We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting The Supremes Dec 08, 2023

Last week, we told the story of EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson. Hudson put the O in EGOT when she won the Oscar for her role as Effie White in Dreamgirls. It’s said Dreamgirls is based on the story of The Supremes – Deena as Diana Ross, Effie as Florence Ballard. And in researching that episode, we discovered it wasn’t just Jennifer Hudson who had a rejection story – The Supremes had a fascinating journey of their own. So, join us this week as we discover how the glamour girls of Motown went from the “No-Hit Supremes” to the female group with the most #1 songs in history on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Rejecting Jennifer Hudson Nov 30, 2023

Like Rita Moreno last week, Jennifer Hudson is an EGOT winner. She’s won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony – not to mention a Golden Globe. But before earning THE major award in every major entertainment category, Hudson was eliminated from American Idol – twice. Rejected after her first Hollywood audition, she had fallen off the radar. That is, until she got an unusual phone call from her cousin.

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Rejecting Rita Moreno Nov 15, 2023

Rita Moreno is a member of the coveted and exclusive EGOT club. Meaning, throughout her career, she’s won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. And not only that, Moreno is the first and only Latina EGOT winner in history. But before earning her Academy Award for West Side Story, Moreno was dropped by MGM. She spent years typecast – or simply not cast – because of her ethnicity. Join us this week as we tell Moreno’s incredible story – from being discarded by Hollywood to earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Introducing Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe Oct 25, 2023

This week we thought we’d do something a little different. The Apostrophe Podcast Network has several shows on its roster. Four, to be exact. And one of those shows just crossed 1M listens in its very first season. Introducing Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe.

Backstage welcomes listeners into the warm and comforting world of the Vinyl Cafe. Each episode features stories about Canada’s favourite fictional family – Dave, Morley and the kids – narrated by the late, great Stuart McLean. And, for the first time ever, listen in on hilarious backstories from the popular show with long-time Vinyl Cafe producer Jess Milton.

It's some of our country's best storytelling, and it's a show we're proud share with you.

Hope you’ll join us each week at the world’s smallest record store. You can find more episodes here.

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Short Stories: Rejecting the Fathers of Hand Washing and Rocketry (Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis & Dr. Robert Goddard) Oct 18, 2023

Did you know in the late 1800s, doctors didn’t wash their hands between procedures? When Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis – an obstetrician in Vienna – realized women in his hospital were dying at staggering rates, he implemented staff-wide mandatory hand washing. Maternal death rates dropped by 90%. But doctors weren’t happy. Semmelweis was called "crazy," told his idea was superstitious, not scientific.

75 years later, Dr. Robert Goddard – an American professor of physics – published a report via the Smithsonian theorizing that, one day, a rocket could reach the moon. A New York Times editorial was published the very next morning slamming Dr. Goddard – writing that the professor lacked the knowledge ladled out daily in high schools.

Join us this week for an unusual one: Rejecting two pioneers in science – the fathers of hand washing and rocketry – Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis and Dr. Robert Goddard.

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Rejecting Johnny Unitas Oct 04, 2023

Johnny Unitas is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. But once upon a time, the boy with the big hands and the golden arm was 6’1 and 140 pounds. He was told he was too "slight" to play high school football. He was rejected by Notre Dame. He was drafted, then cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was told he’d never make it in the NFL. Join us as we tell Johnny-U’s incredible story – from pile driving to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Rejecting Walt Disney, Part 2 Sep 20, 2023

In Part Two of Rejecting Walt Disney, Disney plays around with his ‘mouse’ idea – but is quickly deterred. Suits are afraid the public is afraid of mice – especially 10-foot-tall mice. Disney plays with sound, then colour. Then, he has his craziest idea of all: feature-length cartoons.

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Rejecting Walt Disney Sep 06, 2023

The Walt Disney Company is worth $147B today. With over 800 films to its name, multiple television networks like ESPN and ABC, Pixar, Marvel, streaming, resorts and theme parks worldwide, it's the second-largest media conglomerate in the world. But before Mickey, before poisoned apples and before roller coasters, Walt Disney was rejected. He was fired from a local newspaper for “lacking creativity.” He was told drawing cartoons did not a legitimate career make. And his very first animation company went under. Join us this week as we tell Disney's story – from bankruptcy to billions.

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Under The Influence with Terry O'Reilly

Find the show notes on our website.

Peruse our other pods:

Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

Surviving Life with Les Stroud

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Rejecting The Eiffel Tower Aug 23, 2023

The Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world. 300 million people have climbed its stairs – or its elevators – since the landmark first opened in 1889. You’ve seen it in countless movies, you’ve marvelled at its 20,000 lights. But did you know back when the tower's design was first revealed to the public, 300 of France’s most-respected cultural luminaries called it a humiliation, a mockery and an "odious column of bolted metal?"

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Rejecting Leslie Jones (Encore) Aug 09, 2023

This week it's our mid-season break, and that means an encore presentation of one of our most-loved episodes: Rejecting Leslie Jones. Chris Rock once described Leslie Jones as “about as funny as a human being can be.” She was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live for six years, she’s a Ghostbuster and a three-time Emmy nominee. But before landing her big break, Jones was a struggling comedian. By the time she turned 45, she had yet to make a steady paycheck in comedy and considered quitting altogether. Then Lorne Michaels called.

Tell us YOUR rejection story:

Record your voice: https://speak-to.us/rejection

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Get to know Apostrophe:

Under The Influence with Terry O'Reilly

Peruse our other pods:

Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

Surviving Life with Les Stroud

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rejecting Nina Simone Jul 26, 2023

Nina Simone is ranked #21 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. She was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and released over 40 albums in her lifetime. But back when Simone was an 18-year-old pianist, she was rejected from music school. She faced doubt, racism and abuse at every turn. Then she found her voice.

Tell us YOUR rejection story:

Record your voice: https://speak-to.us/rejection

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Get to know Apostrophe:

Under The Influence with Terry O'Reilly

Peruse our other pods:

Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

Surviving Life with Les Stroud

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rejecting Alan Ruck Jul 12, 2023

Alan Ruck has several iconic roles under his belt. Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Stuart Bondek in Spin City. And most recently, the eldest Roy boy Connor in Succession. But would you believe that after Ferris Bueller, Ruck couldn't land a part and wound up taking a job at a local Sears warehouse? This week, it's a much requested post-success rejection story.

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Rejecting Simon & Garfunkel Jun 28, 2023

Simon & Garfunkel is one of the greatest musical duos of all time. But before “The Sound of Silence” filled the airwaves, the pair’s debut album was a total flop. So much so that the partnership effectively split. Then their producer called – he'd remixed their best song.

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Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser, Part 2 Jun 15, 2023

In Part Two of Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser, the results of the 1998 Canadian Olympic hockey games are brought to parliament. Pro teams come calling, then name-calling, then calling again. And Wickenheiser takes a shot at spinning her rejections into gold.

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Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser May 31, 2023

Hayley Wickenheiser is widely considered one of the greatest female hockey players of all time. She’s the longest-serving member of Canada’s national team with seven World Championships and four Olympic gold medals to her name. But before becoming Canada’s women's all-time leader in international goals, assists and points, Wickenheiser was told hockey was for boys. She was rejected for teams, bullied on the ice and kicked off of teams solely on the basis of sex. Join us this week as we tell Wickenheiser’s incredible story.

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Rejecting Jim Carrey May 17, 2023

Jim Carrey is Ace Ventura. He’s the Grinch. He’s Bruce Almighty. He’s Truman Burbank. Need we say more? But in 1989, Carrey was getting routinely crucified on stage, rejected for parts and was nearly starving to death – living in a bachelor apartment with a baby basket on the floor. Then one day, he wrote himself a check for $10M for “acting services rendered” – dated five years in the future.

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Rejecting Pedro Pascal May 02, 2023

Pedro Pascal is the man of the moment. In 2020 he was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainers of the Year, and in 2023 he became one of the highest-paid actors on television. But only 10 years ago, Pascal was struggling to make rent, rejected for parts and told he was aging out of Hollywood – quick. Until one afternoon, when he picked up a script for a 30-something bisexual Lothario from the 15th century...

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Rejecting Missy Elliott Apr 18, 2023

Missy Elliott is the reigning Queen of Rap, credited with changing the face of hip-hop with her debut album Supa Dupa Fly and five consecutive platinum albums that followed. But before selling 30 million records, Elliott was rejected by producers, dropped by a major label and told she didn’t fit the “image” the industry was looking for. Join us this week as we tell Elliott’s story, from quitting the music business altogether to becoming the first female rapper nominated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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Rejecting Milton Hershey (Hershey's Chocolates) Apr 04, 2023

The Hershey Company has the largest market share of any chocolate brand in North America. But before its founder Milton Hershey sold his first milk chocolate bar, he filed for bankruptcy – twice. By his 30th birthday, the struggling entrepreneur had lost two candy companies, and the faith of his family. Join us as we kick off Season 4 with the inspiring story of Milton Hershey – a man rejected by bankers for a $700 loan, who went on to build a $50 billion empire.

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