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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

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Society & Culture

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Artwork for Fail Better

Latest Episodes

This episode originally aired February 11, 2025

While Maggie Wheeler is known by millions as the iconic Janice on ‘Friends’, she has been my real-life friend for even longer. Back in the late 80s, we made our film debuts together, playing former lo... more

This episode originally aired August 13, 2024

When I first met Kumail Nanjiani, we were on set on the X-Files, chasing down the shape-shifting Were-Monster. Since then, I’ve seen Kumail undergo his own transformation — into a leading man and big-sc... more

This episode originally aired August 16, 2024

Being “indie famous” is complicated, and Kathleen Hanna isn’t here to water it down. Her career making feminist punk music — most notably in the band Bikini Kill — meant she was attacked for her activis... more

This episode originally aired January 14, 2025

Throughout his long and varied career, Rob Lowe has become an expert at reinventing himself. He left behind his bad-boy image from iconic 80s movies to work on a clever mix of dramatic and comedic TV r... more

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Recent Guests

Jason Beghe
Actor known for his role as Hank Voight in Chicago PD
NBC
Episode: Fail Again: Roads Taken and Not Taken with Jason Beghe
John Seabrook
Staff writer for The New Yorker and author of several books, including The Spinach King.
The New Yorker
Episode: John Seabrook’s Family Was the Vegetable Version of ‘Succession’
Peter Weller
Professor, art historian, and actor, known for his role in Robocop and his contributions to jazz and academia
Episode: The Many Lives of Peter Weller
Megan McArdle
Columnist for The Washington Post, author of 'The Up Side of Down'
The Washington Post
Episode: How Megan McArdle Became a Liberal-tarian
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

Hosts

David Duchovny
Host of Fail Better, an actor and author known for his reflective approach to conversations about failure and growth.
Mandy Patinkin
Co-host of Don't Listen To Us with a background as a legendary actor, bringing heartfelt and humorous narratives to engaging conversations.
Kathryn Grody
Co-host of Don't Listen To Us, stage actress, and thoughtful connector, providing honest insights in conversations.
Gideon Grody Patinkin
Co-host of Don't Listen To Us, son of Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, bringing a unique family perspective to discussions.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Rethinking failure.

    So much here in these podcasts - thank you! … The range of life experience and conversational meandering that brings out reflection …. I especially loved Gabor Matte, Alec Baldwin, Mary Trump and many more… I have listened to just about everyone from Ben Stiller (the first and second time). It’s funny what life throws us - and what we do with those perceived foul balls and falls.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LTRhodes
    United States2 months ago
  • he's baccckkk

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jamiemcgaughey1981
    3 months ago
  • 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
    Denmark6 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 States6 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 States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the podcast's candid discussions about failure and growth, often praising the authenticity and vulnerability displayed by the host and guests.
Some critiques revolve around the expectations of discussing failure versus the focus on success stories, highlighting a tension in the perceived storytelling.
Many find the blend of humor and introspection refreshing and inspiring, providing relatable insights into common human experiences.
Overall, consistent praise is given for the diverse guest lineup, making each episode an enriching learning experience.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fail Again: Kathleen Hanna’s Music is Her Message
Q: How do you approach the making of a song and gauging the success and failure of that delivery system?
Hanna explains her perspective on traditional versus personal success, emphasizing moments of connection with fans as her true measure of success, rather than commercial accolades.
Fail Again: Kathleen Hanna’s Music is Her Message
Q: What does it feel like to see your heartfelt instinctual art become a T-shirt?
Hanna discusses the commercialization of her art and the mixed feelings that arise from seeing terms like 'Girl Power' become mainstream while also recognizing the positive impact it can have.
Fail Again: Failure Matters with Jaleel White
Q: How have you been able to navigate the past refocusing of black artistry of the last 10 years?
Jaleel White reflects on the changing perceptions of black representation in media and how his experience has shaped his journey, feeling gratitude for the opportunities his character provided him despite the complexities of identity and success.
David Duchovny Gets Weird with Pete Holmes
Q: Can you think of a time in your life when you laughed really, really, really, really hard?
Duchovny shares that one of his biggest laughs came from a fart scene in the movie he worked on, illustrating the joy of laughter in filmmaking.
Introducing: Don't Listen To Us with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody
Q: How do you impart wisdom to adult children without sounding naggy or preachy?
The difficulty of giving advice to adult children and handling their sensitivities as they grow.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Fail Better

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

Exploring the human experience of failure, this podcast provides an honest and stimulating conversation around the challenges faced by individuals in various fields. Featured guests include notable actors, writers, and thought leaders who reflect on their personal journeys, addressing the often stigmatized concept of failure and its transformation into growth and self-discovery. The discussions are characterized by humor, empathy, and a shared understanding of vulnerability, making the content relatable and thought-provoking. Unique for its focus on failure as a bridge to success, rather than a setback, this program invites listeners into authentic dialogues that illuminate the lessons embedded within both triumphs and perceived failures.

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How many episodes of Fail Better are there?

Fail Better launched 2 years ago and published 162 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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What guests have appeared on Fail Better?

Recent guests on Fail Better include:

1. Jason Beghe
2. John Seabrook
3. Peter Weller
4. Megan McArdle
5. Jamie Lee Curtis
6. Tom Pelphrey
7. Amanda Knox
8. Christopher Robinson

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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