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 pleasing

Poorna Bell

Will Poulter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s way too much pressure on reaching a definitive state of happiness, and it’s just not realistic, so Fearne’s dropping into your feed every week for some chat about what’s making her feel great, and what’s making her feel completely crap.

This is the cosy corner where there’s no judgement allowed! All of us can explore what’s been on our minds, what’s been getting us down, inspiring us, and making us laugh.

Want to join the chat? Send us a voicenote, DM, or comment on Instagram @happyplaceofficial!

In this chat, Fearne covers:

-Why she’s decided to present some TV again

-How to get back into something you haven’t done in ages

-The importance of seeking out good news when the world gets too heavy

-What singing – karaoke or in a choir, whatever you like – does for your nervous system

-The difference between the hands of town men and countryside men and why this is relevant when you get a flat tyre

-AI slop and how to trust what you see online

-How much women will spend on period products in their lifetime

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? It’s a question comedian Jimmy Carr reckons will help direct your life path.

In this chat with Fearne, Jimmy explains how he strives for greatness for himself, without falling into the trap of comparing himself to others. He talks about how to define success for yourself, why talent without hard work means very little, and why he doesn’t fear cancel culture.

Jimmy also explains why feminism still doesn’t really serve mothers and matriarchs, and why you’ll never hear him say he’s “babysitting” his own kids.

Plus, do all comedians have a bit of a troubled childhood...? Jimmy chats about how his anxieties fuel his jokes.

Get your tickets for Jimmy’s Laughs Funny tour at the London Palladium!

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Bjorn Natthiko Lindeblad

Joel Dommet

Mo Gilligan

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What’s going on for you? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s here with more chatter about what’s putting her and the Happy Place team in a good mood this week, and what can bugger off.

This is the space for all of us 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 covers:

-Whether she looks more intelligent now she wears glasses

-Reading a sexual fantasy out at The Royal Albert Hall

-Why having a creative hobby can be game changing

-The transitional weather where your jacket is never right

-Books with great premises but rubbish execution

-Being aggy on social media just for the sake of it

-Whether it’s worth writing sh*tty texts and emails

Listen to the Happy Place episodes mentioned in this chat:

Gillian Anderson

Tom Daly

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s an age-old question: can women have both brains and beauty? (Spoiler: obviously yes!) Broadcaster Carol Vorderman says the more people comment on her body... the more thigh high boots and tight skirts she’ll wear!

In this chat with Fearne, Carol charts her early life, from her family running away with the circus, to living out of a car, to being one of the first girls to read engineering at Cambridge University. She also reveals who wrote her first application to Countdown back in the day... because it wasn’t her!

Carol is very politically active, and explains why everything about our lives is political. Care about the pressure put on kids and parents by schools? Where your taxes go? Women’s bodily autonomy? It’s more important than ever, she says, to both use your vote, and live with hope.

What can we learn from Carol about making the best of what we’ve been given? And why do we all have a responsibility to stand up for what we believe in?

You can watch Carol on Celebrity Quizzing on Channel 5.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Ashley James

Poorna Bell

Kate Winslet

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 and the Happy Place team in a good mood, and what’s feeling a bit rubbish ...and Fearne has really really been feeling rubbish this week...

This is a comforting space for all of us 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:

-Wandering around art galleries because it’s not just an elitist thing

-Learning new skills, namely: sign language

-What goes down in the Wednesday Waffle WhatsApp chat

-Whether it’s important for your wardrobe to have a signature style

-Norovirus (hope you’re not eating right now)

-Being a stricter parent when you’re (incredibly) ill

-Loads of scenarios where people are unnecessarily rude in public

-The great tea vs coffee debate

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you cope when you’re going through a really rough time? Broadcaster Ruth Langsford has needed a balance of big cries, therapy, and just choosing to dust herself off and get to work.

In this chat with Fearne, Ruth talks through the ways counselling and female friendships are moving her through the grief of her divorce. She also shares what she’s learnt about caring for parents with dementia, without overwhelming yourself in the process.

Fearne and Ruth compare their experiences of mum guilt, and why it’s so important for young boys in particular to see the women in their life working.

Plus, Ruth reveals the sliding doors moment that led her to her TV presenting career...

Ruth’s book, Feeling Fabulous, is out now.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains conversations about grief after suicide.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Kate Winslet

Ben West

Elizabeth Gilbert

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There’s probably a bit too much pressure on reaching a definitive state of happiness isn’t there? It’s not realistic gang! So Fearne’s dropping into your feed every week for some candid chat about what’s making her feel great, and what’s making her feel completely rubbish ...and this episode is brought to you by new original Paramount Plus show The Madison.

This is the cosy little corner where all of us can explore what’s been on our minds, what’s been getting us down, inspiring us, and making us laugh. Want to join the chat? Send us a voicenote, DM, or comment on Instagram @happyplaceofficial!

In this chat, Fearne covers:

-The joy of having a great TV series on the go

-Dreaming of escaping to a hazy golden farm in Montana

-The small but delicious joy of beautiful stationary

-The frustration of waking up too early at the weekend

-The debate about whether to feed foxes or not

-How to toilet train kittens

-The madness of how much we all rush through the day

-BTS of some of the roles on Team Happy Place

Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream now on Paramount Plus. Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream on 21 March.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.