Dodgeball & 90s pop culture: Policy Officer Carien van der Velde on the importance of having a strong support system when dealing with failure

In today’s dynamic world of academia, success is often glamorised, while failure is stigmatised and hidden. #epicF.A.I.L. seeks to challenge this narrative by bringing failure out into the open and reframing it as an essential part of the journey toward personal and professional growth.Through candid and relatable stories, the podcast encourages its listeners to recognise failure as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and see failure not as an obstacle but as a stepping stone to greater achievements.Joining Yulian is Master's student and Education Policy Officer Carien van der Velde. In this episode, they talk about the importance of taking care of your mental health, having a strong support system when things go the wrong way, and using 90s pop culture as a coping mechanism.#epicF.A.I.L. is a podcast from the Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen.This episode was hosted and edited by Yulian Karadzhov, and produced by Nina Yakimova-Stelma. This episode was recorded in May 2025.