Happy Place

Sex scenes involve a lot more padding and tape than you might expect! Rivals actress Nafessa Williams has found being at the centre of one of TV’s sexiest shows both nerve-wracking and incredibly liberating.In this chat with Fearne, Nafessa explores what it means to play the only black woman in a white man's world in 1980s Britain, and why she sees her acting as her contribution to activism and representation.Do you consider yourself to be ambitious and driven? Nafessa wonders if you rest as hard as you work... because you should! Plus, how to manifest the life you want, without forgetting the key component: action!Watch Rivals series 2 on Disney+ from May 15th.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Rhonda ByrneLeigh-Anne PinnockAfua Hirsch

Everyone deserves the chance at a fulfilling life. Shauna Tiffany grew up in foster care, feeling ashamed of and responsible for her parents’ choices. Creative play therapy helped her work through her childhood trauma, and now – with the support of The King’s Trust – she’s built her own business doing the same thing for other children and families.In this chat with Fearne, Shauna explains how she’s learnt to believe in herself because of the way others have chosen to believe in her. Emotional support has made her feel worthy of great opportunities, and practical advice has empowered her to turn ideas into reality, so they chat about how to gently chip away at increasing self-confidence.Plus, Fearne’s got a big surprise for Shauna...Check out Shauna’s work at Lighthouse Therapy Hub.Find out more about The King’s Trust. 

Were you praised as a child for being ‘good’, for keeping quiet, or not making a fuss? Psychologist Dr Nicole LePera reckons that praise may have taught you to disconnect from your emotions entirely.In this chat with Fearne, Nicole explains how even well-intentioned parenting can leave us with patterns that run our adult lives on autopilot. She talks through the practical process of reparenting your inner child, starting with something as simple as finding a childhood photograph. We hold our emotions in our bodies, so she also shares ways to tune in with your body throughout the day to release stress.Nicole also explains why your nervous system keeps you stuck in familiar patterns even when you logically know better, and why shame, people pleasing, and perfectionism are all protective strategies we developed to survive childhood.Plus, why does healing require what Nicole calls a return to ‘radical honesty’?Nicole’s book, Reparenting the Inner Child, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Chiwetel EjioforPhilippa PerryBreak Free From People Pleasing

Adam and Jules have been married for 25 years and are stuck in a bit of a rut. Adam stumbles across some old mixtapes he and Jules made for each other when they were young and falling in love, and when they play them... they get to travel back in time to different moments in their relationship. Will remembering the passion they used to have get the future of their relationship back on track, or will it just spark absolute chaos?You & Me, You & Me, You & Me was our Happy Place Book Club pick for April. In this chat with Fearne, authors Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees – themselves a married couple – explain why they wanted to explore rekindling intimacy in the empty nest phase, and reveal how they write together on a practical level.What do you reckon, if you could go back in time to tweak some of the decisions you’d made – would you? Maybe it would make you even more grateful for the happiness you have now...Thank you to Vintage Digital for the use of the You & Me and You & Me and You & Me audiobook, narrated by Rory Kinnear and Sally Phillips.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Book Club Meets: Emma GannonBook Club Meets: Maggie O’FarrellBook Club Meets: Nussaibah Younis

When was the last time you told someone exactly how much you earn? Entrepreneur Emma Grede - who co-founded Good American with Khloe Kardashian - says that when women avoid talking about money, money avoids them.In this chat with Fearne, Emma explains why ambition isn't a dirty word, and why she wants every determined woman to know her worth. Fearne and Emma also explore why you can't be a people pleaser and a leader, and why getting comfortable with failure and self-doubt is non-negotiable.As a mum of four, Emma has some big thoughts about mum guilt, and talks about why it’s so important that kids see their mums chasing their goals and loving what they do.Plus, why you’ll never catch Emma working from home, or cutting her kids’ sandwiches into heart shapes...Emma’s book, Start With Yourself, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Ashley JamesChris AppletonCarol Vorderman

What if your best decade is still ahead of you? At 62, broadcaster and healthy aging expert Liz Earle is fitter, stronger, and happier than ever.In this chat with Fearne, Liz shares how she went from overwhelmed, overweight, and exhausted during perimenopause, to thriving in her 60s. She shares the small lifestyle shifts that transformed her health, and why women in midlife shouldn’t feel selfish moving themselves up the priority list.Fearne and Liz dig into the science of aging well, including the power of sunlight (and whether we should be wearing SPF year-round!), and why we should be prioritising sleep and strength training.Plus, what happened when Liz’s younger boyfriend took her clubbing for the first time at 60 years old...?Liz’s book, How To Age, is out now.Listen to Liz’s podcast, Age Better, here!If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Naomi WattsCallie BeatonPoorna Bell

Should you give your inner critic have a name? Psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry reckons giving that nagging voice in your head a silly name is the first step to stopping it running your life.In this chat with Fearne, Philippa explains why not feeling ‘good enough’ is often less about truth and more about habit. She shares how to tell the difference between a helpful critical inner voice and a self-sabotaging one, and why negative thought patterns keep us stuck.Fearne and Philippa also chat about the power of shame, and why talking about the things you feel most embarrassed about is the fastest way to shrink them.Plus, how is your phone eating away at your ability to connect IRL? And what can you do if you can’t access therapy? Philippa talks through some of her favourite self-therapy exercises.Philippa’s novel, Shrink Solves Murder, is out on May 7th.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Philippa’s first Happy Place episodeFlo PerryBryony Gordon

What’s been going on for you this week? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s here with more chat about what’s putting her, Team Happy Place team, and you lot in a good mood, and what’s feeling a bit heavier.This is our space to explore what’s been on our minds. Want to join the chat? Send us a voicenote, DM, or comment on Instagram @happyplaceofficial!In this chat, Fearne explores:-Whether Instagram quotes are cringe or uplifting-Why midlife is about coming back to who you were as a teen-Prioritising her friendships -The joy of a morning routine-Examples of positive masculinity-Teenagers’ attitudes unfortunately not being a myth-The struggle of being a single parent working full time-Picking which jacket to wear for the weather (spoiler: you won’t make the right decision)-How good it can be to have a good cry-Hormones being a bit of a nightmare

You’ve heard of fight or flight, but what about fawn – the idea of appeasing others to stay safe? Author and mental health advocate Bryony Gordon thinks there’s a reason so many women feel under pressure to people please.In this chat with Fearne, Bryony explores how she feels people pleasing has fuelled parts of her OCD, alcoholism, and eating disorders over the years.Fearne and Bryony also chat about body image, and both reveal some of the insecurities that have consumed them... that likely no one else has noticed. Bryony reckons feeling ‘too much’ and ‘not enough’ are two sides of the same coin, and offers advice on how to confidently take up space. (Or, as she puts it: “step into your mother*cking majesty!”)Bryony’s novel, People Pleaser, is out now.If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:Break free from people pleasingPoorna BellWill Poulter