From Bitterness to Betterment

The Gendered Weight of Failure- Christine Sutton

In this bonus episode of the Best Fails podcast, host Alison Beckles sits down with occupational psychologist Christine Sutton to unpack failure, leadership, and the hidden pressures women face at the top. The conversation exposed the systemic inequalities embedded in workplace culture and the very different way failure is experienced—and internalised—by women. Together, Alison and Christine explore the “glass cliff”phenomenon, where women are more likely to be handed high-risk leadership roles in times of crisis, only to shoulder disproportionate blame when things go wrong. They discuss the emotional toll this takes, its impact on career trajectories, and why psychological safety is not a “nice to have” but aleadership essential. The episode closes with a call to action: the importance of reflection, strong support networks, and organisationalresponsibility in creating fairer, safer environments for women in leadership. Honest, insightful, and deeply relevant, this conversation challenges how we think about failure—and who is allowed to fail.Check out our show notes for more information about the episode, including information about our guests: https://mybestfails.com/Follow the podcast: https://www.instagram.com/bestfailspodcast/Follow our work: https://www.instagram.com/clarenneconsulting/

From Bitterness to Betterment

In this episode of Best Fails, host Alison Beckles sits down with Gail Weithers, who opens up about the deeply personal and traumatic experience of losing her job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gail recounts the shock of discovering she was among those affected, especially after years of compromising her own well-being—within her marriage, family life, and mental health—for the sake of her career. She reflects on how the loss shook her sense of identity, and how reconnecting with gardening unexpectedly became a catalyst for her healing journey. Through her story, Gail underscores the importance of self-compassion, boundary-setting, and the profound impact of simply having someone who will listen. Ultimately, her journey is one of resilience, illustrating how moments of failure can become powerful opportunities for growth, clarity, and reinvention. Check out our show notes for more information about the episode, including information about our guests: https://mybestfails.com/Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestfailspodcast/Follow our work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarenneconsulting/

Miss- Takes

In this episode of Best Fails, Alison Beckles sits down with JK McQuinn for a deeply honest conversation about failure, resilience, and the lifelong work of personal growth. Together, they explore the power of embracing imperfection and the wisdom we can draw from nature—particularly JK’s reminder that nature doesn’t do perfection, and neither should we. JK reflects on a past failure that still makes her toes curl, sharing candidly how her community played a pivotal role in helping her recover, rebuild, and reshape her relationship with failure. She introduces the idea that what we call “mistakes” are often simply “miss-takes”—moments where we miss the mark, learn, and try again. The conversation delves into the dual discomfort of navigating ambiguity and the emotional complexity that accompanies failure. JK speaks to the courage required to sit with uncertainty, as well as the profound relief and growth that can come from finally letting go. At its heart, this episode is a celebration of self‑discovery, the quiet strength found in community, and the courage to honour our own growth. It reminds us to celebrate not only the people who lift us up, but also the moments when we become our own heroes—choosing to rise, to learn, and to keep moving forward after we fall.

Learning to Embrace the Imperfections

In 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 vulnerability, accountability, and the ways perfectionism can quietly limit the impact we are capable of making. Avelyn’s story is a powerful reminder: meaningful impact doesn’t require perfection—it requires presence.

The Story I'll Tell

In 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 grounding and empowering: our choices carry weight, but it’s never too late to pursue the life you’ve been dreaming about.