The Great Fail

Latest Episodes:

Flashback: The DeLorean: Time Machine to Nowhere Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

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.

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Episode 59: Revlon Gets Creamed Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

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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Episode 58: When the Wheels Came Off for Schwinn Bicycles Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

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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Episode 57: The Downfall of the Mars Hill Church Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

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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Episode 56: FTX - From Irresistible to Criminal May 24, 2023

Show notes

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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Episode 55: Silicon Valley Bank: From Boom to Bust May 10, 2023

Show notes

The Great Failkicks 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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Flashback: Adapt or Die - The Fall of Tower Records Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

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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Flashback: GameStop - The Big Short....Squeeze Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

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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Flashback: The Blockbuster Bust Nov 18, 2022

Show notes

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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Bonus Episode: Introducing Metaverse Marketing Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

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 podcast@adweek.com.

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