A few years ago, Shabaz Ali was a chemistry teacher in Blackburn. Today, he’s one of the internet’s most beloved creators, best known as Shabaz Says, with millions of fans and a knack for skewering the most outrageous (and often tasteless) displays of online excess.

Since quitting the day job, Shabaz has launched a podcast, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and published his book I’m Rich, You’re Poor. Beneath the humour though, there’s always been something more serious at play: a sharp commentary on the psychological erosion that comes from spending too much of our lives online.

In this episode, we talk about Shabaz’s upbringing, being bullied at school, how his taxi-driver Dad didn’t even realise his son was famous until recently and why no-one should ever spend £10,000 on an outfit.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction

03:03 The Impact of Social Media on Youth

05:14 Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Success

10:53 Embracing Authenticity and Overcoming Criticism

12:46 Growing Up in Blackburn

15:45 Challenges of Intersectional Identity

22:36 Family Perspectives and Cultural Expectations

24:04 Struggles with Poverty

25:20 Empathy

30:15 From Teacher to Social Media Star

31:24 Unexpected Career in the Hospital Morgue

33:38 Finding Viral Success Online

37:16 Representation and Finding Your Voice

💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

You can be a man and still speak up for women's rights. You don't have to be a black person to speak up for black people. You don't have to be trans to speak up for trans rights.

How you present yourself is always how the world's going to treat you.

[Death] definitely gave me an appreciation for life. It gave me appreciation for human beings... I have so much love to give for humanity.

I don’t care if I’m palatable for you.

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:

Shabaz’s book, I'm Rich, You're Poor - is out now

Join the How To Fail community: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content

Elizabeth’s Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/

📚 WANT MORE?

John Bishop - on how insecurity, self-doubt and feeling like an outsider shaped both his comedy and his life. Plus: almost getting divorced but then changing his mind swap.fm/l/wRGKwuonJFQoujFlmDHI

Celeste Barber - on using humour to challenge impossible beauty standards, early struggles with rejection and how embracing authenticity changed her life swap.fm/l/qLmwfjyeSolWuFeaHGdt

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Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Engineer: Matias Torres

Assistant Producer: Shania Manderson

Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Alex Lawless

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

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