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 SCHOOL… With Jamie Dornan and Bernie Sanders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:19
I’m diving into the back catalogue, bringing you moments of insight, laughter and truth from past guests. These themed episodes are a chance to reflect on the universal experiences that connect us all. This week we’re lo…
Charlotte Church - ‘I was totally exploited. I was a commodity’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:48
Charlotte Church is currently starring in the first ever series of BBC One’s Celebrity Traitors. But she first found global fame as the young classical singer with the voice of an angel. By 22, she had sold 10 million re…
ON BABY LOSS… With Sara Pascoe and Trinny Woodall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
Welcome back to this How to Fail special, where we revisit powerful moments from the archive that offer insight, perspective and - hopefully - a sense of comfort during life’s more difficult chapters. This week, to mark…
Stephen Grosz - ‘Real love is going to hurt’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:23
Warning: this episode may contain MIND-BLOWING moments. Stephen Grosz is a practising psychoanalyst and a personal hero of mine. He has worked with patients for more than 45 years and his first book, The Examined Life, d…
Jilly Cooper: On Failure, Love and Literature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:07
Today, we remember and celebrate the extraordinary life of Jilly Cooper, who has sadly passed away at the age of 88. A literary icon, Jilly captured hearts and imaginations with her wit, warmth, and unmistakable voice. H…
ON NAVIGATING YOUR 20s... With Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Lily Allen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:15
Welcome back to this How to Fail special where we journey through the archive to uncover insight and revisit powerful conversations. Each week, I hand-pick moments that speak to our shared challenges - hopefully offering…
Jane Goodall on Optimism, Hope and Conservation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:28
We said goodbye to Jane Goodall, who passed away yesterday at 91 after a life that inspired millions. I feel so grateful to have had the chance to speak with her back in July 2022, a conversation I’ll never forget. Today…
Letitia Wright - ‘I was bullied… now I’m Black Panther’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:54
You’ll know Letitia Wright from her standout roles in Black Panther, Wakanda Forever, Black Mirror and Top Boy. She won the BAFTA Rising Star award in 2019 and is currently starring in Not Your Superwoman at The Bush The…
ON ADDICTION... With Mae Martin and Marian Keyes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:29
Welcome back to this How to Fail special where we revisit conversations from the archive to highlight particular themes and tap into the wisdom they contain. Each week, I select moments that can offer perspective, comfor…
Joe Locke - ‘At 20, I Felt Like I Was Already 35’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:20
Joe Locke shot to global fame as Charlie Spring in Netflix’s Heartstopper, a role that catapulted him overnight from a schoolboy on the Isle of Man to an Emmy-nominated actor with millions of followers. In this candid co…