Happy Place

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 o

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.

Are you aware of the importance of relationships and human connection to your happiness? Psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and Zen priest Robert ‘Bob’ Waldinger leads the world’s longest scientific study of happiness, and has found relationships to be crucial.In this chat, Bob tells Fearne how much of a role genetics plays in happiness, and how much we really do have control over. They also talk about the difference between being around people and really being present with them, as well as how to start prioritising relationships over other traditional markers of success.Bob’s book, co-authored with Marc Schulz, is called The Good Life and is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giving yourself permission to enjoy something is a discipline that requires practice. This is just one of the many lessons snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan has learnt as he’s changed his approach to the game over the years. In this chat with Fearne, Ronnie talks about how he would now always choose happiness over traditional markers of success, and how his challenging childhood made him incredibly resilient and able to cope with change, injustice, and adversity.  In Ronnie's latest book, Unbreakable, he shares what it takes to be the very best in your field. It's out on 11th May.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode in partnership with The National Lottery, Fearne speaks to East Londoner Steve Barnabis who's dedicated his life to saving children from knife crime. He’s spent his entire career working to improve the lives of young people, to tackle youth violence, and create safe spaces for children and teens to express themselves. After meeting the Royals at a Big Lunch event last year, Steve, together with his organisation Project Zero, and the local community, will be putting on his own Coronation Big Lunch over the bank holiday weekend. The Big Lunch, made possible by National Lottery Players, brings millions of people together annually to boost community spirit, whilst encouraging neighbours to share friendship, food and fun. In this chat with Fearne, Steve explains how understanding the root causes of knife violence – mental health, school performance, home life anxieties – is the key to reducing anti-social and offending behaviour, and promoti

Kate Ferdinand found herself with three step children when she fell in love and moved in with now-husband Rio six years ago. Since then, she’s become a supportive voice for others with blended families.In this chat, Fearne and Kate talk about how proud they both are of the relationships their step and biological children have, as well as why their fear of rejection is stronger with their step children than their biological children. Plus, Kate explains why she feels consistency and communication have been the most important principles in creating a harmonious family. Kate’s book, How To Build A Family, is published by Happy Place Books and is out on May 11th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-compassion is vital in manifesting. Meditation teacher and mentor Joey Hulin knows we have to believe that we deserve good things in order to lean into going after them. In this chat with Fearne, Joey explains that manifesting means intentionally thinking about, and working hard towards the things we want in our lives. We have to really embody our desires if we’re to achieve our dreams. They also chat about where science and mysticism meet, the concept of luck, and whether we should be doing spells... Joey’s new book, ‘Your Manifesting Year’ is published by Happy Place Books, and is out now.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you conscious of the importance of connecting with nature? Does it help you better connect with yourself? That’s certainly the case for Charlotte Church. After years in the spotlight as a singer, Charlotte has now created The Dreaming – a wellness retreat in the heart of Wales. In this chat with Fearne, she explains how things like being outside, the power of sound, and generally having a slower pace of life have helped her heal from grief. They also talk about the importance of play as adults. You can book your stay at The Dreaming here: https://www.thedreaming.co.uk/Use Code "HAPPYPLACE" for 10% off a retreat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Setting boundaries might feel uncomfortable and sound callous, but best-selling author Melissa Urban believes setting boundaries is one of the kindest things you can do in any relationship. In this chat with Fearne, Melissa explains how to start small when it comes to learning to set boundaries – casually saying ‘no’ to another glass of wine, for example – before moving on to setting boundaries with people in your life who might be seriously draining your energy. Plus, she tells Fearne why over-explaining often makes our lives more difficult. Melissa’s book, ‘The Book of Boundaries: Set the limits that will set you free’, is out now from Vermilion.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Fearne chats to fellow podcaster and great friend Elizabeth Day about the episodes of both Happy Place and How To Fail that have changed their lives. Talking to Roman Kemp about mental health has made Fearne think about how she should chat to her own children about depression, and Elizabeth took a lot away from her episode on how to relieve your own suffering with Mo Gawdat. Having listened to a Happy Place episode with Rio and Kate Ferdinand, they both share their experiences of parenting step-children, as well as reflecting on episodes with Emily Ratajkowski, Phoebe-Waller Bridge, and Alexandra Burke. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you conscious of fear and shame driving your behaviour? Cyclist Bradley Wiggins feels those emotions have dictated a lot of his decision making across his life. In this chat with Fearne, Bradley explains that putting all his energy into become a great cyclist was a distraction from childhood traumas. In order to cope with the aftermath of being groomed by a coach as a teenager, and having an absent father, he created a larger than life public-facing character. Now, he’s figuring out who he really is, and what he really cares about. Find out more about NSPCC’s Listen Up Speak Up campaign: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/listen-up-speak-up/ Join Team Mind for Ride London: https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/donate-or-fundraise/take-on-an-active-challenge/cycle-for-mind/2023-ridelondon-essex-100/?bs=1 Content warning: This episode contains frank chat about child abuse, so do take care while listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.