S12, Ep8 How to Fail: Meg Mason
10/20/21 • 75 min
1 Listener
Meg, a New Zealander who lives in Sydney, wrote a quintessentially British book that was at once utterly tender and riotously funny, about sisterly love, mental illness, the complexities of marriage, family pain and what it means to be human (complete with references to slag-heaps and a dishevelled Kate Moss). It is STUNNING and if you haven't read it yet, you must.
In the meantime, have a listen to this episode which - like Meg's writing - is poignant, humane and true. We talk about failures both creative and personal - how people telling her she had her children too young made her almost believe it, how she regrets writing an 'angry' memoir, and how she fell-out with a childhood friend and almost lost her forever. If you've ever been through a friendship break-up, then this one's for you.
I love Meg and I love this episode. It seemed an utterly perfect way to end our season. But, don't worry. We'll be back soon.
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You can buy Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason here
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My new novel, Magpie, is out now. You can order it here.
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How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is hosted by Elizabeth Day, produced by Naomi Mantin and Chris Sharp. To contact us, email [email protected]
---
Social Media:
Elizabeth Day @elizabday
How To Fail @howtofailpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Meg, a New Zealander who lives in Sydney, wrote a quintessentially British book that was at once utterly tender and riotously funny, about sisterly love, mental illness, the complexities of marriage, family pain and what it means to be human (complete with references to slag-heaps and a dishevelled Kate Moss). It is STUNNING and if you haven't read it yet, you must.
In the meantime, have a listen to this episode which - like Meg's writing - is poignant, humane and true. We talk about failures both creative and personal - how people telling her she had her children too young made her almost believe it, how she regrets writing an 'angry' memoir, and how she fell-out with a childhood friend and almost lost her forever. If you've ever been through a friendship break-up, then this one's for you.
I love Meg and I love this episode. It seemed an utterly perfect way to end our season. But, don't worry. We'll be back soon.
--
You can buy Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason here
--
My new novel, Magpie, is out now. You can order it here.
---
How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is hosted by Elizabeth Day, produced by Naomi Mantin and Chris Sharp. To contact us, email [email protected]
---
Social Media:
Elizabeth Day @elizabday
How To Fail @howtofailpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Previous Episode
S12, Ep7 How to Fail: Lady Hale
Well this one was quite intimidating, to be honest. My guest this week is Baroness Hale of Richmond, one of this country's finest legal minds. She was the first woman President of the supreme court, the youngest and first female commissioner to be appointed to the Law Commission and has been dubbed the Beyoncé of the legal world owing to her popularity among young law students.
But you might just know her best for her spider brooch, which she wore in 2019 while delivering a stinging ruling finding Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament to be unlawful. Her memoir, Spider Woman: A Life, has just been published.
Lady Hale joins me to talk about battling sexism in law, her failures at school and academia, the loss of her father at a young age, the death of her beloved husband during Covid and her 'abject failure to knit a dishcloth aged five.' Along the way we cover, Beyonce, spiders, Ian McEwan and much, much more.
--
Spider Woman: A Life is out now. You can order your copy here.
--
My new novel, Magpie, is out now. You can order it here.
---
How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is hosted by Elizabeth Day, produced by Naomi Mantin and Chris Sharp. To contact us, email [email protected]
---
Social Media:
Elizabeth Day @elizabday
How To Fail @howtofailpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Next Episode
S12, BONUS EPISODE How to Fail: Holly Willoughby
Oh what a truly lovely bonus episode I have for you today! I'm so delighted that I get to welcome the one and only Holly Willoughby onto the podcast. As the co-presenter of ITV's This Morning, she is a combination of daytime TV icon, national best friend and highly infectious giggler (if you need a boost, just YouTube this). But she's also now a BESTSELLING AUTHOR - her book Reflections was published last week and swiftly shot to the number one slot on Amazon. And she recently launched her own lifestyle and wellness platform, Wylde Moon.
Holly joins me to talk about her failure to be present, her failure to to live by her own set of beliefs and falling into the trap of meeting other people's expectations and her failure 'to be an individual'. Along the way we discuss fame, body image and 'repackaging jealousy as possibility' (I know! It's a quote from her book! So good!). It's such a wonderful, open-hearted conversation and I'm so grateful to Holly for sharing her beautiful vulnerability with me.
--
You can buy Reflections by Holly Willoughby here
--
My new novel, Magpie, is out now. You can order it here.
---
How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is hosted by Elizabeth Day, produced by Naomi Mantin and Chris Sharp. To contact us, email [email protected]
---
Social Media:
Holly Willoughby @hollywilloughby
Elizabeth Day @elizabday
How To Fail @howtofailpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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