For 20 years Maggie and Will have spent idyllic summers in the south of France with their friends Lydia and Roland. This year though, tension is brewing and loyalties are being tested. Their young kids are all there too, and they might end up stumbling upon secrets that were being kept from them...

August’s Happy Place Book Club read is Family Friends. In this chat with Fearne, author Chloe Ashby explains why she wanted to explore relationship dynamics around the age of 40. Each character has brought a bit of extra baggage to this year’s holiday, so through them Chloe wonders at what point doing one bad thing makes you a bad person.

Plus, why was it controversial to include a teenage holiday romance?

Thank you to Penguin for the use of the Family Friends audiobook, narrated by Sally Scott.

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

Book Club Meets: Candice Carty-Williams

Book Club Meets: Caro Claire Burke

Book Club Meets: Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

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Do you find yourself cringing at your younger self? Did you lose yourself in the early part of parenthood? Do you wonder if who you’re being is who you really are? It’s check, check, and check for comedian Joe Lycett.

In this chat with Fearne, Joe reflects on how much of his stage persona has become who he actually is, why paternity leave triggered a lot of existential crises all at once, and how he’s come out the other side caring a lot less about what anyone thinks.

Fearne and Joe also wonder if the art of losing your inhibitions is gone forever thanks to camera phones, and why playing around and making mistakes is so important as an adult.

Plus, how have Ant and Dec accidentally changed how Joe behaves at hotels? And, why is it you can always trust that you'll find community at the pub? Joe loves the human chaos of it, so he’s opening his own, but only for one hour a week...

The Lycett Arms airs live on Channel 4 on Friday nights at 10pm, starting Friday 4th September.

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

Alain De Botton

Ant and Dec

Philippa Perry

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

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:

-Why the regular mates getaway is so vital

-Why – contrary to popular advice – it’s important to talk to strangers

-Sitting on a train without looking at your phone

-Just bloody wearing the outfit you think is too extra

-Coping with ill parents

-Trying not to get frustrated with older people taking things slow

-Young kids being obsessed with slime (???!)

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

We’re all looking for meaning in life in our own way. Poet and actor Lucas Jones reckons it doesn’t really matter whether we call it God, The Universe, spirituality, or science, we all want to believe in the wonder in our world.

In this chat, Fearne and Lucas bond over not being able to do small talk, instead wanting to deeply connect over their big feelings. They also both share their different experiences of having OCD.

Lucas feels therapy is a brilliant thing – he’s really benefitted from CBT – but wonders if the rise in therapy comes from a loss of real community. How can we truly listen to and connect with each other again?

You can buy Lucas’ book of poetry, I Still Believe In Miracles, now.

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

Will Poulter

Tuppence Middleton

Poppy Jamie

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

What ratio of planned activities to spontaneity do you love when you travel? Comedian Chris McCausland has to know some top tier activities have been booked ahead of time.

Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat with Fearne – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Chris explains how holidays have changed since he lost his sight. He thinks hard about everything from communicating in a foreign country, to how dependent he’ll need to be on his loved ones. He also chats about getting into his daughter’s favourite holiday hobby: rollercoasters!

Plus, Chris reveals why he reckons being a maths geek has helped him in comedy, and why he initially turned Strictly down a number of times...

British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, offer a 24hr holiday helpline, and allow you to book with a low deposit. All holidays include a generous baggage allowance per person. Go to Ba.com/holidays to find out more.

Listen to other episodes of The Happy Place Guide To Holidays:

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Richard E Grant

Tess Daly

Clara Amfo

Sara Cox

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

Have you noticed that your memory and rational thinking disappear when you’re anxious? Ruby Wax wants you to retrain your focus and attention in a digital world that’s always trying to steal it.

In this chat with Fearne – live from the Happy Place Festival – Ruby explains the difference between mental health and mental illness, and why she calls meditation ‘mind gym’. She also explores why laughing – getting into your body – is one of the greatest things you can do for your mental health.

Ruby also tells some raucous stories about the celebrities she’s interviewed. Why did Trump want her kicked off his plane? And what was her read of OJ Simpson?

You can get tickets for Ruby’s tour Absolutely Famous here.

Join Ruby’s Frazzled Café here.

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

Ruby’s first Happy Place episode

Ruby’s second Happy Place episode

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You know how your mood dips when you’re hangry? Well, being thangry is a thing too! Thirst – being dehydrated – can have a very real impact on everything from your stress levels to cognitive function and physical performance.

We’re heading back to this year’s Happy Place Festival, where the Talk Stage was sponsored by Phizz, the UK’s number-one selling hydration brand.

In this chat with Fearne, Dan Cray, CEO and Co-Founder of Phizz, and Dr Paul Anastasiades, Head of Product Development and Co-Founder, explore what hydration really means, why it’s so easy to overlook, and how getting it right can help us feel more energised, focused and more like ourselves. They also explain why effective hydration isn’t just about drinking more water, but about getting the right balance of electrolytes and nutrients to help your body perform at its best.

Plus, how much water should you actually be drinking each day?

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

Are you aware of what can trigger big emotions in you? How to do you act on those difficult emotions? Comedian Paul Whitehouse and his wife Dr Mine Conkbayir MBE – who has a PhD in neuroscience – talk about learning to emotionally regulate.

In this chat with Fearne – live from the Happy Place Festival – Mine explains what led to her late ADHD diagnosis, and the childhood trauma that plays into her own behaviour. Meanwhile Paul’s had physical health scares, and explores how his lifestyle has changed as a result.

They all talk about how the education system needs to change for neurodiverse children, why labels might be useful for some and not for others, and how to calm others with your own behaviour.

Plus, why do this married couple choose not to live together?

Listen to Paul and Mine’s podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not! wherever you’re listening to this right now!

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

Lucinda Miller

Alex Partridge

Jordan Stephens

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