FailCraft

Ezekiel Iferia
  • 0.0 (0)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED DAILY

FailCraft is a podcast about the messy, real side of success. Host Ezekiel Iferia dives into the stories of creators, founders, and everyday people who turned setbacks into stepping stones. From failed ideas to reborn dreams, each episode uncovers how failure shapes mastery — and why learning to fall is part of learning to fly.

  1. 11 HR AGO

    Piercing the Design Fog: How to Lead Effective Product Development Meetings - Dianna Deeney | Ep 150

    Dianna Deeney is a product development expert with over 25 years of experience spanning the manufacturing floor to leading design teams. She specializes in the "fuzzy front end" of creation, helping engineering teams transform early-stage ideas into clear, user-focused designs. Dianna is the founder of Quality During Design, the author of "Pierce the Design Fog," and the creator of the ADEPT Team Framework, a practical system designed to cut through the confusion of concept development. In this episode, Dianna breaks down why traditional product development meetings are often broken, leading to expensive rework and siloed departments. She introduces the "Design Fog" and explains how the Adept Team Framework (Align, Discover, Examine, Prioritize, Teamwork) provides the structure needed to transform chaotic brainstorming into productive, aligned collaboration. Dianna shares powerful statistics that show why investing in the early conceptual phase leads to significantly more successful products. We also discuss redefining "quality" from a final checkpoint to a day-one creative tool, how solo developers can use AI as a cross-functional partner, and the surprising connection between innovation, potato chips, and violins. In this episode, you’ll discover: · Why engineers should resist jumping to solutions and get comfortable staying in the "Design Fog." · The ADEPT Team Framework: A practical step-by-step for productive co-working meetings. · Cooper's statistics on why investing early in fact-based seeking teamwork leads to 3.5x more success. · How to redefine "quality" as an integral part of the creative process from day one. · Common "failure points" in the concept phase, including a case study on brand recognition vs. usability. · How solo developers can use AI agents to mimic cross-functional team roles. · The surprising relationship between sound frequencies and potato chip manufacturing. · Why Dianna's advice to her younger self is to honor that design is a team activity. Connect With Dianna Deeney: · Book Website: https://piercethedesignfog.com/ · Substack: Quality During Design · Substack: Ask Me Anything (Interact with Dianna) Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Dianna Deeney: Product Development & Design Expert 01:13 The Pivotal Moment: Realizing Product Development Meetings were Broken 04:17 Demystifying the "Design Fog": The Engineers' urge to solve the problem 06:43 Introducing the Adept Team Framework (Align, Discover, Examine, Prioritize, Teamwork) 12:36 One Simple Change to Immediately Reduce Misalignment in Concept Meetings 14:55 Quality During Design: Redefining Quality as a Day-One Creative Tool 16:43 Common Failure Points and the Risk of Missing Business Requirements 19:39 Applying ADEPT for Solo Developers and Small Startups (Using AI Agents) 21:02 The Future: AI Opportunities in Data Insights & Idea Generation 23:07 Advice to My Younger Self: Maintain Curiosity and Design is a Team Activity 24:24 Innovation Defined: Sound Frequencies and Potato Chips 26:01 Connect with Dianna Deeney and Get Her Book

    27 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Death to Algorithms: How Big Tech is Hijacking Your Mind - Tobias Mark Jensen

    Do you feel like you are stuck in an endless scroll, mindlessly consuming content, or burning out on dating apps that never lead to real connection? Tobias Mark Jensen, a legal technology expert and author of Death to Algorithms, joins the show to expose the invisible forces shaping our daily lives. He breaks down how the algorithms we trust for entertainment, romance, and information are fundamentally failing us by prioritizing corporate profit over human well-being. This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of examining the broken systems in our culture. Tobias explains why so many modern Netflix movies feel like they were written by ChatGPT, the exhausting reality of trying to be an indie author in an algorithmic world, and why reclaiming your agency starts with leaving your phone at home. In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover: * The Attention Economy: Why algorithms are designed to hijack your mental health for profit. * The Netflix Problem: How data-driven content is creating hollow, uninteresting art. * The struggle of self-publishing and why Tobias refuses to "sell out" to social media marketing. * Reclaiming Your Agency: Practical steps for a digital detox and escaping the dating app loop. * The "Danish Dream": How Denmark's definition of success differs from the American hustle. * Tobias's definition of true success: Challenging the common narrative and making a real impact. This episode is for anyone feeling exhausted by social media, struggling with screen addiction, or looking to reclaim their time and humanity from Big Tech. Connect With Tobias Mark Jensen: * Book: Death to Algorithms (Available at death2algorithms.com and Amazon) * Substack/Newsletter: https://www.futuristiclawyer.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Hook: The Problem with the Attention Economy 00:56 Introduction: Tobias Mark Jensen & *Death to Algorithms* 01:31 The Realization: How Tech is Failing Our Culture 05:17 Why Algorithms Streamline and Ruin Art (The Netflix Problem) 08:45 The Indie Writer's Struggle Against Social Media Algorithms 12:56 How to Reclaim Your Agency: Digital Detoxing & Going Outside 15:28 The "Danish Dream" vs. True Success 18:45 How to Connect and Get the Book

    19 min

  3. 3 DAYS AGO

    Divorced at 42: How I Reinvented My Life One Quilt at a Time - Lorie Kleiner Eckert

    What do you do when the only life plan you ever had—being a stay-at-home mom—suddenly ends in divorce after 21 years? Lorie Kleiner Eckert found herself facing this exact crisis at age 42. Instead of freezing, she decided to turn her hobby of quilting into a professional speaking career—inventing a "quilt lecture circuit" that didn't even exist! Fast forward 30 years, and Lorie is now a motivational speaker, artist, and the author of five books, including her latest, *Chai on Life*. This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of embracing the messy, imperfect middle of reinvention. Lorie explains why she proudly calls herself "Flawsome" (flawed but awesome), the hilarious reason a complicated chicken soup recipe cured her perfectionism forever, and why everyone should consider hiring a therapist as a "paid professional friend." In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover: * The Forced Reinvention: Starting a career from scratch after a 21-year marriage ends. * The power of trusting your inner voice when you don't have a roadmap. * The Chicken Soup Epiphany: Why rejecting perfectionism and accepting "good enough" will change your life. * Why Lorie treats her therapist as a "paid professional friend" (and why you should too). * Being "Flawsome": How to accept your weirdness and still think you are awesome. * Why Richard Bach was right: "We teach best that which we most need to learn". * Lorie's definition of true success: Being a good "Marmal" (Grandma) above all else. This episode is for anyone facing a major life transition, recovering perfectionists who need permission to simplify their lives, or listeners looking for a warm, witty conversation about aging with joy. Connect With Lorie Kleiner Eckert: * Website & Blog: https://www.loriekleinereckert.com/ * Book: Chai on Life (Available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble) * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loriekleinereckert/ Chapters: 00:00 Hook: Creating a Career Out of Thin Air 01:10 Introduction: Lorie Kleiner Eckert & *Chai on Life* 02:01 Divorced at 42: The Forced Reinvention 05:28 The Power of Trusting Yourself & Setting Micro-Goals 08:42 The Chicken Soup Epiphany: Rejecting Perfectionism 11:14 Why You Need a "Paid Professional Friend" (Therapy) 15:21 Embracing Your "Flawsome" Identity 17:24 Lorie's Definition of True Success 19:15 How to Connect & Get the Book

    21 min

  4. 6 DAYS AGO

    Personally Liable for $5 Million: How I Survived Ultimate Financial Collapse - Roy Coughlan

    How do you keep living when the banks take your properties, your personal belongings, and lock you out of your own home while slapping you with a $5,000,000 debt? Roy Coughlan, a serial entrepreneur who has founded over 20 companies across 5 countries, shares the harrowing reality of losing everything during the 2008 financial crash. He opens up about the devastating emotional toll of watching his father cry over his repossessed house, facing over 100 corrupt court cases, and dealing with abusive collection agencies. This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of rebuilding your mindset from absolute zero. Roy reveals how he used the "Six Phase Meditation" to radically forgive the people who destroyed him, why he forced himself into stand-up comedy and Toastmasters to cure his extreme shyness, and how understanding personal "sovereignty" can free you from the corporate systems trying to control you. In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover: * The $5 Million Collapse: How a massive Polish real estate portfolio crumbled overnight. * The Emotional Rock Bottom: The hardest part of losing it all wasn't the money, it was the family impact. * The Forgiveness Hack: How to release burning hatred for people who have wronged you. * Curing Extreme Shyness: Why Roy went from being afraid to order a drink at a bar, to a public speaking champion. * The danger of "protecting" your children from speaking up for themselves in public. * Sovereignty: Why you need to separate your living self from your "corporate entity" name. * Roy's definition of true success: Finding joy in a bee landing on a flower. This episode is for entrepreneurs facing massive debt, anyone struggling with crippling shyness, or listeners who need to learn how to forgive the unforgivable and start over. Connect With Roy Coughlan: * Website: https://roycoughlan.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Hook: Personally Liable for $5 Million 01:07 Introduction: Roy Coughlan's Journey 01:40 The 2008 Crash: Losing Everything & Facing $5M in Debt 03:43 The Emotional Toll & Dealing with Abusive Debt Collectors 05:00 The 6-Phase Meditation & The Act of Radical Forgiveness 07:16 Exposing Corruption & Overcoming Extreme Shyness 09:20 Why You Must Stop Speaking for Your Children 11:40 How to Read 100 Books a Year 14:13 Advice for Entrepreneurs Drowning in Debt 15:55 Understanding Sovereignty vs. The Corporate Entity 16:59 Roy's Definition of True Success 18:27 How to Connect with Roy

    19 min

  5. 12 MAR

    The Neuroscience of Bad Leadership: Why Your Brain Sabotages Feedback - Yosi Kossowsky

    Why do smart leaders make terrible decisions under pressure? And why does giving feedback often backfire and ruin team morale? Yosi Kossowsky, an executive coach and former Chief Technology Officer, joins the show to explain the fascinating neuroscience behind leadership failures. He breaks down how our brains literally shut off access to our executive thinking function (the prefrontal cortex) when we are stressed, leading to poor choices, angry emails, and damaged relationships. This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of moving from reactive patterns to conscious choices. Yosi explains the trap of "Confirmation Bias" in the workplace, why you can't actually read your employees' minds, and the 4-step framework for "Observation-Based Feedback" that completely removes blame from the equation. In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover: * The Mindset Shift: How two people can experience the exact same event (like a layoff) completely differently. * The Brain Under Stress: Why blood flow leaves your prefrontal cortex when you are angry. * The Danger of Confirmation Bias: Why your brain deletes information that doesn't fit your narrative. * Why telling an employee "you did that wrong" is biologically ineffective. * The 4 Steps of Observation-Based Feedback (and how to use it tomorrow). * Emergency Regulation: The first step to take *before* trying to repair a damaged work relationship. * Yosi's definition of true success: Helping people realize they always have a choice. This episode is for managers struggling with team conflict, anyone who wants to improve their communication skills, or listeners fascinated by the intersection of neuroscience and human behavior. Connect With Yosi Kossowsky: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykossowsky/ Chapters: 00:00 Hook: The "Objective Event" Illusion 01:18 Introduction: Yosi Kossowsky's Leadership Journey 01:58 The Impossible Choice: Employees vs. Company Priorities 03:46 Mindset Shifts & Unlocking "Decision Trees" 07:15 The Neuroscience of Conflict: Why You Can't Think Clearly 08:33 The Trap of Confirmation Bias 11:15 Fight or Flight: What Happens to the Prefrontal Cortex? 13:57 You Can't Read Minds: The Problem with Traditional Feedback 15:26 The 4 Steps of Observation-Based Feedback 17:08 How to Regulate Your Brain After "Losing It" in a Meeting 20:44 Yosi's Definition of True Success 22:28 How to Connect with Yosi

    24 min

  6. 11 MAR

    Laid Off at 60: Walking Away from a 6-Figure IT Career to Start Over - Jim Hauck

    What do you do when you've dedicated nearly 30 years to the corporate IT world, only to have your position eliminated right before your 60th birthday? Jim Hauck, founder of JP Hauck Adventures and co-host of the *Life in the Baggage Claim* podcast, shares the reality of facing a forced career pivot later in life. Instead of desperately searching for another corporate job, Jim decided to walk away from his six-figure salary to build a travel business from scratch. This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of reinventing yourself when the safe path disappears. Jim opens up about silencing the inner "saboteur" that tells you you aren't worthy, the heartbreaking lessons he learned about living without regrets during his father's final days, and why he believes solo travel is the ultimate test of character. In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover: * The Forced Pivot: Getting laid off at 60 and choosing entrepreneurship over corporate safety. * The Cost of Regret: Why playing it safe and fearing consequences is a trap. * The Inner Saboteur: How to shut down the voice telling you that you lack the skills to try something new. * Why Jim transitioned from building IT systems to launching a travel podcast. * The profound healing and mindset shifts that happen when you travel outside the "resort bubble". * The Ultimate Challenge: Why everyone should travel solo to a country older than their own. * Jim's definition of true success: Leaving the world better than you found it. This episode is for anyone facing a sudden career transition, professionals feeling aged out of the corporate world, or listeners who want the courage to finally chase their real passions. Connect With Jim Hauck: * Travel Business: [https://www.jphauckadventures.com/](https://www.jphauckadventures.com/) * Podcast: Life in the Baggage Claim ([https://lifeinthebaggageclaim.com/](https://lifeinthebaggageclaim.com/)) Chapters: 00:00 Hook: "I Was Eliminated at Almost 60" 00:56 Introduction: Jim Hauck's Corporate Exit 01:26 The "Now What?" Moment After a 30-Year Career 03:09 Dealing with the Fear of Failure in a New Industry 04:34 Leaving a 6-Figure Salary & Lessons from His Father 06:00 Creating the "Life in the Baggage Claim" Podcast 08:46 How to Silence Your Inner Saboteur 10:13 Using Travel to Break Bubbles and Build Connections 12:28 The Solo Travel Challenge 14:00 Jim's Definition of True Success 15:14 How to Connect with Jim

    17 min

  7. 10 MAR

    I Went to Sleep a Millionaire & Woke Up Broke: The Gift of Failure - Ari Rastegar

    How do you go from flipping burgers as an immigrant kid in Dallas to being named the "Oracle of Austin" by Forbes and managing a multi-billion-dollar real estate empire? You fail. A lot. Ari Rastegar, Private Equity CEO and author of the *New York Times* bestseller *The Gift of Failure*, sits down to share the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to scale to the top. He opens up about the devastating Super Bowl party investment that wiped out his net worth overnight, and why the most valuable asset class in his entire portfolio is his own mistakes. This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of turning temporary defeats into permanent leverage. Ari breaks down why he tells ambitious entrepreneurs "I hope you fail," the danger of arrogance when starting out, and why he treats his physical health and biohacking as the ultimate business hedge. In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover: * The Super Bowl Disaster: How an unprecedented ice storm made Ari lose millions overnight. * The Johnny Rockets Origin: The power of reading *Think and Grow Rich* while flipping burgers for wealthy customers. * Why failure is a feedback mechanism, not a permanent destination. * The $3,500 Law School Loan: Why starting with "nothing to lose" makes you dangerously reckless. * The Biohacking Edge: Why unhealthy leaders shouldn't run billion-dollar enterprises. * The Benjamin Franklin Method: Exactly what to do when you get kicked in the teeth by life. * The critical difference between Success and Fulfillment. This episode is for investors looking to scale, entrepreneurs dealing with crushing setbacks, or anyone who needs to learn how to fall, roll, and get back up. Connect With Ari Rastegar: * Website: https://rastegarcapital.com/ * Book: The Gift of Failure (Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify) * Instagram/LinkedIn: @AriRastegar Chapters: 00:00 Hook: Waking Up Broke 01:18 Introduction: Ari Rastegar, The Oracle of Austin 01:35 Why Failure is the Most Valuable Asset Class 04:43 The Johnny Rockets Story: Flipping Burgers & Dreaming Big 09:41 The Super Bowl Disaster: Losing Millions to an Ice Storm 12:34 Why Pain and Problems Are Actual "Gifts" 15:24 The $3,500 Law School Loan & The Danger of Arrogance 18:17 Biohacking: Why Health is the Ultimate Business Hedge 20:28 What to Do Immediately After You Fail 22:51 The Difference Between Success and Fulfillment 24:55 How to Connect with Ari

    26 min

  8. 9 MAR

    Why This Lawyer Left the Courtroom to Fight the System - Andrea LeDew

    Andrea LeDew was trained as a lawyer to fight with briefs and contracts, but when the systems around her began to fail, she found a different weapon: creative writing and poetry. In this episode, Andrea shares her journey of stepping away from a legal career to raise a child with autism and intellectual disabilities. She opens up about the heartbreaking moment her son internalized the cruelty of standardized testing, which ultimately pushed her to homeschool him and redefine what a "full school experience" means. This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of challenging broken systems and turning frustration into creative action. Andrea discusses her book *Polemics: Political Poems & Prose*, why she believes legal arguments are too dry to move people's hearts, and how to practice "clear-eyed patriotism" without lying about America's history of racism and slavery. In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover: * The Education System Failure: Why Andrea pulled her special-needs son out of public school. * Law vs. Poetry: Why Andrea traded legal jargon for rhyme and metaphor. * Clear-Eyed Patriotism: How to love your country while acknowledging its darkest historical failures. * The inspiration behind her book Polemics and chronicling a decade of US political trauma. * How the government suddenly cutting off her disabled son's Social Security fueled her advocacy. * Overcoming Political Burnout: Why meeting people in real life is the antidote to feeling helpless. * Andrea's definition of true success: Securing a good future for her son and protecting the defenseless. This episode is for parents navigating the special needs education system, listeners feeling burnt out by the current political climate, or anyone looking for creative ways to channel their frustration into purpose. Connect With Andrea LeDew: * Website: https://frlcnews.com/ (For Random Learning Comes) * Book: Polemics: Political Poems & Prose (Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books2Read) Chapters: 00:00 Hook: "Mommy, what if I fail again?" 01:17 Introduction: Andrea LeDew 01:48 Fighting the System for a Special Needs Child 03:19 The FCAT Standardized Test & Choosing to Homeschool 04:55 Law vs. Poetry: Why Legal Arguments Are "Boring" 07:00 "Clear-Eyed" Patriotism vs. Blind Loyalty 08:28 The Inspiration Behind *Polemics: Political Poems & Prose* 10:03 How to Overcome Political Burnout & Helplessness 12:55 Andrea's Definition of True Success 14:51 How to Connect & Get the Book

    16 min
See All (71)

Trailer

About

FailCraft is a podcast about the messy, real side of success. Host Ezekiel Iferia dives into the stories of creators, founders, and everyday people who turned setbacks into stepping stones. From failed ideas to reborn dreams, each episode uncovers how failure shapes mastery — and why learning to fall is part of learning to fly.

Information

  • Creator
    Ezekiel Iferia
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ezekiel Iferia
  • Show Website
    FailCraft