How To Fail With Elizabeth Day Failure Throwback: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This week we revisit one of my all-time favourite guests: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, recorded in July 2021. Best known for Americanah and her globally resonant TED Talks, Chimamanda opens up about the profound grief of losing both her parents within a year—and the raw journey of coping in its aftermath.
We talk candidly about:
Her essay Notes on Grief
Being a daughter and the complexities of motherhood
Fertility struggles and writing through pain
Her cultural influence and, yes...Kim Kardashian
It’s heartfelt, honest, and deeply moving. Listen when you're ready to feel.
✨ IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Intro
03:18 Chimamanda's Background and Family
04:39 Exploring Feminism and Dissatisfaction
06:09 Navigating Sexism and Racism
08:29 Cultural Observations and Gender Roles
14:52 Academic Journey and Career Shift
18:12 Grief, Guilt, and Family Memories
35:04 Delight in Simple Pleasures
35:54 A Mother's Determination
38:11 Medical Malpractice and Loss
41:10 Coping with Grief
42:51 Seeking Comfort in Faith
51:20 Struggles with Writing
53:51 Motherhood and Creativity
01:01:44 Fashion, Individuality, and Social Media
💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
"I didn’t really intend to become this person who talks about feminism and political things… but my anger and my dissatisfaction just propels me."
"It seems to me that I’ve always known… the world simply does not give women the same dignity it gives men."
🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:
Elizabeth’s upcoming one-off show at Cadogan Hall on 21 Sep for her new novel One of Us: https://www.fane.co.uk/elizabeth-day
Elizabeth’s Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/
Join the How To Fail community: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content
📚 WANT MORE?
Danny O’Donoghue on navigating grief: https://link.chtbl.com/Fvd4L7ei
Julia Stiles on grief and her directorial debut: https://link.chtbl.com/0RdPCiip
Dorinda Medley on grief, identity and The Real Housewives: https://link.chtbl.com/Lf44HTRS
💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE?
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Website: www.elizabethday.org
Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/
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