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Fern Brady - ‘I make more money in comedy than I ever did from stripping‘

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Manage episode 497308362 series 2397857
Content provided by Sony Music, Elizabeth Day, and Sony Music Entertainment. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Sony Music, Elizabeth Day, and Sony Music Entertainment or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In this searingly funny and deeply affecting live conversation, Elizabeth speaks to stand-up comedian, author and Taskmaster favourite Fern Brady about her autism diagnosis, her working-class roots, and the failures that shaped her award-winning memoir Strong Female Character.

Fern opens up about late diagnosis, social masking, and stripping to fund her education - all delivered with the brutal honesty and whip-smart humour that’s made her one of the most exciting voices in comedy today. A powerful exploration of identity, feminism, and finding your voice.

What stood out for you in this episode? Leave us a comment.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

01:58 Autism Diagnosis and Masking

04:40 Experiences on Taskmaster

11:40 University Struggles and Stripping

17:33 Challenges of Writing a Memoir

20:03 Reflections on Edinburgh

21:49 Struggles with Mental Health and Misdiagnosis

22:35 University Challenges and Autistic Shutdowns

23:25 Extreme Stress and Physical Symptoms

24:34 Breaking into Comedy and Facing Limitations

26:05 Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs

27:55 Navigating the Comedy Industry

34:02 Rejecting Mainstream Entertainment

37:21 Celebrity Bakeoff Experience

💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

“Even when people don’t know you’re autistic, they know you’re autistic. They pick up on something different about you.”“Comedy radicalised me as a feminist. And so did working in a strip club.”“I was told I had the wrong energy for QI. I think that was a coded way to say I was too common.”“Autistic people are always learning to speak neurotypical. All we’re asking is for a bit of that in return.”

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:


📚 WANT MORE?

  • Christine McGuinness on autism, calm and self-acceptance

  • Caitlin Moran on feminism, girls and mental health

  • Miriam Margolyes on difference, defiance and not caring what people think

💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE?

  • Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts

  • Leave a 5⭐ review – it helps more people discover these stories

  • Share with someone exploring neurodiversity or recovering their voice

👋 Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth:

Elizabeth and Fern answer YOUR questions live in Edinburgh in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here:

Have a failure you’re trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Live Show Engineer: Will Kontargyris

Sound Engineer: Matias Torres

Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali

Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  continue reading

313 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 497308362 series 2397857
Content provided by Sony Music, Elizabeth Day, and Sony Music Entertainment. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Sony Music, Elizabeth Day, and Sony Music Entertainment or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In this searingly funny and deeply affecting live conversation, Elizabeth speaks to stand-up comedian, author and Taskmaster favourite Fern Brady about her autism diagnosis, her working-class roots, and the failures that shaped her award-winning memoir Strong Female Character.

Fern opens up about late diagnosis, social masking, and stripping to fund her education - all delivered with the brutal honesty and whip-smart humour that’s made her one of the most exciting voices in comedy today. A powerful exploration of identity, feminism, and finding your voice.

What stood out for you in this episode? Leave us a comment.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

01:58 Autism Diagnosis and Masking

04:40 Experiences on Taskmaster

11:40 University Struggles and Stripping

17:33 Challenges of Writing a Memoir

20:03 Reflections on Edinburgh

21:49 Struggles with Mental Health and Misdiagnosis

22:35 University Challenges and Autistic Shutdowns

23:25 Extreme Stress and Physical Symptoms

24:34 Breaking into Comedy and Facing Limitations

26:05 Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs

27:55 Navigating the Comedy Industry

34:02 Rejecting Mainstream Entertainment

37:21 Celebrity Bakeoff Experience

💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

“Even when people don’t know you’re autistic, they know you’re autistic. They pick up on something different about you.”“Comedy radicalised me as a feminist. And so did working in a strip club.”“I was told I had the wrong energy for QI. I think that was a coded way to say I was too common.”“Autistic people are always learning to speak neurotypical. All we’re asking is for a bit of that in return.”

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:


📚 WANT MORE?

  • Christine McGuinness on autism, calm and self-acceptance

  • Caitlin Moran on feminism, girls and mental health

  • Miriam Margolyes on difference, defiance and not caring what people think

💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE?

  • Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts

  • Leave a 5⭐ review – it helps more people discover these stories

  • Share with someone exploring neurodiversity or recovering their voice

👋 Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth:

Elizabeth and Fern answer YOUR questions live in Edinburgh in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here:

Have a failure you’re trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Live Show Engineer: Will Kontargyris

Sound Engineer: Matias Torres

Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali

Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  continue reading

313 episodes

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