logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2020
39m 49s

Pan Am hits major turbulence

American Public Media
About this episode

Pan Am made air travel cool—from chic crew uniforms to exotic locations to square-jawed flyboy pilots. But a couple of bad business deals, massive deregulation, and a devastating terrorist attack sunset the airline for good.

Our sponsors this week:


Betterhelp: betterhelp.com/spectacular
The Great Courses Plus: thegreatcoursesplus.com/spectacular


Sign up to receive our brand new newsletter, featuring weekly recommendations from Lauren and the rest of the team at spectacularfailures.org/newsletter.

Read the transcript of the episode at spectacularfailures.org.

You can follow Spectacular Failures on Twitter at @failureshow and like us at Facebook.com/failureshow. We're @failure_show on Instagram. Follow Lauren Ober on Twitter and Instagram at @oberandout.

Up next
Sep 2020
Subprime times at Countrywide Financial
Before the housing bubble burst, Countrywide Financial was one of the nation’s largest home mortgage lenders. But after years of predatory lending practices, the predator went extinct.Our sponsors this week:Indeed - Indeed.com/spectacularPolicy Genius - Policygenius.comOur Crowd ... Show More
43m 2s
Sep 2020
NYC Taxi Medallions' steep fare
Even before Uber and Lyft pulled into town, NYC yellow cabs were having a rough ride. Reckless lending practices and inflated taxi medallion prices racked up profits for the city and debt for drivers. Then, the bubble did what bubbles do. Our sponsors this week:Policy Genius - po ... Show More
37m 25s
Oct 2020
Sqirl finds itself in a jam
The Los Angeles restaurant Sqirl had lines down the block for brunches that featured its famous house-made jams on toast. But then a photo of discarded mold scraped from the jam, snapped by someone in the Sqirl kitchen, blew up the internet...and led to a reputation crisis Sqirl ... Show More
37m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
The Rise and Fall of 8K Miles Software aka SecureKloud
<p>In today&#39;s episode for 8th April 2023, we dive into how a company that was once the next big thing lost the plot. The arrest of two of its co-founders isn’t a good look, no? </p> 
7m 9s
Nov 2024
That Was a Total Leadership Fail
Today we’ll hear about:  A business owner looking for a way to buy out his lazy brother  A wife concerned that their business’s success could ruin their marriage  Dave Ramsey’s advice on building a healthy team culture  A young business owner looking to grow his family busine ... Show More
46m 41s
Oct 2024
The Rise and Fall of Victoria’s Secret
When a retailer falls, it falls quickly.  Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez are co-authors of “Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon.” - What Les Wexner understood about American consumers. - The new competition for Victoria’s Secret. - Lessons ... Show More
25m 59s
Mar 2023
Not Too Big To Fail
In a wild end to the week, Silicon Valley Bank was shut down by regulators in the biggest bank failure since the Great Recession. (0:21) Jason Moser and Matt Argersinger discuss: - February's jobs report (and potential ripple effects) - The stunning collapse of Silicon Valley Ba ... Show More
39m 31s
Nov 2024
Stock Floats, Lemonade Flies
After a rough start to the year, investors now seem to think the insurance company's glass is half full rather than half empty. (00:14) Kirsten Guerra and Mary Long discuss: - How experiential shopping has lifted Dick’s Sporting Goods. - Two paths forward for Kohl’s. - Why Lemona ... Show More
32m 39s
Feb 2019
Stocks for the Next 10 Years
Kraft Heinz plummets on weak earnings and an SEC subpoena. Stamps.com loses an Uncle Sam-sized partner. Wayfair delivers. And Zillow renovates. Analysts Andy Cross, Ron Gross, and Jason Moser discuss those stories and dig into the latest from Boston Beer, Domino’s Pizza, Texas Ro ... Show More
40m 15s
Oct 2024
Can My Business Survive This Crazy Economy?
Today we’ll hear about:  A business owner trying to navigate a difficult economy   A son deciding who to sell his late father's business to  A new business owner celebrating her team and their success   A leader facing a logistical bottleneck for growth in a specialty sales r ... Show More
49m 59s
Dec 2024
If We Don’t Get $1,800,000 Our Business Is Finished
Today we’ll hear about:  A woman whose business is in danger because of a client who filed bankruptcy  A business owner wondering if hiring an accountant is the right next step  Dave Ramsey’s take on Amazon’s return-to-work mandate  A woman who’s considering franchising her b ... Show More
51m 18s
Apr 2016
Big Tech's Big Miss
Alphabet, Microsoft, and Netflix slip. McDonald's surprises. And Under Armour rises. Plus, CNBC's Becky Quick previews the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
39m 10s