Bozoma Saint John: What most recently moved you to tears? — FLAPSS

The question

What most recently moved you to tears?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Bozoma Saint John

Marketing executive; former chief marketing officer of Netflix

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

On Friday: my daughter won her volleyball game and my mom sent me videos, because I couldn’t be there. I cried wishing I’d been there to cheer her on.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2017 source ↗

Others on this question

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Nikki Amuka-Bird

Probably watching some poor abandoned cat or dog being nursed back to life by a stranger on YouTube.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 May 2025 source ↗

Melanie Blatt English singer

I haven’t stopped crying since Glastonbury, because I’m on a massive comedown.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 July 2023 source ↗

Telling a story to my son about my brother.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2025 source ↗

Over a YouTube clip about animals. "Laboratory animals see sunlight for the first time", or "elephant mourns his best friend the goat". I watch something like that every day and I'm always in pieces.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2014 source ↗

More from Bozoma Saint John

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Question What accomplishment matters most to you? Craft & work

My daughter. She’s awesome and it’s because I’m awesome. Lol.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2017 source ↗

Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains

As the biggest, brightest, most bodacious badass that ever lived.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2017 source ↗

Question As a child, what career or life did you imagine for yourself? Identity & self

An obstetrician.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2017 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

My daughter, Lael. She’s fearless and fun. In her eight years, she’s had traumatic events, but still gives hugs.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2017 source ↗

Question What is the worst advice you followed anyway? Failure & regret

But it was really – it came across sinister. And for me, I really did listen to it. I accepted it. I tried to implement that. The reason why I say it’s the worst advice I ever received was that it was damaging to me because she was totally wrong. ... And so, when somebody who is successful tells you to do something, you try to do it, even when it damages you.

Recorded Tim Ferriss, The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, 4 February 2018 source ↗

Question What thought won't let you sleep? Daily life

My job. I want to get it right.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2017 source ↗

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