42 Best Failure Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

Every success story you've ever been told is incomplete. How To Fail with Elizabeth Day is the part they leave out. Each week, Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Elizabeth Day sits down with someone extraordinary - and asks them about the moments that didn't go according to plan and how these failures shaped them. Kate Winslet on body image. Malala Yousafzai on rewriting her story. Pamela Anderson on refuting shame. Phoebe Waller-Bridge on creativity. Salman Rushdie on survival. Emilia Clarke on fame. What happens when the people you most admire stop performing and start telling the truth? Five hundred episodes in, we're still finding out. With sold-out nights at the London Palladium and Sydney Opera House, millions of listeners worldwide, and a British Podcast Award to its name, How To Fail is one of the UK's most successful podcasts. And yes, we're aware of the irony. Pick an episode. Start anywhere. An Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment production. All guest booking is managed from an official Sony Music email address. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow @sonypodcastsTo bring your brand to life in this podcast, email ****@sonymusic.com more

This is a podcast about engineering disasters and systemic failures, from a leftist perspective, with jokes

Fyre Fest goes up in flames, Madame Web is panned, the hot new crypto coin crashes. Who doesn't love a good flop? From Silicon Valley scandals to Hollywood meltdowns - every epic fail has a story worth telling. Join TikTok superstar Misha Brown on Wondery's The Big Flop as we unpack history's most fascinating flops, frauds, and fiascos. Whether it's Tom Cruise's couch-jumping or Taylor Swift in Cats, we're dissecting the moments when ambition, ego, and poor decisions collide. Each week, Misha and hilarious guests break down these spectacular crashes and try to answer the burning question: Who thought THIS was a good idea? Because on The Big Flop , the best stories are always about the worst ideas. New episodes come out every week. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of The Big Flop ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. more

We tell our children unsettling fairy tales to teach them valuable lessons, but these Cautionary Tales are for the education of the grown ups and they are all true. Tim Harford (Financial Times, BBC, author of 'The Data Detective') brings you stories of awful human error, tragic catastrophes, and hilarious fiascos. They'll delight you, scare you, but also make you wiser. New episodes every Friday. more

The road to success is littered with speed bumps. Every celebrated actor, writer, musician, artist, inventor and entrepreneur has faced debilitating career rejection on their journey to the top. We tell their fascinating stories and break down exactly how they achieved their remarkable goals. Because hidden inside each rejection is a unique insight and we're here to find it. At its heart, this pod is about persistence and inspiration. From the creators of Under The Influence , this show is brought to you by the Apostrophe Podcast Company and powered by Acast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

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 win-at-all-costs America? In this podcast, I sit down with successful, thoughtful people like Ben Stiller, Bette Midler, Sean Penn and more to talk about failure or what they labeled 'failure,' but what was really an unparalleled opportunity for growth and revelation. I even want to delve into my own hardest moments, when I wrestled with setbacks, shame, and fear. We'll still fail again. And again. But maybe if we fail better, we'll feel better -- and maybe if we can all laugh together in failure, that's a start. more

This is a podcast about failure with author, nutritionist and yoga teacher, Lola Berry. Here we will get to know these guests and learn how their failures have ultimately helped shape their dreams. Follow Lola Berry on Instagram: @yummololaberry www.lolaberry.com 104090 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Actor Matthew Del Negro (The Sopranos, The West Wing, Scandal) describes his career as being told 'No' for a living. Here, he gets up close and personal with top-shelf folks from all walks of life about the 10,000 'No' s they've had to endure and struggles they've had to overcome on their journey to where they are today. Inspiring, raw, honest and funny, this podcast will help you see that the people you think have 'got it made' put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Why did it take so long to make a Simpsons movie? Did Ed Harris really almost drown on The Abyss? How many times have they attempted to reboot Batman? And who thought Ugly Sonic was a good idea? Well, making stuff is hard. Especially in the entertainment world where big egos, bigger budgets, and just plain bad luck can make things go horribly wrong. In each episode of It Was a Sh*t Show, hosts Ian, Rae, and Clint dive into the unbelievable behind-the-scenes stories of disastrous, never-ending, and often dangerous productions. New episodes on Wednesdays. Full video versions of Deep Dives can be seen on YouTube. Follow us on on social media @ItWasAShtShow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Chain of Events. Cause and Effect. We analyse what went right and what went wrong as we discover that many outcomes can be predicted, planned for and even prevented. more

Behind the glitz and glamor, Hollywood can be brutal. For every success, there are many more rejections and failures. Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss explores that world and each week a new guest will talk about dealing with rejection, failure and adversity in the entertainment industry. Writer Noah Evslin and podcaster Dan Rutstein ask the questions. more

The Kortney Wilson Podcast (formerly The Sh*t Stick of Life) is about the people who've turned life's hardest hits into vibrant next chapters, failure, betrayal, tragedy, loss, and all the 'taboo' stuff that's uncomfortable to talk about but needs to be said anyway. It's also just as much about the everyday conversations that matter for real personal growth. Every episode is a real, honest, often funny conversation about the realness of life's ups and downs, and how we go from surviving to thriving. Host and 're-visionary' Kortney Wilson knows reinvention firsthand, actress (including the soap opera One Life to Live), signed recording artist, reality TV star, author, real estate agent, house flipper, home designer with her own furniture line, content creator, and host of multiple shows on HGTV and Home Network. When her 20-year 'perfect' marriage ended and decades of secrets came to light, it upended everything she thought she knew about her life. Now she shares her own story and goes deep with heroes, artists, authors, activists, and more, who've reinvented themselves after extraordinary setbacks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Welcome to My Perfect Failure, the Podcast that taps into the world of Failure. We will explore What is Failure, why does it happen and how do we move beyond our Failures. With the help of a range of amazing guests from all walks of life we will discuss and debate to get their take on this subject. more

Growth & Failure is a podcast that salutes the doers, knowing that growth is born from action, struggle, and perseverance. Our mission is to initiate productive conversations, and champion action with a 'win or learn' growth mindset. The show highlights unique interviews with entrepreneurs, investors, athletes, pioneers of all types - and shares their personal and professional journey with a slight twist. Join Creator/Host, Yinh Hinh, as they discuss their mistakes, their failures and the lessons learned along the way. more

We bring you stories of history's most notorious disasters and epic failures. Join us as we analyze the red flags and ask the important questions. How did things go so wrong? Could these disasters have been avoided? Join us as we laugh, learn, and explore the most epic failures of all time. more

My Favorite Mistake is a podcast about learning without blame in business and leadership. Despite the name, it's not just my favorite mistake—it's yours, it's ours, and it's what we can all learn from when things don't go as planned. Hosted by author and consultant Mark Graban, each episode features honest conversations with leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and changemakers about a meaningful mistake they made—and what they learned after things went wrong. How they responded. How they improved. How they grew as leaders. This isn't a show about failure theater, gotcha moments, or simplistic 'lessons learned.' It's about how real people reflect, improve, and lead better in complex organizations—without scapegoating, shame, or hindsight bias. What You'll Hear • Leadership and management mistakes that reshaped careers, teams, and organizations • How teams and leaders learn without blaming individuals • Insights about culture, systems, decision-making, and psychological safety • Practical lessons drawn from real experience, not abstract theory Guests come from business, healthcare, technology, sports, entertainment, government, and academia, sharing stories that reveal how learning actually happens. The Perspective Mark brings a systems-thinking lens grounded in Lean management, continuous improvement, and psychological safety. The focus is less on who messed up and more on what the system taught us . Who This Podcast Is For • Leaders and managers who want to learn from mistakes without blame • Executives working to build healthier, more resilient cultures • Professionals who believe improvement starts with reflection, not punishment My Favorite Mistake: Learning Without Blame in Business and Leadership more

Hosted by professor, speaker, and performance & comeback scientist Dr. Toby Brooks (@drtobybrooks), Becoming UnDone® is where high-achievers come to reckon with rock bottom—and rise again. Every week, we explore what happens when life doesn't go according to plan. Through raw stories, vulnerable insights, and powerful conversations, we dive into the pain of identity loss, the paralysis of burnout, and the transformative power of coming apart.This isn't just about failure. It's about what you do next.Whether you're an executive questioning your purpose, an athlete facing the end, or a leader secretly unraveling, this show is your reminder: the coming apart isn't the end of the story—it's the beginning of something greater. If you've ever asked yourself, 'What in the hell next?'—you're in the right place.https://linktr.ee/DrTobyBrooks more

The mission of this podcast is to build a supportive community where we explore the transformative journeys of our guests, celebrating the challenges they've overcome and the wisdom gained. Through authentic storytelling, I aim to inspire and uplift listeners, urging them to persevere through challenging times by drawing strength from others.  It is my goal to ignite a spark within each listener, prompting them to reflect on the past storms they have weathered, recognize the lessons and personal growth they have experienced, and empower them to endure future challenges. By sharing our own mistakes and failures, I want to create a ripple effect, enabling others to learn and grow so they can reach their goals. I want to help people realize that if you don't quit, you can't lose. Keep showing up.  more

On each episode of RIP Corp, we tell the story of one failed business, or a business failure. Join us in the dead mall of business history.RIP Corp is a Charts & Leisure production, written and hosted by Ingrid Burrington. Produced by Meghal Janardan and Mike Rugnetta. Associate producer, Taylor Behnke. Original music and sound design from Andrew Atkin and Michael Simonelli. Fact-checking from Matt Giles. Logo design by Beatriz Lozano and illustrations by Megan Mulholland. Executive produced by Jason Oberholtzer. more

The actor's journey is one of occasional highs and frequent lows. It is a path riddled with self-doubt and frustration as we question our career choices, wondering if we'll ever really 'make it.' But it is those few moments of glory on stage or screen that can sustain us through all the setbacks and challenges. On this award-winning podcast, New York actor Patrick Oliver Jones invites fellow creatives to share three stories that offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative life rarely seen in the glitz and glam of this industry. These conversations remind us we're not alone in this often bumpy and winding journey of the performing arts. more

Everyone is going to fail and when this happens, most people will experience their failure as a negative expectation. Revolutionary Keynote Speaker, Author, and Master Trainer Colonel George Milton has made overcoming failure his life. George failed kindergarten, failed the first grade, barely graduated from high school dropped out/failed out of six universities. Yet, he went on to earn multiple degrees, and was inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. At FINTP, we motivate people to 'Be All They Can Be' by helping them change their mindset to experience failure as positive outcomes instead of negative expectations. We provide the best coaching, mentoring, training, and leadership to help you get from where you are to where you are meant to be using failure as the motivator.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

KARIBU MSASA. A show where we talk to successful people about FAILURE.

In exclusive interviews, bestselling authors like Tina Wells, Kristen Butler, Jason VanRuler, and Neil Patel share how they navigated the toughest periods of their personal and professional lives, and how this shaped the success they now experience today.Studies show that the stories we tell ourselves about rejection influence whether these failures fuel our ambition and propel us forward, or stifle our growth and hold us back.If your rejection story is holding you back, it is time for a reframe. more

F'ing Up is a podcast that peels back the highlight reel of success. Hosted by Deanne Rhynard , each episode features accomplished guests who share the messy, real, and often uncomfortable parts of their journeys—the moments that shaped their eventual success. In a world where social media sells the illusion of overnight success, F'ing Up reminds listeners (especially those early in their careers or considering a major pivot) that growth is never linear. Deanne invites guests to drop the polished narrative, explore their stumbles, and reflect on what those experiences taught them in real time. Because the truth is: what we often label as failure is usually just part of the climb. After all, we're all F'ing Up. ABOUT THE HOST Deanne Rhynard is a Success Mentor and the Host of The F'ing Up Podcast , where she translates failure into clarity, confidence, and momentum. Known for her grounded honesty and sharp emotional intelligence, she helps people cut through noise, confront blind spots, and define success on their own terms. Before launching F'ing Up , Deanne spent nearly two decades as a Chief People Officer and startup advisor, helping companies navigate the messy, high-pressure stages of growth and scale. She shaped culture and leadership at organizations including Performio and Olo—the restaurant-tech pioneer where she scaled the team more than 30x, led the company through an IPO and two acquisitions, and built a remote-first culture well before the rest of the world caught up. Her background spans people operations, corporate relations, and management roles at the UVA Darden School of Business, KKR, Marriott, and several early-stage startups. This breadth gives her an uncommon ability to read people quickly and understand what unlocks their potential—whether they're early in their career or leading from the C-suite. Deanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Walla Walla University and lives in Washington State with her husband and three children. more

A podcast about innovation and failure, mostly in business. Visit us at https://innovationblab.com.

#1 Business Podcast! True stories of entrepreneurs falling forward. Join us as we sit down to hear their real life experiences of triumph over adversity and key metrics that defined their growth. Business Inquiries: ****@ftspod.com more

Mistakes That Made Me is the podcast that asks extraordinary business owners to share their biggest business mistake so you know what NOT to do on your road to success. Join Eman Ismail as she chats to some of the smartest minds in business about how to push through failure and accept it as an important and necessary part of building a business. Because it turns out: your biggest business mistake often leads to your biggest lesson and then your biggest blessing. more

Do you feel alone in your struggle? Do you feel like you know there is something special in you to give, but you feel stuck? Do you feel like the least likely person to be able to succeed? Ya, me too. The good news? You're in the right place. Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast. I'm Leah, and I'll be your host on this messy trip. I am a high school drop out who accidentally became an entrepreneur (aka: a certified 'Failure Expert'). When starting my jewellery business Leah Yard Designs, I struggled to find peers in the industry I could relate to. I felt completely alone and was tired of hearing entrepreneurial stories where everything seemed to 'fall into place' at the right time. Because starting something new? Building a business? It's messy, heartbreaking, and often embarrassing. After failing over and over, I finally stumbled my way into success. But I'm not here to tell you how to be successful. I started the Voted Least Likely Podcast to share stories of failure, and demystify what it really means to be successful so YOU don't feel alone. Welcome to the Voted Least Likely Podcast, I hope you didn't get dressed up for this ;)Website: www.leahyard.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahyard/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leahyard more

The podcast that discusses the dilemmas, mishaps, mistakes and failings of business leaders with your hosts, Megan Grace and Rob Spence. Every business owner, leader, entrepreneur and professional makes mistakes; we are all human after all! In this podcast, we take a fun outlook on the failures of these people with one main intention... ...that you do not make the same mistakes! Diving deep into the lives, minds, and pasts of these people, with some laughter and humour along the way! PS - be sure to follow us on socials to stay up to date with all the latest episodes and goings-on! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Welcome to Embracing Marketing Mistakes, the world's leading irreverent podcast for senior marketers who are tired of the polished corporate b*llshit. Join Chris Norton and Will Ockenden, founders of the award-winning Prohibition PR, as they sit down with industry leaders to dissect the career-ending f*ck-ups they'd rather forget. The show moves past any pretty vanity metrics to uncover the brutal, honest truths behind marketing disasters, from £30,000 SEO black holes and completely failed companies, to social media crises that went globally viral for all the wrong reasons. We don't just celebrate the f*ck-ups; we extract the tactical blueprints you need to avoid them yourself. If you are a business owner, or a CMO looking for a competitive advantage that only comes from real-world experience, this is your weekly masterclass in resilience and strategy. Listen for: Raw stories from top brands, ex-McKinsey strategists, and industry disruptors. Learn from: The errors that cost thousands and the recoveries that saved careers. Get ahead by: Turning other people's nasty disasters into your unfair market advantage. If you have a story to tell and would like to appear on the show, tell us your biggest marketing mistake and drop us a line. more

Welcome to the 'In-Between' podcast, where we have conversations that pursue growth, failure, and the in-between. Join your host, Kassidy Lynne, each week for a new conversation that will give you an inside look into humans who conquered the in between moments of their lives, because even those doing the damn thing, running the business, training for the marathon, or even just being a human go through the in-betweens and that is where we find growth. Grab an iced coffee and join me as we dive deep into the in between. Connect with Kassidy at https://www.kassidylynnesocial.com/ Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inbetweenconvos/ About Kassidy: Kassidy Owen is the founder of Kassidy Lynne Social, a social media agency dedicated to helping brands express their authentic voice online. She views social media as a platform for building meaningful, lasting connections. Driven by a passion for storytelling and purpose-led growth, Kassidy works with female founders and values-driven brands committed to making a positive impact in their communities. She also serves on the board of the Give Happy Foundation, supporting initiatives that foster joy and positive change. more

'What if the worst thing that ever happened… turned out to be the best thing?' The Greatest Comeback is a podcast that shares raw, unfiltered Comeback Stories. Stories of resilience, healing, and personal transformation. Stories that remind us our failures can give birth to new beginnings. And that when life falls apart, the real work isn't rebuilding what was lost - it's rediscovering who we are. more

Practicing Failure with Dr. Amanda Cassil is a relaxed, uplifting conversational interview with mental health providers and other experts where mistakes are celebrated, and we explore how failures help us grow. Dr. Cassil is a licensed clinical psychologist in California and the founder of STEM Psychological Services, where she provides individual therapy to women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields. Dr. Cassil is the author of The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person and The Self-Care Plan for the Highly Sensitive Person . You can learn more about Dr. Cassil on her website at www.STEMpsychology.com more

Points of Failure is a podcast about what actually goes wrong, and the part people don't want to look at. Most conversations about failure happen after it's been cleaned up, framed, and turned into a lesson. This one starts at the breakdown and works backward. Through guest interviews and solo episodes, we examine the patterns behind failure in work, relationships, identity, and decision-making, with a bias toward what people are avoiding rather than what they're processing. If you're noticing a pattern you can't explain away anymore, you're probably in the right place. Questions, topic ideas, or guest suggestions: ****@gmail.com more

Everyone fails period! Learn how to fail better so that you can fail less, or perhaps discover that you're not actually failing at all. The purpose of this podcast is to provide you with different perspectives on how successful people conquer failure and overcome challenging moments in their lives. more

The Crucible with Jeff Marshall is a video podcast series on which highly successful executives, change makers, entrepreneurs, and leaders come to discuss their greatest failure (or crucible moment) and how it has impacted their growth or success. On the Crucible, we believe that understanding the journeys of those who have faced and navigated through tough times can provide, not only inspiration, but also practical advice to others who may be facing their own adversities. more

You are more than your failures and setbacks. We share stories of leaders who have moved beyond life's most difficult moments to lead lives of significance, and insights on how you can do the same. Hosted by Warwick Fairfax. more

In a world that often glorifies achievement and masks the struggles along the way, 'Unraveling Success' is here to shed light on the unspoken truth behind most success stories. We believe that failure is not the end; it's merely a stepping stone on the path to greatness. more

Failing Up flips the script on failure and dives deep into the journeys of founders and entrepreneurs as they share their most pivotal setbacks and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. Failure is not a setback, but a stepping stone to success, offering insights that success often obscures.I explore the raw, unfiltered stories behind the most painful lessons. more

Beyond the Trek Podcast is a journey of resilience, growth, and impact. We explore the triumphs, failures, and lessons learned from life's darkest moments, uncovering how challenges can transform individuals into leaders of character. Through inspiring conversations, we reveal the power of perseverance and the lasting impact of using those experiences to uplift others. This is more than a podcast—it's a guide to going beyond your limits and leaving a legacy of strength and purpose. more

Mistakes, Missteps, and Mindsets aims to address the stigma surrounding failure in academia. Every week hosts Alex Whyte and Dr. Krystal Nunes will interview Toronto Metropolitan University community members where we will dive into stories of their professional failures and how they bounced back and navigated those setbacks. more

Einstein said, 'A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new' Join us, Lisa Rodwell & Pete Danks and meet inspirational founders, leaders, and experts in Fails Of The Unexpected - a podcast where we candidly explore how mistakes and mishaps have ultimately become a path to success. At the end of each episode, the team will also explore the ups and downs of trying to build the FOTU podcast, sharing our wins, and of course, our fails too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more