On the Happy Place podcast, Alain de Botton joins Fearne Cotton to explore the impact of childhood trauma, emotional health, and self-awareness.

Drawing from his book A Therapeutic Journey, Alain explains how unresolved childhood experiences often shape adult relationships, anxiety, and mental health. He breaks down common defense mechanisms like fear of intimacy and constant joking, showing how they once served as survival tools. Alain also tackles the stigma around therapy and introspection, encouraging listeners to see self-exploration as a vital path toward healing, happiness, and healthier connections.