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.
Fail Better with David Duchovny
Claim This Podcastby Lemonada Media
Podcast Authority
Beta
Podcast Overview
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.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/16/2024
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
Podcast Authority
BetaRecommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
See how your show performs across every key metric
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
1 verified contact email on file for Fail Better with David Duchovny
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
May 5, 2026
TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie Tells Matthew McConaughey How Success Broke Him
New series sneak peek! No Magic Pill is hosted by TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, who fell apart after building and selling one of the most recognized brands on the planet. After a years-long journey through every therapy and treatment imaginable, Blake is finally talking honestly about the dark side of success and the reality of mental health. In No Magic Pill, Blake travels the country to sit down with survivors, experts, and cultural icons who have looked into the darkness and found a way out. These aren’t stories of quick fixes; they are honest conversations about the daily choices, big and small, that create a path forward. In this episode excerpt, Blake speaks with actor Matthew McConaughey about the darkest moments in his life and how solo trips helped him purge the shame, guilt, and embarrassment of his younger years. You can hear the full episode and hear more of No Magic Pill at https://lemonada.lnk.to/NoMagicPillBlakeMycoskie
March 31, 2026
Fail Again: The Family Business with Robert Downey Jr.
David Duchovny interviews Robert Downey Jr. about his complex relationship with his father, Robert Downey Sr., and their shared journey toward healing and sobriety.
March 24, 2026
Fail Again: Chris Carter Wants You To Believe
Host David Duchovny interviews creator Chris Carter about The X-Files' mysteries, Carter's career, and the reboot's misunderstood ending.
109 total episodes available with 93 transcripts
Recent guests on Fail Better with David Duchovny
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Robert Downey Jr
Guest
Chris Carter
Guest
Kathleen Hanna
Guest
Jason Beghe
Guest
Sean Penn
Guest
James Frey
Guest
Dr Jason Giles
Guest
Justine Bateman
Guest
IRA GLASS
Guest
Maureen Dowd
Guest
Lewis Hyde
Guest
Jonathan Roumie
Guest
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Literally! With Rob Lowe
Stitcher & Team Coco, Rob Lowe
Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)
Team Coco & Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson
SmartLess
Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Lemonada Media
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf
WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
Marc Maron
Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
Audacy
Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin
iHeartPodcasts
The Three Questions with Andy Richter
Team Coco & Earwolf
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Armchair Umbrella
Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers
Seth Meyers and Josh Meyers
Blocks w/ Neal Brennan
Neal Brennan
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
The Ringer
The Sarah Silverman Podcast
Lemonada Media
You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes
Pete Holmes
Deep-dive analytics for Fail Better with David Duchovny
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Fail Better with David Duchovny?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 2 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.