How To Fail With Elizabeth Day ON MONEY WORRIES… With Fern Brady and Simon Cowell
Jan 5, 2026
Fern Brady, a comedian known for her raw storytelling, shares her unconventional journey of stripping to fund her university studies, which ultimately shaped her feminist views. She candidly discusses the violence and exploitation she faced, highlighting her vulnerability due to autism. Media mogul Simon Cowell reflects on his bankrupt years in his twenties, revealing how that financial collapse reshaped his outlook on money and humility. Together, they explore themes of resilience, financial anxiety, and the belief that our setbacks can lead to growth.
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Stripping To Stay At University
- Fern Brady worked as a stripper while at university because she couldn't afford to stay and needed to earn quick money.
- The experience influenced her politics and writing and she says she made more money later in comedy than she did stripping.
Lived Experience Shapes Political Belief
- Working in strip clubs radicalised Fern Brady into feminism by making theory feel immediately relevant to lived experience.
- She developed a lasting scepticism about men's intentions and a sharper political lens from that work.
Writing Through Abuse And Autism
- Fern Brady described a violent abusive relationship that was the hardest part to write about in her book and triggered intense physical reactions during writing.
- She used memoir to show how autistic women can be more vulnerable to grooming and abuse, making abstract lists feel personal.