logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
32m 7s

The Success Myth Diaries #2: Sian Cliffo...

Emma Gannon
About this episode

To accompany the launch of my new book, I have interviewed some of my favourite thinkers on the topic of success, failure and creativity — and the most common success myths. Today’s guest is British actor Sian Clifford, probably best known for playing Claire in Fleabag (the toilet scene! The hair scene! The “the only person I'd run through an airport for is you” line! *chefs kiss*) I have re-watched both seasons of Fleabag so many times and it is Sian who I am totally mesmerised by the most each time. She is also a treasured friend of mine (we’ve seen each other through a lot) and I was so lucky that she even agreed to read the audiobook for my first novel Olive, in the middle of a lockdown, no less!) I am a fan of her work on screen but it’s her writing that also has me feverishly wanting more. I am loving her creative love affair with her Substack, rebooting her project Still Space (first born back in 2015) where she communicates passionately and poetically about culture, art, books, stillness and creativity. I encourage you to have a read. Here Sian discusses her three success myths: the ‘then and when’ theory, the myth of busyness and the myth of perfectionism. Also, how winning a BAFTA doesn’t actually mean you’re on Cloud 9 forever — life and pressures continue on in other ways — aka the arrival myth, which she generously shares with us.


Order your copy of The Success Myth here: https://linktr.ee/thesuccessmyth


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jun 2023
The Success Myth Diaries: #3 Jeff Hamaoui on Midlife
Welcome back to The Success Myth Diaries! Today’s guest is Jeff Hamaoui, a seasoned teacher, master facilitator and Chief Innovation and Education Officer for Modern Elder Academy. The Modern Elder Academy is a program for people going through midlife transitions - they are on a ... Show More
31m 12s
May 2023
The Success Myth Diaries #1: Chelsea Fagan on Money
Welcome to the Success Myth Diaries! A brand new mini-series to accompany my new book The Success Myth: Letting Go Of Having It All which is out TODAY. My book unpicks the 8 success myths, from happiness to money to productivity to celebrity to the idea of ‘arriving’, looking at ... Show More
33m 38s
May 2023
Lena Dunham (Replay): Dealing With Online Life
Hello and welcome to Ctrl Alt Delete. This is an oldie but a goodie with writer and director, Lena Dunham, recorded in 2017. It was an absolute treat getting to hang out with Lena on an exciting sunny Friday morning in her London hotel room, so I hope you enjoy our conversation.M ... Show More
28m 18s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2020
Ep 224: Confronting the Bookshelf of Shame
Like many readers, today’s guest Lacey Yong is creative. But her writing hobby is beginning to clash with her book selections, so she came to WSIRN with the question “how do I pick books that inspire me to write, without being too influenced by authors who write in my genre?” It’ ... Show More
52m 19s
Jul 2022
Ep 340: The secret life of an audiobook narrator w/ Julia Whelan
In today's episode, Anne is chatting with author, actress, and audiobook narrator Julia Whelan. You may know Julia from her novel My Oxford Year, or her new book releasing August 2nd, Thank You For Listening, and many readers are also familiar with Julia's voice from her many aud ... Show More
51m 57s
Dec 2019
Ep 213: Art, fear, and discovering great books
Anne chats with reader and children’s book writer Kate DiCamillo about the books that inspired her to dream up stories, the hopeful work of writing for children, and what she learns from readers about her own books. She has so much to share about the value of friendship with othe ... Show More
55m 4s
Feb 2018
Interview with Maggie O'Farrell
Autumn and Kendra chat with Maggie O'Farrell about her first work of nonfiction, her memoir I Am, I Am, I Am. O'Farrell talks about why she wanted to write a memoir after seven novels and about her own relationship with mortality, which inspired her to share the stories her seven ... Show More
30m 35s
Jul 2021
#92 - Books We Haven't Read... But Want To!!!
We get a lot of recommendation requests that we can't quite answer because we haven't read those perfect books yet... so today we're making an episode where we only shout out books we haven't read yet but think sound awesome! Buy the mug! Limited time only! https://store.dftba.co ... Show More
44m 36s
Mar 2019
Ep. 61 | Australia and the Surrounding Archipelago
For March, Jaclyn and Kendra, with special guest Winnie Loo, talk about women writers from Australia and the surrounding archipelago! Find a full version of the show for this episode on our website.Use code READINGWOMEN15 to get 15% off your purchase in our Reading Women Store. C ... Show More
42m 24s
Aug 2020
Ep 248: Reading on island time
Today I’m talking with Jennifer Cordeiro, who lives in Bermuda, a small island with two bookstores and one library. Jennifer has encountered her fair share of #bookwormproblems, both in her own reading life and in her job at her small island bookstore where hurricanes, tourism, s ... Show More
48m 16s
Feb 2023
#181 - Will This Be The Biggest Book Haul of The Year???
Links mentioned: Twilight News: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/08/12/stephenie-meyer-twilight-midnight-sun-sells-million-copies-first-week/3343213001/ Twilight News: https://bookriot.com/stephenie-meyer-announces-two-more-twilight-books/ Support The Podca ... Show More
1h 14m
Dec 2020
Artist Plans for the Year Ahead - Bonus workbook episode [101]
As we develop our plans for the coming year, we dive into a discussion about our goals. This episode was recorded two weeks in advance, so it’s early in our planning process, but we already have some ideas forming. Our discussion includes how we each use Trello as an organisation ... Show More
48m 58s
Mar 2020
Ep 227: Putting your money where your literary values are
Guest Sterling Hardaway values efficiency and growth in his reading life, which has led him to a hefty serving of nonfiction to learn new exciting things, fiction that sidesteps predictable tropes to deliver a truly unique reading experience, and seeking out authors whose perspec ... Show More
41m 11s