Book Club Meets: Desire, hormones, and tampons, with Miranda July
1 November 2024 - 46 mins explicitWould you rip up your current life and reinvent yourself if you had the chance? Do you have desires you’d want to explore? Maybe there are hidden parts of yourself you’ve never had the chance to get to know? Which societal rules would you want to ignore?
Author Miranda July asks all these questions in October’s Happy Place Book Club novel: All Fours. She picks apart how we can fall into the monotony of every day routine instead of acknowledging the wild emotions and longings inside us.
In this chat, Fearne and Miranda talk about fluctuating hormones, pressures of motherhood, sexual fantasies (some of which may or may not involve tampons), and menopause as an incredibly exciting and s...
Jimmy Carr: “Men half-arse things!” My thoughts on feminism, parenting, and success
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
59 mins
6 April Finished
“I had to say ‘c*ck’ at The Royal Albert Hall!” Fearne’s talking about sex and being more creative
explicitWhat’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.
15 mins
2 April Finished
Carol Vorderman: My ‘facelift’ became folklore! Can women have beauty and brains?
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.
1 hour 2 mins
30 March Finished
“I wish I was chic-er!” Fearne on personal style and learning new skills
explicitWhat’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.
14 mins
26 March Finished
Ruth Langsford: “We all go through sh*t!” My life with divorce and dementia
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hour 1 min
23 March Finished
“Why are we always rushing?” Slowing down by writing by hand and lying in
explicitThere’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.
12 mins
19 March Finished