FailCraft

How do you go from a high school dropout at 18 to signing deals with Penguin and Scholastic? For Kern Carter, it wasn't an overnight success—it was a 15-year game of strategy and perseverance. Kern shares the raw reality of becoming a father at 18, losing his scholarship, and having to leave home to support his family. He describes the loneliness of that setback and the immense pressure to pro...

How does a doctor with a thriving practice and the "American Dream" end up divorced, bankrupt, and diagnosed with cancer all at once? Dr. Alain Salas, a mind-body expert and Amazon #1 best-selling author, shares his harrowing journey from the peak of success to a devastating rock bottom. He reveals how severe burnout caused his life to crumble—living in his office for three years while b...

Why do we get stuck in a "vicious cycle" even when we know what we *should* be doing? Dr. Len Lopez, a nutrition and fitness expert with over 25 years of experience, realized that most people fail because they are trying to balance a "three-legged stool" while only focusing on one leg. . He explains that true health isn't just about what you eat or how you train—it's ab...

Are you running your day, or is your day running you? For many leaders, the road to burnout is paved with "reaction mode." Dusty Holcomb, a former CEO and 5-time Ironman, knows this trap intimately. He shares his story of being a new company president who tried to "do it all," only to realize that his inability to let go was holding the company back. He describes the suffocatin...

How do you turn a near-death experience at 19 years old into a philosophy for life and business? Jordan Mendoza, a top LinkedIn voice and host of the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast, takes us back to the terrifying moment in Wyoming when he woke up in a truck sliding at 70mph. He details the gruesome reality of the crash, losing pints of blood, requiring 52 staples to put his legs back together, and...

How does a young man with "every opportunity to become a statistic" end up a US Marine Officer and leadership mentor? Olaolu Ogunyemi gets real about his past, sharing how insecurities about his name, his appearance, and a deep need to "fit in" nearly put him on the wrong path. He was getting into trouble, trying to incite fights, and living down to the low expectations around...

Why do brilliant, technically-skilled leaders get fired? Michael Delisser, author of Leadership Accelerators, had a front-row seat to this exact problem when he was just 15. He watched his father coach Fortune 100 executives who, despite managing entire financial divisions, were fired for one simple reason: poor communication skills. This episode is a deep dive into the core FailCraft theme: how &...

What does it take to forge a champion's mindset? For Nicky Billou, it started with fleeing tyranny. Called "the world's greatest podcast guest," Nicky shares the harrowing foundational setback of his childhood: fleeing Iran as a Christian immigrant after a Molotov cocktail crashed into his living room. He explains how that single event—moving from "tyranny to freedom"—s...

How does a three-year-old child survive a house fire that takes her mother's life? And how does she heal after being placed for adoption only to face years of abuse? Avonley Lightstone, author of Strength of Scars, shares her almost unbelievable story of survival. She details the harrowing moment she tried to save her mother, the agonizing pain of her recovery, and the profound feeling of aban...

How do you build a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio when you've been evicted over 15 times? David Webb, "The No Money Millionaire," shares his unbelievable story of turning a life of constant setbacks into a strategy for wealth. He takes us back to his rock bottom, from having his cars repossessed to powering his home with his car battery and an inverter because the electri...

How can a high-achieving executive and IronMan athlete look so successful on the outside, yet be internally collapsing from addiction? Kenny Stoddart, founder of IronMind Advisors, shares his raw journey of navigating this exact paradox. He describes his rock bottom not as a single event, but as an internal disaster of shame hidden behind a cape of high performance. "Things looked great on th...

Are you doing everything right but still feel exhausted and behind? The problem isn't your to-do list, it's your bandwidth. Dr. Maureen "Moe" Gibbons, an ER physician and author of Freedom to SHIFT, shares her own story of hitting the wall. She describes working intense night shifts while building a medical practice—a journey that looked like success on the outside but masked a c...

Why do so many successful leaders still feel empty, even when they "have it all"? Markus Neukom, a visionary thought partner, shares his raw journey through a 2020 depression that made him question his entire identity as a successful executive coach. He reveals how this profound setback forced him to confront Imposter Syndrome, not as a problem, but as a symptom of a deeper issue: living...

Ever wonder how many failures stand between you and success? In this episode of FailCraft , Ezekiel explores the idea that failure isn’t a setback—it’s progress in disguise. Recorded on International Day for Failure, he dives into why each failed attempt brings you one step closer to your breakthrough and how failing faster might just be the smartest move you can make.

Welcome to FailCraft, the show where we explore the art of failing forward. Hosted by Ezekiel Iferia, this podcast dives into the stories behind the setbacks — from creators, entrepreneurs, and everyday dreamers who turned mistakes into milestones. In this trailer, Ezekiel shares why failure isn’t something to fear, but to study, refine, and craft into mastery. Subscribe now — your next failure mi...