Is Success Ruining Everything?

Is Success Ruining Everything?

From Vibe Check by Zach Stafford, Saeed Jones

June 3, 2026 · 36 min · Episode 245

About this episode

Zach discusses with Dr. Jack Halberstam the implications of success and failure in relation to freedom and new possibilities.

On this episode of Vibe Check, Zach sits down with Dr. Jack Halberstam to discuss his forthcoming book, Anarchitecture After Everything: A Trans Manifesto, and revisit the ideas behind The Queer Art of Failure. They talk about why freedom may require letting old systems collapse, what failure can teach us about living differently, and how uncertainty can open the door to new possibilities.

People in this episode

Hosts: Zach Stafford, Saeed Jones

Guest: Dr. Jack Halberstam

Topics covered

  • success
  • failure
  • freedom
  • uncertainty
  • queer theory
  • new possibilities

Keywords

  • success
  • failure
  • freedom
  • queer theory
  • uncertainty
  • new possibilities
  • Anarchitecture
  • trans manifesto

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Anarchitecture After Everything: A Trans Manifesto, The Queer Art of Failure

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