Podcast Episodes

Failure Throwback: Glennon Doyle

Season 20 Episode 94

Author of Untamed and fierce truth-teller Glennon Doyle joins me for a raw and revelatory episode, first recorded in July 2020. We dive into:

Why we chase approval instead of trusting our inner voice…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Failure Throwback: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Season 20 Episode 93

This week we revisit one of my all-time favourite guests: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, recorded in July 2021. Best known for Americanah and her globally resonant TED Talks, Chimamanda opens up about the…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Sir Tony Robinson - ‘I learned comedy as a defence mechanism’

Season 20 Episode 92

Recorded with a live audience in Cambridge, this captivating conversation delves deep into the life and career of a cultural force of the last half-century. Known of course for his iconic role as Bal…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Fern Brady - ‘I make more money in comedy than I ever did from stripping‘

Season 20 Episode 91

In this searingly funny and deeply affecting live conversation, Elizabeth speaks to stand-up comedian, author and Taskmaster favourite Fern Brady about her autism diagnosis, her working-class roots, …

Published on 2 months ago

Dorinda Medley on Grief, Identity and The Real Housewives: ‘I was angry. I was lost. I felt like I got cheated.’

Season 20 Episode 90

What happens when the life you thought you’d built - the one with love, money, recognition - seems to slip away? This week, Elizabeth speaks to Dorinda Medley, author, TV personality and iconic forme…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

Vanessa Williams - ‘It would be hard to be married to me!’

Season 20 Episode 89

As a recording artist, Vanessa Williams has earned 13 Grammy nominations and racked up over 212 million digital streams over the course of her eight albums. Her most popular hit, Save The Best For La…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Suzi Ruffell - ‘I didn’t know I was gay until I saw Titanic’

Season 20 Episode 88

In this special live edition of How to Fail, Elizabeth is joined by comedian Suzi Ruffell. Suzi has performed five sellout runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as appearing on live at the Apollo and…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Pamela Anderson - ‘It wasn’t about being pretty, it was about being brave’

Season 20 Episode 87

I can’t believe I get to say this but…PAMELA ANDERSON! ON HOW TO FAIL! The one and only! 

A woman I grew up watching on TV, Pamela was an icon of a generation…But the second act of her career has be…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Melinda French Gates - ‘Just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you’re wise’

Season 20 Episode 86

Melinda French Gates studied computer science and economics and completed an MBA before joining a tech start-up called Microsoft, in 1987. She rose through the ranks to become Manager of Information …

Published on 2 months, 4 weeks ago

Monica Lewinsky - ‘I would have liked a more normal life’

Season 20 Episode 85

Monica Lewinsky is an activist, podcaster and producer.  At the age of 24, Lewinsky, a White House intern, found herself in the eye of a global scandal. She was subjected to a mass public shaming -  …

Published on 3 months ago