231 episodes

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 podcastsales@sonymusic.com

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day Failing With Friends

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 8.5K Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

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 podcastsales@sonymusic.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    S20, Ep1 DAN LEVY on overcoming rejection and harnessing grief

    S20, Ep1 DAN LEVY on overcoming rejection and harnessing grief

    We bonded over eyebrows, amongst other things.

    You’ll know Dan Levy as David Rose in the widely adored TV show Schitt’s Creek, which he co-wrote and created with his father Eugene Levy. If ever there was a story of failure leading to success, it’s this, as Dan tells me how his multi-award winning and critically acclaimed show was (initially) turned down by every single network in the USA.

    We also chat about relationship failures and a particular childhood incident involving birthday cake. Plus, we explore his fantastic new film ‘Good Grief’ - a beautiful gay love story for the modern age - and his personal influences behind it.

    Good Grief and Schitt’s Creek are available to stream on Netflix.

    And I’d LOVE to hear about your failures, no matter how profound, minor or funny they might be. Every week, my fantastic 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 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 



    And stay tuned next week for more info on how to subscribe!



    Production & Post Manager: Lily Hambly

    Studio Engineer: Matias Torres Sole

    Mix Engineer: Gulliver Tickell

    Senior Producer: Selina Ream

    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

    • 49 min
    S20, Ep2 JOE WICKS on addiction, homeschooling and body image

    S20, Ep2 JOE WICKS on addiction, homeschooling and body image

    TW: addiction



    The popularity of Joe Wicks’s online workouts and meal plans as ‘The Body Coach’ catapulted him into fame during lockdown. He’s a source of endless positive energy for the rest of us, but he had a challenging childhood. Growing up on a council estate, his father had a debilitating heroin addiction and his mother lived with severe OCD. His escape was physical exercise.    

    Joe’s  failures include learning to become more compassionate with his father’s addiction, being more patient with his kids and learning to stay focused and be consistent in life. He was so emotional, honest and self-aware in this interview and  I just adored talking to him - thank you, Joe.

    But it’s not just about us!  I’d LOVE to hear about your failures, no matter how profound, minor or funny they might be. Every week, my fantastic guest and I will 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 Engineer: Matias Torres Sole

    Mix Engineer: John Scott

    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

    • 54 min
    Joe Wicks: Failing With Friends

    Joe Wicks: Failing With Friends

    Welcome to our first ever super special episode just for subscribers. This is the inner circle, where it’s not about me, and it’s not even about Joe - it’s about YOU!
    You’ve been sharing your failures, big and small (thank you!) and now it’s time to get them out in the open and release you from their shackles.
    In this brand new episode of Failing with Friends, Joe and I discuss everything from forming the right habits and taking a leap of faith with your career, to failing to poach an egg and failing to enjoy winter sports. All of life is there (well, almost all).

    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 Engineer: Matias Torres Sole
    Mix Engineer: John Scott
    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

    S20, Ep3 SATHNAM SANGHERA on why books can save us and how to understand Empire

    S20, Ep3 SATHNAM SANGHERA on why books can save us and how to understand Empire

    Full disclosure - Sathnam is a dear friend of mine. He was a guest on the first ever season of How To Fail and there’s a very good reason why I’m chatting to him again.

    A lot has shifted in both our lives. Since he was last on here, Sathnam has written Empireland and more recently Empireworld, two bestselling books which have garnered him critical acclaim, a Channel 4 documentary and which - even more crucially - have changed the national discourse around our colonial past. Without necessarily meaning to, Sathnam has become a historian. But his success has not been uncomplicated: he’s suffered horrendous racist abuse which has changed the way he goes out into the world (sometimes).

    We talk about why Sathnam avoids joining in, the importance of saying thank you and why the best teachers can make a lifelong impact. Plus: why nuance in discussion is often ignored but absolutely vital. 



    Talking of nuance…I’d LOVE to hear about your failures, no matter how profound, minor or funny they might be. Every week, my fantastic 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, laughter 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



    Post Production & Production Manager: Lily Hambly 

    Studio Engineer: Gulliver Tickell

    Mix Engineer: Gulliver Tickell

    Senior Producer: Selina Ream

    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

    • 50 min
    Sathnam Sanghera: Failing With Friends

    Sathnam Sanghera: Failing With Friends

    Welcome back to Failing With Friends! And we have a truly excellent episode in store just for our subscribers. These episodes are for the How to Fail glitterati (the failerati?). Failing With Friends is not about me or my guest, Sathnam - the spotlight is on you, the precious listener.
    You’ve been sending in your failures: tiny and funny or big and life-changing. Now it’s time to put them on the stage and let them shine.
    In this brand new episode of Failing With Friends, Sathnam and I answer your questions on career failure, the wisdom (or otherwise) of reconnecting with long-forgotten friends and I even give my fool-proof dinner party recipe. I mean, we are nothing if not varied. Thank you for joining us!

    To find out more about this episode’s sponsor - Monzo Business click here

    Post Production & Production Manager: Lily Hambly
    Studio Engineer: Gulliver Tickell
    Mix Engineer: Gulliver Tickell
    Senior Producer: Selina Ream
    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

    S20, Ep4 PALOMA FAITH… ‘I overshare by whose standards? Not mine.’

    S20, Ep4 PALOMA FAITH… ‘I overshare by whose standards? Not mine.’

    TW: miscarriage

    Paloma Faith’s teachers used to ask her why she ‘acted stupid’, which is ironic given that she’s now one of the smartest, sharpest guests I’ve ever had on this podcast. A global singing sensation, as well as an acclaimed actor, she’s got a totally unique perspective on the world - and a refreshingly frank way of expressing it.

    Her failures included being thrown out of ballet school aged 10(!) for being ‘too curvy’, her self-perceived failure to conceive her daughters naturally and inability to have a healthy work-life balance.

    We dive deep into Paloma’s world, and I hope you get as much out of our conversation as I did.



    As always, I’d LOVE to hear about your failures, no matter how profound, minor or funny they might be. Every week, my guest and I will 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 Engineer: Matias Torres Sole

    Mix Engineer: John Scott

    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

    • 55 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
8.5K Ratings

8.5K Ratings

gimzthreadz ,

JON RONSON!!!

This is definitely my favourite episode. Such a great conversation - jokey but also really stimulating discussion, and I think it was a very different side to Jon Ronson that we haven’t seen before. Great ep. ❤️👌

KarenM😊 ,

Mel B

Just so good. Open, honest and courageous ❤️

Lucyflowers88 ,

Soul reaching medicine

I love listening to Elizabeth, she’s both beautifully articulate and sweary in all the right places as well as truly feeling with upmost compassion her interviewee’s pain. This podcast has become one of my all time favourites and I cherish every minute.

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