How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

Author: Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Language: English Episodes: 100
There's a quiet revolution happening in how we think about success, and How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is right at the heart of it. This isn't about schadenfreude or wallowing in misfortune. Instead, Elizabeth Day has created a space where the most interesting conversations begin with a simple, radical premise: our lowest moments are often our greatest teachers. Each episode, a guest-from celebrated artists and thinkers to everyday people with extraordinary stories-sits down to examine three significant failures from their own life. The magic lies in the excavation, as Elizabeth guides the discussion toward the unexpected wisdom and resilience that emerged from those setbacks. You'll hear the raw honesty in their voices, the laughter that comes with hindsight, and the profound clarity that failure can uniquely provide. This podcast, presented by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment, digs into the messy, human stuff of life that connects us all, transforming shared vulnerability into a source of collective strength. It’s a reminder that the path to any meaningful achievement is rarely a straight line, but a series of instructive detours. The show actively invites listeners to reflect on their own stories, fostering a genuine community around the idea that we can all succeed better by understanding where we've previously stumbled. Tune in for conversations that are as comforting as they are challenging, and which might just change your perspective on what it means to live a well-lived life.
Episodes
ON MONEY WORRIES… With Fern Brady and Simon Cowell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:48
Money worries are far more common than we like to admit: from keeping you awake at night to quietly shaping your choices and decisions, financial anxiety affects us all - especially after a season of festive indulgence.…
Failure Throwback: Bear Grylls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:51
Bear Grylls has achieved worldwide fame as one of the most recognised faces of survival and outdoor adventure. A former SAS soldier, he has climbed Everest, circumnavigated the British Isles on a jet ski, rowed naked in…
Sophie Willan - From Foster Care to Alma’s Not Normal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:08
This episode contains very strong language and isn’t suitable for small ears. Sophie Willan is a double BAFTA award-winning writer, comedian and actor, perhaps best known for her BBC comedy drama, Alma's Not Normal. But…
Bella Freud - Learning To Trust Herself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:42
Fashion icon Bella Freud on abandoning psychics, learning to trust herself and realising that what happens next is entirely up to her. Freud is a designer and creative whose clothes have adorned the likes of Zadie Smith,…
ON FRIENDSHIP… With Dawn French and Vogue Williams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:16
I’ve always been obsessed with friendship - how it shapes us, challenges us and often goes uncelebrated. In this episode, both Dawn French and Vogue Williams get honest about the beauty and the messiness of it all. Despi…
Alex Hassell - Rivals, Rejection and Taking Acid at Alton Towers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:58
You might know the star of Rivals for his revealing role in the hit Disney+ show, but did you know about his dramatic allium allergy?! I thought not. Alex Hassell might be best known for his portrayal of the dashing boun…
ON PERSPECTIVE… With Adeel Akhtar and Pat Cummins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:03
Perspective is something we all chase - because when it slips, life can feel chaotic and overwhelming. But when we find it again, everything becomes a little clearer. In this episode, actor Adeel Akhtar reflects on a tim…
Mo Gawdat - The 3 BIGGEST Mistakes We Make In Finding Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:24
I don’t often have repeat guests on How To Fail but Mo Gawdat is the exception. When he first came on this podcast in 2019, he fundamentally changed my mindset and my approach to life. Back then, he was on a mission to m…
ON IVF… With Jessel Taank and Paloma Faith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:51
We don’t talk about this enough, even though so many of us face it personally or through someone we love. Real Housewives of New York star, Jessel Taank, opens up about her three-year journey to become a mum; the strain…
Ruth Wilson - Be Challenged By What Disgusts You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:07
Ruth Wilson MBE has made a habit of tackling psychologically demanding roles. You’ll know her from playing a mother grieving the loss of her child in The Affair, a sociopathic research scientist in Luther or even from he…