Episode 34: "Every Failure Teaches Something Useful"

"Hey there, my fur-tastic friends! 🐾 Welcome back to The Monkey the Cat Podcast! I’m Monkey, your favorite talking cat, and today’s episode is about something that happens to everyone—even the smartest, strongest, most experienced people (and cats) around…

Our lesson today? Every failure teaches something useful.

Now, I know failing doesn’t feel good in the moment. It can be frustrating, embarrassing, and messy. But what if I told you that failure is actually a secret teacher? A guide that helps you learn more than success ever could? That’s what I discovered the day I tried to build a squirrel-proof snack box."

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Transcript

Tyler: 0:12

"Hey there, my fur-tastic friends! Welcome back to The Monkey the Cat Podcast! I’m Monkey, your favorite talking cat, and today’s episode is about something that happens to everyone—even the smartest, strongest, most experienced people(and cats) around… Our lesson today? Every failure teaches something useful. Now, I know failing doesn’t feel good in the moment. It can be frustrating, embarrassing, and messy. But what if I told you that failure is actually a secret teacher? A guide that helps you learn more than success ever could? That’s what I discovered the day I tried to build a squirrel-proof snack box.""It all started when I noticed something very serious: the snacks I was storing in my tree fort were disappearing. Olivff said,‘Maybe a squirrel took them.’ Brooklyn gasped,‘A snack thief?!’ Teddy nodded.‘Time for a security system.’ So I got to work. I drew blueprints. I stacked boxes. I even used string and an old bell to make a trap door system. Mom—peeked over and said,‘Monkey, are you sure this will hold up?’ I grinned.‘Definitely. It’s squirrel-proof.’ Except… it wasn’t. Not only did the squirrel get in—he threw a party. There were paw prints everywhere, the bell was dangling by a thread, and my snack stash was completely gone. Even my backup banana bites. I flopped onto the floor.‘I failed.’ But Dad—walked over and said,‘Monkey, what did you learn from this attempt?’ I blinked.‘That squirrels are tiny geniuses?’ He smiled.‘That’s part of it. But also—you learned what didn’t work. And now, you can use that to build something better.’ That’s when I realized: failure isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of figuring things out.""The next day, I got to work again. This time:✅I made the lid heavier.✅I double-knotted the string.✅I added a squirrel-safe sign that said,‘No entry without invitation!’ And guess what? The new box held strong. The snacks stayed safe. And the squirrel? He knocked politely(okay, maybe just stared through the tree fort window, but still). Now that felt like success. But I never would’ve gotten there without the failure first. Every wrong attempt taught me something useful—what not to do, what to fix, and what to try next." What We Learned Today🔹Failing doesn’t mean you’re done—it means you’re learning.🔹Every mistake helps you figure out what to try next.🔹Even great ideas can fail the first time—and that’s okay!🔹The best learners are the ones who don’t give up."So here’s my challenge for YOU today: Think of one time you made a mistake… and ask yourself what it taught you.✅Did it show you a better way to try?✅Did it make you ask for help or work as a team?✅Did it teach you patience or courage? Because every failure is a stepping stone to success—as long as you learn from it. Thanks for tuning in to The Monkey the Cat Podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and remember—fail forward, learn often, and keep trying. Until next time, my pawsome pals—stay curious, stay brave, and never fear a little failure. It just means you’re getting closer to something great! Bye for now!"