Happy Place

Yungblud, an artist celebrated for his authentic self-expression, dives deep into the importance of embracing enthusiasm and vulnerability. He discusses overcoming social anxiety, noting how social media can connect us with supportive communities. Yungblud also shares how he tailors his performances to resonate with fans facing similar struggles, emphasizing the beauty of sharing dark thoughts. Through personal anecdotes, he highlights the challenges of staying true in a pressure-filled industry while fostering genuine connections with his followers.

Presenter Alex Jones emphasizes the beauty of being present and enjoying the moment, especially amidst societal pressures. She shares her thoughts on the emotional challenges of moving homes and balancing a broadcast career with family life. The humorous chaos of family holidays is discussed, revealing the messy reality of traveling with children. They also touch on the importance of open conversations about mental health within families, highlighting the value of meaningful experiences over professional accolades.

Sofie Hagen, a talented comedian and author known for her candid discussions on sex, identity, and body image, shares her insights on intimacy and pleasure. She reflects on her 3000 days without sex and explores how body image and societal pressures impact desire. The conversation dives into the complexities of identity labels, questioning whether they liberate or restrict. Sofie also sheds light on navigating trauma and anxiety, discussing how these experiences shape relationships and self-acceptance in the journey toward healing.

Rachel Stevens, a singer and former member of S Club 7, discusses her journey of self-worth and personal growth. She opens up about the complexities of emotions and the importance of speaking out, even imperfectly. Rachel reflects on her early years in the band, which provided her with structure amidst family challenges, and how it eventually stifled her autonomy. The conversation touches on their shared worries, the pressure of perfectionism, and the significance of embracing vulnerability to foster authentic connections. Rachel's new book, Finding My Voice, is also highlighted.

Paloma Faith discusses the pressure for women to 'have it all', Kate Ferdinand talks about caring for her blended family, and Alain de Botton explains how childhood affects actions. The podcast delves into parenting challenges, childhood behavior, and the impact of fatherhood on personal life and creativity.

Would you describe yourself as a workaholic? Fashion designer Zandra Rhodes has an insatiable sense of drive that’s fuelled her iconic career since the 1960s. In this chat with Fearne, Zandra is honest about how she threw herself into work as a way to cope with things like the death of the love of her life, and her own cancer diagnosis. Zandra is very clear that we need our own sense of creativity, colour, and vibrancy in life. She explains why it’s so vital to have self-belief, and how to make sure you’re not compromising your own values and style for other people. There’s also the story of when Zandra was carted away in a police car for growing marijuana... Zandra’s book, Iconic: My Life in 50 Objects, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you think of yourself as a victim of circumstance? Ella Mills – the founder of Deliciously Ella – used to live with a sense that life was unfair to her. Now, she knows that ultimately the only person in charge of your life is you. In this chat with Fearne, Ella talks about realising apathy was a symptom of depression, and explains why sometimes you have to hit rock bottom in order to acknowledge what needs to change. Ella and Fearne also talk about why the way we eat has become so emotive and divisive. They reckon we should be focusing on sharing joyful knowledge that will make us all healthier and more energetic, so chat through some simple ways to feel good about what you’re eating. Ella’s latest recipe book, Healthy Made Simple, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Make yourself comfy in a quiet space. Lie down if you can. Meditation teacher Rob da Bank is here to guide you through a Yoga Nidra practice. This is 20 minutes of uninterrupted time for you, to feel a little more self-love, and to move you into a deeply restful place through guided mental imagery, intention setting, and breathing exercises. Head back to the Happy Place feed to listen to Fearne’s chat with Rob da Bank. For even more of Rob’s Yoga Nidra practices, download the Happy Place app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re all so used to being in a constant fight or flight mode, you might not even realise that your body has the potential to be in a much calmer state. In this chat with Fearne, DJ and meditation teacher Rob da Bank explains how practicing Yoga Nidra is a way to help your body digest stress. He also talks about why we all need to slow down to combat burnout, and how sauna and cold water therapy can help with this. Plus, Fearne and Rob both share the stressful behind the scenes realities of organising big festivals – Happy Place Festival and Bestival respectively – as well as how they see their time as Radio One DJs now... Now you’ve heard about the benefits of Yoga Nidra, you can find a quiet space and do a practice yourself. Head back to the Happy Place feed and you’ll find another episode – Rob will guide you through a beautiful Yoga Nidra there. For even more of Rob’s Yoga Nidra practices, download the Happy Place app.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It can feel awful when other people judge you, but it can be even worse when you judge yourself. Despite his immense achievements, Former European, Commonwealth and World Champion 400m medallist Iwan Thomas is no stranger to self-loathing. In this chat with Fearne, Iwan talks about the innate need to make our parents proud throughout our lives, as well as how becoming a dad himself has changed his outlook on life. They also try to figure out the balance of pushing your kid to believe in themselves, without stressing them out with too much pressure. Iwan is honest about the reality of feeling he couldn’t talk to even his closest friends about his mental health during his lowest moments, as well as how he’s learnt to open up. Iwan’s memoir, Brutal, is out on July 4th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.