How To Fail With Elizabeth Day ON SCHOOL… With Jamie Dornan and Bernie Sanders
Oct 19, 2025
Join actor Jamie Dornan and Senator Bernie Sanders as they reflect on their formative school years and the lessons learned from failure. Jamie shares his preference for friendship and sports over academics, critiquing the rigid education system that often overlooks individual strengths. Transitioning to Bernie, he reveals how being cut from the varsity basketball team fueled his resilience and led him to discover a passion for long-distance running. Their stories remind us that school is about growth, relationships, and the valuable lessons embedded in setbacks.
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School Priorities Were Social, Not Academic
- Jamie Dornan admits he did practically no revision and prioritized friends and sport over academics at Methody School.
- He describes feeling misunderstood by a school culture that prized conformity and formal authority.
Intimidation Undermines Respect
- Dornan argues that intimidating teacher rituals backfired by making students fearful rather than respectful.
- He felt approachable teachers who showed warmth would have earned genuine respect and engagement.
Personal Loss Shaped Academic Path
- After personal tragedies (his mother's illness and friends' deaths), Dornan negotiated staying at school as a boarder to continue A-levels.
- He says failing at exams ultimately steered him away from an office career he knew he wouldn't enjoy.