Happy Place
293 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 374 ratingsFearne Cotton talks to incredible people about life, love, loss, and everything in-between as she reveals what happiness means to them.
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Episodes
Sir Lenny Henry: Truth telling, support networks, and bad handwriting
October 23, 2023 01:00 - 52 minutes - 75.3 MBHave 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...
Take That: Families, imposter syndrome, and Pinterest
October 16, 2023 01:00 - 55 minutes - 79.2 MBThe 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...
Ellie Goldstein: Confidence, being underestimated, and Gucci hairbands
October 09, 2023 01:00 - 33 minutes - 49.1 MBCan 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...
Rick Astley: Generational trauma, gut instincts, and village halls
October 02, 2023 01:00 - 48 minutes - 69.9 MBThere’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 ...
Vicky Pattison
September 25, 2023 01:00 - 47 minutes - 68 MBParenting 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 versi...
Nick Grimshaw
September 11, 2023 01:00 - 51 minutes - 74 MBWhat 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 use...
Billy Porter
September 04, 2023 01:00 - 40 minutes - 58.8 MBFabulousness 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. ...
Tom and Giovanna Fletcher
August 21, 2023 01:00 - 44 minutes - 63.2 MBHow 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 relationshi...
Tan France
August 14, 2023 01:00 - 47 minutes - 67.6 MBIf 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 Ta...
Tom Grennan
August 07, 2023 01:00 - 38 minutes - 55.6 MBMore 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? ...
Professor David Nutt
July 31, 2023 01:00 - 48 minutes - 68.5 MBPsychedelics 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...
Bronnie Ware
July 24, 2023 01:00 - 51 minutes - 73.9 MBEngaging 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. ...
Jason Derulo
July 17, 2023 01:00 - 43 minutes - 62.5 MBIs 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 N...
Dua Lipa
July 10, 2023 01:00 - 46 minutes - 66 MBAre 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...
Jono Lancaster
July 03, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 86.3 MBBorn 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 ...
Your stories
June 26, 2023 01:00 - 52 minutes - 74.1 MBIt 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 ...
Kirsty Gallagher
June 19, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 91.8 MBThere’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 pur...
Beverley Knight
June 12, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 103 MBGetting 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 mom...
Fats Timbo
June 05, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 88 MBDo 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 achond...
Florence Bark
May 29, 2023 01:00 - 49 minutes - 69.5 MBMasturbation 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 fe...
Kesha
May 22, 2023 01:00 - 56 minutes - 79.5 MBIs 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, ...
Bob Waldinger
May 15, 2023 01:00 - 53 minutes - 75.3 MBAre 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 ...
Ronnie O'Sullivan
May 08, 2023 01:00 - 53 minutes - 75.9 MBGiving 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 b...
Steve Barnabis
May 03, 2023 01:00 - 36 minutes - 38.2 MBIn 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 puttin...
Kate Ferdinand
May 01, 2023 01:00 - 54 minutes - 77.3 MBKate 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 communi...
Joey Hulin
April 24, 2023 01:00 - 51 minutes - 72.8 MBSelf-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...
Charlotte Church
April 17, 2023 01:00 - 50 minutes - 70.2 MBAre 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...
Melissa Urban
April 10, 2023 01:00 - 58 minutes - 82.1 MBSetting 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 w...
How To Fail x Happy Place
April 03, 2023 01:00 - 55 minutes - 77.8 MBIn 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...
Sir Bradley Wiggins
March 27, 2023 01:00 - 42 minutes - 60.4 MBAre 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 ...
Spencer Matthews
March 20, 2023 02:00 - 1 hour - 88.7 MBSpencer Matthews was 10 years old when his older brother Michael became the youngest Brit to reach the summit of Everest in 1999. On his descent, he encountered a number of unfortunate circumstances and was never seen again. Over two decades later, Spencer decided to retrace his brother’s steps in the hope of recovering his body, and in the process piece together an image of who his brother was. In this chat with Fearne, Spencer talks about the emotions that have surfaced for him as a re...
All On The Board
March 13, 2023 02:00 - 52 minutes - 74.2 MBPTSD, social anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, and imposter syndrome are just some of the things Ian Redpath and Jeremy Chopra have experienced between them. Known collectively as All On The Board, Ian and Jeremy are the TFL customer service assistants who write the supportive, fun, moving words on tube station boards and post them on social media. In this chat with Fearne, Ian and Jeremy discuss the importance of being kind to one another, and the power of feeling less alone when you’re...
Katherine May
March 06, 2023 02:00 - 55 minutes - 76.9 MBHow often do you cultivate quiet moments that are just for you? Best-selling author Katherine May believes being alone doesn’t necessarily mean feeling lonely. In this chat, Fearne and Katherine talk about how nature retreats and blooms across the seasons, and why it might be helpful for us to think of each of our own years in a similar way. Plus, they chat about why we find it harder to be wrong than we used to; how can we better cultivate community in order to keep being curious about ...
Taylor Jenkins Reid
February 27, 2023 02:00 - 58 minutes - 81.5 MBFor author Taylor Jenkins Reid, fame is a brilliant lens through which to examine societal expectations of women. The female celebrities in her glamourous novels all navigate the restrictions put on their behaviour in very different ways, in turn mirroring how all women – famous or not – might feel compelled to act. In this chat, Fearne and Taylor share how much of their own self-worth is wrapped up in their perception of what they’ve achieved, across both a day and an entire lifetime. P...
Gabor Maté
February 20, 2023 02:00 - 52 minutes - 73.5 MBWomen are often made to look after the emotional needs of their families, while simultaneously denying their own. Gabor Maté – who has decades of experience as a doctor working with mental illness, trauma, and addiction – says that’s having a very real physical effect on our bodies by way of autoimmune diseases. In this chat, Fearne and Gabor discuss the relationship between mental stress and physical outcomes, as well as the way in which the political systems we live in are having a huge i...
Shania Twain
February 06, 2023 09:31 - 44 minutes - 62.5 MBMusic can change your state of mind. Shania Twain, the best selling female artist in country music history, has been using songwriting as therapy as she works through a difficult period in her life. In this chat with Fearne, Shania explains how the repetition of words in the songs she writes can act like therapeutic mantras, both evoking and releasing emotions. Shania also talks about being resilient, and the relationship she’s had with fear and optimism across a tumultuous life. Plus, she ...
Joanna Lumley and Stephen Barlow
January 30, 2023 02:00 - 50 minutes - 71.6 MBDoes music have the power to emotionally transport you? It certainly does for actress Joanna Lumley and composer Stephen Barlow. Married for nearly 40 years, they share a huge passion for classical music in particular. In this chat with Fearne, Joanna and Stephen explain how music and performing are threads that have always woven their lives together, as well as wondering that sometimes external noise and chatter has to be quietened in order for us to be creative. Joanna & The Maestr...
Emily Atack
January 23, 2023 02:00 - 59 minutes - 83.7 MBHow does sexual harassment – both online and in real life – affect a person’s sense of self worth? This is one of the many questions actor and comedian Emily Atack has been asking herself and others in her new documentary, and as she campaigns for parliament to change the law around cyberflashing. In this chat, Emily and Fearne share their experiences of everything from catcalling and being sent unsolicited photos online, to the way the world has made them feel about their own bodies. Pl...
Dr Julie
January 16, 2023 02:00 - 56 minutes - 78.9 MBIt’s important to let the down days happen, to acknowledge them as part of the human experience rather than trying to fight them. Clinical psychologist and online educator Dr Julie believes the goal of therapy shouldn’t be to make ourselves be constantly happy all the time. In this chat, Fearne and Dr Julie explore why anxieties and fears can sometimes serve us, and why it’s healthy to allow space in our lives for all emotions to come and go. Dr Julie also talks through some of the tools...
Raynor Winn
January 09, 2023 02:00 - 1 hour - 85.5 MBThe human spirit is capable of enduring more than we might think. That’s something long distance walker and writer Raynor Winn discovered when she and her husband Moth became homeless the same week Moth was told he was terminally ill. In this chat with Fearne, Raynor talks about turning anger into positivity, the physically healing benefits of walking, and why we should leave space for the ‘magic’ or unexpected to happen in life. Raynor’s latest book, Landlines, is out now. Hosted on Aca...
Jambo Truong
January 02, 2023 02:00 - 53 minutes - 74.1 MBThere’s great power in physical touch. Jambo Truong believes that self-touch is the greatest path to self-love, and holding others is where we’ll find real connection. In this chat with Fearne, Jambo explains the physical signs we can spot in ourselves and others when we’re truly connected to our deepest passions. They also explore practical ways we can all be kinder to ourselves. Find out more about Jambo’s meditation, yoga, and bodywork sessions, which he runs in person and online, on his...
Yung Pueblo
December 26, 2022 02:00 - 57 minutes - 79.6 MBMeditation is chaos – it’s ok if you can’t completely quiet your mind. In fact, meditator, poet, and New York Times best-selling author Yung Pueblo says that’s kind of the main point. In this chat with Fearne, he explains that while meditation isn’t a ‘click your fingers and all your problems go away’ solution, it can have a very powerful effect on how you react to your problems. They also discuss how acknowledging that everything is always changing can help us be more present and appreciat...
Adam Lambert
December 19, 2022 02:00 - 1 hour - 85.6 MBDo you ever feel like you’re in your own way? Like the only obstacle stopping you achieving success is your own lack of self-belief? This is something pop icon and Queen front man Adam Lambert has spent a career navigating. In this chat with Fearne, Adam opens up about how he came to understand that he has anxiety. Looking back, he’s clear that having to supress his queer identity for a long time compounded his stress, and that while becoming famous alleviated some stresses, it created many...
Bear Grylls
December 12, 2022 02:00 - 58 minutes - 80.9 MBWhen was the last time you impressed yourself by doing something you didn’t think you could? Bear Grylls reckons putting ourselves in slightly uncomfortable situations is where we grow. In this chat with Fearne, Bear explains why those who take on epic adventures or challenges have to be really good at being mindful and living in the present, and what lessons about mental resilience we can all learn there. They also talk about why being negative and being optimistic are both just habits, so...
Kelsey Parker
December 05, 2022 02:00 - 45 minutes - 64.2 MBKelsey’s husband, The Wanted’s Tom Parker, publicly announced in October 2020 that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. He died in March 2022. Since then, Kelsey’s been learning how to navigate her own grief as well as that of their small children. In this chat, she and Fearne explore the idea that we’re all allowed to be multiple things at once; Kelsey is clear she needs space to be strong and resilient, and fall apart at the same time. Kelsey’s new documentary, Ke...
200th episode special
November 28, 2022 02:00 - 53 minutes - 73.7 MBThis is the 200th episode of Happy Place! To celebrate, Fearne replays some of her favourite moments from the show, revealing behind the scenes anecdotes and explaining why these conversations have been so important to her. Dave Grohl, Jada Pinkett Smith, and David Harewood all make an appearance. Plus, she hears from you about your favourite moments too. You’ve been sending voicenotes to Fearne and asking her your questions, including which guest she’s been most nervous to interview, and wha...
Tim Minchin
November 21, 2022 02:00 - 1 hour - 88.9 MBDo you ever feel held back by shame or judgement? Not just from others but perhaps from yourself too? Do you default to self-deprecation? In this chat with Fearne, comedian, musician, and producer Tim Minchin talks about how he’s learnt to let himself appreciate his own talents. They also chat about their own parenting choices, knowing full well that their children’s characters will be shaped by them, and the importance of a diagnosis for neurodivergence. Plus, Tim has some interesting t...
Emily Ratajkowski
November 14, 2022 02:00 - 52 minutes - 73.1 MBModel, NY Times best-selling author of My Body, and host of new podcast “High Low with EmRata,” Emily Ratajkowski has spent a lot of time thinking deeply about being a woman working in an industry that wants to commodify and objectify you. In this chat, Fearne and Emily explore female sexual empowerment, implicit gender roles, choosing to expose or cover up your body, and the tricky complexities and hypocrisies within all of those areas. High Low with EmRata is available to listen to whe...
Dawn O'Porter
November 07, 2022 02:00 - 48 minutes - 68.2 MBStereotypes – the cat lady, the mother, the wife – can make us feel we need to play a part to fit the role others have cast us as. Broadcaster and author Dawn O’Porter wonders whether, far from being an entirely negative thing, sometimes that’s a necessary survival method. In this chat, Fearne and Dawn share their experiences of grief after losing their cats, as well as their thoughts on making a point of crying when they’re alone. Dawn says she has a bit of a rebellious spirit, and explore...
Roman Kemp
October 31, 2022 02:00 - 1 hour - 83.6 MBAre you ok? It’s a question that’s often worth repeating with the people we love. Capital Breakfast Show host Roman Kemp lost his best friend and radio producer to suicide in 2020, and is now more adamant than ever that we must keep asking our friends and family if they’re really ok. In this chat with Fearne, Roman explains why he feels it’s important to share both his ongoing grief, and stories of his own mental health with the nation each day. They also talk about why it’s important to be...