“Don’t talk to yourself like that!” Teddy Swims on learning self-compassion

Some elements of happiness are circumstantial – where we’re born, and our biology – but there are many elements that we personally have control over. Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, based in Denmark, and he feels we’d all be happier if we focused more on the smaller choices we can control. That, he explains, is where the Danish art of hygge comes in.In this chat with Fearne, Meik explores why policy makers would do well to consider the happiness of their country as an important element of national health – happy citizens are more likely to earn more, less likely need the health service, and more likely to perform random acts of kindness.Meik’s books, The Little Book of Hygge, The Little Book of Lykke, and The Art of Making Memories are all out now.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 Kesä 202148min

Radical vulnerability is something New York Times bestselling author Jedidiah Jenkins does his best to practice with those around him. As he entered his 30s, he travelled from Oregon to Patagonia by bicycle, and the journey turned out to be just as much emotional as it was physical. One of the things he learnt is that vulnerability breeds vulnerability, that once you share your truth, others will feel safe to share their true selves with you too, and that can only be a good thing. In this chat, Fearne and Jedidiah explore their own experiences of using disembodying as a coping mechanism during difficult or painful moments in life, as well as what they each believe the soul really is.Both of Jedidiah’s life-changing books, To Shake The Sleeping Self and Like Streams To The Ocean, are available now.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Kesä 202149min

Mike Kerr is the lead singer and bassist of Royal Blood. As the band’s success grew, alcohol became an integral part of his life, but he’s now been sober for two years, and is thriving both personally and as a musician. In this chat with Fearne, Mike explores the new ways he’s found to release the energy and adrenaline that come with being a live performer, including running, kite-surfing, and cold-water swimming. Plus, Fearne explains why she thinks this game-changing moment in Mike’s life might be something to do with his Saturn Return…Royal Blood’s latest album, Typhoons, is out now.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Touko 202148min

Becoming a father has opened Rag ‘N’ Bone Man - real name Rory - up to being more honest about his emotions both with his family and in his music. In this chat, he and Fearne bond over their shared love of tattoos and inability to sleep well, and talk through how they’ve learnt to say ‘no’ to projects and events they’re just not enthusiastic about.Rag ‘N’ Bone Man’s album, Life By Misadventure, is out now.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Touko 202143min

Panic, indecisiveness, procrastination – all common, every day moods that can frustrate, and even paralyse, our ability to move forward. Dr Olivia Remes, a mental health researcher at the University of Cambridge, wants to help you overcome these moods so that you can really thrive.In this chat with Fearne, she explains how characteristics like confidence and charisma can be learned, how to make new healthy habits stick, and how real personal growth can come from the most painful of situations.Olivia’s book, The Instant Mood Fix, is published by Happy Place books. It’s perfect for dipping in and out of during those moments when you need it most, and is available to buy now at bookshop.org.Thanks to Stripe and Stare for sponsoring this series of Happy Place. Use the code HP20 when you make your purchase at stripeandstare.com for a 20% discount. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Touko 202152min

Recently appointed by the Prime Minister as Youth Mental Health Ambassador to the government, Dr Alex George is on a mission to make mental health education compulsory in schools. In this chat with Fearne, the A&E doctor explains why his goal is to ensure mental health sits alongside the likes of maths and English on the curriculum, and what we can all be doing to look after both our mental and physical health every day.Alex’s book, Live Well Every Day, is available to buy from May 13th.Thanks to the sponsors of this series of Happy Place, WeDo/. Find out more, and get your hands on lots of exclusive offers, by visiting wedoact.com/happy.Content warning: this episode includes conversations about suicide, so please do take care while listening.In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Touko 202151min

Former footballer Ian Wright is adored and revered by millions of people, but as a result of his traumatic childhood he hasn’t always recognised or trusted his success. The victim of domestic abuse as a child, Ian has spent the past few years bravely delving into his past experiences, both personally, and for a BBC documentary that he hopes will help others feel supported. In this chat with Fearne Ian is incredibly introspective about what he’s learnt about feeling anger and accepting love over his lifetime.Ian Wright: Home Truths airs on the BBC on May 6th at 9pm, and will also be available on BBC iPlayer for you to watch in your own time.Thanks to the sponsors of this series of Happy Place, WeDo/. Find out more, and get your hands on lots of exclusive offers, by visiting wedoact.com/happy. Content warning: this episode includes conversations about domestic abuse.In the UK, the National Centre for Domestic Violence can be reached www.ncdv.org.uk or 0800 9702070The Hampton Trust can be found https://hamptontrust.org.ukSafe Lives can be found https://safelives.org.uk/node/7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Touko 202151min

We’re beginning to understand that ‘having it all’ is an unrealistic and stressful goal to work towards. Instead, perhaps we need to be thinking about where to prioritise our energy. Family? Social life? Work? There’s no right or wrong answer, but we do have to be honest with ourselves about how much we can cope with. In this chat with Fearne, Billie Piper explains why she’s so passionate about portraying characters who are just as complex on screen as we are in real life. She’s not willing to hide away from tricky emotions, in fact her latest TV work has seen her really lean into pain, with the ultimate goal of making us all feel less alone.Thanks to the sponsors of this series of Happy Place, WeDo/. Find out more, and get your hands on lots of exclusive offers, by visiting wedoact.com/happy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Huhti 202145min