Celeste Barber: the FUNNIEST woman on the internet

Celeste Barber: the FUNNIEST woman on the internet

Author: Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment April 30, 2025 Duration: 51:37
My guest today has been an integral part of my feminist awakening. Celeste Barber’s instagram posts - which parody the unattainable standards of the fashion and beauty industry - are both hilarious and revolutionary. Her work has helped a generation of women to feel better about their bodies - and made her a star in the process. (Plus she’s been blocked by a few celebrities. Lol.) Barber began her account in 2015 as a jobbing actor. She now has almost 10 million followers, including Reese Witherspoon, Chelsea Handler and designer Tom Ford who ended up hiring her for a fashion campaign. We talk about imposter syndrome, ADHD, standing up to bullies and her Janet Jackson obsession. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 01:54 Journey to Fame 04:30 The Tom Ford Campaign 05:47 Creating Relatable Instagram Content 14:25 Challenges of ADHD 17:57 Touring and Family Life 20:34 The Importance of Purpose and Resilience 27:47 Self-Hatred and Imposter Syndrome 28:32 Failing to Fit In 30:10 Family Dynamics and Meeting Her Husband 33:39 Being a Stepparent 36:55 Raising Sons as Feminists 40:04 The Janet Jackson Obsession 41:03 Meeting Janet Jackson 48:37 Final Thoughts and Listener Questions Toxic relationships, dealing with a narcissist and how to come back from ‘rock bottom’ - Elizabeth and Celeste answer YOUR questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com 🌎 Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code [howtofail] at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/howtofail ⛵ Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Mix Engineer: Richie Lee Producer: Hannah Talbot Executive Producer: Carly Maile Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
Podcast Episodes
ON REJECTION… With Mel B and Nicole Scherzinger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:07
We all face rejection, no matter who we are. In this episode we revisit conversations with two extraordinary women who have faced rejection and overcome it: Spice Girl Mel B opens up about her unsuccessful audition for T…
Michelle Yeoh - On typecasting, fertility and THAT Oscars speech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:19
Michelle Yeoh has created a legendary body of work that defies easy categorisation. You’ll know her from cult classic Kung Fu Cinema, Everything Everywhere, All At Once - the film that made her the first Asian woman to b…
ON PARENTING…with Andy Cohen and Caitlin Moran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:34
Today, we’re chatting all about parenting on How To Fail! We’ll be revisiting some of the most meaningful moments from the archive - the ones that can bring a fresh insight, thoughtful perspective and a sense of comfort…
Kelly Brook -  I’m In My Don’t Give A Damn Era! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:55
Just a heads-up that in this episode we talk about late miscarriage. I am so grateful to Kelly for opening up about something that affects and speaks to so many of us - it’s a beautiful conversation but if you’re feeling…
ON REALITY TV… With Dorinda Medley and Captain Sandy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:13
If you know me at all, you’ll know that I am a huge advocate for reality TV. So what better reason to have a little trawl through my archives than to revisit some of my favourite interviews from reality TV stars? First,…
Malala Yousafzai - I Am Not Who You Think I Am [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:12
You might think you know about Malala. But you’d be wrong. For so many years, she stood as a symbol of resistance: the teenage girl who was shot by the Taliban for insisting on the right to go to school and who later won…
ON EMBARRASSING MOMENTS… With Dan Levy and Phoebe Waller-Bridge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:34
Welcome back to this How to Fail episode where we journey through the archive to revisit some of the best bits. This week we’re keeping it light and taking a look at some of the funniest and most entertaining embarrassin…
Jon Bon Jovi - Fame is a liar and a thief [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:18
We have a bonafide legend on How To Fail: the American singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and philanthropist who, along with his band, sold more than 130 million albums and performed in over 50 countries for more than…
ON BODY IMAGE… With Martine Wright and Paloma Faith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:48
Body image is a common theme on How to Fail. It’s something everyone at some point has either struggled with personally, or knows someone who has. We hear from Paloma Faith on the topic - she speaks about being thrown ou…
Denise Welch - I Got Sober For Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:28
You might know Denise from Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, or as the winner of Celebrity Big Brother in 2012 and a regular panelist on ITV’s flagship panel chat show, Loose Women, or remember when she won Celebrity Big…