S20, Ep6 MEL B - ‘I was a Spice Girl shouting about girl power, but I was girl powerless.’

TW: coercive / controlling relationships

Mel B has a story that everyone needs to hear. It’s a story of resilience in the face of severe adversity - and how we can conquer our biggest fears if we put our minds to it.

Melanie was in a coercively controlling and abusive relationship for a decade. After finding the courage to leave, she dealt with years of isolation, post-traumatic stress disorder and a loss of confidence. She also had to build her way back from bankruptcy to financial independence. In this - her most open interview yet - Melanie tells the story of how a mixed-race kid from a council estate in Leeds who was once rejected from a Sound of Music audition for being ‘too Black’ became a global superstar, lost it all, then worked to gain it all back. I am so incredibly grateful to Melanie for speaking with such honesty and sheer courage about what she went through. It will help countless other survivors.

And as always, I’d LOVE to hear about your failures. Every week, my guest and I will choose a selection to read out and answer on our special subscription offering, Failing with Friends. We’ll endeavour to give you advice, wisdom, some laughs and much, much more.

Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Manager: Lily Hambly

Studio Engineer: Gulli Lawrence-Tickle

Mix Engineer: Josh Gibbs

Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

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