Fearne Cotton blazed the trail for podcasts like mine. When she launched Happy Place in March 2018, it went straight to the top of the iTunes chart and has seemingly stayed there ever since. It has done so much to bring discussions about mental health into the mainstream, partly because Fearne has also been honest about her own experiences with panic attacks and anxiety.
So when I started How To Fail in July 2018, I always knew Fearne would be top of my list of dream guests. A few months later, we ended up sitting next to each other at the British Podcast Awards (spoiler alert: neither of us won but embarrassingly, we both presented awards to other winners) and having a good old natter, and then I was sent to interview her for a magazine and we got on so well that we hatched the idea of doing each other's podcasts now HERE WE ARE.
What makes Fearne so special is not just her impressive broadcasting career as a TV and radio presenter, or her bestselling books or the fact that she turned Happy Place into a full-blown festival, complete with yoga workshops and inspiring talks. No, it's that she is unafraid to be honest. She believes, as I do, that true strength comes from true vulnerability, and it's these qualities that make her a phenomenal guest.
Fearne joins me to talk about failing most of her GCSEs, a failed engagement and, in one of the most powerful passages of any interview I've ever had the privilege of doing, about her failure to be herself in her 20s and how she lived with an eating disorder for years. This is the first time she has ever spoken about it, and I am so truly grateful that Fearne felt this was a safe enough space to bare her beautiful soul.
Thank you, Fearne. Your words and your courage will help a great many people.
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The How To Fail Live tour is almost over. SNIFF! There are limited tickets left for Belfast with Sinead Burke (14th November) and Gateshead with Jess Phillips MP (8th December). Dublin with Amy Huberman (15th November) has SOLD OUT! Thank you! These events are not recorded as podcasts so the only way to be there is to book tickets via www.faneproductions.com/howtofail
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The Sunday Times Top 5 bestselling book of the podcast, How To Fail: Everything I've Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong by Elizabeth Day, is out now and is available here.
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You can listen to Fearne Cotton's Happy Place here
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This season of How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is hosted by Elizabeth Day, produced by Naomi Mantin and Chris Sharp and sponsored by Sweaty Betty. Sweaty Betty are offering listeners 20% off full-price items with the code HOWTOFAIL
To contact us, email howtofailpod@gmail.com
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Social Media:
Elizabeth Day @elizabday
Fearne Cotton @fearnecotton
Sweaty Betty @sweatybetty
SPECIAL EPISODE! How to Fail: Mo Gawdat on how to cope with anxiety in a time of Coronavirus
S7, BONUS EPISODE! How to Fail: Deliciously Ella
S7, Ep8 How to Fail: Frankie Bridge
S7, Ep7 How to Fail: Adam Pearson
S7, Ep6 How to Fail: Marian Keyes
S7, Ep5 How to Fail: Eniola Aluko
S7, Ep4 How to Fail: Tom Kerridge
S7, Ep3 How to Fail: Mabel
S7, Ep2 How to Fail: Malcolm Gladwell
S7, Ep1 How to Fail: Andrew Scott
S6, Ep 8 How to Fail: Jane Garvey
S6, BONUS EPISODE! How to Fail: Lemn Sissay
S6, Ep6 How to Fail: George Alagiah
S6, Ep5 How to Fail: Shirlie Kemp
S6, Ep4 How to Fail: Lisa Taddeo
S6, Ep3 How to Fail: Cush Jumbo
S6, Ep2 How to Fail: Alain De Botton
S6, Ep1 How to Fail: Camilla Thurlow
S5 BONUS EPISODE! How to Fail: Philippa Perry and Sadie Jones
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