In this searingly funny and deeply affecting live conversation, Elizabeth speaks to stand-up comedian, author and Taskmaster favourite Fern Brady about her autism diagnosis, her working-class roots, and the failures that shaped her award-winning memoir Strong Female Character.
Fern opens up about late diagnosis, social masking, and stripping to fund her education - all delivered with the brutal honesty and whip-smart humour that’s made her one of the most exciting voices in comedy today. A powerful exploration of identity, feminism, and finding your voice.
What stood out for you in this episode? Leave us a comment.
✨ IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Intro
01:58 Autism Diagnosis and Masking
04:40 Experiences on Taskmaster
11:40 University Struggles and Stripping
17:33 Challenges of Writing a Memoir
20:03 Reflections on Edinburgh
21:49 Struggles with Mental Health and Misdiagnosis
22:35 University Challenges and Autistic Shutdowns
23:25 Extreme Stress and Physical Symptoms
24:34 Breaking into Comedy and Facing Limitations
26:05 Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs
27:55 Navigating the Comedy Industry
34:02 Rejecting Mainstream Entertainment
37:21 Celebrity Bakeoff Experience
💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
“Even when people don’t know you’re autistic, they know you’re autistic. They pick up on something different about you.”“Comedy radicalised me as a feminist. And so did working in a strip club.”“I was told I had the wrong energy for QI. I think that was a coded way to say I was too common.”“Autistic people are always learning to speak neurotypical. All we’re asking is for a bit of that in return.”
🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:
📚 WANT MORE?
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Christine McGuinness on autism, calm and self-acceptance
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Caitlin Moran on feminism, girls and mental health
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Miriam Margolyes on difference, defiance and not caring what people think
💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE?
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👋 Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth:
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Instagram: @elizabday
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TikTok:
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Podcast Instagram: @howtofailpod
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Website: www.elizabethday.org
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Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/
Elizabeth and Fern answer YOUR questions live in Edinburgh in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here:
Have a failure you’re trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com
Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan
Live Show Engineer: Will Kontargyris
Sound Engineer: Matias Torres
Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali
Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot
Executive Producer: Carly Maile
How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.
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