How To Fail With Elizabeth Day ON MEDITATION… With Kirsty Young and Yuval Noah Harari
Jan 12, 2026
Kirsty Young, a broadcasting legend known for her inspiring career in media, shares her struggles with meditation, emphasizing the value of short, imperfect sessions despite her chronic health issues. Yuval Noah Harari, a prominent historian and bestselling author, discusses his intense Vipassana practice and the idea of constant failure being a part of meditation, likening it to a laboratory for understanding the mind. Together, they explore the nuanced relationship between meditation, self-acceptance, and the pursuit of inner peace.
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Daily Attempts With No Pressure
- Kirsty Young practices yoga and meditation with a therapist she calls Jane and keeps trying despite being 'really bad' at it.
- She meditates variably for five to twenty-five minutes and values simply having a go each day.
Treat Meditation As A Practice
- Accept that meditation is a daily practice rather than a perfected skill and keep returning to it.
- Use the idea that only dedicated yogis achieve perfection as permission to practice imperfectly.
Meditation In The Makeup Chair
- Kirsty Young sometimes meditates anywhere, including in a makeup chair before presenting to millions.
- She used brief meditation to steady herself before covering the Platinum Jubilee.