

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment
How To Fail with Elizabeth Day is a podcast that celebrates the things in life that haven’t gone right and what we might learn from them along the way. Every week, Elizabeth’s guest explores three failures, and what these failures have taught them about how to grow and succeed, better.
We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Elizabeth to share your failures, problems or questions - anonymously or otherwise. She'll go through these each week with the help of her very special guests. And remember: a fail shared is a fail halved. https://forms.sonymusicfans.com/campaign/how-to-fail-uk-2023/
An Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Original Production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow @sonypodcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with Elizabeth to share your failures, problems or questions - anonymously or otherwise. She'll go through these each week with the help of her very special guests. And remember: a fail shared is a fail halved. https://forms.sonymusicfans.com/campaign/how-to-fail-uk-2023/
An Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Original Production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow @sonypodcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 14, 2024 • 51min
Ade Adepitan - ‘At 16 I’d seen more violence than anyone should ever see’
TW: contains references to racist abuse and racially-aggravated violence.
This is probably one of my favourite episodes of all time, and I don’t say that lightly. The former championship wheelchair basketball star turned TV presenter, Ade Adepitan, came into the How To Fail studio with an open heart and a moving story to tell. He blew us all away.
Ade talks about growing up working-class, Black and disabled and how the intersection of these left him feeling he had to prove himself twice as much. He talks about letting his parents down and a family estrangement that lasted 10 years. We chat about the impact of leaving Nigeria, aged three, and how that has continued to shape his outlook on life and we talk about his own self-perceived failure to protect his friend from a racist attack as a teenager - and how what happened changed all their lives. We also talk about a 2005 BBC documentary where he broke down in front of cameras while trying to climb a volcano and his fear that he had let himself and the disabled community down. AND - in a first for How To Fail -his failure to take a compliment
You can catch Ade presenting Channel 4’s coverage of the Paralympic Games this summer.
As always, I’m desperate to hear about your failures. Every week, my guest and I choose a selection to read out and answer on our special subscription offering, Failing with Friends. We’ll endeavour to give you advice, wisdom, some laughs and much, much more.
Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com
Production & Post Production Manager: Lily Hambly
Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Tickell and Josh Gibbs
Producer: Hannah Talbot
Executive Producer: Carly Maile
Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini
How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9 snips
Aug 7, 2024 • 42min
Pat Cummins - 'My mother’s death taught me cricket isn’t as important as family'
Pat Cummins, the Australian cricket captain and one of the greatest cricketers ever, opens up about resilience shaped by loss. He shares heartfelt insights about his mother's death from cancer, which shifted his priorities towards family over cricket. He discusses balancing elite sports with family life, offering practical tips on setting boundaries. Pat also reflects humorously on his farming life and the joys of rediscovering simple pleasures beyond competition, while lightheartedly touching on cricket superstitions.

Jul 31, 2024 • 44min
Elif Shafak - ‘There’s only one thing that scares me - and that’s indifference’
Elif Shafak, a celebrated Turkish-British author, discusses her passion for storytelling and the power it holds in social justice. She emphasizes the importance of 'otherness' and how it shapes identity. Shafak reflects on personal family dynamics, particularly the lasting effects of her father's absence. The conversation explores language nuances between Turkish and English, the immigrant experience, and why indifference is her greatest fear. Her new novel, *There are Rivers in the Sky*, also makes an appearance, highlighting the vital role of narratives in bridging divides.

9 snips
Jul 24, 2024 • 45min
Danny O Donoghue - ‘I’m finished drinking, I’m finished smoking, everything’
Danny O’Donoghue, lead singer of The Script, opens up about grief, alcohol abuse, therapy, and faith after losing his bandmate Mark Sheehan. He shares his failures, including music struggles and self-care neglect. The podcast explores emotions, mentorship, childhood, and spirituality, providing insight into overcoming challenges and finding success.

Jul 22, 2024 • 35min
Introducing How To Write a Book: Episode 1 - The Idea (Part 1)
Experienced authors Sara Collins, Sharmaine Lovegrove, and Nelle Andrew discuss where book ideas come from and how to know if they're worth pursuing. They share insights on developing ideas, creating characters, and crafting successful novels. The podcast touches on evaluating the value of ideas, creating engaging book pitches, and the importance of arrogance and ethics in storytelling.

Jul 17, 2024 • 50min
Sara Cox - ‘it made me feel a bit of a failed mum’
Broadcaster and author Sara Cox discusses her upbringing, career setbacks, and successes. From being a 'ladette' to hosting radio and TV shows, she shares her journey with humor and honesty. Topics include her farming roots, failures in controlling Sacha Baron Cohen, and the media's treatment of her. Cox reflects on learning from her parents' divorce, embracing her talents, and overcoming self-doubt. A candid and entertaining conversation about failures and triumphs.

Jul 10, 2024 • 51min
Danny Dyer - 'I’m a f**king legend or I’m a f**king disgrace. I suppose I divide people'
Actor Danny Dyer discusses his challenging childhood, acting career, drug addiction, and resilience. He shares stories about forgetting lines on stage after smoking crack, psychic experiences, concerns about fame for his daughter, and his royal heritage. The conversation also touches on his struggles with smoking, fame, social media, and choosing love over hate.

Jul 3, 2024 • 50min
Jesse Tyler Ferguson - ‘I was caught stealing gay porn'
Jesse Tyler Ferguson opens up about his struggles in sports, sexuality, and reading reviews. He shares poignant moments from his journey to fatherhood through surrogacy and his dedication to early morning workouts. The discussion also touches on representation in the entertainment industry and his experiences with meditation.

Jun 26, 2024 • 53min
Sadiq Khan - ‘Had I known what it involved, I can’t say I’d have gone into politics’
Former Labour Cabinet Minister and three-time Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, shares personal failures and experiences facing racism, systemic biases, and prioritizing authenticity in politics. He discusses the challenges of political leadership, family sacrifices, mental health struggles, and the importance of environmental awareness. Reflecting on his father's values, Khan aims to make him proud despite the challenges of his career.

Jun 19, 2024 • 49min
Vogue Williams - ‘I love therapy’
Vogue Williams talks about transitioning from the building industry to TV, her challenges with anxiety, friendship failures, and husband Spencer giving up drinking. They discuss family dynamics, running marathons, maintaining friendships, and the impact of fame on relationships. The conversation is lighthearted, honest, and insightful.