Happy Place

Perfection has taken on a life of its own in recent years. Dawn French worries that the pursuit of perfection is stopping us from being who we are, and from making mistakes we can grow from. In this chat, Fearne and Dawn explore why when we have low tolerance for others making mistakes, we’re likely judging ourselves for our mistakes too. So, in order to have more self-compassion, we have to talk about the cringey times we’ve held inside for fear for being shamed. They also discuss the best ways to apologise when we’re in the wrong, and to allow space for robust debate that might just change our minds. Plus, why it’s so important to be able to say “I don’t know”. Dawn’s book, The Twat Files, is out now.

Cancer, and having a stoma, has changed DJ and broadcaster Adele Roberts’ perception of her own body for the better. It’s shown her it’s ok to cry, and it’s ok to ask for help. In this chat with Fearne, Adele talks through the symptoms of bowel cancer, what the experience has taught her about positive mindset, as well as the realities of going through chemo. They also chat about why it’s never too late to embrace and practice a new passion later in life, and why it’s important not to write off the entire day just because it started a bit crap. Personal Best, Adele’s memoir, is out on the 11th of April.

Don’t underestimate the power your voice has. This is the key message to come from Happy Place Book Club read, Killjoy, which tells the incredible true story of the No More Page 3 campaign, and the unlikely everyday women who made a generational change possible. Fearne chats to author Jo Cheetham about their early memories of Page 3, street harassment, and how cultural messages can affect the way we relate to our own bodies. They also talk about acknowledging anger and channelling that rage into something productive, and Jo shares how self-sabotage nearly stopped her writing this book in the first place. Join the Happy Place Book Club on Instagram @happyplacebookclub – DM your messages and voicenotes about April’s read, The List Of Suspicious Things, to have your thoughts shared on the podcast! ...and don’t worry, there are no Killjoy plot spoilers in this episode! This episode features extracts from the audiobook of Killjoy, narrated by Jo Cheetham, with thanks to Picador. 

“Am I mad, or did it happen?” This is a question that poet Lemn Sissay regularly finds himself asking. Having grown up in care, he has no family members to bear witness to his life experiences; is his understanding of his own identity correct? In this chat with Fearne, Lemn talks through why it’s important for us not to compare trauma, that everything’s relative, and no one deserves more or less empathy. He also exposes the reality of the care system in the UK, and offers practical ways for all of us to help those who’ve been in care better integrate into society. Between them, they suggest how to watch out for when you’re performing to a crowd, rather than being present – that’s where a true feeling of belonging lies – and how to mitigate the negative voices that want to knock your confidence. Lemn’s latest poetry collection is Let the Light Pour In and his memoir is My Name Is Why. Both are published by Canongate.

A disciplined lifestyle isn’t restrictive, it’s freeing. That’s how dietician, nutritionist, and plant-based cook Radhi Devlukia-Shetty feels about the habits, boundaries, and guidelines she's implemented. They allow her to be in control, rather than outside factors controlling how she lives. In this chat with Fearne, Radhi explains why committing to something – and following through – increases self-worth as it proves you can trust yourself. Trusting your instincts is something she wants you to be doing more of when it comes to nourishing food in particular. They chat through some practical ways to transition into eating more plant-based food, especially by using spices that invigorate and give you energy. Plus, why is it important to check your own mental health when you realise you’re gossiping about other people...? Radhi’s recipe book, JoyFull, is out now.

How can you support your child’s healthy brain development? How can you strengthen your connection with your children? And have you already messed them up too badly to make a change? These are all questions broadcaster-turned-child therapist Kate Silverton answers in her new book, There’s Still No Such Thing As Naughty. Kate joined Fearne on the podcast earlier this week to discuss how to help your child regulate their emotions, how screens affect development, neurodivergence, and more. Now, you can listen to an exclusive extract from Kate’s new book, all about separation anxiety. Listen to Kate’s Happy Place episode here. There’s Still No Such Thing As Naughty is out on March 28th.

Did you learn to regulate your emotions as a child? Broadcaster turned child therapist Kate Silverton says our ability to regulate our emotions has been found to be the best indicator of future happiness. In this chat with Fearne, Kate definitively explains why it’s never too late to change your relationship with your kids regardless of how much you think you’ve already messed up. Kate talks through why it’s not about changing our children, it’s about changing their environment. Similarly, it’s not that you’re bad at parenting, it’s that you’re being expected to parent while under often more stress and with less community support. Fearne and Kate also chat about why all of these conversations are relevant even if you’re not a parent, because all these things – soothing anxiety, acknowledging emotions, cultivating resilience – also relate to our relationships with our own parents, and ourselves... Plus, Kate gives her take on how best to help children with neurodiversity, and how screens are really affecting our brains. Kate’s book, There’s Still No Such Thing As Naughty, is out on the March 28th.  

How often do you honour your emotions, and ask yourself “how are you, in this moment?” Spiritual coach and meditation teacher Kirsty Gallagher guides you through a meditation that helps you connect with your inner wisdom, and to get beneath the noise and chaos of the outside world. So, find yourself somewhere quiet and comfortable for this gorgeous 10 minute meditation. While you’re doing that, you can first listen to a chapter from Kirsty’s new book, The Goddess Path, which is published by Happy Place Books. It’s a powerful read that will help you reclaim your self-worth, establish boundaries, and cultivate your intuition. For more of Kirsty’s meditations, download the Happy Place app. Kirsty’s book, The Goddess Path is out now.

Some people are born driven; Zara Larsson is one of them. Sixteen years into her career, she’s still got huge ambitions for what she wants to achieve and what she expects of herself. In this chat, Fearne and Zara talk about how to make sure we’re content and satisfied in the moment, while acknowledging that we continuously want to evolve and grow. We have to be curious about our human potential by pushing our own boundaries. Plus, Fearne and Zara realise they’re the total opposite person – one being an introvert who craves time alone, the other being an extrovert who thrives on social interaction. Zara’s new album, Venus, is out now.