The Truth About Failure | Intermediate Level English Podcast
Why do we fear failure? In this episode of English and Beyond, we dive into the psychology of failure, success, and resilience. Inspired by César's favourite episode of the How to Fail podcast, we explore why failure is often misunderstood, how different cultures have viewed success throughout history, and what we can learn from our setbacks.
We discuss:
✔️ The ancient Greek perspective on failure and destiny
✔️ Why modern society places too much responsibility on individual success
✔️ The link between failure, mental health, and self-esteem
✔️ How to redefine ambition and find success in unexpected places
Join me, Oliver, as I break down these fascinating insights in clear, natural English - perfect for intermediate learners looking to improve their listening skills.
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00:00 - Welcome: Why we’re talking about failure today
00:30 - Oliver’s podcast confession & César’s favourite show
01:47 - What is How to Fail and why is it inspiring?
03:00 - Failure, philosophy, and the feeling of insufficiency
03:26 - Are ordinary lives really failures?
04:55 - Ancient Greece: Success, failure, and the gods
05:24 - Religious views on perfection and human imperfection
05:49 - #1: You can be skilled and still fail
06:43 - Ancient empathy vs modern judgement
08:19 - How much of life is actually in our control?
08:58 - When should we give up or persevere?
09:47 - Defining success: Not just money or career
10:01 - #2: Romantic breakups are not a failure
10:54 - Envy, perception and our edited public lives
12:05 - #3: Failure is the norm, education ignores it
12:59 - Switzerland vs the USA: Which society succeeds?
13:49 - Why resilience is hard to teach in schools
14:25 - Final thoughts and how to contact Oliver