Browse Episodes

The IN-Vince-able McMahon

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.

Quiznos is Toast

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.

Kittyhawk: From Moonshot to a Longshot

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.

TGF Presents: Marketing Vanguard

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.