How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

By Elizabeth Day

Society & Culture

What's How To Fail With Elizabeth Day about?

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is a podcast that celebrates the things that haven’t gone right. Every week, a new interviewee explores what their failures taught them about how to succeed better.

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S17, Ep5 Bear Grylls on tur...

05.31.2023

Bear Grylls has achieved worldwide fame as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure. A former SAS soldier, he has climbed Everest, circumnavigated the British Isles on a jet ski, rowed naked in a bathtub along ...

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day episodes:

05.31.2023 S17, Ep5 Bear Grylls on turning fear into courage Bear Grylls has achieved worldwide fame as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure. A former SAS soldier, he has climbed Everest, circumnavigated the British Isles on a jet ski, rowed naked in a bathtub along ...
05.25.2023 S17 BONUS EPISODE: Rachel Cargle on reimagining the life we want to live. TW: A heads-up that we talk about racism in this episode, and that we mention the murder of George Floyd and how this impacted Rachel's anti-racism work.Rachel Cargle is a public academic, activist and author. Her debut book, A Renaissance ...
05.24.2023 S17, Ep4 Dr Gladys McGarey: a 102-year-old doctor shares the secret to health and happiness The word 'inspiration' is bandied about with a bit too much alacrity these days, but Dr Gladys McGarey truly is one of the most inspirational women you'll ever meet.At 102 years old, she's still a practising doctor - she trained ...
05.17.2023 S17, Ep3 Alex Crawford: the legendary war correspondent on staying alive, motherhood and the resilience of hope If you've ever watched a television news dispatch from a warzone, the chances are you've seen Alex Crawford in a flak jacket and helmet, doing a piece to camera punctuated by the whistle of bullets. For 30 years, she has ...
05.10.2023 S17, Ep2 Jay Shetty on failing to fit in, learning to love and how to survive heartbreak Jay Shetty is the monk-turned-self-help-guru who grew up in Wood Green, North London and now counts Will Smith among his closest friends. His mission - to make 'wisdom go viral' - has seen him become a number one bestselling New ...
05.03.2023 S17, Ep1 Rylan Clark on fame, heartbreak and the long journey to self-acceptance We're back with a brand new season (17 but who's counting? I AM!) and to open the series, I truly could not have asked for a better guest.Rylan Clark is a familiar presence on TV and radio and one of ...
04.05.2023 BONUS EPISODE! Mel Schilling: the MAFS dating expert on confidence, relationships and the secret to finding true love TW: fertilityRegular listeners will know I'm a devoted watcher of Married At First Sight, so I squealed with joy when the brilliant Mel Schilling agreed to come on the pod. Not only is she one of Australia's foremost dating experts, ...
04.03.2023 BONUS EPISODE! How To Fail x Happy Place: The Ultimate Podcast Collab Welcome to a very special episode of How To Fail where we join forces with one of our favourite podcasts, Happy Place. The wonderful Fearne Cotton and I sit down to chat about three of our personal highlights from each ...
03.30.2023 S16, BONUS EPISODE! FRIENDAHOLIC: Confessions of a Friendship Addict - an exclusive extract from my new book, SURPRISE! I thought I'd treat you to another bonus episode - not a conventional How To Fail but an exclusive extract from the audio version of my new book, Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict which is published today. I ...
03.29.2023 S16, BONUS EPISODE: Cody Rigsby on queerness, addiction and being Rishi Sunak's favourite Peloton instructor TW: addictionRegular listeners of How To Fail will know that I love Peloton: the one-stop fitness workout which offers cycling, strength, yoga and more. THIS IS NOT AN AD, JUST A GENUINE FEELING! Anyway, the undisputed King of Peloton is ...
03.15.2023 S16, Ep11 How To Fail: Bernie Sanders on defeat, defiance and the struggles that shaped him (plus: the power of mittens) PINCH ME, IS THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENING? Yes, yes it is. Ok. Deep breaths. For my season finale, I bring you the one and only Bernie Sanders: the longest-serving independent member of Congress in American history; unofficial leader of the US ...
03.08.2023 S16, Ep10 How To Fail: Margaret Atwood on wisdom, witchcraft and womanhood For International Women's Day, I bring you - NO BIG DEAL - Margaret Atwood. The Booker-Prize winning author of numerous works including The Blind Assassin, Cat's Eye and Alias Grace, has been a pioneer in the depiction of women in ...
03.01.2023 S16 Ep9 How To Fail: Greg James on radio, rebellion and failing to be a good at fame One of the only times my friend Fran has been truly impressed by a podcast guest was when I sent her a picture of me recording with Greg James. During the pandemic, Fran and her family would listen to him ...
02.22.2023 S16, Ep8 How To Fail: Joan Bakewell - the legendary broadcaster on life, love and everything in between For a long time, Joan Bakewell has been a professional inspiration to me: a broadcasting superstar whose professional longevity is a testament to her talent, curiosity and hard work. She is a few months shy of her 90th birthday but ...
02.15.2023 S16, Ep7 How To Fail: Munroe Bergdorf on the beauty of transitions, breaking the rules and learning how forgive herself and others TW: rape, racism and transphobiaI have admired this woman from afar for many years and was so honoured when she agreed to sit down with me for How To Fail. Munroe Bergdorf is impossible to summarise: she is an activist, ...
02.08.2023 S16, Ep6 How To Fail: Rick Edwards on confidence, competitiveness and the lessons he's learned from past relationships Rick Edwards is a broadcaster, author and podcaster. He's the co-host of Radio 5 Live’s Breakfast Show and presents the podcast Eureka alongside the quantum physicist Dr Michael Brooks.He's also, as it happens, my ex-boyfriend. In this episode, we not ...
02.01.2023 S16, Ep5 How To Fail: Big Zuu the Bafta-winning TV cook on being the child of a refugee, his ADHD diagnosis and racism in football Big Zuu is a double Bafta winning TV cook who presents Big Zuu’s Big Eats on Dave. His former guests have included Jimmy Carr, Katherine Ryan and Mel B. He's also a grime MC rapper who has released four albums. ...
01.25.2023 S16, Ep4 How To Fail: Spencer Matthews on alcoholism, the death of his brother and surviving reality TV SPENCER MATTHEWS! I confess, I enjoyed this conversation SO MUCH. It's not just because I'm an unabashed viewer of Made in Chelsea from the early days.* It's also because I've watched Spencer transcend his (decidedly not great) reality TV persona ...
01.18.2023 S16, Ep3 How To Fail: Yusra Mardini - how a teenage Syrian refugee became an Olympic swimmer against unimaginable odds I can't find the right words to do enough justice to Yusra Mardini's story. I think it's best that you just listen to the episode. Suffice it to say, she's one of the most impressive people I've ever met. Yusra ...
01.11.2023 S16, Ep2 How To Fail: Alex Jones on fertility, mental health and the time she locked King Charles in the toilet TW: miscarriage; infertility.Oh Alex Jones, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways... Like many of you, I already felt I knew Alex before I met her. She is one of the most trusted and famliar faces on ...
01.04.2023 S16, Ep1 How To Fail: Rick Astley on never growing up, never giving up and how a difficult childhood shaped his success We're back for a brand new season. Well...you didn't think we were ever GONNA GIVE YOU UP did you? (See what I did there?)My childhood self is utterly thrilled that we get to open Season 16 with the legendary Rick ...
12.28.2022 S15, BONUS EPISODE! How To Fail: Roman Kemp on mental health, male suicide and failing to be Batman TW: discussions around suicideThe period between Christmas and New Year can be tough for many. That's why I wanted to bring you an episode designed to help you feel less alone, where my guest talks openly about his own mental ...
12.09.2022 All this week, I'll be dropping the recordings of our How To Fail live shows, held at Shoredtich Town Hall earlier this year.On our final night, we welcomed Craig David to the stage and we were treated to a beautiful, ...
12.08.2022 All this week, I'll be dropping the recordings of our How To Fail live shows, held at Shoredtich Town Hall earlier this year.Today it's the turn of the very lovely Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The kitchen disco queen joins us to talk ...
12.07.2022 TW: eating disordersAll this week, I'll be dropping the recordings of our How To Fail live shows, held at Shoredtich Town Hall earlier this year.Now, I know we shouldn't have favourites. Having a podcast and labelling one of your episodes ...
12.06.2022 All this week, I'll be dropping the recordings of our How To Fail live shows, held at Shoredtich Town Hall earlier this year.To kick off, I asked back one of our most cherished guests of all time: the inimitable Mo ...
12.02.2022 S15, BONUS EPISODE! How To Fail: Sheila Hancock on stage-fright, self-doubt and being a wartime evacuee Dame Sheila Hancock is one of our most esteemed actresses: her 1966 Broadway debut in Entertaining Mr Sloane earned her a Tony nomination and on TV, she has appeared in everything from Dr Who to Kavanagh QC, in which she ...
11.30.2022 S15, BONUS EPISODE! How To Fail: Trinny Woodall on single parenthood, business failure and the empowerment of her 50s TW: discussions around suicide, infertility and miscarriageTrinny Woodall has been part of my life for years - even if we had never actually, well...met. Like many of you, I was riveted by the success of the makeover TV programme she ...
11.29.2022 S15, BONUS EPISODE! How To Fail: Jo Elvin, the charity CEO on resilience, friendship fails and female anger Today, in a special bonus episode, I have the joy of bringing you one of my favourite people - the broadcaster, journalist and now charity boss, Jo Elvin. She's an Australian powerhouse who I've been lucky enough to work with ...
11.16.2022 S15, Ep12 How To Fail: Justin Basini, the Clearscore CEO on business failure, body image and friendship TW: discussion around suicide, body dysmorphia and disordered eating.For my season finale, I wanted to do something a little different. I wanted to interview one of the most amazing people I know. Conveniently, that person is also my husband, Justin ...
11.09.2022 S15, Ep11 How To Fail: Geena Davis, the Oscar-winning actress on fame, feminism and being diagnosed with ADD in her 40s I am obsessed with today's guest and I'm not even going to pretend otherwise. Geena Davis, the star of such seminal movies as Tootsie, Beetlejuice, Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own and the underrated classic, The Long Kiss ...
11.04.2022 S15, BONUS EPISODE How To Fail: Lorraine Kelly, the daytime TV icon on failing to go to uni, being fired and...penguins Lorraine Kelly has been on our TV screens for the best part of 40 years. Born to working-class, teenage parents, she turned down a university place to join the local paper and then BBC Scotland as a researcher. By 1984, ...
11.02.2022 S15, Ep10 How To Fail: Tom Daley, the Olympic diving champion on his fear of mistakes, body image and perfectionism Tom Daley is an Olympic gold medallist diver, a three time World Champion and the first ever British person to win four Olympic diving medals. He's also, for the purposes of this podcast, just such a lovely, joyous person.He joins ...
10.26.2022 S15, Ep9 How To Fail: Greta Thunberg on activism, friendship and failing to be a 'normal' teenager I'll be honest. I was intimidated by the prospect of this interview. Plus, I never believed it would actually happen. I was going to get to speak to arguably the most famous activist on the planet? Yeah, right. As if.But ...
10.20.2022 S15, BONUS EPISODE How To Fail: Rob Delaney on the death of his beloved son, Henry Today, in a very special bonus episode, I bring you an interview it was an honour to record.Rob Delaney is a comedian, actor and writer, known to many of us as the star and co-creator of the hit Channel 4 ...
10.19.2022 S15, Ep8 How To Fail: Malorie Blackman, the iconic Noughts and Crosses author on rejection, racism and the importance of representation TW: miscarriage Today's guest is one of our most beloved writers: the one and only Malorie Blackman. She joins me to talk about how her setbacks have helped her define who she is - from being evicted and made homeless ...
10.12.2022 S15, Ep7 How To Fail: Nihal Arthanayake on fatherhood, chicken bongs and the most difficult conversation he's ever had Nihal Arthanayake is a broadcaster and author. He is the host of Radio 5 Live’s Afternoon Show and won interviewer of the year at the 2019 BBC Radio and Music Awards. His new book, Let’s Talk: How To Have Better ...
10.05.2022 S15, Ep6 How To Fail: Jordan Stephens on male vulnerability, anger and getting naked Jordan Stephens was formerly one-half of the band Rizzle Kicks, formed with his childhood friend while they were both at school. He is now an actor, a solo musician, a writer and - as if that weren't enough - a ...
09.28.2022 S15, Ep5 How To Fail: Domenica Calarco, the star of Married At First Sight Australia on divorce, anxiety and reality TV Well, you asked. And here she is. Domenica Calarco, the breakout star from the latest season of Married At First Sight Australia, is one of my most requested guests. On screen, we fell in love with her feisty Italian character, ...
09.21.2022 S15, Ep4 How To Fail: Florence Given on shame, sexuality and finding her voice TW: eating disordersFlorence Given is the ultimate feminist multi-hyphenate: an artist, a bestselling author, a podcaster and a social activist with a huge online following, especially among the young women who see her as the wise big sister they always ...
09.14.2022 S15, Ep3 How To Fail: Melanie Chisholm on mental health, self-worth and the Spice Girls TW: eating disorders; suicide; sexual assaultI am so honoured to welcome my first ever Spice Girl to How To Fail! Today Melanie Chisholm - the artist formerly known as Mel C or even Sporty Spice - joins me in what ...
09.07.2022 S15, Ep2 How To Fail: Edward Enninful, the editor of British Vogue on body image, diversity and the joy of being friends with Naomi Campbell This week I interview quite possibly the kindest man in fashion. I love him so much - and I know you will too. Edward Enninful is a pioneer: the first Black person and the first man to edit British Vogue, ...
08.31.2022 S15, Ep1 How To Fail: Vanessa Feltz on divorce, body-shaming and Big Brother breakdowns Welcome to Season 15 of How To Fail! And there could be no better woman for our first episode than the iconic Vanessa Feltz. I was so COMPLETELY blown away by her honesty, humour and her brilliance when we met ...
07.20.2022 S14, BONUS EPISODE! How To Fail: Jane Goodall The legendary Jane Goodall is a scientist, convservationist and humanitarian, whose 60-year study of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania challenged and overturned much of the conventional scientific thinking at the time. Her tireless work over the years - she is now ...
07.13.2022 S14, BONUS EPISODE! How To Fail: Kit de Waal Our extra-special bonus guest today is the author Kit de Waal. Her debut 2016 novel, My Name Is Leon, told the story of a mixed-race nine-year-old boy and his quest to reunite his family after being taken into care. It ...
07.06.2022 S14, Ep9 How To Fail: Russell Kane TW // descriptions of self-harmRussell Kane is a comedian, novelist, playwright, podcaster, memoirist and presenter. He's know for his sell-out stand-up gigs across and for his TV work, including Live At the Apollo and Celebrity Juice. Plus he has two ...
06.29.2022 S14, Ep8 How To Fail: Asim Chaudhry As well as being a stone-cold legend, Asim Chaudhry is probably best known for co-creating the BAFTA-award-winning mockumentary sitcom People Just Do Nothing and if you’ve ever been on a British Airways flight and paid attention to the safety video, ...
06.22.2022 S14, Ep7 How To Fail: Benjamin Zephaniah Benjamin Zephaniah was the author of the first poetry collection I ever owned. For many of us, he was the chronicler of our youth: a novelist and poet who made language exciting and funny and told stories full of action ...
06.15.2022 S14, Ep6 How To Fail: Warsan Shire TW // eating disordersI'm biased but oh my goodness, I love this guest and this episode SO much. Ahead of Refugee Week, which runs 20-26th June, it is my honour to welcome the poet Warsan Shire to the podcast. Warsan ...
06.10.2022 S14, MID-SEASON BONUS! How To Fail: Caroline Stanbury Look, anyone who knows me knows of my love for reality TV. And anyone who knows anything about reality TV realises that when you get the chance to interview a bona fide Real Housewife, you jump at it. Which is ...

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