DeepSummary
In this episode of the How to Fail podcast, Elizabeth Day interviews Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. Khan shares his personal and professional failures that shaped him, including being rejected as a teenage cricketer and realizing the rules were rigged against him. He discusses struggling to belong in a world dominated by posh white public schoolboys and how he finally decided to accept himself.
Khan talks about the failure to become an environmentalist until his forties when he was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma due to air pollution. He shares the heartbreaking story of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a 9-year-old whose death was linked to air pollution, which motivated him to take action on climate change and air quality.
The mayor also reflects on his failure to realize the impact that being mayor would have on his family, including the constant security presence, lack of spontaneity, and racist abuse they endure. He expresses uncertainty about whether he would have pursued politics if he had known the toll it would take on his family.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Embracing personal growth and changing perspectives based on new evidence is a strength, not a weakness.
- Public figures must balance professional duties with personal well-being and family commitments.
- Racism and prejudice create barriers that require resilience and determination to overcome.
- Empathy and understanding diverse experiences are essential for effective leadership.
- Addressing environmental issues like air pollution requires urgent action and policy changes.
- Mental health struggles should be destigmatized, and open discussions encouraged.
- Opportunities should be accessible to all, regardless of background or privilege.
- Humility and self-awareness are valuable traits for leaders and public figures.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “There's no excuse for bullying. There really isn't.“ by Sadiq Khan
- “I was depressed during the pandemic because I thrive on a variety of things which I didn't realize make me mentally fit.“ by Sadiq Khan
- “Listen, I think firstly, both as a lawyer but also as the mayor, I've met people going through some really severe post traumatic stress disorder. So I want to equate what I'm going through with what they've been through.“ by Sadiq Khan
- “I'm an outsider generally. For six months when I was a baby lawyer, I started speaking posh because I thought that's how you fit in.“ by Sadiq Khan
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Episode Information
How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment
6/26/24