Episodes
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With the latest buzz surrounding Jeffrey Katzenberg's newest venture WndrCo, raising a staggering $460 million, we thought...what better time than now to bring back an old fan favorite episode, Quibi?
Launched in April 2020 during a worldwide pandemic, Quibi was a new streaming service focused on premium short-form content. With Co-founders Jeffrey Katzenberg, former Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, and Meg Whitman, former CEO of HP, having almost $2 billion in funding, the support of major Hollywood studios, and tons of A-list celebrity clout. But even with all of that, Quibi was dead on arrival, folding just after just six months. Get the full scoop on this week's episode of The Great Fail.
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On the cold morning of January 28th, 1986, anticipation filled the air as the space shuttle Challenger prepared for its 10th mission. This historic event featured Christa McAuliffe, the first civilian to join a space mission, aiming to inspire students with live broadcasts from orbit. Tragically, just 73 seconds after launch, the Challenger exploded, leaving millions of viewers in shock. In the months that followed, the Rogers Commission, led by former Secretary of State William P. Rogers, was formed to investigate the disaster. What they found would shake America's trust in NASA for years to come.
Tune in to Episode 67 of The Great Fail to hear the full story. Special thanks to Adam Higginbotham for his contributions to this segment.
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Missing episodes?
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In 2015, Alex Garden, the enigmatic co-founder and CEO of Zume, unveiled an ambitious plan to revolutionize the pizza industry with advanced technology and robots. His concept caught the attention of major venture capital funds, including Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo, and SoftBank's $100 billion Vision Fund. With substantial funding and media attention, Zume seemed poised to transform the food industry. However, despite having all the right ingredients, what led to their downfall was so outrageous it will have you scratching your head and questioning how half-baked the management was. This is sure to be one of the most intriguing failures you've ever heard about yet.
Tune in to Episode 66 of The Great Fail to hear the full story. Special thanks to Joanna Fantozzi for her contributions to this segment.
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In the 1980s, Action Park was a summer hotspot for many in the Tri-State area, attracting visitors from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Entrepreneur Gene Mulvihill sought to transform the former Great Gorge Ski Resort into his own 'Disney of Jersey'—one of the first modern American water parks. The concept was promising.
Yet, the reality took a darker turn with poorly designed rides, inexperienced staff, and unrestricted alcohol, resulting in hundreds of injuries and six deaths. These dangers left many wondering how and why Action Park could continue operating so many years without any repercussions?
Tune in to Episode 65 of The Great Fail, to hear the story. Special thanks to Seth Porges, director of Class Action Park, for his insights in this segment.
All credits and sources can be found at www.thegreatfail.com
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American wrestling, which most notably revolves around the WWE brand, owes much of its success to the influential presence of the McMahons - Vince McMahon, most of all. There is no doubt about the influence he had on wrestling and the way he turned the likes of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Hulk Hogan into household names, as well as his role in creating the blueprint for pay-per-view programming. However, in the wake of the legacy he has left behind, are allegations - a dirty laundry list that includes sexual misconduct and lawsuits claiming his abuse of power. For more than four decades, he was both an executive and a performer in his own show, acting as the diabolical "Mr. McMahon." But to what extent does the fiction intertwine or blur into reality?
Tune in to Episode 64 of The Great Fail to hear the story. Special thanks to Abraham Josephine Riesman for her contributions to this segment.
For show notes and sources, please visit: www.thegreatfail.com.
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Once at the top of the food chain, Quiznos achieved over $2 billion in sales and had nearly 5,000 restaurant chains. But just as things were heating up, the iconic company found itself in a pickle, leaving behind a very sour taste.
Tune in to Episode 63 of The Great Fail to listen to one of the most significant and dramatic restaurant collapses in American history. Special thanks to Jonathan Maze for his contributions to this segment, and a shout-out to Adweek and Acast for their support.
Sources:
A brief history of Quiznos’ collapse
The Real Reason Why Quiznos Is Disappearing Across The Country
The Quiznos Story: From Huge Success To Huge Bust
WHAT HAPPENED TO QUIZNOS SUBS?
Wikipedia: Quiznos
Quiznos – Failure Case Study
Denver-based Quiznos hit by new lawsuits from disgruntled franchisees
Three Factors That Led to Quiznos' Epic Decline
QUIZNOS: Biggest Collapse in Restaurant History?
Quiznos terminates franchisees on heels of suicide
Fast Food’s Most Unhinged Mascots Are Back
Quiznos is bringing back Spongmonkeys, its creepy rat-like mascots from 20 years ago, as the restaurant looks for a comeback
Death of a toasted sandwich salesman
How Quiznos Failed Itself By Failing Its Franchisees
Quiznos Bankruptcy May Have Roots in Long Beach Franchisee’s Suicide
The Untold Truth Of Quiznos
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A surprising announcement rippled through Silicon Valley in the Spring of 2017. A mysterious 'flying car' venture took the spotlight, fueled by rumors of Google co-founder Larry Page's involvement. A marvel of engineering, this all-electric innovation promised to reduce traffic congestion and open the skies for dreamers—a moonshot that captivated engineers, futurists, and tech enthusiasts. But over time, that moonshot started to look more like a longshot. With Page’s financial backing and abundant resources, how could this project have possibly failed?
Hear the full story on episode 62 of The Great Fail. Special thanks for Hugh Langley for his contributions to this episode. Shoutout to Adweek and Acast.
Sources:
Throwback Thursday: The Rise and Fall of Flying-Car Startup Kittyhawk
Kitty Hawk, the electric aircraft moonshot backed by Larry Page, is shutting down
Inside the rise and fall of Kittyhawk, Larry Page's failed flying car company
How Larry Page's flying-car company of the future turned into a stunning failure
Kittyhawk: Employees should “blindly” trust Larry Page
Where Kittyhawk Failed: The Case of Disruptive Technologies Case Study
Larry Page’s Flying Car Failure Is a Lesson For Us All
Larry Page’s Kitty Hawk air taxi startup is shutting down
Hewlett-Packard: The Flight of the Kittyhawk (A) Harvard Case Solution & Analysis
Inside the rise and fall of Kittyhawk
Google co-founder’s flying car startup is winding down
Visit https://thegreatfail.com/ for more sources!
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As a special bonus episode this week, we are spotlighting another amazing series on the Adweek Podcast Network. Hosted by Jenny Rooney, Adweek's first chief experience officer, Marketing Vanguard: the podcast, spotlights the people who are driving the industry forward. It will feature valuable, must-listen nuggets of marketing-leadership wisdom, humility, stories, strategic insights, and growth opportunities in an era of ever more complex industry pressures and realities. Together we’ll dive into what's driving the decision-makers of today to move the needle of some of the world’s most exciting brands in incremental or monumental ways.
In the world of modern business, adaptability and evolution are often paramount for success. The same holds true for the field of marketing, where Vineet Mehra, the CMO of Chime, exemplifies a career path that embodies the dynamic nature of marketing leadership.
In a recent conversation, Vineet shared insights into his professional journey, highlighting how his roles in various industries have shaped his perspective on marketing's role in the growth engine of companies.
Listen to this week's episode of Marketing Vanguard to hear how Vineet continues to drive innovation at Chime, while his journey remains an inspiration to those seeking to redefine the boundaries of marketing leadership in an ever-changing world.
Listen and subscribe to Marketing Vanguard on Apple Podcasts or find it on Spotify.
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The Wing, a pioneering and exclusive women's co-working space, shattered glass ceilings and secured over $100 million from investors, including WeWork and Airbnb, venture capitalists, and celebrity investors such as Megan Rapinoe, star of the US National Women's Soccer Team, and comedian, writer, and actress Mindy Kaling. At its peak, The Wing held a valuation of approximately $365 million, maintained 11 locations across NY, LA, Boston, and Chicago, and catered to 12,000 members with a waitlist of 9,000. But as The Wing was enjoying its ascent into stardom, its employees would soon threaten to clip the Company’s soaring wings.
Tune in to Episode 61 of The Great Fail to hear the story. Special thanks to Adweek’s Olivia Morley for her contributions to this segment and shout out to Adweek and Acast for their support.
Sources:
Why woke women’s co-working space the Wing failed: ‘A gossipy, very toxic environment’
The Wing Shuts Down
After an astonishing rise and fall, the Wing finally folds
Perspective: The real reason the all-women workspace failed
What Was the Wing?
To the extent that it’s remembered, it will be as an artifact of the Trump era.
The girlbosses who girlbossed too close to the sun: The demise of ‘women’s utopia’ The Wing was long overdue
The exclusive no-men-allowed club that raised $32 million from investors like WeWork just opened a brand new location — take a look inside
The Wing CEO Audrey Gelman resigns amid employee ‘digital walkout’
Inside The Wing: How Cofounders Raised $2.4M To Open All-Women Social And Coworking Club
The Wing's Chic New SoHo Space Will Make You Want to Join ASAP
Audrey Gelman Is Stepping Down As CEO of The Wing
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For 52 years, Bed, Bath & Beyond was the destination for high-quality home goods merchandise, top brands, and a discovery zone for home shopping that made it inspiring and fun. By January 2014, the company had operated more than 1500 stores in North America and had reached a share price of $70 dollars. Despite all the success, the company would soon become a victim of mismanagement, burdened with debt and unwanted inventory, unaware that its own fate would soon be put on layaway.
Tune in to Episode 60 of The Great Fail to hear the story. Special thanks to Seth Basham for his contributions to this segment.
Sources:
Bed Bath & Beyond Used to Be Great. These Two Are Why.
Inside Overstock’s grand plan to reinvent itself as Bed Bath & Beyond
All Buy Buy Baby stores losing after last-ditch deal falls through
The $11.8 billion mistake that led to Bed Bath & Beyond’s demise
3 key mistakes that doomed Bed Bath & Beyond
The rise and fall of Bed Bath & Beyond, the iconic housewares retailer that has filed for bankruptcy and is closing its remaining stores
After 52 Years, Why Bed Bath & Beyond Went Bankrupt
What Went Wrong at Bed Bath & Beyond
The Hidden Reason Behind Bed Bath & Beyond's Demise
Bed Bath & Beyond and bankrupt?
Bed Bath & the great Beyond: How the home goods giant went bankrupt
Why is Bed Bath & Beyond failing? Reasons behind bankruptcy protection explored
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The DeLorean was one of the most era-defining cars of the ‘80s. Sleek, sexy, and unconventional, this iconic car had much promise-- engineering ingenuity, celebrity fanfare, and media hype. But less than a year after it rolled out its first cars, the Company would collapse in a tailspin of lies, drug scandal, bankruptcy, racketeering, criminal trials, and government conspiracies. Find out what led to the downfall of the DeLorean Motor Company on Episode 40 of The Great Fail.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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In 1952, Revlon created one of the most iconic, paradigm-shifting ad campaigns known as "Fire & Ice," which posed a dramatic twist on why women wore makeup. Instead of seeking male admiration, it empowered women by prioritizing their ambitions and needs. For decades, Revlon spearheaded feminism and cosmetic innovation, establishing itself as the world's second-largest producer, with products sold in 150 countries. However, in 2022, it faced another transformative phase, resulting in Revlon's once-vibrant prominence fading in its luster.
Tune in to Episode 59 of The Great Fail to hear the story. Special thanks to Robin Albin for her contributions to this segment.
Revlon Sources
What Went Wrong at Revlon
Why did cosmetic giant Revlon fail?
Revlon Proves That You Can Be Too Big To Fail
Here’s why Revlon just filed for bankruptcy—no, it’s not because of the #NoMakeup movement
Revlon, Beauty Icon In Crowded Market, Files For Bankruptcy
Revlon files for bankruptcy in US after supply chain trouble and surging costs
Revlon: makeup icon falls to social media rivals
Wikipedia: Revlon
Citigroup cannot recoup Revlon payouts after nearly $900 million gaffe: U.S. judge
Citibank can’t get back $500 million it wired by mistake, judge rules
What went wrong with cosmetics giant Revlon?
Bankrupt beauty: Lessons from Revlon’s supply chain failures
This 1952 Ad Was The First To Acknowledge That Women Wear Makeup For Themselves, Not Men
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In 1895, Schwinn was driven by the pursuit of an American dream when bicycling was still a relatively new sport. As one of the longest-standing bicycle companies, Schwinn signified influence and innovation amidst a biking craze that further catapulted their success. But over the years, it would lose its luster after a series of poor leadership decisions that led it to a dead end. Get the full story on Episode 58 of The Great Fail to hear the story. Special thanks to Jay Townley for his contributions to this segment.
SCHWINN SOURCES
No Hands: The Rise and Fall of the Schwinn Bicycle Company, an American Institution by Judith Crown and Glenn Coleman
Schwinn Bicycle Company
A Short History of Schwinn: 1990s Bankruptcy though 2021
No hands: The rise and fall of the Schwinn Bicycles Company: an American institution, Judith Crown & Glenn Coleman, Henry Holt&Co.
A Rough Ride for Schwinn Bicycle
Schwinn Cycle and Fitness L.P. - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Schwinn Cycle and Fitness L.P.
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Mars Hill was a Seattle-based church led by Mark Driscoll- a beloved, endearing, powerful presence in the evangelical Christian community. He built Mars Hill into one of the fastest-growing churches in the nation, with close to 15,000 attendees and an additional 260,000 viewers tuning in online every week. But behind the perfect persona, was a twisted reality waiting to be uncovered. What was revealed in its final days was a trail of abuse, fraud, intimidation, sexism, and a fall from grace that would make it one of the most spectacular collapses in Christianity today.
Listen to Episode 57 of The Great Fail to hear the full story. Special thanks to Adweek and Acast and Professor Jeremy Cohen for contributing to this episode.
Mars Hill Sources
'The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill': The abuses of a superstar pastor and megachurch ruins left behind
Lawsuit: Controversial Pastor Ran Mars Hill Megachurch Like a Crime Syndicate
WHO KILLED MARS HILL CHURCH? THERE’S ONE SUSPECT EVANGELICALS SIMPLY AREN’T PREPARED TO INTERROGATE
How a Megachurch Melts Down
Wikipedia: Mars Hill Church
Megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll was an evangelical rock star. Here's how he fell from grace.
Wikipedia: Mark Driscoll
Special Guest: Jeremy Cohen, Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, McMaster University
Jeremy Cohen is an anthropologist of religion and an Assistant Professor at McMaster University in the Department of Religious Studies, where he teaches courses on topics ranging from cults and conspiracy theories to death and dying, and the occult. His research examines new religious movements seeking radical longevity and immortality, and the intersections of science, technology, and religion.
Jeremy has written for the Globe and Mail, The Conversation, and the Hamilton Spectator, and has been featured in the NY Post, Coast to Coast AM Radio, and Inverse Magazine. He is also the co-founder and co-editor of the death and dying resource, TalkDeath.com.
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FTX was once touted as the cryptocurrency trading platform with its founder, visionary Sam Bankman-Fried, promising to revolutionize the industry.
This once-promising company was on a path to decentralize and democratize a highly complex investment within the crypto world but by 2022, headlines that read, “Scam of the Century”, “Bank Fraud and Conspiracy”, and “Criminal Charges” pointed to a grim future.
What happened and who was to blame? Listen to episode 56 of The Great Fail to hear the full story with special guest Jason Notte, staff writer at Adweek.
FTX Sources
Have celebs learned their lesson from the FTX debacle?
The rise and fall of FTX
The Collapse of FTX: What Went Wrong with the Crypto Exchange?
Tom Brady And Other A-Listers Sued For Fumbling FTX Endorsements
FTX Investors Sue Celebrity Endorsers
Celebrity Crypto-Hawkers Should Get a Close Look
Timeline: The rise and spectacular fall of FTX
SBF: THE VIRTUE WAS THE CON
Why Did FTX Collapse? Here’s What to Know.
Should Sports Stars And Celebrities Endorse Or Accept Crypto Pay After Entanglement In FTX Scandal?
Sports stars lending legitimacy to crypto firms raises ethical questions when many fans can’t afford to lose
The Fall of FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried: A Timeline
Special Guest: Jason Notte, Staff Writer at Adweek
Jason is an Adweek staff writer covering the business of marketing. Jason has previously covered marketing, technology and personal finance and for TheStreet, MarketWatch and MSN Money.
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The Great Fail kicks off Season 3 with one of the biggest failures of 2023 thus far, as we watched one of the nation’s largest banks unravel. Once a rising star in the tech industry, Silicon Valley Bank was a paragon for startup founders and venture capitalists reaching dizzying heights of success in 2020. So how did it go from boom to bust just a few short years after? Was it greed, mismanagement, or something more sinister? You won't want to miss this riveting exploration of Silicon Valley Bank's rise and fall.
Listen to Episode 55 of The Great Fail to hear the story. Special thanks to Professor Mark T. Williams for his contributions to this segment.
Sources
For 40 years, Silicon Valley Bank was a tech industry icon. It collapsed in just days
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO SILICON VALLEY BANK
What Happened to Silicon Valley Bank?
The tech industry moved fast and broke its most prestigious bank
Here’s how the second-biggest bank collapse in U.S. history happened in just 48 hours
The Ugly Lessons of Silicon Valley Bank’s Collapse
Why almost everyone failed to predict Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse
Fed's Barr to Congress: SVB's failure is 'textbook case of mismanagement'
This is why SVB imploded, says top Fed official
FDIC says First Citizens Bank has reached deal to purchase Silicon Valley Bank
Silicon Valley Bank Collapse: Lessons for Boards
Is Moody’s Ratings Downgrade The Reason Why Silicon Valley Bank Fell?
Silicon Valley Bank: A Timeline and Summary of Events
Silicon Valley Bank's demise began with a downgrade threat
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For over 4 decades, Tower Records was a pioneer in the music industry and the bedrock of record store culture. It was run by rebels and outsiders, where founder Russ Solomon was revered and idolized. Tower would become the mecca for music fans creating a generation that lived by their diehard slogan, “No Music, No Life”. For decades, it seemed like the sun would never set on the iconic yellow and red letters that illuminated so many urban cityscapes. But that light would eventually burn out...
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In January 2021, the world watched as Reddit traders faced off with Wall Street elites in a trading mania over GameStop shares. Matei Psatta, one of the traders of the subreddit WallStreetBets, joins us this week to comment on what this means and why the financial markets may never be the same.
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People tend to think that Netflix killed Blockbuster – but that's not true. Blockbuster's demise was actually caused by something far more self-destructive, and almost a decade after the fall of this movie rental giant, there are still misconceptions about what really occurred. Get the scoop on how Blockbuster was taken down, here on The Great Fail.
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The Great Fail is taking a break this week. Instead of normal programming, The Great Fail is hosting Metaverse Marketing, another podcast series in the Adweek Podcast Network.
In this Season 2 premiere, host Cathy Hackl, metaverse and web3 strategist, dives into how the metaverse is changing our world both on and offline. Hackl explores what it truly means to build a community and why it is such a hot topic in Web3 and the metaverse.
Follow Cathy on Twitter: @CathyHackl
Subscribe to Adweek's Metaverse Marketing on your favorite podcast platform!
You can listen and subscribe to all of Adweek’s podcasts by visiting adweek.com/podcasts.
Stay updated on all things Adweek Podcast Network by following us on Twitter: @adweekpodcasts.
And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at [email protected].
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