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
Today
Sue Perkins - “My Late ADHD Diagnosis Changed My Life”
You might know Sue Perkins from her long-running partnership with Mel Giedroyc, presenting The Great British Bake Off (The Great British Baking Show for our American friends), or from TV and radio shows including The Supersizers..., Just a Minute and her many travel documentaries ... Show More
49m 14s
Nov 4
Greg Wise - ‘Therapy Saved My Life. And My Marriage.’
You might know Greg Wise as swoonsome Willoughby in the 1995 Sense and Sensibility TV adaptation (where he met his future wife, Dame Emma Thompson, on set); or from his roles in Cranford, The Outcast, The Crown or The Buccaneers. But Wise’s career spans far beyond the world of fi ... Show More
52m 20s
Oct 28
Hanif Kureishi - ‘I Write To Stay Alive’
Hanif Kureishi is one of Britain’s most celebrated writers. His debut screenplay, My Beautiful Laundrette, was nominated for an Academy Award, and he went on to write novels including The Buddha of Suburbia and Intimacy, as well as screenplays for Venus and The Mother. But in 202 ... Show More
50m 27s
Oct 2023
Alain de Botton on the joy of being average (E218)
<p>This episode encourages us to explore a deeper understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and why we should be seeking fulfilment not happiness.</p><br><p>Alain de Botton is an author and philosopher, known for co-founding The School of Life in 2008. The School of Life was ... Show More
1h 11m
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=PafvhTSC4yE
Philosophy isn’t just for universities and lecture halls, philosophy can help guide every part of y ... Show More
1h 32m
Sep 2019
#217 Alain de Botton: Life As A Process
Today's guest is Alain de Botton, which is very exciting, I've been a huge fan of this work for years.He is a writer of essayistic books that have been described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life.’ He’s written on love, travel, architecture and literature. His books have been bes ... Show More
38m 2s
Aug 2025
Most Replayed Moment: Alain de Botton - Individualism Is Making Us Miserable!
Alain de Botton is a philosopher, author, and the founder of The School of Life. He is known for his insights into the intersection of philosophy, love, and the modern world, often exploring how societal structures impact mental well-being. In today’s Moments episode, Alain explo ... Show More
18m 14s
Sep 2025
How to Feel More Understood, Valued and Secure in Your Relationships with Alain de Botton #574
We live in a culture that often celebrates the ‘perfect’ relationship but does little to prepare us for the reality of long-term commitment. Modern life is filled with idealised images of love and marriage – but the truth, as this week’s returning guest suggests, is far more huma ... Show More
2h 3m
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