of us feel around sex and bodies. Florence’s book is called This Book Will Make You Feel Something, and is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it art if no one sees or hears it? In this chat, musician Kesha joins Fearne to talk about our sometimes obsessive relationship with feedback, and why your own opinion of your work is the only one that should really matter.  As the artist behind pop track Tik Tok, Kesha had been known for being a burst of high energy for her fans, but more recently she’s been compelled to expose different sides of herself, including the ‘ugly’ emotions and behaviours, as she calls them. In this chat, she and Fearne both share their experiences of eating disorders and panic attacks. Kesha’s new album, Gag Order, sees her getting intimate with herself at a time when she’s had a lot of outside noise to contend with, and it's out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.