Mae Martin - 'Everything I do is about proving those high school bullies wrong.'

Mae Martin - 'Everything I do is about proving those high school bullies wrong.'

Author: Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment April 9, 2025 Duration: 51:01
Over on Failing with Friends this week, Mae Martin talks about self-care, how to stop pushing people away and we tackle a listener’s failure to be messy in their twenties. To hear Mae Martin's brilliant advice, join our community of subscribers: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Canadian comedian, writer, producer and singer/songwriter Mae Martin joins Elizabeth to talk about making music, the importance of pronouns and being diagnosed with ADHD. We also discuss their hit Netflix show Feel Good, going to rehab as a teenager and their borderline addiction to escape rooms (they've done 50 in three years...absolutely zero judgement here). Mae Martin’s new album ‘I’m a TV’ is out now. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 02:08 Creative Journey 04:22 Discussing the Album 'I'm a TV' 10:01 Failures and Life Lessons 11:19 Childhood and Family Influence 17:54 Struggles with Identity and Addiction 34:33 Diving into Troubled Teen Industry 35:43 Importance of Pronouns 38:13 Standup Comedy Struggles 39:03 Bombing at Edinburgh Fringe 42:12 Comedy Community Support 🌎 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 ⛵ Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Studio and Mix Engineer: Matias Torres Sole & Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell Senior Producer: Selina Ream 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 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…