Rephonic
Artwork for Fail Better

Fail Better with David Duchovny

Lemonada Media
Failure
Addiction
Bette Midler
Parenting
Fear Of Failure
The Myth Of Normal
Perfectionism
Success
Brad Gilbert
Comedy
Creativity
Personal Growth
Trauma
Tennis
Freakonomics Radio
Mental Health
Emotional Health
Coco Gauff
Sociopathy
Tony Hawk

To be human is to fail – period. And not just to fail once, but to fail a lot. As the author Samuel Beckett said: “Fail again. Fail better.” This saying means a lot to me and my family – so much so that my daughter got a tattoo of it. Why are we, and so many others, so deeply concerned by failure? And if it’s something we all do so often, why are we so afraid of it – especially those of us here in... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes141Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Fail Better

Latest Episodes

Back in September, I sat down with powerful writer and past guest Jia Tolentino at the Strand Bookstore in New York City to discuss my first poetry collection, About Time. This book is a poetic autobiography of sorts, gathering moments and fragments ... more

Take a walk through Judd Apatow’s office, like I did, and you’ll be reminded of all the successful projects he’s helped create over the years: Anchorman, Bridesmaids, Superbad, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. I joined him there to discuss his new visual memo... more

YouTube

You might remember from way back when this podcast started that my very first guest was Ben Stiller. It was a memorable interview for lots of reasons, including that Ben talked to me about his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara and the documentary... more

Steve Burns was nice enough to join me on the show a few weeks ago, so I wanted to give you all a chance to listen to his new podcast.

There are a thousand podcasts you can listen to; Alive with Steve Burns listens back. Steve Burns is continuing t... more

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Recent Guests

Jamie Lee Curtis
Award-winning actor, author, and activist
Episode: Listen Now: Alive with Steve Burns
Tom Pelphrey
Actor best known for his work on Ozark and HBO's Task.
Episode: Tom Pelphrey Wouldn’t Change a Day
Amanda Knox
An author and public speaker known for her wrongful conviction in a high-profile murder case.
Episode: Amanda Knox’s Story Isn’t Over
Christopher Robinson
Co-host of the podcast 'Hard Knocks' alongside Amanda Knox.
Episode: Amanda Knox’s Story Isn’t Over
Terry Real
Internationally recognized love and family therapist
Episode: The Pitfalls of Manhood with Terry Real
Melissa Febos
Author whose writing explores identity, trauma, addiction, and sexuality.
University of Iowa
Episode: An Hour with Melissa Febos About a Year Without Sex
Jess Walter
Author known for novels including 'Beautiful Ruins' and 'So Far Gone'
Episode: Jess Walter Can Hoop (and Write)
Jake Clark
U.S. Army veteran and founder of Save a Warrior
Save a Warrior
Episode: What Jake Clark Wants You To Know About Trauma
Emily Deschanel
An actor known for her role as Dr. Temperance Brennan on Bones.
Co-host of the rewatch podcast Boneheads
Episode: A Forensic Analysis with Emily Deschanel

Host

David Duchovny
Host known for engaging conversations that intertwine personal experiences with broader themes of failure and growth, drawing on his background in acting and writing.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • David Duchovny and Samuel Beckett

    How about making an instalment on your Samuel Beckett paper? I think lots of people would appreciate that. 🧌🏝️🧌

    Thank you 🙏 😅

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Grovsmeden
    Denmark2 months ago
  • So reflective!

    I grew up a super fan of the X-Files, so of course I was a fan of the actor David Duchovny, but now I love him as a human. He is so emotionally intelligent and reflective. I am these things as well, so it’s nice to find an interviewer who resonates. His nature leads to the sort of questions nobody ever asks in interviews and I find myself deeply interested in answers to questions I’d never thought to wonder. Makes me feel good.

    P.S. Gates McFadden does this as well in her podcast if you wer... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mindy_sue
    United States2 months ago
  • Nice listen

    I wasn’t expecting Duchovny to be such a good interviewer but he makes these conversations thoughtful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ricky R Richard
    United States3 months ago
  • Inspiring

    While the recognizable names may draw you to this podcast, it is its substance that will get you hooked. Honest, thought provoking and real. You will find yourself identifying with the fragility of life that unites all humans.

    Even more so, you will come to embrace the failures that are truly our triumphs.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Diane S W
    United States4 months ago
  • Different from the rest!

    This is a great listen, one of my favorite podcasts. Always unexpected and always empathetic, thoughtful and brilliant!

    Every episode is a learning experience and

    I just love learning new things anywhere

    I can find them!!

    Thank You for all your hard work making a podcast a cut above

    the rest!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Augustkack
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many praise the diversity of guests and the depth of discussions, emphasizing David Duchovny's interview style as engaging and warm.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful and introspective nature of the conversations, often finding them relatable and inspiring.
Overall, there's a strong sentiment of appreciation for the podcast's purpose in normalizing discussions about failure.
Some feedback is mixed, with suggestions for improved guidance in conversations to maintain focus on central themes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#176
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#216
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#210
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#235
Germany/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#87
Austria/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#107
Finland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Failure? Success? Judd Apatow Says Give It 10 Years to Decide
Q: How do you go about figuring out the kind of questioner you want to be?
Judd explains that it is instinctual, and he aims to elicit deeper emotional connections in his documentary subjects.
Failure? Success? Judd Apatow Says Give It 10 Years to Decide
Q: What do you think when you look through the book?
Judd reflects that he sees a lot of stuff and questions his need for it, pondering if it's evidence of insecurity or creativity.
No Scars, No Stories with Charlie Sheen (Live at 92NY)
Q: What moment did you decide to quit drinking?
It was a moment with my daughter, realizing I was failing her by not driving and needed to come home for good.
No Scars, No Stories with Charlie Sheen (Live at 92NY)
Q: What did it give before it took everything away?
That little bit of distance from things that I didn't want to engage with, and an intense sexual component that made it hard to let go of drugs.
Listen Now: Alive with Steve Burns
Q: Do you really not give a shit? How did you get there?
I try not to care about what others think of me, understanding that it's impossible for everyone to like me.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Fail Better

What is Fail Better about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the complexities of failure, this podcast features insightful conversations with a diverse array of successful individuals from various fields. Each episode emphasizes the notion that failure is an integral part of the human experience and encourages listeners to embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth. Notable guests have included actors, authors, and industry leaders, all sharing personal anecdotes and unique perspectives on navigating life's challenges. The conversations often probe the cultural stigma surrounding failure, particularly in a competitive society, providing listeners with relatable narratives and the reassurance that they are not alone in their struggles.

With its blend of humor and candor, the podcast invit... more

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How many episodes of Fail Better are there?

Fail Better launched 2 years ago and published 141 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Fail Better?

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What guests have appeared on Fail Better?

Recent guests on Fail Better include:

1. Jamie Lee Curtis
2. Tom Pelphrey
3. Amanda Knox
4. Christopher Robinson
5. Terry Real
6. Melissa Febos
7. Jess Walter
8. Jake Clark

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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