Charlotte Church - ‘I was totally exploited. I was a commodity’

Charlotte Church is currently starring in the first ever series of BBC One’s Celebrity Traitors. But she first found global fame as the young classical singer with the voice of an angel. By 22, she had sold 10 million records and performed for popes, presidents and princes. The success came at a devastating personal cost - here, she tells us what really happened and how she found her way into what is arguably her most powerful iteration yet: her healing phase. This episode was recorded live in Bath earlier this year. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 06:33 Reconnecting with Nature 08:55 Psychedelic Experiences and Healing 10:31 Creative Struggles and Musical Journey 16:38 Reflections on the Music Industry 21:09 Family and Ambitions 21:33 Struggles with Patriarchy and Colonialism 22:30 The Symbolism of Tattoos 24:13 Understanding Patriarchy 29:57 Challenges in the Music Industry 31:28 Personal Identity 34:39 Embracing the Wild Woman Archetype 40:08 Balancing Fame and Personal Beliefs 💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER: There's no two ways about it: I was not looked after, I was not nurtured, I was just totally exploited. I was a commodity and the industry was incredibly razor sharp. What makes us advance, is suffering. I'm dreaming of a world where everybody can start to feel what balance truly feels like. 🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS: Charlotte is starring in Celebrity Traitors on BBC One Elizabeth’s Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/ Join the How To Fail community: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content 📚 WANT MORE? Tom Daley - discusses overcoming perfectionism, anxiety, and the fear of failure. He also shares how failure shaped his resilience and coping strategies - like knitting! https://play.megaphone.fm/deiztbmwsrw-vz5by9ajtw Claudia Winkleman - talks hilariously about her dislike of perfectionism, her introversion, struggles with sleep and the challenges of living in the present. https://play.megaphone.fm/cszzpxoqqb6_jx2furt7ba Paloma Faith - reflects on her experiences with rejection and self‑judgment, struggling to conceive, and the tension between her public persona and inner vulnerabilities. https://play.megaphone.fm/rq-vrlg6sla2hyboi6znkq 💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE? Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts Leave a 5⭐ review – it helps more people discover these stories 👋 Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth: Instagram: @elizabday TikTok: @howtofailpod Podcast Instagram: @howtofailpod Website: www.elizabethday.org Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/ Elizabeth and Charlotte answer YOUR questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of