Best Fails

In this bonus episode of the Best Fails podcast, host Alison Beckles sits down with occupational psychologist Christine Sutton to unpack failure, leadership, and the hidden pressures women face at the top.

The conversation exposed the systemic inequalities embedded in workplace culture and the very different way failure is experienced—and internalised—by women. Together, Alison and Christine explore the “glass cliff”phenomenon, where women are more likely to be handed high-risk leadership roles in times of crisis, only to shoulder disproportionate blame when things go wrong. They discuss the emotional toll this takes, its impact on career trajectories, and why psychological safety is not a “nice to have” but aleadership essential.

The episode closes with a call to action: the importance of reflection, strong support networks, and organisationalresponsibility in creating fairer, safer environments for women in leadership.

Honest, insightful, and deeply relevant, this conversation challenges how we think about failure—and who is allowed to fail.Check out our show notes for more information about the episode, including information about our guests: https://mybestfails.com/Follow the podcast: https://www.instagram.com/bestfailspodcast/Follow our work: https://www.instagram.com/clarenneconsulting/

In this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles sits down with Gail Weithers, who opens up about the deeply personal and traumatic experience of losing her job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gail recounts the shock of discovering she was among those affected, especially after years of compromising her own well-being—within her marriage, family life, and mental health—for the sake of her career.

She reflects on how the loss shook her sense of identity, and how reconnecting with gardening unexpectedly became a catalyst for her healing journey. Through her story, Gail underscores the importance of self-compassion, boundary-setting, and the profound impact of simply having someone who will listen.

Ultimately, her journey is one of resilience, illustrating how moments of failure can become powerful opportunities for growth, clarity, and reinvention.

Check out our show notes for more information about the episode, including information about our guests: https://mybestfails.com/Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestfailspodcast/Follow our work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarenneconsulting/

In this episode of Best Fails, Alison Beckles sits down with JK McQuinn for a deeply honest conversation about failure, resilience, and the lifelong work of personal growth. Together, they explore the power of embracing imperfection and the wisdom we can draw from nature—particularly JK’s reminder that nature doesn’t do perfection, and neither should we.

JK reflects on a past failure that still makes her toes curl, sharing candidly how her community played a pivotal role in helping her recover, rebuild, and reshape her relationship with failure. She introduces the idea that what we call “mistakes” are often simply “miss-takes”—moments where we miss the mark, learn, and try again.

The conversation delves into the dual discomfort of navigating ambiguity and the emotional complexity that accompanies failure. JK speaks to the courage required to sit with uncertainty, as well as the profound relief and growth that can come from finally letting go.

At its heart, this episode is a celebration of self‑discovery, the quiet strength found in community, and the courage to honour our own growth. It reminds us to celebrate not only the people who lift us up, but also the moments when we become our own heroes—choosing to rise, to learn, and to keep moving forward after we fall.

In this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles sits downwith Avelyn Christie for a candid and deeply human conversation about a failure in progress. Avelyn discusses her vision for an organization aimed at empowering young girls inspired by Kintsugi, a Japanese artform which celebrates the beauty in brokenness. In a moment of irony, Avelyn realised that her desire for perfection has kept the organization from ever launching. What began as a mission to provide solace and find beauty in our imperfect lives had been stalled by the very fear it was seeking to dismantle. Together, Alison andAvelyn explore vulnerability, accountability, and the ways perfectionism can quietly limit the impact we are capable of making. Avelyn’s story is a powerful reminder: meaningful impact doesn’t require perfection—it requires presence.

In this episode, I sit down with Davina Layne, a certifiedhospitality trainer and consultant, for a conversation about personal growth, emotional intelligence, and personal leadership.

Davina reflects on how operating from a mindset of scarcityslowly caused her to lose sight of herself. We explored the danger of making permanent decisions based on temporary challenges, the transformative impact of gratitude, and the power of focusing on what’s truly within our control.

She reminds us that self-discovery isn’t a destination—it’san ongoing journey shaped by community, courage, and intentional reflection.

Her message is both grounding and empowering: our choices carry weight, but it’s never too late to pursue the life you’ve been dreaming about.

In this episode of Best Fails, I’m joined by Sarah Kalmeta better known as Sarah “The Pivoter” who shares her powerful journey of growth, resilience, and reinvention. She shares the lessons from her first marriage, how she navigated the pressures of perfectionism and opens up about the pivotalmoments that shaped her path.

 We explore:

• How tuning into internal cues can guide us back on course when life feels misaligned

• The importance of playfulness, rest, and self‑awareness in overcoming challenges

• The impact of supportive relationships and regular self‑check‑ins in moving through fear and loneliness

 Sarah’s story is a reminder that failure often leads us to discover hoe to be more authentic, aligned, and expansive.

In this episode of Best Fails, Alison Beckles sitsdown with Christina Hahrwell to unpack the layered themes of purpose, authenticity, and failure. Together, they examine how societal expectations and personal histories shape our identities—and the masks we learn to wear.

Christina opens up about her journey of wrestling withpurpose and learning to honor the richness of her background. Her lived experiences have gifted her a unique ability to forge connections in places others might overlook. She reflects on how the masks she once wore contributedto moments of failure, and the challenge of navigating relationships now that those masks are gone.

Throughout the conversation, Christina reframes failure asvaluable data for growth. She speaks to the power of supportive relationships, the necessity of self-care, and the power of patience in the pursuit of purpose. Her message is clear: growth is personal, nonlinear, and never servedby comparison.

In this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles engages with Sean Ifill, who shares his journey from employee toentrepreneur, highlighting the mindset shifts required for success. They discuss the cultural perceptions of failure, and the lessons learned from Sean's startup experience, including the importance of changing your perspectiveto match your new role, building a team, being a bit flexible with your vision. Sean emphasises the need to give yourself space to mourn the failure and to find motivation by focusing on fulfilling your immediate needs. He ends by offeringvaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs- “don't be afraid to ask questions.”

In this episode of the Best Fails podcast, host Alison Beckles speaks with Kate Dean about her journey through failure, particularly in the context of education and neurodiversity. Kate shares her story of pursuing a career in law, facing setbacks, and ultimately finding her passion in advocacy and support for others. She reflected on the impact of herneurodivergence on her educational journey and on the challenges faced by neurodiverse individuals on a whole as they navigate an educational system that is built on a deficit model rather than on a person’s innate strengths. Theydiscuss the importance of support systems, the need for educational institutions to adapt to diverse learning styles, and the significance of pursuing one's passions despite setbacks. The conversation emphasizes resilience, self-discovery, and the value of community in navigating life'schallenges.

In this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles engages with John Yarde, a Barbadian pastor and musician, who shared about the repercussions of a decision he made. John discusses the challenges of navigating the expectations of others while staying true to his values and beliefs. The conversation delves into the importance of support systems, self-reflection, resilience, and focusing on purpose in themidst of adversity. John also offers listeners valuable advice when facing tough decisions about their careers and personal lives.