Do you notice yourself reacting to situations, rather than taking the time to respond with a clear mind? Visionary writer Vex King explains why consciously responding rather than quickly reacting can have a positive effect on your mental health.   In this chat with Fearne, live from the Happy Place Festival, Vex talks about the significance of gratitude, and why it’s important to sit with our feelings. Plus, he explains the difference between pain and suffering, as well as how to allow yourself to be vulnerable with new people.   Vex's new book, Closer to Love: How to Attract the Right Relationships and Deepen Your Connections, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vex King

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.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

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.

Book Club Meets: Career pivots, true crime, and 70s nostalgia, with Jennie Godfrey

What are you dreams trying to tell you about yourself? Neurosurgeon Rahul Jandial feels dreaming is a vital part of being human.   In this chat with Fearne, Rahul explains that while our waking brain is generally ruled by the logical executive network... the dreaming brain liberates creative and divergent thinking. We dream, he says, to keep our minds open so they’re able to adapt if our world suddenly changes.   They also talk about the role dreams play as our ‘nocturnal therapists’. Dreams allow us a safe space to rehearse real life scenarios we might be anxious or confused about.   Sometimes our dreams can reflect what’s happening in our waking life, but what if what you’re experiencing in your dream life is flagging something that you haven’t even recognised about yourself yet? Rahul talks about how to use your dreams as a psychological thermometer.   Rahul’s book, This Is Why You Dream, is out now.   Listen back to Professor David Nutt’s episode about psychedelics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rahul Jandial: Lucid dreaming, divergent thinking, and erotic thoughts

‘If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry’, as the saying goes. These heightened emotions often sit very close to each other, and there’s a split second where we can decide whether to despair, or to see the funny side of a situation.    Today, Fearne revisits Happy Place conversations that highlight the crossroads where people have decided to cope with shitty incidents by laughing at them, or at themselves.   Amongst other guests, Adele Roberts tells the absurd story of what happened to her stoma the night before running the London Marathon, and Dawn French chats about owning the moments you were a bit of a twat.   ...and for a really good laugh, there are some behind the scenes outtakes as Fearne attempted to record some calming – and unexpectedly erotic – sleepy stories for the Happy Place app...   Listen to Fats Timbo’s episode   Listen to Adele Roberts’ episode   Listen to Dawn French’s episode   Listen to Vicky Pattison’s episode   Download the Happy Place app Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to laugh when you’ve been to hell and back

When was the last time you enjoyed some silence? Musician Norah Jones appreciates the importance of silence – it allows us to tune into what our minds are trying to tell us.   In this chat with Fearne, Norah explains that the rare moments of quiet are when creativity flows most freely. They talk about the feeling of being embarrassed by your work when you’re young, but that it’s important to be ever evolving and honing your craft just by getting on and doing it.
Norah’s new album, Visions, is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Norah Jones: Owning accomplishments, repairing relationships, and surfing

How often do you connect with strangers? There’s something magical about those fleeting moments of intimacy and connection.   Today, Fearne introduces an episode of Where Are You Going, a podcast that sees host Catherine Carr chatting to strangers and asking a simple question: “where are you going?” The stories people end up sharing with her go to all sorts of unexpected places – some are funny or loving, and others moving or shocking.   In this episode, Catherine meets women who’ve been cold water swimming, and a group of childhood friends who’ve found solace and connection in fishing.   New episodes of Where Are You Going? are released every Tuesday and Friday. You can listen back to over 100 episodes wherever you’re listening to this right now.   Follow Where Are You Going? on Instagram at @whereareyougoingpodcast and get in touch with Catherine on X @catherineecarr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vex King

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