Addiction has dictated much of Matt Willis’ life, but the musician and actor has since learnt how to take responsibility for his actions and reactions. In this chat, Fearne and Matt explore the concept of shame, and how it can keep you suffering in silence, as well as why we need to be careful of celebrating addiction of any kind, even if it’s something society fundamentally values like work or exercise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Willis

Fearne Cotton talks to incredible people about life, love, loss, and everything in-between as she reveals what happiness means to them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Nobody’s worse off than you; everyone just experiences things differently. This is what 27 year old Ashleigh has come to understand about her own trauma. Previously, she minimised her own experiences, thinking it can’t be that bad, but learnt that until she acknowledged her own pain she couldn’t move forward.   In this chat with Fearne, Ashleigh explains how PTSD led her to develop facial tics and a stammer, isolating her personally and professionally. They talk about how to cope when those around you don’t understand what you’re going through, plus, how the Prince’s Trust have given her game-changing support to start her own business helping others with mental health struggles.   Fearne is a Goodwill Ambassador for Mental Health and Wellbeing for The Prince’s Trust. They help support young people aged 11-30, and believe that every single young person should have the chance to succeed, no matter their background, or their personal challenges. They offer support into education, training, and jobs; that’s exactly what they did for Ashleigh.   As well as catching up on Ashleigh’s progress, Fearne has a very special surprise for her at the end of the episode... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ashleigh: PTSD, isolation, and self-acceptance

How’s your mental health doing today? Do you ever wish people understood what was actually going on in your mind?   As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Fearne looks back at some of the conversations she’s had on Happy Place that shine a light on particular mental health conditions.   There’s OCD with Tuppence Middleton, cyclothymia with Matt Edmondson, and psychosis with David Harewood. Plus, neuroscientist TJ Power chats about how to increase serotonin levels, and sleep physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski talks through how to combat insomnia.   Hopefully you’ll find a moment’s solace from connecting over stories you might recognise if you have any of these mental health conditions yourself, and if you don’t... you may well know someone who does...   CONTENT WARNING: as David recalls racist abuse, this episode contains offensive and distressing language.   Watch Stephanie Romiszewski   Listen to Tuppence Middleton   Listen to Matt Edmondson   Listen to David Harewood   Listen to TJ Power Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s REALLY going on in your mind?

It can be tiring being anything but yourself. Musician Zayn has learnt to lean into what really makes him content.   In this chat with Fearne, Zayn talks through the quiet lifestyle he loves in Pennsylvania: painting, being outdoors, spending time with his daughter, and staying off his phone. He also explains how fatherhood has changed him, whether he's the parent he thought he would be, and what impact the new depths of emotion he feels has had on his music.   They chat about how to find the balance between sharing enough information with others to really connect on a deep level, while keeping some things private just for you. Plus, Zayn gives Fearne a very thoughtful gift...   Zayn’s new album, ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zayn: Introversion, fatherhood, and VHS tapes

Do you turn to food for comfort? Actor Rebel Wilson spent a lifetime using food to numb herself from difficult emotions.   In this chat with Fearne, Rebel shares why she felt safe using her body as a barrier to true intimacy, not having sex until she was 35. Knowing that she was medically obese, Rebel made 2020 her ‘year of health’, but it was working through her trauma that made the most difference, not a specific diet or exercise plan.   Fearne also shares the realities of her bulimia, including the secrecy and isolation that can come with shame.   Rebel talks about feeling like a ‘loser’ at school and making a concerted effort to become popular through speaking to five new people each day, and being a part of theatre and sports teams for connection.   Plus, Rebel explains why it felt so important to speak her truth about what happened on certain sets in her memoir...   Rebel’s book, Rebel Rising, is out now.
Listen to How To Laugh When You’ve Been To Hell And Back Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebel Wilson: Emotional eating, virginity, and popularity

Would you choose uncertainty over unhappiness? Happy Place Book Club novel, The List of Suspicious Things, is the first book Jennie Godfrey has written. She was working in a corporate job before she had a moment of clarity and quit her job with no plan B to become a writer.   In this chat with Fearne, Jennie explains why, having suffered with anxiety, she took control and chose an uncertain future over an unhappy present, with a little help from an episode of Happy Place...!   The List of Suspicious Things centres around the murders of the Yorkshire Ripper. It sounds like a grim subject, but this story – told through the eyes of a young teenage girl – is incredibly warm and charming. Jennie also reveals her family’s own connection to Peter Sutcliffe, the man known at the time as the Yorkshire Ripper.   Plus, you’ve been sending your voice notes, reminiscing about the teenage culture of the 1970s.   Join the Happy Place Book Club on Instagram @happyplacebookclub – DM your messages and voicenotes about May’s read, Sociopath, to have your thoughts shared on the podcast!   ...and don’t worry, there are no plot spoilers in this episode!
Listen to Daisy May Cooper's episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Willis

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