FailCraft

Ezekiel Iferia

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. 6h ago

    From Terminal Cancer to Painting in Motion: Art as a Lifeline - Brett Ashby

    In this episode of FailCraft,Australian contemporary performance artist and cancer survivor Brett Ashbyjoins Ezekiel to discuss turning creative expression into a tool for physicaland mental survival. With more than two decades of internationalpractice—including painting Barack Obama and staging public installationsacross London, Melbourne, and New York—Brett is best known for his distinctprocess of painting portraits while riding a skateboard.   Brett shares the turning pointof being told he had one week to live due to widespread cancer, and how thatdiagnosis stripped away years of burnout and relentless external hustle. Hediscusses why men need non-traditional outlets to process emotional trauma, hownervous system regulation and breathwork restored his vitality, and why creativeexpression gives pain somewhere to go. He also offers actionable advice formoving through deep life transitions by making simple marks on paper andgrounding yourself in nature.   Key Takeaways:             Connect With Brett Ashby:     Support FailCraft:     Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: Brett Ashby& Art as a Lifeline   02:28 The 1-Week Prognosis:Facing Terminal Cancer & Slowing Down   04:53 Men's Mental Health:Beyond the Gym to Creative Expression   07:55 Reclaiming the Body:Breathwork, Stillness & Dissolving the Ego   11:17 Dealing with Rejection:Energy Exchange in an Unconventional Career   14:19 How to Give PainSomewhere to Go: Making Your First Mark   17:13 Redefining Success:Health & Presence Over Accolades   18:27 Connect with Brett atBrettAshby.com

  2. 6h ago

    From Corporate Burnout to Real Purpose: Stop Self-Sabotage - Suneet Bhatt

    In this episode of FailCraft,executive coach, EOS implementer, Rutgers instructor, and author Suneet Bhattjoins Ezekiel to break down why high achievers repeatedly self-sabotage and howto stop chasing purpose backward. Despite spending two decades guidingorganizations through high-stakes acquisitions, spinoffs, and turnarounds,Suneet found himself trapped in a predictable cycle: succeeding on paper,becoming bored within 18 to 24 months, and walking away in frustration.   Suneet reveals the turningpoint that forced him to stop blaming individual job titles and examine theunderlying work itself. He explains why chasing external purpose whileemotionally depleted resembles grocery shopping while starving, reimaginesMaslow's hierarchy of needs as a dynamic sailboat rather than a rigid pyramid(referencing Scott Barry Kaufman's framework), and shares how a pivotalconfession from a 67-year-old serial entrepreneur catalyzed his Rutgerscurriculum and upcoming book, Making Sense of Purpose. He also detailspractical strategies for overcoming stagnation through micro-yeses, continuousjournaling, and intentional self-forgiveness.   Key Takeaways:                 Connect With Suneet Bhatt:         Support FailCraft:     Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: SuneetBhatt & Making Sense of Purpose   02:26 The Quitting Loop: Facing20 Years of Corporate Self-Sabotage   05:17 Chasing Purpose Backward:The Grocery Shopping Analogy   07:29 Maslow Was Wrong: WhyLife Is a Sailboat, Not a Pyramid   11:55 The 67-Year-OldEntrepreneur: "Why Am I Here?"   14:23 Optimizing for theStarting Line: Micro-Yeses over Hustle Culture   16:41 The Smallest Move to GetUnstuck: 20 Minutes of Free Writing   17:52 The Mechanics ofSelf-Forgiveness: Lowering the Mental Bar   20:08 Redefining Success:Grounding Progress Without Shifting Goalposts   22:15 Resources, Book Details& Connect at MakingSenseOfPurpose.com

  3. 6h ago

    Surviving a Samoan Cyclone to Tech Innovation: Chaos Leadership - Ian Reilly

    In this episode of FailCraft,artist, engineer, founder of Agersens, and author of Encounter, IanReilly, joins Ezekiel to explore how surviving extreme crisis reshapesleadership and strips away the illusion of control. While volunteering in Samoawith his wife, a devastating Category 4 cyclone battered their home for nearlyfour days, destroying the island's infrastructure and leaving them strandedwithout clean water, electricity, or food.   Ian explains how weatheringthat storm and adapting to a completely foreign culture directly prepared himto scale an agritech startup from 5 to 65 employees in a single year, navigatecrises like Australian bushfires, and lead cross-cultural teams globally. Hedives into the importance of situational leadership, why young professionalsmust move past preconceived assumptions through real immersion, and howanchoring work to a purpose larger than the product keeps teams resilient wheneverything falls apart.   Key Takeaways:             Connect With Ian Reilly:       Support FailCraft:     Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: Ian Reilly& Surviving Chaos   02:27 Stranded in Samoa: FourDays Inside a Category 4 Cyclone   04:48 Startup Survival: TranslatingNatural Disaster to Business Scale   07:15 Situational Leadership& Navigating Australian Bushfires   11:35 The Reality of CultureShock: Overcoming Preconceptions & Bias   17:49 Writing Encounter:Lessons from the Unknown   22:06 Finding Deep Meaning WhenAll External Control Disappears   25:00 Purpose-DrivenLeadership: Beyond the Product   27:52 Connect with Ian onSubstack & Get Encounter

  4. 7h ago

    From EVP Layoff to Author: Stop Picking a Lane - Jo Madnani (TEDx Speaker)

    In this episode of FailCraft, TEDx Princeton speaker, marketingstrategist, and author Jo Madnani joins Ezekiel to discuss surviving suddenexecutive layoffs, career reinvention, and refusing to fit into a corporatebox. After building a 20-year career across agencies like Ogilvy in India andrising to Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications, anunexpected corporate downsizing knocked the wind out of her and the entire teamshe hand-picked.   Instead of rushinginto fractional roles, Jo chose to sit in the stillness of the"in-between" space. Inspired by Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, her daily morning pages evolved intoa full framework: Embracing Your "And." Joexplains why hyper-specialization and tying your self-worth solely to a titleshrinks your potential, how to transform career setbacks into strategicinformation rather than a permanent verdict, and how to harness yourmultifaceted identity as an undeniable competitive advantage.   Key Takeaways:             Connect With Jo Madnani:         Support FailCraft:     Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: JoMadnani & Embracing Your "And"   02:58 The ExecutiveLayoff: Facing the Sucker Punch   06:13 The MorningPages: Turning Grief into The Immigrant Journey   07:06 Rejecting theLiterary Box: Moving Past Gatekeeper Rejection   10:32 The Cost ofPicking a Lane: Failure as Information, Not a Verdict   13:24 Surviving theIn-Between: Why Rushing Past Grief Fails   15:35 The Two-ColumnIdentity Exercise: Tapping the Non-Busy Self   18:36 Connect with Joat AuthorJo.com & TheIdeaIsIn.com

  5. 7h ago

    From 7 Toxic Marriages to Thriving: Leaving Narcissists - Jo Ann Fawcett

    In this episode of FailCraft,author and survivor Jo Ann Fawcett joins Ezekiel to discuss surviving seventoxic marriages, breaking free from chronic emotional abuse, and findingpersonal sovereignty. After decades of repeatedly feeling "notenough"—enduring relationships marked by abuse, divorce, death, andspending over two decades as a prison wife—Jo Ann reached a profound turningpoint in her sixties during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Facing retirement withoutsavings and realizing her incarcerated husband was a covert narcissist whocould never fulfill his promises, Jo Ann began a difficult three-yearuntangling process. She shares why she walked away from nearly 30 years in theMormon Church, explains how she documented patterns of narcissistic deflectionin writing, details her journey across three memoirs (Midlife Magic, ThePrince Was Wrong, and Wisdom from My Grandmothers), and reveals whyself-forgiveness is the foundational step to breaking generational relationshipcycles.   Key Takeaways:                 Connect With Jo Ann Fawcett:       Support FailCraft:     Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: Jo AnnFawcett & The Path from Toxic to Thriving   02:04 The Breaking Point:Facing Retirement and Husband #7's Narcissism   04:19 Leaving the MormonChurch: Outgrowing Dogma   06:12 Behind the Glass: TheReality of Being a Prison Wife   08:41 The Codependency Trap:Learning to Make Yourself a Priority   10:03 First Steps toUntangling: Therapy and Community Support   11:33 The Books: MidlifeMagic, The Prince Was Wrong, and Ancestral Wisdom   16:42 Reframing Abusive PastMarriages as Life Lessons   18:46 Redefining Success:Self-Love, Independence, and Joy   20:40 Connect with Jo Ann atJoAnnFawcett.com

  6. 12h ago

    From German Stage to American Business: The Invisible Stage - Sabine Kvenberg

    In this episode of FailCraft,former musical theatre actress, director, communication strategist, and authorof Gumption, Sabine Kvenberg, joins Ezekiel to unpack what it takes toreinvent your life from scratch and command any room with authority. Afteryears directing and performing across international musical theatre stages, thesudden loss of her mother served as the catalyst to make a radical leap—leavingHamburg, Germany, for the United States with four suitcases, no businesssavings, and a vision to build a new life in a second language.   Sabine explains the concept ofthe Invisible Stage—the hidden, daily rehearsals in private thatdirectly determine your impact when the spotlight turns on. She breaks down whyrattling off product features causes audiences to tune out while emotionalorigin stories captivate attention, shares how trusting intuition secured anunscripted book deal with a New York publisher, and details her F.E.A.R.Flip Method (Faith, Enthusiasm, Action, Resilience) to help entrepreneursstop shrinking and start owning their message.   Key Takeaways:               Connect With Sabine Kvenberg:       Support FailCraft:     Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: SabineKvenberg & The Art of Reinvention   02:32 Leaving Germany: Grief,Four Suitcases, and Starting Over in the U.S.   07:40 The Invisible Stage: WhyEvery Business Owner Is a Performer   08:47 Why Stories Win:Communicating Value Beyond Features & Benefits   10:58 The Les MisérablesAudition: Unseen Practice Leads to Visible Wins   14:08 The Bold Move: HowIntuition Landed a New York Book Deal   19:20 The F.E.A.R. FlipFramework: Faith, Enthusiasm, Action, Resilience   23:03 Competence BreedsConfidence: Practical Steps to Speak Up   23:39 Connect with Sabine &Access Resources at SabineKvenberg.com

  7. 12h ago

    From Addiction & Homeless Support: Breaking Cycles - Dawn Noftall (Author)

    In this episode of FailCraft,housing access worker, advocate, and author Dawn Noftall joins Ezekiel todiscuss surviving severe childhood abuse, overcoming addiction, and breakinggenerational trauma. After enduring a childhood where extreme pain wasnormalized and later losing custody of her children to substance abuse, Dawnreached a critical turning point. Through dedicated recovery, education, andcommunity support, she reclaimed her life and her family.   Drawing on her lived experienceand frontline work supporting individuals facing homelessness, Dawn dismantlessocietal stigmas surrounding housing instability and addiction. She shares whyletting go of resentment is essential to personal liberation, explains howhealing is a non-linear process requiring sustained support systems, and offerspractical guidance for anyone seeking to break destructive family patterns.   Key Takeaways:                 Connect With Dawn Noftall:       Support FailCraft:     Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: DawnNoftall & Surviving Generational Trauma   02:12 The Breaking Point:Losing Her Children & Fighting for Recovery   03:35 The Truth AboutHomelessness: Systemic Roots vs. Social Stigma   06:02 Developing CopingMechanisms When Pain Is Your Normal   09:28 Letting Go of Resentment:Taking Your Power Back   10:22 The True Story ofSurvival: Stages of Lifelong Healing   14:46 Finding the Light:Choosing Strength at Rock Bottom   16:32 How to Break aGenerational Cycle and Leave Toxic Environments   18:01 Redefining Success:Loving Your Life and Helping Others   19:00 Book Access & Connectwith Dawn at ReadUnbroken.com

  8. 12h ago

    From 35-Yr Drummer to Neuro Specialist: Reversing Decline - Karl Sterling

    In this episode of FailCraft,NASM Master Trainer, neurological wellness specialist, and author of Brain,Body, Bones, Karl Sterling, joins Ezekiel to break down how to stopphysical decline, rebuild strength, and challenge societal assumptions aboutaging. After spending 35 years as a professional drummer, a stark warning fromhis physician regarding obesity and declining health prompted a radicallifestyle shift—shedding 80 pounds and discovering a deeper calling in movementscience and neurological rehabilitation.   Karl details how his work withParkinson's patients through the NeuroMotor Training network revealed theprofound connection between mindset, motor skills, and physicalrecovery—highlighting clients who went from bedridden to running marathons. Hecritiques mainstream healthcare’s passive approach to aging, explains whypreserving muscle mass through resistance training is vital for longevity, andshares fundamental rules for extending your healthspan.   Key Takeaways:             Connect With Karl Sterling:     Support FailCraft:     Chapters:   00:00 Introduction: KarlSterling & The Science of Movement   02:14 Leaving the Drums: The80-Pound Health Transformation   05:54 Parkinson'sRehabilitation: You Are Not Your Diagnosis   09:30 The Power of Belief: FromBedridden to Marathon Runner   14:53 Busting the Aging Myth:Redefining Health at 65+   16:38 Building Muscle &Eating Real Food for Longevity   18:27 The Flaws of ConventionalHealthcare & Aging Mindsets   21:39 Get Brain, Body, Bones& Connect at KarlSterling.com

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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
    825
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ezekiel Iferia
  • Show Website
    FailCraft