The Great Fail

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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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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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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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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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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The Great Fail kicks 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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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!

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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 [email protected].

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