The Great Fail
Debra Chen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 Listeners
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 The Great Fail Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Great Fail episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Great Fail for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Great Fail episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Episode 39: Final Buzzer for Modell’s Sporting Goods
The Great Fail
09/22/21 • 20 min
On February 21, 2020, Mitchell Modell, CEO of the largest family-owned sporting goods retailer in the United States went on national TV and made a shocking announcement-he asked viewers to help save his company from financial collapse. The 130-year-old brand at one point was a fixture in the northeast U.S. as the premier sporting goods retailer. Find out how Modell’s winning streak came to an end on Episode 39 of The Great Fail.
Thank you to our partners at AdvertiseCast.
https://www.advertisecast.com/TheGreatFail
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 Listeners
1 Comment
1
Episode 43: Ayds Gets a Trim Down
The Great Fail
03/30/22 • 19 min
Since the 1930s, Ayds was a popular appetite suppressant touted by Hollywood celebrities and starlets. Despite being a success and household name for over 40 years, Ayds would find itself at the precipice of a PR nightmare, eventually, “crowning” itself as one of the greatest product flops in history. Find out how it all went down in Episode 43 of The Great Fail.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Listener
Episode 61: The Wing(s) Get Clipped
The Great Fail
08/17/23 • 25 min
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’
After an astonishing rise and fall, the Wing finally folds
Perspective: The real reason the all-women workspace failed
To the extent that it’s remembered, it will be as an artifact of the Trump era.
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Listener
Episode 60: Bed, Bath &…Bankrupted
The Great Fail
08/02/23 • 24 min
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
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Listener
06/21/23 • 20 min
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
A Short History of Schwinn: 1990s Bankruptcy though 2021
A Rough Ride for Schwinn Bicycle
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Listener
Episode 62: Kittyhawk: From Moonshot to a Longshot
The Great Fail
10/04/23 • 29 min
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!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Listener
TGF Presents: Marketing Vanguard
The Great Fail
09/21/23 • 46 min
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Listener
Episode 57: The Downfall of the Mars Hill Church
The Great Fail
06/07/23 • 21 min
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
Megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll was an evangelical rock star. Here's how he fell from grace.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Listener
Episode 55: Silicon Valley Bank: From Boom to Bust
The Great Fail
05/10/23 • 24 min
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Listener
Episode 59: Revlon Gets Creamed
The Great Fail
07/05/23 • 27 min
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
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
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does The Great Fail have?
The Great Fail currently has 82 episodes available.
What topics does The Great Fail cover?
The podcast is about News, Entrepreneurship, Business News, Podcasts and Business.
What is the most popular episode on The Great Fail?
The episode title 'Episode 39: Final Buzzer for Modell’s Sporting Goods' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Great Fail?
The average episode length on The Great Fail is 26 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Great Fail released?
Episodes of The Great Fail are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of The Great Fail?
The first episode of The Great Fail was released on Feb 9, 2020.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ