Jon Bon Jovi - Fame is a liar and a thief

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

Sony Music

Society & Culture

4.8 • 9.4K Ratings

🗓️ 29 October 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We have a bonafide legend on How To Fail: the American singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and philanthropist who, along with his band, sold more than 130 million albums and performed in over 50 countries for more than 40 million fans before being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s ACTUAL Jon Bon Jovi - the frontman of the world-dominating rock band who released hits such as You Give Love A Bad Name, Blaze of Glory and Livin’ On A Prayer. In this conversation we talk about his life-changing vocal cord surgery, burnout, his faith, friendship with Bruce Springsteen and how being a father has taught him he’s ‘not the boss of anything anymore’. Plus: the key to a successful marriage from a rock star who has been with his childhood sweetheart, Dorethea, for 36 years! He’s charming, quick-witted and yes, that famous smile still lights up the room. Bon Jovi is back with the album ‘Forever (Legendary Edition)’ featuring collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Robbie Williams, Avril Lavigne, James Bay and many more. The band’s Forever Tour will kick off next year, with dates in America and Europe. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 07:01 The Making of 'Living on a Prayer' 11:29 Vocal Surgery and Recovery 20:50 Reflections on Faith and Philanthropy 27:41 Challenges of Touring 28:19 The Performance Experience 29:43 Reflections on Fame 30:54 A Long-lasting Marriage 34:19 Parenting and Family Life 36:17 Friendship with Bruce Springsteen 41:20 Fashionista Failures 46:21 Wisdom and Aging 💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER: ‘Fame is a liar and a thief. It would be easy and understandable for many a person to have fallen victim to it... it doesn't care who you are. It can break you.’ Jon on his wife, Dorethea: ‘She's a complete sentence. She's a one word complete sentence: Everything.’ ‘I’m not doing this for the fame, or for the money - but I would like to feel that joy and resonance - I don’t think I’m anywhere near a farewell tour.’ 🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS: Jon’s tour dates and new album can be found here: jonbonjovi.komi.io Join the How To Fail community: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Elizabeth’s Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/ 📚 WANT MORE? Shania Twain - opens up with raw honesty about the childhood poverty and trauma she overcame, the vocal-cord surgery and derailment of her career, and how embracing her ‘scars’ helped her reclaim her voice, femininity and power. https://play.megaphone.fm/cgztqicuqzic6lu1d75lka Bonnie Tyler - explores Bonnie’s journey through fame, her reflections on loss, self-worth and perseverance. https://play.megaphone.fm/sypubqbptvggdcsrbju0pw 💌 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 Elizabeth and Jon answer YOUR questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here: howtofailpod.com Have a failure you’re trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Engineer: Matias Torres Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot Executive Producer: Carly Maile How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I don't think I could do this anymore. I don't know why, but I'm okay with walking away from
0:05.0	this because there's no way I'm dragging down the legacy. It wasn't that. The only thing that's
0:08.6	ever been up my nose is my finger. I'm not doing this for the applause. I'm not doing it for the
0:13.8	money. I'm not doing it for the fame. I've had enough of all of it. Welcome to How to Fail,
0:17.4	the podcast that firmly believes that while success is nice, it's really
0:21.0	failure that helps you grow. Before we get into this conversation, please do remember to
0:26.3	subscribe so that you never miss a single episode. Life's been full on lately in the best
0:34.2	possible way. I've just wrapped up a world-win national tour for my latest book.
0:38.5	And while it's been an incredible experience, it's also been kind of exhausting.
0:43.2	And honestly, I know I'm not alone in feeling like there just aren't enough hours in the day.
0:48.2	Between work, family, friends, and the general chaos of being an adult, even finding time to eat properly can feel like a luxury.
0:56.3	That's where Uber Eats steps in, because, let's be real, adulting is a lot.
1:02.9	Uber Eats gives me one fewer thing to worry about. It's fast, easy and means you can actually enjoy a moment of calm,
1:10.1	even if it's just flopping on the sofa
1:11.9	in peace. So next time you're feeling like you've done just enough, let Uber Eats take care of
1:17.5	the rest. When you've done enough, order some food on Uber Eats. How to Fail is partnering with
1:24.2	Bumble to bring your second chance love stories to life.
1:28.3	Hear how this happy couple hit it off after they met on Bumble.
1:32.3	So I wanted to tell you about meeting my handsome partner
1:35.3	because we met in an app.
1:37.3	It was actually quite funny because it was kind of live at first sight actually.
1:43.3	So kind of weird really how much the world has found
	...

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