Happy Place

Smoking and going to that cool gig... think you left caving to peer pressure behind at high school? Scientist and social entrepreneur Todd Rose says we’re still desperately doing our best to fit in, whether we realise it or not!

In this chat with Fearne, Todd explains that it feels important to hold the ‘correct’ opinions in the eyes of our social group. Why? As humans we’re wired to want to belong to a community, so often misrepresent our values for fear of upsetting others.

The word ‘authenticity’ is thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? Todd explains how to make sure your public self aligns with your public self so you’re not living in a state of confusion and anxiety.

Plus, why not speaking your mind has very real implications on your physical health, and how self-silencing is affecting everything from your friendships to how you vote.
Todd’s book, Collective Illusions, is out now.

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Break free from people pleasing
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Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne gets into what she and Team Happy Place absolutely love about a holiday, and which bits can be a bit rubbish. (No one wants to pack to go home when the swimsuits are still wet...)

How do you take your holidays more seriously? Join the chat on Instagram @happyplaceofficial and @britishairwaysholidays.

In this chat, Fearne explores:
-How a spa holiday induced a 10/10 sleep
-Soaking up the history of places like Rome
-Why you’re a more relaxed (more fun??) version of yourself on holiday
-Chatting with strangers in cool little shops
-The brilliant trinkets you come home with (personalised wax seal, anyone?)
-Why nothing will beat the first Negroni abroad
-Having uninterrupted reading time
-Why the first 24 hours on holiday can make her a little bit anxious
-The perils of being a last-minute packer

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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Just man up. This is essentially what Adam Kay was told when a traumatic day at work left him with PTSD.

In this chat with Fearne, former doctor Adam explains why he made the decision to leave the medical profession, and puts a spotlight on the poor mental health of our NHS workers. Adam talks about how, in his case, the job left him feeling paranoid and overcautious, and how he turned to diary writing to process his emotions.

They chat about how we can all chip away at any mental health stigma in both the workplace and at home with loved ones, and offer advice for how to put together your own mental health toolkits for crises of varying severity.

A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay is out in paperback 2nd July (published by Orion).

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about suicide.

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Yrsa really doesn’t intend to kill anyone... but the Cambridge professor sitting opposite her has manipulated her friend and stolen her research. So, when she flicks a bee into his drink, she just thinks he’ll get a nasty little sting... but now he’s dead. And it’s a sweet, sweet feeling for Yrsa: finally having some control...

Honey, written by Imani Thompson, was our Happy Place Book Club read for June. In this chat with Fearne, Imani explains how getting fired from a job was the catalyst she needed to start writing, and just how surreal it feels to have a debut novel published in her 20s.

They also explore the big themes in the novel, including race, intersectional feminism, female anger, and revenge.

In July, we’ll be reading Queenie Is Working On It, by Candice Carty-Williams.

Thank you to The Borough Press for use of the Honey audiobook, narrated by Chloe Sommer.

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Book Club Meets: Caro Claire Burke

Book Club Meets: Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

Book Club Meets: Emma Gannon
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Did you listen when your gut told you to turn down that job... and did you seize a better opportunity after?

What about when you were tired but something told you to go to the party anyway? Did you meet your partner there?

Entrepreneur and author Poppy Jamie says there’s no such thing as a coincidence.

In this chat with Fearne, Poppy explains why our collective exhaustion comes down to trusting logic and data over our gut instinct and inner wisdom. They talk about why it’s the inexplicable moments in life that expand our understanding of what’s possible.

Poppy has been diagnosed with near-infertility and couldn't see how motherhood was possible; she explains how a true belief in magic, intuition, and the wise women around her have helped her cope.

Plus, Poppy has an incredible announcement that was prophesised many years ago...

Poppy’s book, The Book of Magical Living, published by New River, is out now.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about pregnancy loss and abortion.

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