Sam Ryder - ‘Fame is like giving a dog a treat every single day. You get used to it.’

Sam Ryder - ‘Fame is like giving a dog a treat every single day. You get used to it.’

Author: Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment March 26, 2025 Duration: 53:13
Over on Failing with Friends - Sam Ryder talks about panic attacks, how to forgive, and (in a How To Fail first) why he likes to cut his toenails outdoors. To hear Sam tackling your failures join our community of subscribers here: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Sam Ryder is a British singer-songwriter who started posting covers on TikTok during the pandemic that ended up catching the eye of Sia, Elton John and Justin Bieber. He represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022, placing second only to Ukraine. It was our highest-scoring entry in 24 years. In one of my favourite ever episodes, Sam talks about the pressures of fame, the challenge of keeping ego in check, the transformative power of gratitude and why he thinks Dolly Parton is ‘the supreme being’. We also talk about tracks from Sam Ryder’s upcoming album, including his single ‘White Lies’ out 21st March. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 01:08 Early Life and Career 03:26 The Wedding Singer Years 08:20 Rising to Fame 18:36 The TikTok Breakthrough 23:56 Failures and Reflections 24:58 The Illusion of Positivity 26:35 Groundedness and Realistic Thinking 27:56 The Role of Faith and Spirituality 30:48 Ego and Gratitude 33:44 Navigating the Music Industry 40:45 Family and Personal Life 43:36 Reflections on Success and Failure 46:00 Famous Encounters and Final Thoughts 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 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
Rita Wilson - ‘I’m 69. I’m At My Most Unfiltered.’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:31
The acclaimed actor, singer and producer was born in Los Angeles to a Greek mother and a Bulgarian father who emigrated to the United States in 1949. You might know her from early roles like Bosom Buddies, where she met…
Emma Grede - ‘Ambition Is Something I Am Entitled to’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:01
Today’s guest is a female billionaire: the co-founder and CEO of the Good American inclusive fashion brand and a founding partner of SKIMS, the shapewear and loungewear company. Emma Grede’s close working partnerships wi…
Sophie Habboo - I Wish I Had More Boundaries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:18
This week we are joined by podcasting royalty, Sophie Habboo! Habboo found fame on Made In Chelsea, E4’s structured-reality show following the lives of affluent 20-something Londoners where she met fellow cast-mate Jamie…
Elizabeth's New Show: History’s Greatest Fails [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:51
In this debut preview episode of History’s Greatest Fails, Elizabeth Day and Dan Jones argue that the story of Richard’s rise and fall (and rise again) is much more modern that you’d first believe. Not least because of t…
Amy Jackson Westwick - I Was A Magnet For Narcissists [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:17
Amy Jackson Westwick is a major Bollywood film star with some 14 million followers on social media. Yet she grew up in a working class family in Liverpool. So how did a teenager from Merseyside become one of the most rec…
Chris Appleton - ‘I Felt Shame Before I Felt Love’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:10
Celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton has a slew of devoted clients including Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Martha Stewart, as well as millions of Instagram followers and a regular slot offering advice on The Drew Barr…
Mel Schilling - ‘She was the embodiment of vibrant life’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:57
I never thought I would have to write these words, but here we are. In the wake of my dear friend’s passing, I wanted to reflect on the life of one of the most radiant people I’ve ever met: Mel Schilling. I never quite u…