McDonald’s, the world’s largest restaurant company, made a shocking announcement in late 2019 when it abruptly removed its CEO Steve Easterbrook. What would be uncovered would include individual and class-action lawsuits alleging attempted rape, sexual harassment, and blurred lines spurred by the MeToo movement that would rock the corporate world and dethrone what everyone thought was the golden boy of the golden arches.
GameStop: The Big Short….Squeeze
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 subreddit WallStreetBets, joins us this week to comment on what this means and why the financial markets may never be the same.
Hertz So Bad
Did the 2020 global pandemic kill off Hertz? The Company’s stock price which at one time went as high as $150/share, had fallen to as low as $0.40 cents/share after it declared bankruptcy in May of 2020. At first glance it seemed like the lockdown and impact on travel demand ultimately swallowed up this iconic 102 year-old brand. However, when you peel back the layers and study Hertz’s history, you’d discover that many people over the years were holding shovels and digging the Company’s grave. Check out this week’s Episode 26, Hertz So Bad.
Wirecard’s Fall from Grace
Despite a global pandemic unraveling in 2020, the executives of Europe’s largest fintech company Wirecard, found themselves in precarious positions. The Company’s CEO Markus Braun was arrested for masterminding an intricate embezzlement scandal, a key executive was reported dead in the Philippines, and the COO became a wanted fugitive. Hear how the “Enron of Germany” went from being a national pride to a national shame on Episode 25 of The Great Fail.
Milli Vanilli: A Sensational Flop
When Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus were first introduced to the world, they rose to fame instantly with their god-like bodies, model good looks and ability to rock the stage. Their first song Girl You Know It’s True came out in March of 1989, and altogether the band had 5 singles that entered the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, 3 of which went straight to #1. But no one would ever imagine that their legacy would end up in a tragedy. Check out Episode 24 of The Great Fail.
SkyMall’s Crash Landing
At its peak, SkyMall was a staple of airline travel with an annual circulation of approximately 20 million copies of its catalog found in the seat pockets of every major airline in the United States. Known for its whimsical and unique merchandise, it quickly won the hearts of many travelers and by 2009 had generated approximately $80.5 million in revenue, making it one of the largest e-commerce websites in the world. How did a fun, innovative company with a monopoly on its market become an internet after-thought by 2015? Find out on Episode 23 of The Great Fail.
Quibi’s Sunken Ship
Quibi, a new streaming service focused on premium short form content, was launched in April 2020 during a worldwide pandemic. Between Co-founders Jeffrey Katzenberg, former Chairman of Walt Disney Studios and Meg Whitman, former CEO of HP, they had almost $2 billion in funding, the support of major Hollywood studios and tons of A-list celebrity clout. But even with all of that, Quibi was dead on arrival, folding just after just six months. Get the dirt on Episode 22 of The Great Fail.
Motorola’s Dead Zone
The rise and fall of the iconic Motorola was on so many levels, heart-wrenching. Once pioneers of all things radio, Motorola paved the way for set-top boxes, modems, DVRs, semiconductors and then after that, mobile phones. In 2004, the unveiling of their Razr created a media frenzy, selling more phones than any other mobile handsets at that time. So how was this remarkable, trailblazing brand condemned to a slow death that eventually bled decay across its entire organization? Listen to Episode 21 of The Great Fail to find out.
The Dunbar Heist: The Perfect Crime….Almost
Welcome to a Special 20th episode edition. On September 13, 1997, 6 men pulled off the biggest cash heist in American history. In less than 30 minutes, they made their way into the Dunbar Armored facility and walked away with $18.9 million, leaving behind no evidence or clues. For years it seemed like the cleanest job anyone could have hoped for, and the case began to turn cold. But then one man’s misstep ruined what could’ve been the perfect crime. Find out how on this week’s episode of The Great Fail.
The Slaying of Echo Fox
When Echo Fox burst into the world of eSports, it was a glowing beacon – a shining example of what the burgeoning world of competitive gaming could look like. It was the first celebrity-driven team, managed by pro-athletes that understood the parallels between sports and gaming. But that promise soon vanished into thin air, consumed by lawsuits, restraining orders, death threats and drug-fueled parties. Get the play-by-play on Episode 19 of The Great Fail.