Owen O'Kane

Two writers are competing for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a famous reclusive heiress. One of them is going to uncover the truth behind one of the most scandalous families of the 20th century. The thing is, heiress Margaret is giving each writer different tantalising little pieces of her story... Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry was May’s Happy Place Book Club read. In this chat with Fearne, Emily explains why she’s intrigued by the idea of generational trauma affecting our day to day, and why it’s important to interrogate where your sense of ambition comes from. Is your drive coming from within, or are you trying to prove something to someone? Plus, Fearne and Emily explore why reading fiction is such a brilliant way to examine your own opinions, values, and moral tendencies through how you react to the characters. Thank you to Penguin Audio for the use of Great Big Beautiful Life audiobook, narrated by Julia Whelan. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:   Listen to Book Club Meets: Lorna Tucker   Listen to Book Club Meets: Clare Leslie Hall   Listen to Book Club Meets: Holly Bourne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Identity has become tribal, and it’s stopping us understanding each other’s humanity. Activist, writer, and model Munroe Bergdorf explains how fear and anger for society’s issues have been misdirected towards trans people. In this chat with Fearne, Munroe talks through what the recent UK Supreme Court ruling on biological sex and gender means for trans women, cis women, and society more widely. How, for example, are trans rights intimately connected to abortion rights? Fearne and Munroe chat about how to practice self-acceptance, particularly around body image, and how to use your voice to create positive change. They also cover grief, and numbing out as a way of dealing with poor mental health. Munroe’s new book, Talk To Me, is out on June 5th, and you can watch her documentary, Love and Rage, in cinemas from June 10th. This episode also contains an exclusive first listen to a chapter of Kirsty Gallagher’s new book, Your Cosmic Purpose, which is published by Happy Place Books on June 5th. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Emma Dabiri Olly Alexander Kirsty Gallagher Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fearne’s been thinking a lot lately about how much of her life she’s spent people pleasing as a result of wanting to be liked. So today, how to break free from the ‘good girl’ your family, friends, colleagues, and society expect you to be... In this episode – -Louise Redknapp clarifies why being described as ‘nice’ isn’t a compliment and how she’s gone about making people see her as a multi-faceted human -Paloma Faith pinpoints the ways women make themselves smaller in order to make others feel more comfortable -Sophie Ellis-Bextor explains how she’s learnt to navigate mum guilt while not minimising the importance of her career -Natasha Bedingfield talks about the powerful effects of physically speaking your truth and voicing your needs -Afua Hirsch reflects on how colonisation in her native country Ghana has affected her notions of what it means to be good, pure woman -Florence Given explores not letting outside opinion dictate who you are and how to stop feeling the need to defend or explain yourself -Dawn French waxes lyrical about the joy of getting things wrong and embracing imperfection -Emily Atack explains how online abuse almost broke her, but ultimately strengthened her resolve to be an even bolder version of herself Listen to the full episodes here – Louise Redknapp Paloma Faith Sophie Ellis Bextor Natasha Bedingfield Afua Hirsch Florence Given Dawn French Emily Atack   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How have you come back from your rock bottom? Ashley Walters has reinvented himself over and over again, through music, acting, directing, parenthood, prison, and addiction. In this chat with Fearne, Ashley talks through the mindset that allows him to take accountability for his actions instead of falling into victimhood, and why failure shouldn’t be viewed as an end point. He explains why you should want to be the “dumbest person in the room”, and why if you feel you want to run away from a challenge, it’s exactly the challenge you should take on. Fearne and Ashley tackle the big topics that have come out of Netflix show Adolescence, including online misogyny and male violence. Plus, Ashley reveals what his six year old daughter said to him that broke his heart and made him stop drinking... If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Kate Silverton Pete Doherty Chiwetel Ejiofor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What beliefs, hopes, worries, and questions would you have if your unborn baby was given a diagnosis of a disability? It’s something retired paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds has spent a lot of time considering. In this chat with Fearne, Ellie explains what she’s learnt from talking to both her parents and her birth mum about their experience of her dwarfism, as well as debating the pros and cons of modern genetic testing. They also chat about Ellie’s decision to retire from swimming: how will you know when it’s time to call something quits, and how can you then cultivate new passions? Plus, how to untangle self-worth and self-esteem from achievements... Ellie Simmonds: Should I Have Children? will be available to watch on ITV from the 27th of May. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about baby loss and abortion, so do take care while listening. If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like: Liberty Mills Sophie Morgan Samantha Renke   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.