Happy Place

Latest Episodes:

Dame Kelly Holmes Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes recently announced publicly that she is gay. Although she’s acknowledged this truth privately for a number of decades, it’s only now that she’s felt able to begin living publicly her authentic self. Having served in the British military at a time when homosexuality was banned, Kelly had always feared serious repercussions, which only intensified when she became a celebrated world class athlete.

In this chat with Fearne, Kelly talks through the painful – and hopeful – journey that’s brought her to a place where she feels confident to live entirely authentically, as well as delving into the mental, emotional, and physical stress of hiding such a huge part of her identity for so long.

Kelly Holmes: Being Me is available to watch back on ITV Hub.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about self harm, so take care while listening.

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Owen O'Kane Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

If you tend to doubt yourself, do you know why? Psychotherapist, best-selling author, and former NHS lead for Mental Health Owen O’Kane has spent a lifetime unpicking his own past as a gay Irish Catholic child who was bullied and surrounded by bombs and bullets in the hope of understanding where his fear and shame in adulthood came from.

In this chat, he and Fearne talk about why therapy isn’t just about talking – that’s just one part – it’s actually about so much more, like who you surround yourself with, how you set boundaries, and the types of choices you make. Owen also explores what he’s learnt about living a full life from working with people who are dying in palliative care.

Owen’s new book, How To Be Your Own Therapist, is out now.

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Emma Barnett Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

Do you have open conversations at work when you’re in pain emotionally or physically? After going through numerous rounds of IVF, as well as having a miscarriage, broadcaster, writer, and author Emma Barnett wants to re-brand pain as weakness into pain as strength, especially at work.

In this chat with Fearne, she talks through the worries she had that she might be seen as greedy for wanting a second child through IVF when she’d already had a wonderful son by IVF, and how she’s put this shame to bed. They also explore the often cruel language around infertility, and the difference between sympathy and empathy when it comes to difficulties conceiving.

You can sign up to Emma’s new newsletter, ‘Trying’, here: https://emmabarnett.substack.com/

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Sara Cox Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

Broadcaster and author Sara Cox joins Fearne for a special live episode of Happy Place at The Podcast Show in Islington. A brilliant storyteller, Sara talks about the process of finding her own voice and becoming a confident raconteur both on the radio and in her personal life.

In this chat, Fearne and Sara also explore friendships – how our friends heavily influence who we are as individuals, how to sustain friendships over a lifetime, and how to kindly break up with a friend if you notice they’re really just a drain on your energy.

Sara’s novel, Thrown, is out now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denise van Outen Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

Heartbreak is a universal feeling, but everyone copes with it differently. Presenter, actor and singer Denise Van Outen tends to throw herself into work, keeping busy with exciting professional opportunities, to distract from any pain.

In this chat with Fearne, Denise talks about how she’s learnt to accept being alone after heartbreak and acknowledge the stillness without constantly trying to fill the void. Close friends Fearne and Denise also share their experiences of raising blended families, and chat about how much of your heartbreak – or any other pain – you should share with your kids.

Denise’s book, ‘A Bit of Me: From Basildon, to Broadway, and Back’, is available to buy now.

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Bonnie Wright May 30, 2022

Show notes

We can all feel paralysed by the guilt that we might not be doing enough to combat climate change, but actor, director, and environmental activist Bonnie Wright feels we should celebrate imperfect and in-process actions. A little can go a long way.

In this chat with Fearne, Bonnie explains why it might be helpful to stop thinking about how we can make ourselves and our impact on the planet smaller, and instead think about how to make our positive impact even bigger. They also talk about how to find the best place to start making that impact in your own life, by concentrating on an area you’re already interested in like cooking, gardening, cleaning, or technology.

Bonnie’s book, Go Gently: Actionable Steps To Nurture You And The Planet, is out now.

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Prince's Trust Awards Special May 26, 2022

Show notes

Fearne is a Goodwill Ambassador for Mental Health and Wellbeing for The Prince’s Trust, a brilliant charity that helps people who have faced disadvantage and adversity to get their lives on track, supporting them into education, training, and jobs.

In this special episode, Fearne chats to Emma-May about the role The Prince’s Trust has played in helping her grow in confidence, both practically and emotionally. Emma-May has been a carer for her parents since she was eleven-years-old, and struggled with her mental health after many years of personal challenges at school that left her with severe anxiety and low self-confidence. Now, she’s studying for a law degree and is much more comfortable in larger groups of people.

As well as catching up on Emma-May’s progress, Fearne has a very special surprise for her at the end of the episode...

The Prince’s Trust Awards in association with TK Maxx & Homesense will be on TV on Thursday 26th May at 8.30pm on ITV.

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Amanda de Cadenet May 23, 2022

Show notes

Who gets to decide who and what you are? Amanda de Cadenet quit the fame she’d found on British TV after being hounded by the press. She was seen through the eyes of others – journalists, photographers, and viewers – so she chose to reclaim her image by becoming a photographer herself, and reclaimed her voice by starting her own chat shows.

In this chat with Fearne, Amanda talks about speaking up when you can’t hear the conversations you and others like you need in order to feel understood and supported. They also explore how ego can get in the way of allowing ourselves to learn and grow.

Amanda hosts VS Voices, an interview podcast for Victoria’s Secret. Season two kicks off in June. Alongside her ongoing show The Conversation, she’s launching a new series called The Conversation: About The Men, which will be available in August.

Amanda has also developed an online community called the Conversation Community: https://www.amandadecadenet.com/community

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Minnie Driver May 16, 2022

Show notes

What do you feel the meaning of life is? Purpose? Happiness? Does it matter if we’re not sure? In this chat, Fearne and actor Minnie Driver explore how it might gently fluctuate as we go through different stages of our lives.

Minnie also talks about her innate ability to articulate emotion, something that was often agony during her childhood, but has now allowed her to parent her own son in a deeply empathetic way.

Minnie’s memoir(ish) is out now; it’s called Managing Expectations.

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Jonny Wilkinson May 09, 2022

Show notes

Rugby player Jonny Wilkinson was once driven by a quest for perfection, and an obsession with becoming the best player in the world. Now though, he’s learning to be content with who he is in the present.

In this chat, Jonny and Fearne explore the idea that sometimes our own imagination is what’s limiting our idea of success before we’ve even begun, and they wonder if our understanding of ‘ambition’ needs to be reframed to be more inclusive of the journey, not just the final outcome.

Listen to Jonny’s podcast, ‘I Am’, wherever you’re listening to this right now.

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