Failure Guy

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Join 'Failure Guy' Ben Currier for a look into the darker side of success. In this podcast, we will find out the hardest moments successful people endured and the failures they encountered on the way towards actually 'making it'. It is said that we learn the most from our mistakes. Save yourself some time by seeing how my guests had things go horribly wrong and what they learned in the process!

Ben Currier


    • Aug 2, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 53m AVG DURATION
    • 91 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Failure Guy

    Friends with Benny Fitz - Benny Fitzpatrick

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 17:10


    An update from me as Benny Fitzpatrick (my standup comedy stage name).

    Russ Johns - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 64:18


    Want to know the secrets behind successful livestreaming and podcasting?

    You're Not Going to Be Famous Overnight - Kevin Gootee

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 82:54


    Kevin Goatee, comedian, writer, and producer with 12 years of experience in the comedy industry discusses his meandering path of failures!

    Fail More Often - Michael Fritzius

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 61:13


    Michael Fritzius emphasizes the importance of accepting failure as a learning opportunity including the concept of 'failure therapy.'

    I Can Do Anything at All - Elijah Desmond

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 57:46


    Elijah Desmond began his professional career at the age of 15 as a youth motivational speaker.

    Sales, Selling, and the Impact of Covid - Sid Meadows

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 64:59


    Sid Meadows is a business strategist and high performance coach who works with entrepreneurs and small business to leverage digital sales strategies.

    Disclaimers are Comin' - Alex Sanfilippo

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 54:25


    From corporate America to podcasting pro, Alex Sanfilippo shares his journey of overcoming failure and chasing dreams.

    Human Connections: The Key to Success - Nancy Debra Barrows

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 49:46


    In this podcast episode, the guest, Nancy Debra Barrows, discusses the importance of authenticity and being genuine on LinkedIn. She encourages people to be themselves and share their personality, as this human connection is what draws people to engage with each other.

    Nana's Bloopers: Podcasting on a Landline (April Fool's Day)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2023 21:08


    In this special April Fool's Day edition of "Failure Guy," we're revisiting the blooper-filled interview with Ben's 90-year-old nana from Episode 51. Join us for some laughs as Nana navigates what happens when podcasts bumps up against landlines and the need for lozenges!

    Katie Brinkley - Conquering Failure in the Pursuit of Social Media Mastery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 47:19


    Ben and Katie discuss the unique impact of podcasting, the power of voice, and how life's unpredictable turns can lead to personal and professional growth.

    Kay Coté - Building Mental Fitness & Overcoming Anxiety

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2023 67:52


    Kay Coté shares how she improved her mentality after growing up being bullied in school to finding her voice in the world of podcasting.

    Embracing Failure - A Path to Success with John David Mann

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2023 54:25


    John David Mann, co-author of "The Go-Giver", describes his past experiences & failures in music, nutrition and education before he became a writer. This episode has lots of valuable insights and practical strategies for reframing one's perspective towards failure and using it as a tool for growth and success.

    Judi Fox - Let's Talk Social Audio & More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 70:24


    LinkedIn expert and friend Judi Fox joins to share some of the failures on her way to truly being herself and showing up as her best self. Hear Judi discuss her new podcast with Vinnie Potestivo called "Let's Talk Social Audio".

    William Hung - "I'm Not a Professional Singer"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2023 48:06


    William Hung from American Idol seems to have a failure forcefield that's impossible to penetrate. His positivity is infectious, and his ability to turn what most thought to be a failure into lifelong success makes this episode incredibly special.

    "You Haven't Failed Unless You Failed to Learn" - Sean 'Tyler' Foley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023 62:32


    Actor, Keynote Speaker, and Author of 'The Power to Speak Naked' Sean Tyler Foley shares candid insights to his very non-traditional career path and the failures he faced (and embraced) along the way.

    "We Made All the Classic Entrepreneur Mistakes" - Guillaume Portalier (Waalaxy)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 68:18


    COO & Co-Founder of Waalaxy, a LnkedIn automation tool, Guillaume Portalier discusses the difficulties in starting and running a SaaS business especially when technology is ever evolving!

    "You'll See a Glimmer of Hope Every Day" - Natasha Graziano

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 36:41


    At her lowest point, Natasha Graziano was a homeless single mother in over $100K in debt. Now, she is a successful mindfulness coach, best-selling entrepreneurial author, and Forbes' #1 female motivational speaker under 40. In this episode, Natasha talks about her new book Be It Until You Become It: The Law of Attraction Explained Through Neuroscience and Ancient Wisdom.

    "I Feel Like I'm Failing All the Time" - Nigel Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 37:16


    Nigel Green isn't afraid of failure; honestly, that's a difficult lifestyle to choose when you primarily work in Sales. Listen as he shares his insights from his latest book "The Revenue Harvest".

    From the Pistol to the Paddle - Wally Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2022 49:34


    Not many Americans can say they've visited North Korea. Even fewer have competed against them in any type of sport. Wally Green took an incredibly unlikely path to help spark change in international relations. From growing up with guns & bad influences to finding his life-saving calling in Ping Pong, Wally does not back down from failure. His optimism is infectious and his light-hearted nature (and bravery) is something that will stick with you long after listening. Enjoy!

    I've Seen So Many Out-of-the-Normal Things - Chris Seferyn

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2022 29:00


    Happy 2-year anniversary of the podcast!!! The first ever LIVE in-person Failure Guy episode is here! Chris Seferyn is not only a hilariously fun person to talk to but has a deep & long-lasting relationship with failure. From his initial story of getting drugged in Guadalajara just a week prior to our recording to running nightclubs for a couple of decades, he's seen it all! This is the first part of a two-part series, the second which has special guest Ivo Ivanov. You'll hear more from myself, Chris, and Ivo as we discuss our various upbringings in the next episode!

    Don't Dismiss Your Failures, Own Them - Brandon C. White

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 63:28


    Brandon has a very close & familiar relationship with failure. He's an entrepreneur with two exits so far, and plenty of strikeouts. He's an angel investor and former venture capitalist who even worked in Marketing at America Online. Brandon started his professional career in technology as an Internet pioneer in 1996 as the Founder/CEO of Worldwide Angler, Inc. Worldwide Angler was recognized as the #1 social networking and e-commerce site for sport fishermen on the internet which he sold to a large media company. He has taught over 1,500 entrepreneurs in his business and marketing courses. His top course is on how to write a business plan and pitch deck in just 13 slides. He has taught the students of successful entrepreneurs like Daymond John & Robert Herjavec (Shark Tank) and Grant Cardone. He regularly is a keynote speaker at entrepreneur, business, and marketing conferences.

    You Need to Own Your Audience - Travis Lachner

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 43:35


    Travis Lachner is not only a friend of failure but a friend of fearless innovation. He has done many outside-the-box web ideas like having the first night club on LinkedIn, which is way more fun than it sounds. Listen as he recounts his tumultuous journey through the MySpace days with his screamo band all the way through to his current jam which is helping B2B clients create engaging content for their audiences. He gives plenty of advice for how to stay creative in today's crazy internet climate, so don't sleep on this one!

    Walk Through The Fear - Tracey Becca

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 40:36


    Tracey Becca is a fabulous friend who does hilarious things out in the world. Her 'Terrible Advice' Instagram account has me in stitches on a regular basis. I'm very happy to be bringing her joy, warmth, and some of that funny bone onto the podcast and into your ears! As she says: "everything you want is attainable, the only limits that you have are the limits that you place on yourself".

    Failure is a Launchpad - Shara Ruffin

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 46:25


    Five-time Amazon best-selling author Shara Ruffin shares some of the most difficult times that she went through along her path to getting her licenses including 6-7 years of being a working mom with no transportation, failing her tests by mere points, and even losing 4 months of progress in Animal Crossing! She made it her mission to help social workers pass their Bachelor, Master, and Clinical Licensing exams with an astonishing 99% success rate. Now she provides inspiration, as well as mental health & social work test prep through her company Journey to Licensure.

    We're So Used to Comparing Ourselves to Other People - Chris Bogue

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2022 54:19


    My friend, and a breath of fresh air on LinkedIn, Chris Bogue stops by to say hello! Learn how he came into his own level of comfort after studying improv at Second City. He shares his struggles trying to fit as a non-square peg in a very square world, dealing with divorce, and lacking self-confidence. He's hilarious, genuine, and oh so great to have on the podcast!

    comparing second city bogue second city improv
    Failure Is Not Just a Part of Success, It's a Barrier to Entry - Travis Chappell

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 46:02


    Travis Chappell, who matches up podcast hosts & guests in his position as founder & CEO at Guestio.com. As a podcast host of the Build Your Network podcast, Travis has interviewed some superstar networkers like Shaquille O'Neal, Grant Cardone, John C. Maxwell and many more! Learn how Travis went from selling solar alarms door-to-door to owning his own seven-figure business as he progressed through his many attempts at 'making it' in his own entrepreneurial journey!

    Dragging it Through the Garden - Jordan Goldmeier

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 107:11


    Are you a data head? Jordan Goldmeier is! We have a fantastic conversation that dips into everything from pushing Excel to the limit, failing in business, and becoming a digital nomad! He's a three-time author as well as a fellow Microsoft MVP. We also deep dive into Jordan's interesting tattoo of a hot dog which leads us to: What is the proper Chicago-style hot dog? Is Big Ketchup out to get Jordan? Are hot dogs a sandwich? Are hot dogs a taco? Are tacos a sandwich..? All these questions and more will be answered right here!!!

    Dance with Failure! - Deborah Driggs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 61:57


    The voice & personality behind Deb's Den and former Playboy playmate & centerfold, Deborah Driggs shares her experiences on her journey to becoming a friend of failure, in acting, sales, and now in becoming an author! Her upcoming book, releasing later in 2022, 'Son of a Basque' comes directly from her grandfather and tells a story she's been dying to tell! Learn from her experiences getting rejected from audition to audition as well as experiencing quite a lot of struggle in her personal career and in the process of writing and publishing her first books!

    My Scars Are What Makes Me Beautiful - Wendy Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 71:04


    Wendy Harris is an absolutely fabulous friend from across the pond. She hosts 'Making Conversations Count' which is a podcast that emphasizes creating long-lasting business relationships and she has loads of experience to back it up! A sales trainer and speaker with over 30 years of experience perfecting sales calls, she shares her insights into that world as well as follows me along the many meandering tangents that we discuss. I hope you enjoy the 'Queen of Conversation' as much as I did!

    I Just Need Something to Put My Life In Order - Phillip Deason (k1ngrand0m)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 68:07


    What started as a simple little obsession with Skittles has now brought Phillip Deason, aka k1ngrand0om on TikTok, to the tiny screens of millions of users! With over 110 million views and over half a million subscribers, the Royalty of Random has found some of his passion. But he's just getting started! While the conversation certainly does drift into randomness here and there, his insights into how to get seen on platforms like TikTok are super useful. I still have yet to record my first official TikTok, but I can only imagine I'll use a video from our discussion as a first attempt. Enjoy!

    Successful People Live in Truths - Bob Burg

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2022 35:27


    Co-Author of The Go-Giver, Bob Burg, shares his insights as to why you should think about giving more than getting. We discuss topics like being resistant to change, pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, and the importance of providing immense value to everyone you deal with. His book has forever changed how I think about business, and my hope is that many of you will benefit from the concepts in his book and podcast!

    Take a Thousand Seats - Angelique Stidhum

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 90:13


    Have you ever known someone who just knew how to get almost anything done? Well, that's kind of Angelique Stidhum's bread & butter. She's a self-proclaimed Professional Rabbit Hole Hunter and she delights in deep diving into different subjects to quickly become knowledgeable in almost any field. I highly suggest you watch the video version of the podcast as it's the first one I have edited and released in its' entirety and definitely adds so much more to the podcast. Watch as Angelique and I crack up talking about the many different rabbit holes that we ourselves go down!

    Don't Fail to Name the Mouse in the Room! - David Wood

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 52:02


    How comfortable are you with sharing your feelings? If you're like me, this might be an area you struggle in... David Wood's new book Mouse in the Room, has a wonderfully artful way of getting around this issue by starting a new mouse-naming revolution! His book aims to help you improve connection and confidence to help unlock your badass leadership skills! A former Consulting Actuary to Fortune 100 companies, David Wood left his cushy Park Avenue job 20 years ago to build the world's largest coaching business. He became #1 on Google for “life coaching,” serving an audience of 150,000 coaches, and coaching thousands of hours across 12 countries. David coaches business owners, executives, and sometimes Colorado prison inmates to produce extraordinary results through authentic, transparent communication.

    "You Don't Fail, You Just Learn" - Bret Shuford

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 49:17


    New baby daddy Bret Shuford shares what it's like to be a new father as part of the 'Broadway Husbands'. He also talks about his struggles battling his own inner demons which eventually lead to a life of coaching others how to be their truest self on social media. Bret Shuford's Broadway credits include Wicked, Cirque Du Soleil's Paramour, Amazing Grace, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid! Hear about the darker side of Broadway's bright lights, and how deep his Disney obsession runs...

    "If You Don't Take a Chance, Nothing Happens." - Raj Subrameyer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2022 56:16


    I'm so excited for you to meet Raj! Raj Subrameyer is a tech career strategist focusing on helping people to land their dream job and becoming successful leaders. He is bursting at the seams to help professionals discover their zone of genius. He has given multiple TEDx talks and is a sought-after speaker at various conferences and has been featured in numerous TV news segments, podcasts, and publications including CBS, FOX, NPR, NBC, and many more! Enjoy his failures on his way toward conquering his fear of public speaking, and how he turned that fear into fuel to get himself on TEDx!

    Social Capital: The Power of Connection - Vedran Rasic (Lead Delta)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 49:55


    I've been looking forward to chatting with Ved for such a long time. He's developed one of my favorite SAAS tools as of late, which is Lead Delta, a CRM for LinkedIn. Despite being on it for 15 years, I've only recently started really digging into it. Our conversation is equal parts insightful and juvenile. We talk entirely too long about Arnold Schwarzenegger, and not long enough about why Ved is so scared of hosting a new podcast with me. Enjoy!

    "I Killed Betty White" - Mark Reid (Zen Sammich)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2022 70:52


    Zen comes in many forms, some unexpected. That's certainly the case with Mark Reid, an American ex-pat living in Japan. Previously a lawyer in the States, he's given that up for a life of being a Japanese paper maker or some such nonsense. Listen in for a peek behind the scenes as he shares the misadventures that brought him to where he is today. Please welcome, Zen Sammich host Mark Reid!

    "There's No Motivation Without Motive" - Barbara Barna Abel

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2022 73:16


    The wonderfully warm and supportive Barbara Barna Abel joins in to give more insight into the wild world of casting. She's a legend in the category having been the casting director on Queer Eye, What Not to Wear, and Man v. Food. We discuss a wide variety of topics from coming into your own personal brand to the importance of meditation and being gentler with yourself. I'd highly recommend listening in as Barbara shares incredibly generously and with sometimes reckless abandon.

    The Slap Heard Around The World - Pellegrino Riccardi

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022 86:46


    Pellegrino Riccardi joins me for a long journey down many meandering paths. He provides unique insight into the Will Smith & Chris Rock kerfuffle that honestly is a take I hadn't heard. We also discuss the difficulties of communicating across cultural barriers, how hard it is to write a book even when you know you should, and much more! Check out his book 'Drowning Quietly: Memoir of a Man's Shortcomings' which I cannot wait to listen to when he records the audiobook (which he promised he would do). Warning: there is a decent amount of foul language...

    "25 Years of Not Knowing & Being a Professional People Pleaser" - Damon Manley

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 69:22


    ADHD coach extraordinaire Damon Manley has a deep desire to help others overcome their inner & outer struggles with ADHD. Throughout our time on the show, he talks about some of his failures and successes which include losing his engagement ring during the proposal, ascending from 400 Instagram followers to 27,000 in less than 6 months, his dashed dreams of being a basketball player, and his ambitious goal of planning to give away $50K in 2023 despite making a small fraction of that so far in his business. Wishing you all the best, Damon!

    "Can I Say I'm a Medical Miracle?" - My 90-Year-Old Nana - MS Awareness

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 77:02


    The most important person in my life is finally on my podcast! To celebrate March as MS Awareness Month (just a hair late), I've finally edited what has been 6 different phone calls with my Nana into one podcast episode that really shows off just how much life you can pack into 90 years. I call her every Sunday, but honestly, these calls where she had to tell her own life stories were so illuminating for me that I feel like I've been given a gift I didn't know was already there. Listen to her recount her life-long battle with MS. In addition, we also tackle semi-random topics like the transition from radio to black & white TV, my grandfather's rejection of Alexander Graham Bell, and even how the Boston Strangler made it harder for my Nana to collect donations for the MS organization she founded with her friend. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do (which, let's be honest, isn't possible). Thanks, Nana!

    "Conquer Your Fear of Failing & You Will Find Success" - Tom Langan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2022 103:18


    Have you ever been so inspired by someone that you walked away feeling like you owed them something? I feel that way every time I chat with Tom Langan, owner & founder of Talex Media. He's logged over 40,000 hours professionally behind the camera lens, and you'd do well to listen to the whole episode if you want to learn all the great insights he has to share. Special thanks to Dominick Domaski (episode 32) for the introduction!

    "We Learn More In Failure Than We Do In Success." - Troy Holt

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 51:44


    Troy Holt, Chief Encouragement Officer of Troy Holt Consulting LLC shares intimate stories about working to spread financial literacy, and also lets us in on fabulous insights regarding failure: "Failure is an event, but if you get in a spirit of defeat, you'll give up, and you quit. Failure doesn't mean that a person is a failure, it just means that something didn't work out, they didn't have success, but they can get up and move forward." He shares a lesson I had to learn the hard way as well, but it's a lesson that is incredibly important: "You learn more in the valleys than on the mountaintops. When you're on the mountaintops, everybody wants you, and they're your friends, but when you're in the valleys, your low places, in the failures, that's when you have your true friends. They'll be with you when you're up or when you're down, and so just remember those that stick with you... don't forget those people when you get to the top!"

    "Fail Now Before Anyone Looks" - Vinnie Potestivo

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 78:40


    Emmy-winning Casting, Brand & Talent Development legend Vinnie Potestivo shares just how difficult show business can be. He discusses many hilarious and insightful stories about his career including his time at MTV Networks where, as producer, he helped to launch shows like Punk'd and The Osbournes. In addition, he also helped cast for shows like TRL, The Tom Green Show, Pimp My Ride and many more! I love his outlook on failure: "When you prepare for failure, it sets you up to win epically or fail collectively. If you're failing really really big, and you're the only person who's failing, you did it wrong. But if you're failing with a group of people, that's learning! That's relationship building and pioneering."

    "Push the Confines of Your Walls Out, So You Can Let Somebody Else In" - Bobby Shanks

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2022 56:04


    Author Bobby Shanks sheds light on the dating dilemma facing many singles today. His book 'Undateable' details why singles struggle with dating and what they can do about it! For this Valentine's Day episode, I figured I'd show the single people some love, and let Bobby help you graduate to the next level and rid yourself of any undateable tendencies you think you might have! He reminds us that "reciprocation is something that all human beings desire", and how important it is for any healthy relationship.

    "Take Life as It Comes on Your Face and Wipe It Away" - April Marie

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 54:48


    The Burgh Blonde April Marie gives a delightfully funny look into her hilariously awful date stories that she compiled for her recently released book 'Burgh Blonde: A Yinzer's Guide to Sex & Dating in the Steel City'. As she explains in the episode, she's actually learned some pretty important insights... "Things changed once I started forgiving people and trying to look on the bright side of things. You can't go around with bitterness in your heart. The sh***y things that happen in your life, it's to teach you something. Once you see that, you can grow from it and learn from your failures." - April Marie

    "I Have a Little Flavor of Everything" - Erica Wiederlight

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 75:44


    Sexual empowerment coach Erica Wiederlight shines her not-so-wee light on the podcast as she courageously shares her story of evolving from a teenager riddled with anxiety to an adult sex & life coach likely still riddled with anxiety haha. Kicking off the Valentine's month of some love-related guests, Erica makes me laugh more than usual and shows just how fun & easy-going our own sexual and relationship journey can be.

    "Enjoy the Moment in Everything You Do" - Scott Gazzoli

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2022 60:34


    The host of the Causing the Effect podcast, Scott Gazzoli, is definitely on my failure wavelength. He dives deep and shares readily with not only his more troubling times as he found his career path but also what he's learned to help better ground yourself during tough times. As he says in the episode, "be ready for the failures to get thrown in your face, because that is where your growth lies..." We also get into meandering discussions of addiction, past mistakes, and even discuss the greatest pro wrestler there ever wasn't: The Great Scott!

    "Fear and Self-Loathing had Given Way to Hope and Something Better" - Doug Crowe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 55:40


    Doug Crowe is certainly a friend of failure and walks us through his most difficult moments on his path to success. His story includes losing a multi-million dollar business, nearly committing suicide, and reinventing himself with the help of an old 'friend'. We also meander through subjects including the future of AI and how he uses his motivational techniques to be a sort of "Author Whisperer" helping those with a story extract it and bring the best version of it to the world!

    "Judge Me By The Enemies I Have Made" - Carole Baskin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 36:27


    The one and only Carole Baskin joins me to talk about the latest updates on her ongoing effort to save Big Cats! She shares her insights on why it's so important to act now if we want to make sure Tigers are still here in the near future. She also sheds some light on the difficulties and disappointment related to how Tiger King ended up compared to how it was pitched. And we even get into what's next for her including NFTs, crypto and other ways in which we can utilize technology to help save the tigers!

    "We Sell Happiness, How Do You Measure That?" - BluWave Wellbeing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2022 50:40


    The founders of BluWave Wellbeing are basically best friends and business partners! Lisa Thompson and Libby Rapin are trying to help remove the stigma about mental health, especially in the workplace. They're trying to get companies to take mental health & awareness services much more seriously. In these uncertain days, it's even more important than ever to make sure your inner self is in order so that your outer self can succeed!

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