“I hugged a very girthy tree!” Get off screens, write letters, and paint

Why do we change our hair when we want to start over? Celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton knows that when someone sits in his chair, he has their future confidence in his hands. In this chat with Fearne, Chris explains that everyone from the Kardashians to cancer patients have opened up to him about their insecurities, and he’s seen the profound impact that looking more like yourself on the outside can have on how you feel about yourself on the inside. He’s also fascinated by the self-limiting beliefs people have about who they are. Think you’re not classy enough for a sleek bob? Not cool enough to dye your hair? Chris says think again! Chris has dealt with a lot of his own shame and fears too. He was bullied at school, struggled to acknowledge his sexuality, and had huge imposter syndrome when he first arrived in Hollywood, so has lots of thoughts on finding your true self again. Plus, Chris gives Fearne a little consultation, and he reckons she can go much bolder with her hair... Chris’ book, Your Roots Don’t Define You, is out now. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about suicidal ideation, so take care while listening. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:   Afua Hirsch   Caroline Hirons   Olivia Atwood   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fed up of constantly striving for ultimate happiness? Fearne’s dropping into your feed every week for some far more realistic chat about what’s making her feel great, and what’s making her feel rubbish. This is a safe space for all of us to get stuff off our chests. No judgement here! Want to join the chat? Send us a voicenote, DM, or comment on Instagram @happyplaceofficial! So, what’s putting us in our happy place this week... and what things really are not? In this chat, Fearne covers: -Why changing your mind and opinions is a good thing -How to make cervical screenings less scary -Why trying new things is important even if you can’t really be arsed -Boxing being a fun outlet for a bit of anger -Being ok with saying “I don’t know” -Moving through extreme panic and anxiety -Coming to terms with it not being warm in the UK for A WHILE yet ...plus Fearne gets an unexpected call from her son Rex! Not seen the cervical screening Instagram post? Here it is! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’re a bimbo. A nag. Too mumsy. Too bossy. Ever had any of those labels put on you? Far from harmless words, Ashley James is clear they all work to shrink women and girls. In this chat with Fearne, Ashley recalls her first experiences of street harassment, and the way she victim blamed herself. They also explore the shame that keeps women silent about their altered bodies after giving birth; Ashley talks about her own post-partum body, including the reality of piles, prolapse, and vaginismus. Wondering if marriage is right for you? Ashley runs through her pros and cons. Plus, are we still allowed to watch and enjoy wildly problematic films like Grease...? Ashley’s book, Bimbo, is out on February 12th. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:   Gabor Maté   Louise Thompson   Jane Goodall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might have recently seen Hamnet at the cinema, but did you read the book along with the Happy Place Book Club in January? In this chat, Fearne and author Maggie O’Farrell talk about how Jessie Buckley’s award-winning performance brought Agnes to life in the film, why it’s vital to remember women’s place in history, and why Maggie chose not to name Shakespeare in the book. Maggie uses her intuition when she’s writing, and talks about why she doesn’t really plan what voice or tense to style she’s going to write in. Plus, Maggie reveals some of the Elizabethan pursuits she took up during her research phase, including flying Kestrels and making herbal cold remedies... And Fearne reads out what she reckons is "the sexiest paragraph ever written"! Thank you to Tinder Press for use of the Hamnet audiobook, narrated by Jessie Buckley. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Book Club Meets: Nussaibah Younis Book Club Meets: Elizabeth Day Book Club Meets: Elizabeth Gilbert Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you find it hard to look in the mirror? Have you found yourself controlling what you eat or exercise you do? Actor Sam Claflin has struggled with his body image since he was a child. In this chat with Fearne, Sam explains what having body dysmorphia means to him, and reflects on how it continues to affect everything from the food he eats to his willingness to watch his own films back. Fearne and Sam are both chronic people pleasers, and share how they’re working to stop putting everyone else’s comfort before their own. Sam also thinks about how he was brought up to think about what masculinity is, and what he’s doing to make sure his own son grows up with gentler male role models. You can watch Sam in Vanished on Amazon Prime from February 27th. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:   Riley Keogh   Jame Laing   Katherine May Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.