Points of Failure

Steve Cauthren
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement

Points of Failure is a podcast about what actually goes wrong, and the part people don't want to look at. Most conversations about failure happen after it's been cleaned up, framed, and turned into a lesson. This one starts at the breakdown and works backward. Through guest interviews and solo episodes, we examine the patterns behind failure in work, relationships, identity, and decision-making, with a bias toward what people are avoiding rather than what they're processing. If you're noticing a pattern you can't explain away anymore, you're probably in the right place. Questions, topic ideas, or guest suggestions: failurepointspod@gmail.com

  1. S4E30 - Why Do We Fail?

    1d ago

    S4E30 - Why Do We Fail?

    Tell us what you think Tyler Kreiling had me on his show to talk all things failure.  Tyler writes for his publication, Wealthnwisdom, on Substack:  https://substack.com/@wealthnwisdom Support the show You can support the show by going to:  https://pointsoffailure.buzzsprout.com

    56 min
  2. S4E29 - Carli Rosencranz

    Apr 20

    S4E29 - Carli Rosencranz

    Tell us what you think On this episode, we talk to Carli Rosencranz. Carli has a 25-year corporate career in CPG and retail. She is the Co-founder of 10X Impact Ventures.  She is married with two teenagers, and is a "back of the pack" endurance athlete, competing in triathlons. Now, she’s working to find balance as a consultant while building a startup.  Carli and I discuss banana fibers, life as an adventure hike, and learning to rest. We hope you enjoy this episode. Support the show You can support the show by going to:  https://pointsoffailure.buzzsprout.com

    1h 17m
  3. S4E28 - Circling

    Apr 13

    S4E28 - Circling

    Tell us what you think On this episode, I explore the cost of not choosing. Not as a character flaw, but as something that happens when we keep revisiting the same decision without ever making it. I talk about how avoiding commitment keeps us stuck in potential, why the language we use around indecision is often just a cover for staying comfortable, and how the slow drift of not choosing eventually becomes a direction of its own. If you've ever found yourself circling the same decision, telling yourself you're still figuring it out, or wondering why nothing seems to move, this episode is for you. We hope you enjoy this one. Support the show You can support the show by going to:  https://pointsoffailure.buzzsprout.com

    11 min
  4. S4E27 - Social Atrophy

    Mar 18

    S4E27 - Social Atrophy

    Tell us what you think On this episode, I explore the idea of social atrophy. Not as a flaw in who we are, but as something that develops when we spend less and less time engaging with the people around us. I talk about how modern life makes it easy to withdraw, why awkwardness and uncertainty are normal parts of interaction, and how avoiding those moments can slowly make connection feel harder than it actually is. If you’ve ever felt out of practice socially, noticed yourself pulling back from people, or wondered why connection sometimes feels more difficult than it used to, this episode is for you. We hope you enjoy this one. Support the show You can support the show by going to:  https://pointsoffailure.buzzsprout.com

    11 min
  5. S4E26 - Becoming the Partner You're Looking For

    Mar 9

    S4E26 - Becoming the Partner You're Looking For

    Tell us what you think On this episode, I explore the idea of becoming the partner we want to find instead of focusing only on finding the right person. I talk about what it means to meet ourselves first, how relationships tend to expose the parts of us we haven’t faced, and how alignment with our values changes how we approach connection. If you’ve ever spent time wondering why relationships keep repeating the same patterns, or questioning whether you’re looking for a partner or looking for stability, this episode is for you. We hope you enjoy this one. Support the show You can support the show by going to:  https://pointsoffailure.buzzsprout.com

    17 min
  6. S4E25 - Transactional Relationships: A Follow-up

    Mar 1

    S4E25 - Transactional Relationships: A Follow-up

    Tell us what you think On this episode, I follow up on my conversation with Dustin about whether healthy relationships are transactional. I unpack why that word made me bristle, the difference between giving to get and giving freely while expecting reciprocity, and how unclear expectations can quietly turn compromise into sacrifice. If you’ve ever struggled to know when you’re flexing in a healthy way and when you’re slowly absorbing more than your share, this episode is for you. We hope you enjoy this one.  Support the show You can support the show by going to:  https://pointsoffailure.buzzsprout.com

    13 min
  7. S4E24 - John Hewitt

    Feb 23

    S4E24 - John Hewitt

    Tell us what you think On this episode, we talk to John Hewitt.  John co-founded the Jackson Hewitt tax company, Liberty Tax in Canada, and his current company, Loyalty Brands. John’s career spans 54 years.  We discuss competing against yourself, fear of the unknown, and quitting before you win.  We hope you enjoy this episode.  Support the show You can support the show by going to:  https://pointsoffailure.buzzsprout.com

    46 min
  8. S4E23 - Are Healthy Relationships Transactional?

    Feb 16

    S4E23 - Are Healthy Relationships Transactional?

    Tell us what you think On this episode, guest co-host Dustin Solomon joins me to explore the difference between compromise and sacrifice.  We talk about knowing your values and prioritizing what matters most, so it becomes clearer where compromise makes sense and where it starts to cost too much. We examine how compromise is necessary in healthy relationships, but how it can drift into sacrifice when the weight is no longer shared.  We also discuss analysis paralysis, fear of missing out, and how avoiding decisions in the name of keeping options open can quietly create imbalance.  If you’ve ever struggled to know when to flex and when to hold your ground, this conversation will give you language for that tension.  We hope you enjoy this one.  Support the show You can support the show by going to:  https://pointsoffailure.buzzsprout.com

    42 min
See All (31)

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Points of Failure is a podcast about what actually goes wrong, and the part people don't want to look at. Most conversations about failure happen after it's been cleaned up, framed, and turned into a lesson. This one starts at the breakdown and works backward. Through guest interviews and solo episodes, we examine the patterns behind failure in work, relationships, identity, and decision-making, with a bias toward what people are avoiding rather than what they're processing. If you're noticing a pattern you can't explain away anymore, you're probably in the right place. Questions, topic ideas, or guest suggestions: failurepointspod@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Cauthren
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Points of Failure
  • Show Website
    Points of Failure