This week on How To Fail, we are doing something slightly different. I know, I know, we don't like change, but sometimes IT'S GOOD FOR US. It's especially good for us when it comes in the form of Alain de Botton, one of the most intelligent, eloquent and thoughtful people on the planet.And because it's Alain de Botton, modern philosopher, founder of The Scho ... Show More
Oct 8
Stephen Grosz - ‘Real love is going to hurt’
Warning: this episode may contain MIND-BLOWING moments. Stephen Gross is a practising psychoanalyst and a personal hero of mine. He has worked with patients for more than 45 years and his first book, The Examined Life, drew on these experiences. When it was published in 2013, it ... Show More
52m 23s
Oct 6
Jilly Cooper: On Failure, Love, and Literature
Today, we remember and celebrate the extraordinary life of Jilly Cooper, who has sadly passed away at the age of 88. A literary icon, Jilly captured hearts and imaginations with her wit, warmth, and unmistakable voice. Her novels, especially beloved titles like Riders and Rivals, ... Show More
38m 7s
Oct 5
On Navigating Your 20s... With Phoebe Waller Bridge and Lily Allen
Welcome back to this How to Fail special where we journey through the archive to uncover insight and revisit powerful conversations. Each week, I hand-pick moments that speak to our shared challenges - hopefully offering comfort, clarity, and a renewed sense of perspective for wh ... Show More
17m 15s
Jul 2020
Alain de Botton (Part 2) - How to Deal with Jealousy and Keep Your Partner Faithful
In Part 2 of my interview with British-Swiss philosopher, Alain de Botton, we continue our conversation - which has since become one of my favorites - on all things love, extending into dating dynamics, dealing with jealousy, the confusing language of sex, and God's role in all t ... Show More
34m 54s
Feb 2021
[Unedited] Alain de Botton with Krista Tippett
As people, and as a culture, Alain de Botton says, we would be much saner and happier if we reexamined our very view of love. His New York Times essay, “Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person,” is one of their most-read articles in recent years, and this is one of the most popular e ... Show More
1h 32m
Nov 2023
SLO MO REWIND: Alain de Botton on How to Keep Your Partner Happy
Continuing our love and relationships series, we revisit my chat with the incredible Alain de Botton. One of the most listened episodes on Slo Mo, I and the British-Swiss philosopher, Alain de Botton, dive deep into one of my favorite topics: Love. Alain de Botton is a philosophe ... Show More
1h 3m
Dec 2023
The Love Expert: We've Built A Loveless Society & It's Making Us Depressed! (here's the fix!) Alain De Botton
If you enjoy hearing about the philosophy of life, I recommend you check out my conversation with Ryan Holiday, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PafvhTSC4yEPhilosophy isn’t just for universities and lecture halls, philosophy can help guide every part of yo ... Show More
1h 35m
Dec 2021
Timeless Wisdom for Leading a Life of Love, Friendship and Learning
“Today, we are supercompetent when it comes to efficiency, utility, speed, convenience, and getting ahead in the world; but we are at a loss concerning what it’s all for,” Leon Kass writes in his 2017 book “Leading a Worthy Life.” “This lack of cultural and moral confidence about ... Show More
1h 5m
Nov 2023
Alain de Botton: Lessons on Love and Life
Does the stigma around mental health impact your view of life? Joining Sarah Grynberg is prolific author, philosopher and creator of the School Of Life Alain de Botton, who is not only the brain behind 15 internationally bestselling books, but a man who strives to understand the ... Show More
57m 4s
Jan 2021
Elizabeth Day is extraordinary!
Writer and podcast chart-topping sensation, Elizabeth Day is Katie's guest this week. On her podcast ‘How To Fail’, Elizabeth meets guests ranging from Phoebe Waller Bridge to Alistair Campbell to Lily Allen, breaking down how they’ve learned from their personal failures. The pod ... Show More
45m 40s
Mar 2023
Congratulations, You’re a Failure! Stephen Marche on Enduring the Life of a Writer
Stephen Marche is the author of six books, has been a columnist at Esquire, has taught Shakespeare at the college level and has contributed to The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and many other publications. By any reasonable measure, his career is an unmitigated su ... Show More
1h 11m