Happy Place

How kindly do you talk to yourself? TV host, author, and speaker Mel Robbins spent a lifetime caught in a loop of negative self-talk, but she’s now learnt how to validate herself in the way she champions others.In this chat with Fearne, she explains the importance of daily habits. There’s no silver bullet when it comes to building confidence; you have to be disciplined and put in the daily grind. Mel also explains what panic attacks actually are on a physiological level.Mel’s book, The High 5 Habit, is out now.CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of sexual abuse  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s often said that comparison is the thief of joy, and this proved to be true for Jesy Nelson. In this chat, she and Fearne talk through the fear of not being liked, and the freedom that’s come with reinventing herself as a solo artist.Jesy’s first solo single, Boyz, is out on Friday 8th October.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There’s adventure in not knowing what comes next, and having the confidence to throw yourself in anyway. Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl has spent a lifetime doing just that. In this chat with Fearne he explains why he wants to grow old gracefully, but stay young at heart by embracing the spirit of exploration and curiosity.More of Dave’s stories from his energetic life can be found in his new book, The Storyteller, out 5th October.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gambling addictions are not well understood; former footballer Paul Merson is hoping to change that by sharing his own story. In this chat with Fearne, Paul explains why his having a gambling addiction really isn’t about the money. It’s about escapism, and experiencing extreme highs and lows.He also talks through the role that lying plays in addiction, and the relationships and practical coping mechanisms that now help him tackle one day at a time. It’s taken him many decades, but he now understands that addiction is an illness, and doesn’t make him a bad person.Paul’s book, Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery, is out now.CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about suicidal thoughts, as well as gambling, alcohol, and drug addiction, so do take care while listening.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You are the sum of everyone who’s come before you in your family, and it can be useful to learn about your ancestors in order to understand how much of their character is in you. Actress Miriam Margolyes has a passion for genealogy and family trees; in this chat with Fearne, she discusses her own identity, and the parts of it that have made her feel like an outsider at times.We’re often scared to challenge things we don’t agree with, perhaps for fear of being disliked or cancelled, but Miriam explains how and why she’s always spoken her truth, even if it might be controversial.Miriam’s book, This Much Is True, is out now.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Psychosis is very rarely talked about, even within spaces dedicated to mental health. Actor David Harewood had an episode that saw him sectioned at 23 years old, and wonders that psychosis is still seen as the ‘scary’ mental health issue, a perception he’s now working hard to change.We often hear about post-traumatic stress, but in this chat with Fearne, David discusses the concept of post traumatic growth, and what that’s looked like for him. Plus, he explores how this journey of discovery has changed his perception of his father, who also had psychosis. David’s book, Maybe I Don’t Belong Here, is out now.CONTENT WARNING: as David recalls racist abuse, this episode contains offensive and distressing language.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We often write ourselves a story about the type of person we are, and the things we can do with our lives, but YouTuber, actor, and singer Joe Sugg doesn’t like to put limits on what he can achieve. In this chat with Fearne, he explains why he’s given himself opportunities to change as a person and not be limited by what his fans might expect of him. Plus, having grown up online, Joe talks through what he feels needs to be done to make the Internet a kinder place.Joe’s new single, Wild Things, is out now.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The concept of a mid-life crisis has become a funny cliché, and that’s what Christian O’Connell jokingly told people he was having when he left his successful radio career in the UK to start a new life in Australia in 2018. The truth was that he had had what he now recognises as a break down, and needed to find adventure and joy as an adult to reignite the fire in his belly.In this chat, Fearne and Christian share their experiences of having panic attacks, and compare notes on how they both use distraction techniques to avoid confronting difficult realities.Christian’s book, No One Listens To Your Dad’s Show, is out now.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In April 2021, Ashley Cain’s eight month old daughter Azaylia Diamond Cain passed away. At eight weeks old she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia; Ashley and his partner Safiyya captured the nation’s hearts as they used social media to document their journey, raise awareness for childhood cancer and encourage people to become bone marrow donors both for their daughter and thousands of other children.In this chat with Fearne, Ashley talks for the first time since Azaylia’s death about losing his child, about helping others grieve, and about why he feels he now has a real purpose for the first time in his life.To find out more about the Azaylia Foundation, and to donate, visit www.theazayliafoundation.com IG: @theazayliafoundationTwitter: @azayliafdnFacebook: @theazayliafoundationCONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about the grief of losing a child throughout, so do take care while listening.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy

Becoming a parent will have its highs and lows for everyone, but Frankie Bridge became a mum knowing she already had existing mental health issues to contend with too. In this chat with Fearne, Frankie discusses how she talks to her children about their own emotions as well as hers. Publicly we’re having more frank conversations about post-natal depression, but antenatal depression still isn’t discussed as widely, so Frankie also opens up about her mental health while she was pregnant. Frankie’s book, Grow: Motherhood, Mental Health, and Me, is out now.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Confidence fluctuates and has to be practiced daily. Natalie Imbruglia feels writing her new album has allowed her to regain confidence after finding herself on shaky ground. In this chat with Fearne, she explains why she now chooses to live in the moment and not make plans, and why she thinks there’s strength in allowing yourself to fall apart, because there’s often a breakthrough on the other side. Natalie’s new album, Firebird, is out on September 24th.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many of us are guilty of refusing to stop, of continuing to distract ourselves while anxieties build beneath the surface. This is something BAFTA-winning actress Suranne Jones tackles in her new TV show I Am Victoria. In this chat with Fearne, Suranne talks about the grief of losing her mum shortly after having a baby, and why she wanted to draw on her own experience of managing her mental health to create character Victoria.I Am Victoria is available to watch now on All4.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Climate change will cause the biggest mass migration in history. Filmmakers and storytellers Jack Harries, Finn Harries, and Alice Aedy have founded creative studio earthrise to document the human stories of those on the climate front lines. They believe in progress, not perfection, and hope the stories they tell will encourage action through inspiring hope for a better future.In this chat with Fearne, the powerful trio talk through what they’ve learnt about managing their own mental health as activists being constantly bombarded with overwhelming and exhausting information.You can keep up to date with earthrise, read their articles, donate to CHOOSE EARTH and watch their documentary content by heading over to www.earthrise.studio.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Over the last ten years, author, journalist, and broadcaster Caitlin Moran has learnt that we have to allow feminism to evolve as both society and our own priorities change. In this chat with Fearne, Caitlin explores the benefits of social media in amplifying women’s voices, why it’s so important for women to stop picking apart their own bodies, and how best to prepare children for the adult world they’ll soon find themselves in.CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about eating disorders and sexual assault.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nostalgia – keeping souvenirs of poignant moments – plays a big part in allowing poet and bestselling author Charly Cox to fill her life with meaning. Choosing to be sentimental can help us take stock and celebrate where challenges have been overcome. In this chat with Fearne, Charly explains what it means to live with Bipolar II, including both manic highs and depressive lows, and how writing helps her make sense of her thoughts.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You might not expect a global pop star to want to embrace being average, but Anne-Marie feels that might be one of the keys to happiness. She’s been seeking therapy from both writing music and seeing a psychiatrist, and in this chat with Fearne shares what she’s learnt about how being bullied at school affected her, and how to boost self-worth as an adult.Anne-Marie’s second studio album, Therapy, is out on 23rd July, and her first book, You Deserve Better, is available from 30th September.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Practicing being present has been huge in helping James Arthur manage his anxiety and panic attacks. He’s sold 30 million records worldwide, but with incredible success and adoration comes scrutiny and judgement. In this chat with Fearne, James shares how he handles outside opinion, and what he’s been learning about how trauma during his formative years still affects him now.Vote for Happy Place as your Listeners’ Choice at the British Podcast Awards: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote?utm_source=emailoctopus&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Listeners%27%20Choice%20SellThanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Wellness doesn’t have to mean crystals and spirulina. Ella Mills, who’s been synonymous with wellness as the founder of deliciously ella for almost a decade, feels that it needs to be rebranded to encompass super simple principles like sleeping well and breathing calmly. In this chat, Fearne and Ella share stories of the people in their lives who keep them rational and grounded, as well as talking about why it’s probably healthy to accept that women can’t have it all.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Some elements of happiness are circumstantial – where we’re born, and our biology – but there are many elements that we personally have control over. Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, based in Denmark, and he feels we’d all be happier if we focused more on the smaller choices we can control. That, he explains, is where the Danish art of hygge comes in.In this chat with Fearne, Meik explores why policy makers would do well to consider the happiness of their country as an important element of national health – happy citizens are more likely to earn more, less likely need the health service, and more likely to perform random acts of kindness.Meik’s books, The Little Book of Hygge, The Little Book of Lykke, and The Art of Making Memories are all out now.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Radical vulnerability is something New York Times bestselling author Jedidiah Jenkins does his best to practice with those around him. As he entered his 30s, he travelled from Oregon to Patagonia by bicycle, and the journey turned out to be just as much emotional as it was physical. One of the things he learnt is that vulnerability breeds vulnerability, that once you share your truth, others will feel safe to share their true selves with you too, and that can only be a good thing. In this chat, Fearne and Jedidiah explore their own experiences of using disembodying as a coping mechanism during difficult or painful moments in life, as well as what they each believe the soul really is.Both of Jedidiah’s life-changing books, To Shake The Sleeping Self and Like Streams To The Ocean, are available now.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-