Book Club Meets: Desire, hormones, and tampons, with Miranda July Image

Book Club Meets: Desire, hormones, and tampons, with Miranda July

1 November 2024 - 46 mins explicit
Podcast Series Happy Place

Would 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...

46 mins

Series Episodes

Tess Daly: “I’m rubbish at switching off!” Take your holiday wellness seriously

Tess Daly: “I’m rubbish at switching off!” Take your holiday wellness seriously

How good are you at switching off on holiday? Are you even any good at taking a proper holiday in the first place? Broadcaster Tess Daly reckons wellness is being physically and mentally able to turn up for everything in life that demands your time... And that includes prioritising time off from a busy schedule! Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne and Tess share their advice on how to take your holiday wellbeing more seriously, including making lists ahead of time, locking your phone away, having your feet rubbed, and eating delicious local bread and desserts. Plus, Tess reveals Strictly’s contingency plan for if things go wrong on the dancefloor, and the incredibly sweet vow renewal husband Vernon Kay organised for her… 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

37 mins

10 July Finished

Dita Von Teese: “You don’t look like a Playboy girl!” How to value your unique differences

Dita Von Teese: “You don’t look like a Playboy girl!” How to value your unique differences

explicit

Do you find stripping and nudity empowering or degrading? Burlesque performer Dita Von Teese says feminism is about respecting each other’s choices, even if they wouldn’t be your own. In this chat with Fearne, Dita charts her life from working in strip clubs in the 90s, to performing in sold out burlesque shows now. Painfully shy as a kid, Dita explains how turning herself into a femme fatale helped her feel confident and powerful in her own skin. Fearne and Dita talk about the joy of getting older and understanding more about how to handle your sexuality, and Dita reveals how she makes herself feel more sensual if she’s not particularly in the mood... There’s also advice about how to own your unique look and characteristics, and be more assertive in using your voice. Dita’s new show, Diamonds and Dust, is on at London’s Emerald Theatre now! Dita is also returning to the UK’s grand stages in early 2026 with her most enchanting show to date: Nocturnelle. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:   Munroe Bergdorf   Florence Given   Zandra Rhodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

54 mins

7 July Finished

Book Club Meets: Sliding doors and the power of a name, with Florence Knapp

Book Club Meets: Sliding doors and the power of a name, with Florence Knapp

Has your name influenced who you’ve become? Would you have different characteristics, would people react differently to you, would your life have turned out differently, if you had a different name? These are the questions author Florence Knapp grapples with in her book The Names – our Happy Place Book Club read for June. In this chat, Fearne and Florence share their own experiences of having slightly unusual names, and how they shaped them. Florence also explains the long journey she’s been on to get a novel published, having started writing in the late ‘90s, and wonders that she likes getting lost in fictional worlds because she’s naturally introverted. Thank you to Phoenix for the use of The Names audiobook, narrated by Dervla Kirwan, and to composer and musician Jeni Saint for the opening music. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:   Book Club Meets: Emily Henry   Book Club Meets: Lorna Tucker   Book Club Meets: Clare Leslie Hall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 mins

4 July Finished

“Feel it, process it, move on!” Mary Earps: How to find gratitude after hardship

“Feel it, process it, move on!” Mary Earps: How to find gratitude after hardship

explicit

Do you trust your gut to make the best decision for yourself? Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has had to make some bold, brave choices recently. In this chat with Fearne, Mary explains how she knew retiring from international football was right for her, and they both explore the importance of having different chapters and challenges in your life. Having experienced periods of real mental darkness, Mary talks through the practices that now ground her in the present. She also reckons setting life goals might just be setting you up for disappointment. Should we be focusing on progress, instead of perfection? Mary has advice on how to be ok with not being good at everything! Plus, Mary recalls the euphoric day the Lionesses won the 2022 EUROs, and reflects on the emotional impact it’s had on women across the world. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:   Sarina Wiegman   Leah Williamson   Molly McCann Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

57 mins

30 June Finished

Seasons change, so will you: Become the thriving person you want to be

Seasons change, so will you: Become the thriving person you want to be

explicit

Fearne is marking the summer solstice by reflecting on the Happy Place episodes that’ll help you connect with nature, mysticism, and in turn, your inner self. It’s time to get back in touch with who we really are deep down underneath all the external, modern-day trappings of busyness, success and material things.    In this episode –  -Kirsty Gallagher talks about living alongside nature’s cycles to help you let go of things that are distressing you -Jo Bowlby explains why spirituality is the science of exploring your inner world -Rob Da Bank loves hot and cold practices to help get in touch with patience and a slower pace  -Tara Brach pinpoints how spirituality is able to quieten your inner critic  -Estelle Bingham explores manifesting as a way to uncover your core self -Poppy Delbridge leads a live tapping session to set intentions for the rest of the year Listen to the full episodes here –  Kirsty Gallagher Jo Bowlby Rob Da Bank Tara Brach Estelle Bingham Poppy Delbridge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

41 mins

27 June Finished

No one would hire me - so I built my own business! Brandon Hulcoop on lifting barriers for blind people

No one would hire me - so I built my own business! Brandon Hulcoop on lifting barriers for blind people

23 year old Brandon is the regional winner of the Enterprise category at the 2025 King's Trust Awards. In this chat with Fearne, Brandon explains how, before starting his braille business with the help of The Trust, he had applied for over a thousand jobs without any success. He always struggled to get past the interview stage either due to a lack of experience or due to his visual impairment.   Fearne and Brandon explore misconceptions about his visual impairment, the importance of supportive mentorship, and why starting a business has to come with some hilarious trial and error!   Plus, Brandon tells the story of how not being able to access shower instructions led to him setting a hotel fire alarm off, proving just how vital it is that public spaces are accessible for everyone.   ...and stick around to the end of the episode because there’s a big surprise in store for Brandon!   All Things Dotty makes accessible products for visually impaired people, their families, and businesses – everything from braille menus and greetings cards, to colouring books and art work. You can visit the website here! Find out more about The King’s Trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 mins

25 June Finished

Recommended

Show name

Title

Sub title

Now Playing

The Pat Kenny Show

Live Now: 9AM - 12PM

Presenter logo
Brand

9AM

12AM

Now Playing

The Pat Kenny Show

The Pat Kenny Show

Of The Ball

1 hour left

Today Finished


Next Up

Default

Default

default

0 mins

No Account

Subscriptions to podcast series are only available to users with an account. Sign in or register to subscribe and access your subscriptions.

Register Sign in

Woops!

Error text.