logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
46m 4s

Olly Alexander: “I couldn’t accept my id...

Fearne Cotton
About this episode

There should be no shame in being who you are. Musician and actor Olly Alexander has felt first hand how grappling with your identity can lead to poor mental health.

 

In this chat with Fearne, Olly explains why he feels there’s such a high level of mental distress in the queer community, and how acting in It’s A Sin helped him unpack his own lived experience.

 

Both Fearne and Olly share their experiences of poor body image, wondering if bulimia felt like a helpful tool to regain control in an intimidating world. How can you go from disliking your body to recognising the brilliant things it can do for you?

 

Plus, how to let yourself off the hook when you’ve messed up at work or in a social situation, and what to do when you don’t feel you’ve ‘achieved’ enough to be of value...

 

Olly’s solo album, Polari, is out in February.

 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about suicide, self-harm, and bulimia, so take care while listening.

 

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

 

Perrie Edwards

 

Rebel Wilson

 

YungBlud



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

Up next
Aug 21
Sara Cox: I need to be left alone! How to take your holiday reading seriously
Are you obsessed with finding the best books – yes, multiple – to read on holiday? Broadcaster Sara Cox is!Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne and Sara share their thoughts on how to take your holiday re ... Show More
40m 30s
Aug 18
Why don’t you like yourself? Gabby Bernstein: How to stop numbing difficult emotions
Getting lost in anxiety, shame, or self-loathing? Spiritual leader Gabby Bernstein wants you to acknowledge all the messy parts of your true character. Spoiler: you’re not going suddenly to like yourself overnight, but acknowledging the uncomfortable bits will get you there soone ... Show More
57m 38s
Aug 11
Book Club Meets: I’m obsessed with romance scams! Gaslighting and misogyny, with Lisa Jewell
Do you love a true crime scam documentary? Our latest Happy Place Book Club read is for you! Iconic author Lisa Jewell has written Don’t Let Him In, a thriller about a perfect man... who’s a fraudulent liar.In this chat with Fearne, live from The Happy Place Festival, Lisa explai ... Show More
40m 49s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
“The Next Morning I Was Full Of Anxiety” Calum Scott Reveals What REALLY Happened on Britain’s Got Talent & Battle With Body Dysmorphia “I Told Myself ‘You’re Disgusting’”
In this episode of We Need To Talk, Calum Scott opens up like never before. A decade on from his iconic Britain’s Got Talent audition, Calum reflects on the moment that changed everything. He reveals what was really going on behind the scenes, the guilt he still carries about his ... Show More
1h 56m
Mar 2025
When Your Eating Disorder is Your Identity and it's Keeping You Stuck
An eating disorder can become an integral part of your identity and this can leave you feeling stuck and powerless. In this episode, I share my own experiences of recovery and detachment from the ed identity. I explore how identity can be challenging to shift but how there are pr ... Show More
14m 11s
Jul 2024
15. Why His Addiction Is NOT Your Fault (And Has NOTHING to Do With You, Your Body, Your Looks, etc.)
One of the hardest self-limiting beliefs I had to overcome on my healing journey was thinking his addiction was because I wasn't good enough, wasn't attractive enough, wasn't sexy enough, etc. I HATED my body after discovering the betrayal and my self-confidence wa ... Show More
32m 48s
Aug 2021
07. Bulimia and Living a Double Standard Life Between Family and Society, with Myrna Ayman
‏Today’s episode is a conversation with Myrna Ayman, an ex-model who an aspiring pilot studying Aviation Science. Myrna shares with us her journey struggling with the duality of living a life at home different than the one society expected of her, and how a series of circumstance ... Show More
56m 36s
Jun 3
Depersonalisation — when Nathan lost his sense of self and nothing felt real
In 2008 Nathan Dunne was night swimming in Hampstead Heath in the middle of winter when a psychological catastrophe struck him. He felt his sense of self split in two, and an unbearable pain overtook him. He couldn’t work out what had happened to him, and neither could the doctor ... Show More
51m 54s
Aug 2024
Conquering the Ego Dragon of Anxiety and Eating Disorders
Hey there, it's Dr. Russ! *Unfortunately, there’s no video for this podcast episode - audio only! On this episode of The AnxietyRX Podcast, we're tackling a big one: the tangled web of anxiety, eating disorders, and childhood trauma. I'm sharing my own story about growing up with ... Show More
50m 47s
Apr 2025
Learning to heal by learning to feel, by Niall Breslin
From the outside, Niall Breslin — known by legions of Irish fans as Bressie — appears to have led a charmed life. He’s had a professional Rugby career, achieved national stardom as a musician, and been a coach on The Voice of Ireland. But behind all those achievements lies Niall’ ... Show More
39m 53s
Aug 2024
The Power of Self-Love: Kevin Hines on Turning Brain Pain into Purpose
TW: This episode discusses suicide and depression In this uplifting episode, we sit down with Kevin Hines, an award-winning speaker and mental health advocate, to explore resilience, hope, and the journey to self-love. At the age of 19, Kevin survived a suicide attempt that forev ... Show More
1h 25m
Aug 6
Chris Appleton EXCLUSIVE: “I Thought My Kids Would Be Better Off Without Me” Opening up About The Darkest Night of His Life and What FINALLY Gave Him The Courage to Live Authentically
Have you ever felt pressure to hide a part of who you are? What helps you feel safe enough to open up? Today, Jay chats with renowned celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton to share deeply personal parts of his life he’s never shared publicly. Known for creating iconic looks for st ... Show More
1h 25m
Jul 2024
82. For You: The Body Image Talk You Needed a Long Time Ago
This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at ⁠shopify.com/notforeveryone/⁠. ___ This week, Jess and Caroline add to a conversation that seems to affect just about everyone: body image. They go through some listener DMs and cover topics like ack ... Show More
1h 20m