#Fail Better

[dd-is-my-guiltypleasure]

Hey @davidduchovny, I’m loving your podcast. You’re so good at it!

Hey everybody else, have a listen they’re really special.

[mvlderfox]

gillian anderson praising david duchovny’s podcast “fail better” on ig // july 15, 2024

[lostdogs10]

Gillian: Hey david duchovny, I’m loving your podcast. You’re so good at it!

Hey everybody else, have a listen they’re really special.

[randomfoggytiger]

David Duchovny's Rehab Snitch: Confirmation

Every article I've come across discussing DD's stint in rehab always recycled the same sentiment, which abcnews succinctly sums up:

He was the first celebrity to own up to sex addiction. Other public figures have sought treatment following sexual indiscretions since then.... But Duchovny still holds the distinction of being the only celebrity to cite sex addiction as his reason for treatment, as opposed to depression, "undisclosed reasons" or any number of other ailments.

Yet, according to his own words, David had a different experience:

To be honest with you, when I went through it [rehab] and I was stripped of my anonymity, y'know, immediately-- which, if you're going to attempt to do 12 Step stuff, anonymity is a keystone of that. And I was barred from that almost immediately in my journey there.

And I wondered: what could he be referencing, being "stripped of his anonymity?"

Well, the only article I could find that confirms DD's side of things was written in October 2008-- and it paints a different picture from the one I hear commonly speculated:

"X Files" star David Duchovny's announcement that was he was in rehab for sex addiction sparked a lot of rumors. One of them was that he'd been caught having an affair with his tennis instructor (a woman) and that he was undergoing rehab to save his marriage.

Alas, it isn't so, says a close friend. Duchovny did not check in because of an extramarital fling. That much the friend is certain of. Even more so: Duchovny's problem has been longstanding. His wife, Tea Leoni, was aware of it for some time. It had just reached a point where it had to be treated.

I have inferred from my conversation with Duchovny's friend that this has something to do with an addiction to pornography, probably on the internet. It's the sex equivalent of a gambling addiction, where the person is just hopelessly trapped in chat rooms....

By the way, I'm told that David issued that press statement about his rehab because the tabloids were about to issue their own story. What happened: A fellow patient "dropped a dime" on David to make some extra coin. Nice confidentiality!

Huffington Post still has the article up, meaning whatever legal measures David used to shut down alleged affair rumors were ineffective or unwarranted in this case: either because he didn't feel the need to address anonymous speculation-- other rag mags still have "articles" up about he or Tea cheating, after all-- or because the "source" had proof that the newspaper wielded in their defense. Regardless, no other tabloid fodder matched the key detail DD mentioned on his podcast. Meaning, to me, these claims not only coincide with what he said, but also have legs of their own.

This is all to be taken with a grain of salt, of course. No one will ever know the truth of what happened except David and Tea. As is their right.

Thank you for reading~

[beedomexf]

I've recently started tuning into a new podcast by David Duchovny—not just because I've been obsessively rewatching The X-Files for the last 30 years—called "Fail Better." Think of it as therapy, but cheaper and with fewer aliens (just me?).

The show dives into how our failures shape us, and let me tell you, my big takeaway has been the shocking realization that not everything needs to be perfect on the first try. Who knew, right?

Apparently, our subconscious mind doesn’t register negatives. So, when we tell ourselves "don't panic," all it hears is "panic." Now I get why my heart rate jumps and my feet tingle before exams.

Listening to highly successful individuals (Bette Midler, Ben Stiller, and Brad Gilbert so far) discuss their epic fails has been eye-opening. I’ve come to realize that my anxiety stems from a fear of failure because I care. It's okay to care, and it's okay to fear failure. Failure isn’t inherently negative; it’s just a funny-shaped stepping stone on the path to greatness.

Striving for perfection without support from peers, mentors, or management often leads to paralysis by analysis. Trust me, I’ve been there, staring at my computer screen, contemplating my existence, and wondering if I can turn coloring in and listening to podcasts into a career.

When I perceive that I've failed, my mind spirals into catastrophic thinking about my career, home, and relationships. This podcast is teaching me to focus on the present and not let the fear of failure dictate my actions. Easier said than done, but hey, baby steps!

I enjoy listening to "Fail Better" on Amazon Music Prime Podcasts on Tuesday mornings with my coffee while planning my day. It's been a game-changer in helping me embrace imperfection and focus on continuous improvement. Plus, it’s always fun to hear someone more successful than you talk about their mess-ups—it’s like schadenfreude with a side of self-help.

[nachosncheezies]

I'm curious-- did you ever end up listening to DD's podcast?

I like it the more it unfolds; but also, your tags got me interested to learn about Fred Armisen because I had no clue (or interest in, at the time) who he was. I like him already, so thanks for that. >:D (And the convo's neat, too.)

I haven't! To be honest, I've never really followed DD; his work outside The X Files never really interested me. There was a time he had a certain kind of reputation that was not really compatible with anything about me, and there's just something about his whole vibe that I'm still kind of wary tbh. Someone on here commented recently about knowing these sort of boys and I felt like I knew exactly what they meant. I can't really explain it any better than that. 🙊🫣

That said! There's something interesting about the artistic polymath archetype in general, and it seems like he's done a good job of presenting himself in that light more recently. And Fred Armisen has always appeared to me to have that, and been genuine and very unassuming about it from the start. I think it's wild I've not seen Fred as Fred (not his impressions/characters) much, considering how very many things he has featured and guested in, and some of the people who have worked with him and sung his praises (The gen x NYC/Chicago improv/writers crew stands out - think Tina Fey, Seth Myers, Amy Poehler, etc). The few times I've seen him interviewed were mostly about his music, so speaking with another actor? I'm certainly at least interested to hear what they have to say.

This hubub over Gillian potentially being a guest has my attention too, of COURSE!

I have to figure out where/how to access it first though. I'm a bit of an idiot about these things tbh 😂 is it free? got a link?

[ongawdclub]

T r y A g a i n . . .

[abwatt]

Sun in Taurus III (9-20 May 2024)

The Sun enters Taurus III The Prayer Beads on May 10, 2024 at 12:06 am EDT. It’s an apt name that Austin Coppock chose for this decan, given that ancient sources associate it with the Litai, or the spirits of the prayers; the Chaldean order assigns it as the first decan belonging to Saturn. T. Susan Chang called it Fail Better, nicely framing its relationship to the 7 of pentacles — which Pamela…

[numb3reddays]

Hi I’m your Spotify doctor and here’s your prescription:

Step on Me by the Cardigans

The Bug Collector by Haley Heynderickx**

Weak for Your Love by Thee Sacred Soul

Knots by machinegum**

Alice in Wonderland by Joanna Wang**

gimme all ur love by hemlocke springs**

Queer Recovery Club by Fail Better, Heal Faster

She Sings by Mook*

Intro by The Polar Boys*

Another Believer by Rufus Wainwright

Registered Girl by Sweetheart**

j's lullaby (darling i'd wait for you) by Delaney Bailey**

Young Folks by John Jin Han, Soren Bryce

Lew's Lullaby by Ritt Monmey*

could this be love by saturn 17**

Bold and * means take 2 times a day Bold and ** means take 4 times a day

[dd-is-my-guiltypleasure]

David Duchovny: 'Everything I do feels like a failure'

[randomfoggytiger]

Fail Better Premium: David's Thoughts (Part II)

Creating a breadcrumb trail with David Duchovny's personal growth.

"Just some random, voice memo thoughts about the Bette Midler interview-- because I'm still afraid of the technology, over there on the table. I'm just gonna hold the phone, near my mouth. I can trust that."

"I understood what she [Bette] was saying about 'always knowing'-- she had a knowing that... she had something to say, something to express, some talent to share. And I related to that, and I think I have felt that way, too. Y'know, not, obviously not in any way similar to Bette; but there was something in me, always, that thought, 'Mm, I've got something to put out there; and it's going to be recognized as having some kind of value at some point'. And it's hard to say without arrogance, y'know-- it's hard to not sound arrogant when you say something like that. But I will say, it gets you through periods of failure-- it got me through tons of rejections when I first was acting."

"I had my daughter, and I didn't want to raise her in Hollywood. I kinda left show business; and I wonder what, I wonder.... You kinda know what somebody's thinking, y'know, they don't want to raise somebody in Hollywood-- I did it myself. We took my kids out of Los Angeles when my son was about three and my daughter was about seven, and we raised them in New York. Now, still a big city with a lot of people looking; but different from Hollywood when you have two actor parents, myself and Tea."

(Part I)

[chloesimaginationthings]

Why did William get FNAF springlocked? Is he stupid?

[fernsehn]

Guys. Don't panic. One day David Duchovny will do the last ep of his podcast and it will be with Gillian. Mark my words.

[plumadot]

boat boys on hermitcraft. losing my mind

[thelvadams]

15: maybe i'm the bad luck... i should go

also 15 posing on the TARDIS walkways waiting for ruby to come in: