Shows
Best FailsLearning to Embrace the ImperfectionsIn this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles sits downwith Avelyn Christie for a candid and deeply human conversation about a failure in progress. Avelyn discusses her vision for an organization aimed at empowering young girls inspired by Kintsugi, a Japanese artform which celebrates the beauty in brokenness. In a moment of irony, Avelyn realised that her desire for perfection has kept the organization from ever launching. What began as a mission to provide solace and find beauty in our imperfect lives had been stalled by the very fear it was seeking to dismantle. Together, Alison andAvelyn explore...
2025-12-231h 00
Best FailsThe Story I'll TellIn this episode, I sit down with Davina Layne, a certifiedhospitality trainer and consultant, for a conversation about personal growth, emotional intelligence, and personal leadership.Davina reflects on how operating from a mindset of scarcityslowly caused her to lose sight of herself. We explored the danger of making permanent decisions based on temporary challenges, the transformative impact of gratitude, and the power of focusing on what’s truly within our control.She reminds us that self-discovery isn’t a destination—it’san ongoing journey shaped by community, courage, and intentional reflection.Her message is both...
2025-11-251h 01Best FailsTrusting the Internal SignalsIn this episode of Best Fails, I’m joined by Sarah Kalmeta better known as Sarah “The Pivoter” who shares her powerful journey of growth, resilience, and reinvention. She shares the lessons from her first marriage, how she navigated the pressures of perfectionism and opens up about the pivotalmoments that shaped her path. We explore:How tuning into internal cues can guide us back on course when life feels misalignedThe importance of playfulness, rest, and self‑awareness in overcoming challengesThe impact of supportive relationships and regular self‑check‑ins in moving through fear and loneliness Sarah’s story...
2025-10-2858 min
Best FailsGrappling with PurposeIn this episode of Best Fails, Alison Beckles sitsdown with Christina Hahrwell to unpack the layered themes of purpose, authenticity, and failure. Together, they examine how societal expectations and personal histories shape our identities—and the masks we learn to wear.Christina opens up about her journey of wrestling withpurpose and learning to honor the richness of her background. Her lived experiences have gifted her a unique ability to forge connections in places others might overlook. She reflects on how the masks she once wore contributedto moments of failure, and the challenge of navigating relationships now that th...
2025-09-2358 minBest FailsSean Ifill- I needed to transition my mindsetIn this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles engages with Sean Ifill, who shares his journey from employee toentrepreneur, highlighting the mindset shifts required for success. They discuss the cultural perceptions of failure, and the lessons learned from Sean's startup experience, including the importance of changing your perspectiveto match your new role, building a team, being a bit flexible with your vision. Sean emphasises the need to give yourself space to mourn the failure and to find motivation by focusing on fulfilling your immediate needs. He ends by offeringvaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs- “don't be afraid to ask qu...
2025-04-1558 minBest FailsKate Dean- It wasn't a failure, it was a lucky escapeIn this episode of the Best Fails podcast, host Alison Beckles speaks with Kate Dean about her journey through failure, particularly in the context of education and neurodiversity. Kate shares her story of pursuing a career in law, facing setbacks, and ultimately finding her passion in advocacy and support for others. She reflected on the impact of herneurodivergence on her educational journey and on the challenges faced by neurodiverse individuals on a whole as they navigate an educational system that is built on a deficit model rather than on a person’s innate strengths. Theydiscuss the importance of support sy...
2025-04-011h 02Best FailsJohn Yarde-What are you willing to live for?In this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles engages with John Yarde, a Barbadian pastor and musician, who shared about the repercussions of a decision he made. John discusses the challenges of navigating the expectations of others while staying true to his values and beliefs. The conversation delves into the importance of support systems, self-reflection, resilience, and focusing on purpose in themidst of adversity. John also offers listeners valuable advice when facing tough decisions about their careers and personal lives.
2025-03-1851 minBest FailsJoanne Price- I need a challengeIn this episode of the Best Fails podcast, host Alison Beckles engages in a heartfelt conversation with Joanne Price about her experiences with failure and the lessons learned along the way. Joanne reflects on how she learnt to respondto failure, emphasizing the importance of resilience, job crafting, and the support of mentors. The discussion highlights how even seemingly small failures can lead to profound self-discovery and growth, and encourages listeners to embrace their own failures as opportunities for learning and development.
2025-03-0447 minBest FailsJames Hardie- Failure is part of the journeyIn this episode of the Best Fails podcast, host Alison Beckles speaks with James Hardie, a former military pilot whose career was transformed by failure. The conversation delves into themes of resilience, identity, and the importance ofsupport systems in overcoming failure. James emphasises the need to plan for potential failures and to learn from both personal and others' mistakes, ultimately framing failure as a critical part of personal growth and success.
2025-02-181h 02
Best FailsLynda Richard: Bloom wherever you are plantedIn this episode of Best Fails, Lynda Richards shares her
journey of grappling with feelings of failure despite the successes she had achieved. Growing up in a culture that emphasized academic excellence, Lynda reflects on how that shaped her perspective of success. After moving to Barbados and facing unemployment, she struggled with not meeting her own high expectations. She describes how she overcame these obstacles by shifting her perspective on success, embracing self-compassion, and creating opportunities
for herself though volunteering. The conversation touches on themes of resilience, redefining success, and the importance of accepting and learning from failure.
2025-02-0453 minBest FailsTrailer- Lynda RichardsHow do we pivot, when we are not meeting the milestones we set for ourselves? In this week's episode of Best Fails, Lynda shared her experience of struggling with feelings of failure because her life wasn't meeting her expectations.
Check out the full episode on Tuesday 04th February, 2025.
2025-02-0100 min