Sophie Ellis-Bextor is playing over 20 festivals around the world this summer. Given she travels so much for work, it’s even more important to make family holidays properly magical.

Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat with Fearne – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Sophie explains that she and her husband have meetings to discuss the travel itinerary. They share the joy of collecting stamps in your passport, and get deep into their recommendations for Paris, Puglia, Ibiza, and Japan.

Fearne and Sophie also realise they both turn into a slightly different person on holiday... a more uninhibited version of themselves. There are more glam outfits and fewer routines!

Plus, how does Sophie stay so chilled while packing for seven people in the family, and how does she feel about screens on holiday?

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.

Listen to other episodes of The Happy Place Guide To Holidays:

Richard E Grant

Tess Daly

Clara Amfo

Sara Cox

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Joe Locke was doing his A levels on the Isle of Man when Heartstopper came out on Netflix. Two days later he had 3 million new Instagram followers.

In this chat, Fearne and Joe both share their experiences of being thrust into the spotlight as teenagers, and how it’s affected them mentally. He explores his fear that his success might just be a fluke, and why he's so keen to prove he belongs in the industry.

They also chat about how vital it is to have LGBTQ+ representation like Heartstopper on TV, and why Joe came out twice. Plus, what can we all learn from Joe’s experience of having to grow up fast about giving ourselves permission to be young and messy?

You can watch Joe in Heartstopper Forever on Netflix now.

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

Olly Alexander

Chris Appleton

Julian Clary

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There’s probably a bit too much pressure on reaching a definitive state of happiness isn’t there? It’s just not realistic. So Fearne’s dropping into your feed every week for some honest chat about what’s making her (and you lot) feel great, and what’s making us all feel completely rubbish. 

This is a cosy little corner for all of us to 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 explores:

-Trying random new hobbies in midlife and actually being good at them

-A bit of reminiscing about her 90s TV presenting days

-Admiring nature through a camera lens

-Going to the doctor and having your pain believed immediately

-Why she’s not a fan of following rules (and what happened when she disobeyed them at The Vatican)

-Taking time off work for poor mental health

-Why wearing a bra in the heat is SO AWFUL

-Why wearing clothes full stop is a mad concept

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We’re heading into the summer holidays. Hands up if you’re already a bit anxious about any mum guilt creeping in...?

Fearne definitely is, so she’s reflecting on the Happy Place episodes that explore how different women are choosing to navigate working and parenting. No judgement here gang – we all need to take the pressure off being perfect in every area of our lives!

In this episode –

-Entrepreneur Emma Grede chats about why parenting isn’t that deep, and why it’s important for her kids to see her fulfil her own dreams

-Artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor explains why she’s stopped minimising the importance of her career, and how she includes her children in her work day

-Olympic Rower Helen Glover explores how having children encouraged her to get back into a career she thought she’d retired from

-Artist Paloma Faith wonders just how much of a toll the silent emotional load of working both in and out of the house is taking on women

-Broadcaster Ruth Langsford reflects on how she chose between being at home or at work in her early days of parenting, and what she tells young mothers in the same

position

-Actor Joanna Page remembers the times she had to breastfeed on TV sets and explains why motherhood now ultimately comes before her career

By the way, tickets for the 2027 London Happy Place festival are on sale now! Just head to happyplaceofficial.co.uk to get your tickets.

Listen to the full Happy Place episodes –

Emma Grede

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Helen Glover

Paloma Faith

Ruth Langsford

Joanna Page

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Is your nervous system exhausted today? Perhaps you’ve been holding everything together, holding everything inside for a little bit too long? Find somewhere quiet and comfortable, and join Jodie Cariss for a little decompression session.

Jodie’s a psychotherapist and the founder of Self Space, a mental health service offering straightforward access to flexible therapy. She’ll guide you through some breathwork, body release, and visualisations that’ll allow you to let go of the mental and physical tension you’re holding.

Find out more about Self Space.

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

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.

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

Dr Julie Smith

Patric Gagne

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.

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

Nicole LaPera

Sam Claflin

Jamie Laing

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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.

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

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.

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

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Estelle Bingham

Rhonda Byrne

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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:

-The joyful chaos of the girls’ WhatsApp group 

-Taking time to chill before a big life change

-Why it feels so good putting the washing out in the garden

-The time she unfortunately became a bit of a kn*b after red wine

-Tiredness messing with your day

-Worrying about things you can’t control

-How to speak more kindly to your body

-The rage she feels at the Instagram algorithm 

Happy Place episodes mentioned in this chat:

Take That

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