Business on the Brink

Latest Episodes:

Vlasic Gets Into a Pickle Sep 02, 2019

Show notes

A side hustle for a creamery turned into a major business, but after climbing the top of the pickle heap Vlasic found itself in trouble. What happened?

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TSR Falls Under the Spell of Wizards of the Coast Aug 26, 2019

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In the wake of banishing founder Gary Gygax, TSR found itself in trouble. How did an upstart gaming company called Wizards of the Coast swoop in to rescue the proverbial damsel in distress?

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Seeking Treasure in Dungeons and Dragons Aug 19, 2019

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In the 1970s, a company called TSR, formed by wargaming enthusiasts, published a genre-defining game called Dungeons and Dragons. But the story of the company might be more legendary than any fantasy quest.

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Oprah Winfrey and the Uncertain Road to Success Aug 12, 2019

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We all know her as an iconic television host, actor and producer, but Oprah Winfrey came from a difficult background and overcame many hardships to achieve success.

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Parting the Curtain on United Artists Aug 05, 2019

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A group of filmmakers joined together to create the United Artists studio at the dawn of the age of cinema. How did an ambitious film lead to the studio's downfall?

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Chilling Out with the Coolest Cooler Jul 29, 2019

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A Kickstarter campaign with a $50,000 goal to fund a beverage cooler with lots of bonus features topped 13 million, so why does the Coolest Cooler end up on so many crowdfunding failure lists?

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Business On The Brink Takes You Out to Steak and Ale Jul 22, 2019

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Where do you go when you want a steak dinner for an affordable price without all the fancy restaurant trappings? It used to be a place called Steak and Ale. Whatever happened to that chain?

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The Brink Without Borders Jul 15, 2019

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Once upon a time, the Borders bookstore chain was the biggest story in the industry. But in 2011, the company would go out of business and that's all she wrote. We look at what happened.

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Feeling Lost inside RadioShack Jul 08, 2019

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It began as a shop catering to hobbyists and grew into an enormous chain of electronics stores. But despite numerous efforts to stay relevant (including a ridiculed rebranding), RadioShack found itself on the brink of disaster.

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The Brink Braves the Blizzard and Explores Wendy's Jul 01, 2019

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Dave Thomas took a small fortune he earned working with KFC restaurants to found his own hamburger chain, growing it to compete against the likes of McDonald's and Burger King. Ariel and Jonathan ask the immortal question, "Where's the beef?"

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