Peanuts is one of the most beloved comic strips of all time. Printed in over 2600 publications, it amassed 350 million readers in its 50-year history. But creator Charles Schulz spent most of his life feeling small as peanuts. He was rejected by family, teachers and countless newspapers. Join us this week as we tell Schulz’s amazing story. From being told he’d never make a living by “scribbling,” to creating the longest-running cartoon special of all time.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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

Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman - star of the $821M blockbuster and the first woman-led superhero film in over a decade. But before picking up her Lasso of Truth, Gadot spent her days travelling back and forth from her home in Israel all the way to Los Angeles. Each audition meant a 15-hour flight with her family only to find out she was rejected over and over again, for eight years. Then she was ready to give up acting altogether. This week, we tell Gadot’s amazing story. From the dreaded phone calls that she’d lost yet another part, to the phone call that changed her life forever.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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

Overnight, Amanda Gorman became a household name. She is the youngest inaugural poet in American history, a National Youth Poet Laureate and a New York Times bestselling author. But before her Instagram following jumped from 3,000 to 3,000,000, Gorman faced rejection and struggled with a debilitating speech impediment. Join us this week as we tell her inspiring story, from bullies and skeptics to Capitol Hill.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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

Mark Ruffalo is an Academy Award-nominated actor, known for his roles in The Kids Are All Right, Foxcatcher and The Avengers franchise. But before stepping into the Hollywood spotlight, Ruffalo was rejected at 800 auditions, ready to give up acting altogether and become a construction painter. Then, news from his doctor threw him for the loop of a lifetime. Kicking off Season Two we tell Ruffalo’s incredible story, from food stamps to Forbes list.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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

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

We regret to inform you that today marks our final episode of the season. So we thought we’d do something a little different. This week, Sidney and Terry sit down to chat about the lessons and the stories from Season One AND answer some of your questions. Like - what are the key differences between the rejections of actors and musicians? Why are so many projects rejected 40 times specifically? And what’s with the robot at the end of each episode?

Thanks for tuning in. We’ll see you in April for Season Two.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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

Fred VanVleet is an NBA champion who recently signed a four-year contract with the Toronto Raptors worth $85 million. But before becoming a key player for the Raps, VanVleet was overlooked and underestimated at every single stage of his basketball career. This week, we tell his amazing story. From being rejected by all 30 teams in the NBA draft to becoming the highest-paid undrafted player of all time.

Major sources for this episode are listed in the Show Notes on our website.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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

Taraji P. Henson is an Academy Award-nominated actress, known for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Hidden Figures as well as her iconic role as Cookie Lyon in the hit television show Empire. But before taking Hollywood by storm, Henson was rejected from acting school and rejected for parts, making $10 an hour as a receptionist between auditions. Join us this week as we tell Henson’s incredible story. From being labelled as “too urban” to earning the most Best Actress awards in BET history.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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

In the four short years Wham! was together, they sold 30 million records. Making them one of the best-selling duos of the ‘80s and launching the subsequent career of the late great George Michael. But before reaching the top of the pops, schoolmates and best friends Andrew Ridgeley and Georgios Panayiotou were laughed out of the room by dozens of record labels. Join us this week as we tell Wham!’s remarkable story - from being told they were ‘just another synthesizer band’ to really making it big.

Major sources for this episode are listed in the Show Notes on our website.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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

Splash launched the filmmaking careers of Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. It put Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah on the map and was nominated for an Academy Award. But as a budding movie producer, Grazer spent seven years trying to sell the script, facing unrelenting rejection from every studio in LA. Join us this week as dive into Grazer’s fascinating story. From being told mermaids don’t sell movie tickets to earning $70 million at the box office.

Tell us YOUR rejection story, and you may be featured in an upcoming episode:

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

Write to us: [email protected]

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