Happy Place

Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson spent 11 years on our screens as Mitchell Pritchett in the hit series, Modern Family. But when the opportunity presented itself to be alone on stage, in front of a sell-out audience, a different feeling started to creep in.

In this chat with Fearne, Jesse opens up about the fear that drives him. He reflects on how he’s learned to work through it, and what he does to lean in and embrace the challenges ahead.

He also talks about how playing Mitchell helped him prepare for fatherhood, and the impact his relationship with his onscreen daughter had on him becoming a dad.

Plus, Jesse shares some of the White House secrets he learned when interviewing former First Lady, Jill Biden.

You can catch Jesse as Truman Capote in Tru at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London until the 14th November 2026.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Joe Lycett

Joseph Fiennes

Caitlin Moran

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Entertainment personality Megan McKenna was once advertised in a straitjacket. She was nicknamed Mental Megan, branded mouthy, and edited down to her worst moments on camera. Now, she can see that none of that was who she really was.

In this chat with Fearne, live from the Happy Place Festival, Megan explores how she’s learnt to live more authentically. For her, that means less drinking and more home cooking for her young family.

Megan also opens up about the anxieties and sleep issues she’s been left with after a traumatic robbery. Fearne has some gentle advice for when your body feels unsafe, and your mind is spiralling.

Plus, Megan reveals what really goes on behind the scenes on reality TV shows, from being plied with alcohol, to being nudged into confrontations by producers.

Megan’s latest cookbook, Love Gluten Free, is out now.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Olivia Atwood

Michelle Keegan

Tulisa

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What part do male role models need to play in young boys’ lives? How do we raise young men with empathy and love? What should masculinity even mean? Adolescence’s Stephen Graham has teamed up with psychology researcher Orly Klein to answer these questions.

In this chat with Fearne, Stephen and Orly explore what they’ve learnt about manhood, fatherhood, and generational trauma through asking lots of dads to write letters to their sons.

They chat about why we need to stop treating boys like they’re a problem to be fixed, and why it’s so important to offer them positive messages so they don’t fall into the hands of toxic influencers.

Plus, Stephen reveals how he felt about filming each Adolescence episode in one take...

Stephen and Orly’s book, Letters To Our Sons, is out now.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Ashley Walters

Caitlin Moran

Sam Claflin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When mysterious symbols appear as graffiti around Oxford, lexicographer Martha Thornhill recognises them from an alphabet created by a deceased writer whose papers she once worked on. But this is no publicity stunt, and tensions intensify when further graffiti is found near the body of a university lecturer...

Countdown’s Susie Dent has written Death Writ Large, a murder mystery that cleverly weaves her linguistic skills around a killer plot. In this chat, live from the Happy Place Festival, Susie teaches Fearne a few new words (confelicity, anyone?) and explains where phrases like Flaming Nora come from. Plus, why is it actually really good for you to swear, and how can naming emotions help you manage them?

In October, we’ll be reading Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley and Agatha Christie.

Thank you to Zaffre for the use of the Death Writ Large audiobook, narrated by Louise Brealey.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Book Club Meets: Chloe Ashby

Book Club Meets: Candice Carty-Williams

Book Club Meets: Caro Claire Burke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in the noughties, Miquita Oliver thought Fearne Cotton was an irritatingly gorgeous, successful presenter – everything she wasn’t. Fearne was jealous Miquita was part of the TV cool gang. In reality? Fearne worried she was an unsophisticated nerd, and Miquita was feeling like the fat, ugly sidekick.

In this episode, live from the Happy Place Festival, Fearne and Miquita chat for the first time in decades, finally able to see that it was press cruelty that created their feud. They talk through how to cope if you feel projection, assumption, or a misunderstanding have created a rift between you and a friend.

Miquita also explores why she felt the need to drink to stay in a haze for much of her younger years, and why getting curious about why she felt like sh*t was the first step to getting her life back on track.

Plus: how to dream bigger for yourself, and why adults need to play more!

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Matt Edmondson and Mollie King

Ruth Langsford

Ashley James

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s probably a bit too much pressure on reaching a definitive state of happiness isn’t there? It’s not realistic guys. So Fearne’s dropping into your feed every week for some honest chat about what’s making her (and you lot) feel great, and what’s making us all feel completely rubbish.

This is a cosy little corner for all of us to 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 explores:

-Running – both the joy of it, and the sadness when you can’t because you’re injured

-In a similar vein: why skipping is so fun... but also makes you pee yourself

-The little interactions with strangers that make your day

-‘Friends’ chatting behind your back

-Whether we’ve started hibernating for winter a little too early

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all got quirks. Tom Read Wilson realised early on that no one else was going to celebrate his differences if he didn’t own them himself. In this chat with Fearne, live from the Happy Place Festival, Tom explains how he learnt to honour his eclectic personality.

Fearne and Tom both have a history of extreme people pleasing, so they share what they’ve learnt about self-advocating and getting good at uncomfortable confrontation. Why does turning 40 seem to be when the real honesty kicks in?

The I’m A Celeb jungle had a profound impact on Tom, particularly the digital detox part... he explores the huge physical and mental impact giving up his phone has had.

Plus, Tom delights in finding the perfect whimsical words, and wonders that language is the key to unlocking better mental health.

Tom’s new children’s book, Pricklepaper’s Letter Magic, is out on the 24th of September.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Todd Rose

Joe Lycett

Ruby Wax

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s been going on for you this week? What are you happy about, and what’s really not floating your boat? Fearne’s here with more chat about what’s putting her, Team Happy Place, and you lot in a good mood, and what’s feeling a bit heavier too.

This is our space 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:

-The wholesome dream of growing your own food

-Finally being paid to create the stuff you love

-Being in awe of Marilyn Monroe

-Sending your kid to high school when they’re not ready to cope

-Why there’s always something on the Being A Grown Up to do list

-The dull details of buying new white goods

-The people who insist on being tw*ts to strangers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer Caitlin Moran's anxiety started when she was 13, when she accidentally let a family secret slip. That anxiety kept her wired for the next 30 years.

In this chat with Fearne, Caitlin explains how choosing to be hopeful and see the good in life means she’s now two years anxiety-free.

They also talk about how social media has drastically altered our perception of reality, and just how unkind (or kind!) a place the world really is. Angrily posting on Instagram at 3am? It’s not going to change society, but volunteering to pick letter... well... that might!

Caitlin talks about the severe dread she feels when meeting up with her best friends; do you have that social anxiety too? Because Fearne does... Plus, how could presuming everyone’s having a really bad day make you a happier person?

Caitlin’s book, How To Be Hopeful, is out on September 17th.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Todd Rose

Lucas Jones

Nicole LaPera

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s probably a bit too much pressure on reaching a definitive state of happiness isn’t there? It’s just not realistic. So Fearne’s dropping into your feed every week for some honest chat about what’s making her (and you lot) feel great, and what’s making us all feel completely rubbish.

This is a cosy little corner for all of us to 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 explores:

-Why being middle aged is actually ace

-The iconic TV show that is Below Deck

-Loving having grown up kids

-How to lean into the cosiness of autumn

-Dressing like a teenage boy in a 90s American TV show

-Coping with imposter syndrome at work

-Why on earth there have to be so many school Whatsapp groups

-How to block out chronic pessimists

Ps, you heard Fearne, if anyone has a contact for Below Deck’s Captain Sandy… slide into our DMs @happyplaceofficial!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.