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We can learn a lot from scientists about getting comfortable with being wrong, says physicist Professor Brian Cox.
In this chat with Fearne, Brian explains the difference between ‘having an argument’ and ‘making an argument’. The latter gives us confidence to ask curious questions, come to our own conclusions, and remain open to being wrong, without letting ego get in the way of connection or progress.
Brian talks through what the physics behind the universe says about the meaning of being human, including finding personal motivation and purpose, and whether there’s life after death.
Fearne and Brian also wonder how we can make sure young girls aren’t discouraged from pursuing science, and Brian tells the story of being on the set of a famous alien movie...
Tickets for Brian’s 2026 world tour – Emergence – are available now.
Brian’s reading list:
Richard Feynman – The Value of Science
Carl Sagan – The Demon Haunted World
Johannes Kepler – Harmonice Mundi
Arthur C. Clark – 2001
Erwin Schrödinger – What is Life?
Sir Paul Nurse – What is Life?
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Broadcaster and entrepreneur Jamie Laing had big fears about having kids... and yet he’s about to become a dad any day now.
In this chat with Fearne, Jamie’s honest about the pros and cons he deliberated over before deciding to have children. He talks through how his parents’ divorce expanded his world in beautiful ways, as well as why he chose to re-kindle his relationship with his dad as an adult.
Jamie also talks for the first time about his body image and eating disorder. Given Fearne has been through her own experience of bulimia, Jamie looks to her for advice on how to break free from the shame that’s gripped him for much of his life.
Jamie can now say he genuinely likes himself, but explains how throughout his teens and twenties he felt a real need to be popular, liked, and validated by others. How did he learn to cultivate self-compassion in his thirties? And what does he reckon is the best way to get men to open up to their mates?
Jamie’s book, Boys Don’t Cry, is out now.
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Blame isn’t helpful. Illustrator and author Charlie Mackesy thinks learning to forgive yourself and others will lead to more peace.
In this chat, Fearne and Charlie talk from personal experience about just how physical shame can feel. Charlie explains how fear of abandonment keeps us silent about our insecurities, but that in reality the moment we start talking about our shame is the moment real human connection is made.
Charlie and Fearne also chat about how polarised the world is becoming, and offer advice for how to cope with fear, as well as why it’s important to disagree respectfully.
Plus, why did Charlie feel he needed to hide away in the toilets at the Oscars?
Charlie’s latest book, Always Remember: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, The Horse, and The Storm, is out now.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains some conversation about suicidal ideation.
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What did you love doing when you were 10 years old? Broadcaster Greg James reckons we all need to prioritise fun and silliness more, and thinking about your childhood passions is a great place to start.
In this chat, Fearne and Greg talk about how bleak, boring, and anxiety-inducing being a responsible grown up can be sometimes, and why that means it’s vital to choose to laugh every day.
Greg also explains why it’s important to stop and ask yourself if you really want to get married, have kids, or earn lots of money, or if you’re sleepwalking into someone else’s vision of a perfect life.
Plus, why did 21 year old Greg think he had a chance with Fearne when he first arrived at Radio 1...?
Greg’s book, All The Best For The Future, is out now.
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Loved Ones – the Happy Place Book Club pick for September – tells the story of Julia, whose first love Gabe dies aged 29, launching her into a world-wide quest to recover the possessions he left with friends and acquaintances across the world. It also brings her into contact with the last woman Gabe loved...
In this chat, Fearne and author Aisha Muharrar wonder what would happen if you met others who had dated the same person as you. Would you get on and have loads in common? Or would there be intense jealousy? They also explore the strange idea that different people know and love very different sides of you.
Aisha was a script writer on TV show Parks and Recreation, and she brings that comedy and levity to the messy topic of grief in Loved Ones. Writing her debut novel was very much a new challenge though – Aisha explains to Fearne why she pretty much had to re-write the whole book!
Enter our competition with Bookshop.org to be in with a chance of winning books for life here: https://woobox.com/9jfwes
Thank you to Fourth Estate for the use of Loved One audiobook, narrated by Emma Ladji.
If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:
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September always has a back-to-school feeling, so this episode is all about getting back into a successful work routine after the summer, without burning yourself out...
In this episode –
-Entrepreneur Grace Beverley chats through how to set boundaries to create a work life balance that works for you, and how to create new organisation habits so you can spend less time procrastinating
-Researcher Brene Brown tackles perfectionism and how self-compassion can stop you putting so much pressure on yourself
-UniLad founder Alex Partridge offers some practical tips if you’re feeling anxious at work, including asking for flexible hours and advocating for walking meetings
-Fashion and beauty mogul Trinny Woodall explains how she’s built her professional confidence and how she deals with rejection
-Olympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds gives relatable advice about how to know when it’s time to quit and find a new career passion
Listen to the full episodes here –
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Lulu shot to fame at 15, and she’s been playing that part, masking who she really is – Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie – for the six decades since.
In this chat with Fearne, Lulu explains how she felt that everything from her real name and accent, to her personality and childhood weren’t good enough, so she created a character for the public to love. However, this kind of emotional suppression can have painful consequences, and she’s since learned to stop running from her messy parts.
Lulu talks through the moment she realised she was an alcoholic, and how recovery has helped her truly like herself. They chat about how to trust your intuition, and reinvent yourself in every decade should you want to... but prepare for others to find your growth uncomfortable.
Plus, there are revelations about her relationship with David Bowie that Lulu’s never publicised before, and details about how she put her father in jail as a child.
Lulu’s new book, If Only You Knew, is out now.
If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:
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Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Page didn’t want kids, until she suddenly did at 35! In this chat with Fearne, Joanna explains how she had to bring her baby on set in order to keep working as a new mum, and why she ultimately decided to focus on family over career.
They chat about why it’s ok to do average – or even shit – work sometimes, and why perfection doesn’t need to be the goal. Joanna’s noticed on set that younger women seem to have much higher self-worth than she had at their age; what can we learn from their assertiveness?
Plus, which Hollywood actor did Joanna fart in front of, and how did the Love Actually sex scenes work behind the scenes?
Joanna’s new book, Lush, is out on September 25th.
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Men are starting to open up. Presenter and comedian Paddy McGuinness used to work on building sites where vulnerability would have been seen as a weakness, but he’s seen things changing...
In this chat with Fearne, Paddy talks about his own clinical depression, and what he’s learnt from therapy about keeping his mental health in check. He explains that understanding why you’re reacting a certain way will give you the power to change your behaviour.
Paddy’s three children all have autism, and he’s frank about how he felt when he first got the news. He talks through the common misconceptions, and what he wishes more people understood about the realities of raising autistic children.
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Cally Beaton spent much of her career in male-dominated board rooms. She, in her own words, was a ‘boring businessperson’. Now? She’s a stand up comedian!
Namaste Motherfuckers was the Happy Place Book Club pick for August. It’s Cally’s manifesto for embracing the radical change that comes with midlife and menopause, proving it’s never too late to reinvent your life.
In this chat with Fearne, Cally explains that she’s particularly passionate about better understanding perimenopause after being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, and is candid about being a single mum to an autistic child.
Thank you to Headline Home for the use of Namaste Motherf*ckers audiobook, narrated by Cally Beaton.
If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:
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Have you noticed your body changing with age? Vogue Williams has suddenly become aware that she needs to make a point of staying physically and mentally strong.
In this chat with Fearne, Vogue explains why having a drink and having fun are just as important as exercising and sleeping well when it comes to feeling good. She talks through how her health anxieties have manifested in the past, and how she’s used medication and therapy to move her through difficult periods of heartbreak and grief.
Vogue explores why she and husband Spencer Matthews are so good together. Plus, why she got kicked out of a yoga class, and why Big Brother’s Nasty Nick lives in her head rent free...
Vogue’s memoir, Big Mouth, is out now.
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Can women have it all? Renowned restauranteur, cookery writer, and Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith doesn’t think so.
In this chat with Fearne, Prue explains why she’s glad she built her career before having children, and why no one should feel ashamed of asking for help with their business or family in order to keep everything afloat.
Prue – who had the confidence to found a restaurant when she’d never worked in one – gives advice on never letting a lack of knowledge get in the way of starting a new passion project.
She also tells the story of finding love again at 70 after being widowed, and explains why she’s so passionate about legalising assisted dying.
The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday 2nd September.
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Fearne’s been loving the UEFA Women’s EUROS, so this episode celebrates the huge summer of sport we’re having by listening back to some brilliant sportspeople who’ve told their stories on Happy Place. Plus, if you’ve been inspired to move your own body more, how can you set your own fitness goals and – most importantly! – enjoy the process?
In this episode –
-Broadcaster Gabby Logan reflects on just how momentous it was when the Lionesses won the EUROs in 2023
-UFC fighter Molly McCann explains what happens when you’re on your period as an athlete
-Olympic rower Helen Glover chats about how motherhood made her even more ambitious for herself
-DJ Adele Roberts inspires with her story of setting the world record as the fastest female to run the London Marathon with a stoma bag
-Comedian Joel Dommett laughs about his own marathon attempts going tits up
-Psychologist Pippa Grange shares what she knows about goal setting from working with England’s football team
Listen to the full episodes here –
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Do you notice your body telling you when your brain is struggling? We’re headed back to this year’s Happy Place Festival in Gunnersbury Park, where loads of our guest speakers took to the Talk Stage to talk about the power of the mind-body connection...
In this episode –
- Breath and mindset coach Richie Norton explores the mind-body connection and how you can always start over with your physical and mental health
-Broadcaster Julia Bradbury explains how nature has a very real impact on how healthy our bodies are, and how she approached her cancer diagnosis
-Rizzle Kicks Jordan Stephens and therapist Donna Lancaster team up to talk about the groundbreaking physical effect one of Donna’s retreats had on Jordan’s body
-Midlife wellness author Liz Earle talks through the best immunity-boosting morning routine
-Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes chats about how to set (and stick to!) physical goals that will influence your mind too
Get your tickets for the Happy Place Festival in Tatton Park 2025 here!
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Seasons will change, so will you
Tell self-limiting beliefs to bugger off
How to stick two fingers up to beauty standards
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Are you obsessed with finding the best books – yes, multiple – to read on holiday? Broadcaster Sara Cox is!
Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne and Sara share their thoughts on how to take your holiday reading more seriously. They natter about the joy of reading a novel set in the country you’re holidaying in, and whether the vivid descriptions of a location have inspired them to travel there themselves.
They also swap their own experiences of writing books, and reveal the beautiful locations that have informed elements of their own novels. Plus, Sara explains why she’s trying to stop writing about characters who are useless and dysfunctional in her books, and why she’s re-living her party-girl days...
You can find a list of all of Fearne and Sara’s recommended reads below!
British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, offer a 24hr holiday helpline, and allow you to book with a low deposit. All holidays include a generous baggage allowance per person. Go to Ba.com/holidays to find out more.
Fearne and Sara’s reading list:
Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt
Girls – Kirsty Capes
Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
Butter – Asako Yuzuki
The Convenience Store Woman – Sayaka Murata
The Island – Victoria Hislop
Daisy Jones And The Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Carrie Soto Is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Girl On A Train – Paula Hawkins
The Compound – Aisling Rawle
Ma’am Darling – Craig Brown
Lady In Waiting – Anne Glenconner
Chocolat – Joanne Harris
The Thousand Lights Hotel - Emylia Hall
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Getting lost in anxiety, shame, or self-loathing? Spiritual leader Gabby Bernstein wants you to acknowledge all the messy parts of your true character. Spoiler: you’re not going suddenly to like yourself overnight, but acknowledging the uncomfortable bits will get you there sooner!
In this chat with Fearne, Gabby explains how ‘protector parts’ like perfectionism, people pleasing, and numbing out can spiral into extreme self-soothing behaviours like drug or porn addiction if they’re not dealt with.
Fearne and Gabby chat about anxiety as a protection mechanism, exploring why being focused on the heart palpitations and hyper-vigilance is stopping you dealing with your deeper wounds.
Plus, Fearne notices that her OCD is back so Gabby takes a moment to help her check in with her current stress levels – you can follow along with this exercise too!
Gabby’s latest book, Self-Help, is out now.
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Tell Self-Limiting Beliefs To Bugger Off
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Do you love a true crime scam documentary? Our latest Happy Place Book Club read is for you! Iconic author Lisa Jewell has written Don’t Let Him In, a thriller about a perfect man... who’s a fraudulent liar.
In this chat with Fearne, live from The Happy Place Festival, Lisa explains how she got into the mind of a psychopath despite being a very honest person herself. They explore how people fall for charming romance scammers, and how Lisa has become a relentlessly happy person.
Plus, Lisa’s written 24 novels but has given up on trying to be a ‘professional’ kind of person – she explains how to sod the rules and build confidence in your own process.
If you’re new to Happy Place Book Club episodes, don’t worry, there are no spoilers here! If you want to join the Book Club, we’re on Instagram @happyplacebookclub, and Book Club episodes are released the first Friday of every month!
Thank you to Penguin Audio for the use of Don't Let Him In audiobook, narrated by Richard Armitage, Joanna Froggatt, Louise Brealey, Gemma Whelan and Tamryn Payne.
If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:
Book Club Meets: Clare Leslie Hall
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Are holidays for switching off... or for fun activities? Broadcaster Clara Amfo is big into travelling solo so she can unapologetically indulge her own passions, like live music and salsa dancing.
Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne and Clara share their thoughts on how to take your holiday hobbies and passions more seriously, including signing up for local classes, and swapping partying for fitness retreats.
They also reminisce on the moment Fearne passed the Radio 1 Live Lounge over to Clara, and chat about how to know when you’re ready to move on from a chapter in your life. Plus, do you find your personality getting lost so you’re more palatable to others? Clara has some advice to stop that happening...
British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, offer a 24hr holiday helpline, and allow you to book with a low deposit. All holidays include a generous baggage allowance per person. Go to Ba.com/holidays to find out more.
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Are you living the life you want to live? Broadcaster Davina McCall’s recent health scare has shown her the importance of living boldly, with no regrets.
In this chat, live from The Happy Place Festival, best pals Fearne and Davina share how having tumours removed within a few months of each other brought them closer together.
Davina explains how you can turn fear into joy through mindset changes, and how to apologise so you’re not carrying the weight of guilt anymore. She also reflects on how being in Narcotics Anonymous finally enabled her to like herself, warts and all.
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It’s ok to make mistakes! Comedian Harriet Kemsley says her dyspraxia meant she learnt very early on not to take herself too seriously.
In this chat with Fearne, live from The Happy Place Festival, Harriet explains how to get through the cringe part where you’re really rubbish at something new, and why it builds resilience for all parts of your life.
Harriet also chats about the chaos that comes with co-parenting and dating after divorce, and has the final word on that eye-roll stereotype that men don’t like funny women...
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