What happens when you give two men unlimited first-class flights for life? American Airlines found out the hard way when their "brilliant" cash-grab turned into a multi-million dollar nightmare, complete with impromptu Paris lunch dates, suspicious companion passes, and an airline determined to ground frequent flyers forever. Katie Boyle (The Shift, I'll Do It Myself) and Erin Jackson (Grudgery, The Upshaws)join Misha for a first class conversation about American Airlines Airpass Be the first to...
Jul 07, 2025•36 min•Ep. 95
What do you get when you combine Yale graduates, Orange County bros, and Skechers' sketchy ""research""? Three of the most memorable fitness product fails of all time. From David Beckham's magic balance bracelet to Kim Kardashian's Super Bowl shoe commercial, these celebrity-endorsed flops showed that even star power can't overcome basic physics. Artists on Artists on Artisits on Artists co-hosts Angela Giarratana, Jeremy Culhane and Kylie Brakeman join Misha to get to the core of three 2000 fit...
Jun 30, 2025•54 min•Ep. 94
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 Home says it helps girls decide what comes next – whether that’s parenting their babies or placing them for adoption. But inside the facility, the girls hear a different message: God wants their babies to go to more “dese...
Jun 26, 2025•6 min
Before she became known as “The She-Wolf of France,” Isabella was a princess sent to unite two warring kingdoms through marriage. But her husband, King Edward II of England, didn’t get the same memo. From day one, it’s clear he’s more interested in the cute men at court than his queen – or his crown. As Edward’s reckless choices endanger the English throne and strain relations with France, Isabella will have to decide if she’ll remain a loyal queen – or take matters into her own hands. Be the fi...
Jun 23, 2025•46 min•Ep. 93
When Jen Shah fled a Bravo filming location minutes before federal agents arrived, her castmates thought the cops might be strippers. They weren't. Instead, they were there to bust a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that would send this Shah-mazing housewife from designer ski wear to prison jumpsuits. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever yo...
Jun 16, 2025•52 min•Ep. 92
On The Big Flop, we unpack history’s most fascinating flops, frauds, and fiascos. But The Best Idea Yet brings you the untold stories behind some of the most successful products of all time. So...what happens when both shows cover the same topic? A proper debate! Listen in as Nick & Jack, the hosts of The Best Idea Yet , join Misha to dive into the fascinating world of Beanie Babies – those unassuming critters with birthdates and bios that took America by storm in the late 90s. They explore ...
Jun 12, 2025•12 min
Bernie Madoff wasn't just good at making money disappear—he was a master at making people believe in financial magic. But when the 2008 financial crisis hit, his house of cards came tumbling down, revealing the largest Ponzi scheme in history and leaving everyone from Kevin Bacon to cancer research charities holding the bag. Brent Pella (Wildin’ Out, Good Trip) and Joey Dardano (The Method, Help from a Hypocrite) join Misha to do an in-depth accounting of the Bernie Madoff story Be the first to ...
Jun 09, 2025•42 min•Ep. 91
In the '90s, Jenny Craig wasn't just selling frozen meals – she was selling the American dream, one tiny chocolate cheesecake at a time. But between shady advertising claims, the Fen-Phen crisis, and a jaw injury that silenced their spokeswoman, this weight loss queen discovered that even the most carefully counted calories couldn't save her empire from crumbling. Ronald Young Jr. (Weight for It) and Emmy Blotnick (The English Teacher, Bust Down) join Misha to shed some light on the many misstep...
Jun 02, 2025•48 min•Ep. 90
In 2004, backup dancer Kevin Federline hit the relationship jackpot when Britney Spears spotted him at an LA club. Two years, two babies, and one reality show later, K-Fed decided being Mr. Spears wasn't enough – he wanted to be Hip Hop royalty. But when his rap career tanked faster than his marriage, even Richard Branson and a truck covered in pennies couldn't save this wannabe rapper's career. Alex Falcone (Portlandia) and Robby Hoffman (Hacks, Dying for Sex) join Misha to learn how K-Fed went...
May 26, 2025•47 min•Ep. 89
Celebrity spit parties, Met Gala appearances, and dreams of personalized medicine made 23andMe the hottest thing in biotech. Anne Wojcicki’s DNA tests promised to unlock the secrets of our genes – and maybe cure some diseases along the way. But when hackers exposed millions of users' genetic data, not even Richard Branson could save Anne from becoming another Silicon Valley casualty. Kevin Sullivan and Laura Peek join Misha to understand the building blocks of 23andMe's demise. Follow The Big Fl...
May 19, 2025•53 min•Ep. 88
Before there was Facebook, there was MySpace – and Tom Anderson was everyone's first friend. With his iconic profile pic and revolutionary platform, Tom turned social media into a cultural phenomenon. But when corporate suits came calling with fat checks and even bigger expectations, Tom went from being everyone’s first friend to the internet’s first cautionary tale. Erika Ishii and Brennan Lee Mulligan (Dimension 20, Dropout.tv) join Misha to get the lowdown on how Tom from Myspace fell out of ...
May 12, 2025•55 min•Ep. 87
In the early 2000s, American Apparel was the coolest kid on the block, slinging ethically-made tees and scandalous billboards. But founder Dov Charney's penchant for office orgies and nude photoshoots proved too spicy for Wall Street, turning his sweatshop-free dream into a nightmare of lawsuits, bankruptcy, and one very public walk of shame. Sasheer Zamata and Jared Goldstein join Misha to uncover the almost naked truth behind American Apparel. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcas...
May 05, 2025•52 min•Ep. 86
The Hamburglar was just a mascot, but Jerome Jacobson was the real deal - a McDonald's security chief who pulled off the ultimate inside job. While millions of Americans peeled game pieces hoping for a miracle, this master manipulator was turning Big Macs into big bucks, orchestrating a multi-million dollar fraud. Discover the supersized story of how one man's greed turned America's favorite promotion into the biggest McFlop in fast-food history. Ify Nwadiwe and Beth Stelling, join Misha to get ...
Apr 28, 2025•46 min•Ep. 85
Rachel Dolezal built a life for herself as a teacher, a civil rights advocate, and a leader in her local NAACP chapter. There was just one problem: She built it all on a foundation of lies—and the biggest lie of all was about her race. When a local news crew discovered her secret and called her out in front of cameras, it all came crashing down on a national scale. Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman (Couples Therapy) join Misha to break down the many lies of Rachel Dolezal—and there are a lot! B...
Apr 21, 2025•52 min•Ep. 84
At 2:30AM on Thanksgiving night 2009, Tiger Woods, one of the most famous athletes in the world, drove his car into a tree outside his neighbor’s house. This bizarre accident set off a chain of events that exposed Tiger’s secret affairs to the world and wound up wrecking more than his Escalade: It wrecked his marriage, and almost totaled his career. Brooke Siffrinn and Aricia Skidmore-Williams from Even the Rich join Misha to tee off on the salacious scandals of Tiger Woods. Be the first to know...
Apr 14, 2025•48 min•Ep. 83
When 27-year-old wunderkind Josh Trank got the keys to Marvel's First Family, he promised a dark, gritty take on the Fantastic Four. But his own origin story—complete with on-set meltdowns, studio battles, and that infamous tweet—proved more compelling than anything that made it to screen. From questionable wigs to near-fistfights, this superhero saga became a cautionary tale about Hollywood hubris that even Mr. Fantastic couldn't stretch his way out of. The hosts of Unspooled, Amy Nicholson and...
Apr 07, 2025•48 min•Ep. 82
Think you know everything about Barbie? Think again. We're pulling back the pink curtain on three Mattel missteps that had parents lining up for refunds and PR teams working overtime. From pregnant Midge to “gay” Ken, these Barbie blunders had executives screaming ""Oh no!"" instead of ""Oh Barbie!"" Maddie Wiener and Leah Rudick join Misha to unbox some of the weirdest Barbie products of all time Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up no...
Mar 31, 2025•41 min•Ep. 81
From substitute teacher to energy drink mogul, Jack Owoc rode a wave of caffeine to build Bang Energy into a billion-dollar empire. Bang promised to make you smarter, stronger, and immune to hangovers. Turns out, the only thing it boosted was CEO Jack Owoc's bank account. But when Monster came for his market share and the music industry came for his TikToks, Jack learned that no amount of “super creatine” could keep him out of bankruptcy court. Emma Willmann (Crashing, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and A...
Mar 24, 2025•48 min•Ep. 80
In the fall of 2014, half a billion Apple iTunes users woke up to find U2's latest album downloaded to their devices. The band thought they were democratizing music, instead, U2’s attempt to force-feed their music to the masses turned into a PR nightmare complete with deletion tutorials, customer revolts, and the most expensive 'unsubscribe' button in music history. Izzy Roland (Dimension 20, The Sex Lives of College Girls) and Andy Daly (The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) join Misha to reminisce a...
Mar 17, 2025•46 min•Ep. 79
In 2001, Steve Warshak turned America's insecurities into gold with Enzyte, a 'male enhancement' pill hawked by TV's smuggest pitchman, Smilin' Bob. But when federal agents discovered Steve’s real genius wasn't in making anything “bigger” (besides his bank account through fraud), they unearthed a world of fake doctors, unauthorized charges, and Steve’s 70-year-old mother who helped run a $200 million dollar scam. The hosts of Camp Counselors, Zachariah Porter and Jonathan Carson, join Misha to e...
Mar 10, 2025•52 min•Ep. 78
He turned five fresh-faced teens into the Backstreet Boys, then secretly created their rivals N*SYNC. But while his boy bands were hitting high notes, Lou Pearlman was orchestrating one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history. From fake accounting firms to $300 million in fraud, discover how the man who built a pop empire ended up behind bars. The hosts of Good Children, Joe Hegyes and Andrew Muscarella, join Misha to share a story that might sound crazy, but it ain’t no lie: It’s the downfall o...
Mar 03, 2025•47 min•Ep. 77
Joe Exotic built his kingdom on the backs of big cats, bad decisions, and bedazzled button-downs. But when his roadside zoo empire collided with animal rights crusader Carole Baskin, their clash unleashed a storm of eccentric enemies, failed murder plots, and the worst country music videos ever uploaded to YouTube. Ed Larson and Henry Zebrowski (Last Podcast On the Left) join Misha to uncover the untold details of this exotic animal saga. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, cur...
Feb 24, 2025•52 min•Ep. 76
In the modeling world, Tyra Banks was untouchable—breaking barriers, creating catchphrases, and teaching a generation how to 'smize.' But when she tried to parlay that success into a business empire, things got messier than a Cover Girl photoshoot. From forcing Top Model contestants to promote her tone-deaf projects to selling $225 VIP tickets to a glorified Instagram museum, the queen of fierce learned that some dreams are better left on the vision board. Laci Mosely (Scam Goddess) and Aida Rod...
Feb 17, 2025•49 min•Ep. 75
Bill Darden built Red Lobster from a single Florida restaurant into a billion-dollar empire. But after private equity vultures swooped in, they pushed endless shrimp promotions and installed toxic management that had workers wading through kitchen grease. Coupled with cringe-worthy viral campaigns, this is the story of how America's seafood sanctuary turned into an all-you-can-eat disaster. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at ht...
Feb 10, 2025•49 min•Ep. 74
He built an empire on Kevin from The Office that turned into the hottest tech startup in town: Cameo. But when Steve Galanis became more interested in throwing Miami mansion parties than running his company, his billion-dollar tech darling became a digital bargain bin featuring more fraudsters than A-listers. Aaron Goldenberg and Jake Jonez (The Mean Gays) join Misha to break down how Cameo went from A-listers to Z-listers. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommenda...
Feb 03, 2025•45 min•Ep. 73
A Holiday Inn bathroom becomes a makeshift chimp sanctuary. A headless ape corpse rides shotgun down the highway. PETA and Alan Cumming join forces against a middle-aged nurse with a penchant for primates. This isn't a fever dream – it's the bonkers true story of Tonia Haddix and one woman's simian obsession gone wild. Grace Helbig and Mamrie Hart from This Might Get Weird join Misha to peel back the layers of this bananas flop. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recom...
Jan 27, 2025•43 min•Ep. 72
Martin Shkreli jacked up drug prices, trolled the world, and bought a two million-dollar Wu-Tang album before the age of 35. But the karma (and real) police came for the Pharma Bro when the world caught wind of his price-gouging antics on life saving medicine. From hedge fund schemes to court-room memes, Martin earned the now infamous title of “Most Hated Man in America”. Kyle Prue (How to Piss Off Men) and Miles Bonsignore (Perfect Person, Try Guys) join Misha to give Martin Shkreli a taste of ...
Jan 20, 2025•45 min•Ep. 71
Rick Singer went from failed basketball coach to college admissions kingpin, engineering a $25 million scheme that had the rich and famous buying their kids' way into elite schools. From Aunt Becky to the Hot Pockets Heiress, this smooth-talking grifter exposed the dark underbelly of elite education. That is, until he brought down some of America's most privileged in the process. Chris Burns (fatcarriebradshaw) and Sarah Tiana (Comedy Store) join Misha to do a play-by-play of Operation Varsity B...
Jan 13, 2025•48 min•Ep. 70
For over a decade, Tom Cruise was Hollywood's most bankable star, ruling Tinseltown with a million-dollar grin and a carefully crafted image. But when ditching his publicist led to couch-jumping antics, Scientology scandals, and box office bombs, La La Land’s Top Gun found himself in a tailspin that even Ethan Hunt couldn't escape. Lizzie Bassett and Chris Winterbauer from What Went Wrong join Misha to jump off the couch and into the lowest point of Tom Cruise’s career. Follow The Big Flop on th...
Jan 06, 2025•50 min•Ep. 69
Carlos Watson built Ozy Media on a foundation of lies, fake views, and impersonated executives. From star-studded festivals that never happened to a $40 million con call, Carlos built a multi-million dollar media mirage. Ozy’s story proves that in the world of startups, sometimes the biggest disruptor is reality itself. Mara Wilson (Matilda, Where Am I Now?) and Nish Kumar (Pod Save the UK, Mash Report) join Misha to invest some of their time into this promising business... flop. Follow The Big ...
Dec 30, 2024•53 min•Ep. 68
