logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2019
40m 24s

Innovation Fails: DeLorean | Driven to S...

Wondery
About this episode

Normally on American Innovations, we look at the history of the science and technology that transformed the world we live in. These stories teach us about the vision, grit, competition, and teamwork required to conquer new frontiers and forge new pathways to the future. But equally valuable, perhaps, are the stories of those visionary innovators who seemed poised for greatness, who aimed for the stars, and then fell, crashing spectacularly back to earth.

In this series, we’ll examine one of the greatest failures in automotive history: the life and work of John DeLorean, the maverick engineer whose technical achievements seemed destined for the history books, among the likes of Henry Ford and Elon Musk. But instead, he became known for his dramatic demise. 


Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Viima - Go to viima.com/AI to get a free two-month Premium plan subscription with unlimited users.

Zip Recruiter - To try Zip Recruiter for free, go to ziprecruiter.com/AI

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jun 23
Listen Now: Liberty Lost
In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The H ... Show More
5m 55s
Apr 14
Introducing: Law & Crime’s LUIGI
When Luigi Mangione allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, the media called it a senseless crime. But online, a different story emerged—one of rage, reckoning, and a suspected killer turned folk hero. More than just a true crime podcast, LUIGI, hosted by Jesse Weber, dares ... Show More
5m 39s
Dec 2021
The Mystery of Stuxnet | Cracking the Code | S57-E1
In the summer of 2010, a mysterious computer virus called Stuxnet lands on the desk of Symantec cybersecurity analyst Liam O’Murchu. Stuxnet is unlike anything O’Murchu has ever seen: a highly sophisticated piece of malware that serves no obvious purpose. O’Murchu and his colleag ... Show More
41m 1s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2021
The Myth of John DeLorean | The Prophet | 1
The name “DeLorean” isn’t just synonymous with the 1985 blockbuster film Back to the Future, it’s also infamous for its connection to two uniquely American innovations: the sportscar and the drug trade. John DeLorean was a legend of the automobile industry who rose to the highest ... Show More
40m 23s
May 2018
History Through Innovation | Interview with Steven Johnson | 7
The phone in your hand is more powerful than all of the computers that put a man on the moon, combined. In the age of supercomputers, driverless cars, and mail-order DNA testing it’s easy to forget that the journey to these incredible innovations was a lot of surprising moments. ... Show More
40m 41s
Jan 2021
SpaceX vs Blue Origin | Reaching for the Stars | 2
It's 2003 and in the Mojave Desert, renegade aviation genius Burt Rutan is building a spaceship funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.But while Rutan and Allen are preparing to launch the world's first privately funded astronaut, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are still struggling ... Show More
26m 1s
Nov 2021
SpaceX vs Blue Origin | Un peu plus près des étoiles | 2
En 2003, en plein désert de Mohave, un génie rebelle de l’aviation, un certain Burt Rutan, construit une navette spatiale avec l’argent de Paul Allen, le cofondateur de Microsoft. Mais tandis que les deux pionniers travaillent au lancement du tout premier vaisseau spatial financé ... Show More
26m 3s
Dec 2021
SpaceX vs Blue Origin | L'envol du Dragon | 4
Nous sommes en 2009 et la navette spatiale américaine s’apprête à partir à la retraite après plusieurs années de bons et loyaux services. Mais, problème, la Nasa ne dispose désormais plus d’engin capable d’envoyer ses astronautes en orbite et doit donc désormais faire appel aux l ... Show More
23m 33s
Dec 2021
SpaceX vs. Blue Origin | La guerre de l’espace | 5
En 2013, à Cap Canaveral, la Nasa, qui n’en peut plus de payer des fortunes pour l’entretien d’une de ses rampes de lancement devenue inutile, décide d’en concéder l’utilisation à l’un des nouveaux acteurs privés du secteur. Mais alors que Space X pensait récupérer facilement le ... Show More
26m 38s
Feb 2021
Episode 25: Elon Musk’s Secrets of Success
How did the world’s second-richest man become so successful? This week, Eric Berger, who spent time with Elon Musk as he built SpaceX, reveals how the real-life Tony Stark gets people to join him in his quests, and drives them to unheard-of achievements—insights you won’t want to ... Show More
28m 11s
Dec 2021
SpaceX vs Blue Origin | Retard à l’allumage | 3
En 2005, les équipes de Space X partent sur un atoll des tropiques. Mais il ne s’agit ni d’un séminaire de motivation, ni de vacances au soleil. C’est une course contre la montre qui est engagée pour permettre à la fusée Falcon 1 de trouver une base lancement et réaliser ses prem ... Show More
26m 51s
Dec 2021
SpaceX vs. Blue Origin | Des étoiles plein les yeux | 6
Nous sommes en 2016 et la navette de Virgin Galatic fait son grand retour dans la course à l’espace, deux ans après le tragique accident qui a coûté la vie à l’un de ses pilotes. Avant cet accident, l’entreprise de Richard Branson avait une véritable avance en matière de transpor ... Show More
29m 36s
Jun 2019
Condottieri: War for Profit in Renaissance Italy
In Renaissance Italy, war was simultaneously art, science, and big business, waged for profit and glory by hired contractors known as condottieri. Today, we follow one condottiere as he makes his way through the dangerous world of mercenary warfare in the fifteenth century.You ca ... Show More
51m 37s