Red Lobster redefined American dining habits by making seafood accessible to people living outside the coasts. But its heyday didn’t last. Casual observers believe Red Lobster’s demise was an open-and-shut case of an all-you-can-eat deal backfiring. But there are plenty of other suspects. And as America’s #1 seafood restaurant chain fights to keep its head above water, it must reckon with whether it can trust Wall Street’s offer of a lifeline. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts...
Mar 05, 2025•41 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden signs a law giving ByteDance until January 2025 to divest from TikTok or the app will be banned in the United States. TikTok decides to fight the law in court. Then the case goes all the way to the Supreme Court. But the company’s best hope to overturn the law lies in the outcome of the 2024 election — or so it thinks. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Bu...
Feb 26, 2025•32 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast You know those messages that you get all the time, the ones that pop up out of nowhere? They could be real, but something about them seems fishy. You likely dismiss these texts and emails as mere annoyances, thinking you’ve stopped some random stranger from ripping you off. But the shocking truth is, the person behind that message might be trapped inside a “scam factory” on the other side of the world and forced to scam others against their will. From Wondery, comes a new series about the brutal...
Feb 24, 2025•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast TikTok realizes its attempts to prove to American lawmakers that the Chinese government doesn’t have access to American user data aren’t working, and they need to change tactics. Becoming more aggressive in their lobbying, TikTok taps into the millions of Americans who use the app to urge lawmakers not to ban TikTok. But their efforts come up short. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/won...
Feb 19, 2025•32 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast TikTok scrambles to respond to President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring ByteDance sell the app to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. But the election of Joe Biden in November 2020 offers the company a brief reprieve. TikTok works to make a deal with the new administration, but reports come out that TikTok may not have been completely honest about the privacy of American user data, jeopardizing their status in the country yet again. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcas...
Feb 12, 2025•34 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In 2018, Chinese tech company ByteDance launched TikTok in the United States, determined to make the app one of the top entertainment platforms in the country. And by spring 2020, ByteDance achieved its goal, thanks, in part, to a global pandemic that sees people spending more time on their phones. But while TikTok faces competition from other social media sites, its greatest threat is the U.S. government. Lawmakers worry the e Chinese-owned app is a serious national security risk and ...
Feb 05, 2025•32 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Would you fly on a Boeing 737-Max plane? Ed Pierson won’t. He’s a former Boeing senior manager who blew the whistle on safety concerns with the 737-Max project. Today, Ed is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety , and he joins David to discuss Boeing then and now, and where it all went wrong. Later, Sharon Terlep , aerospace reporter for the Wall Street Journal, dives into the company’s future, discussing the billion dollar question: can Boeing bounce back? War...
Jan 30, 2025•38 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast With losses from the 737 Max scandal spiraling into the billions, Boeing’s new CEO Dave Calhoun is looking to bring the crisis to a swift end. But he’s about to face major headwinds. Headwinds that threaten to destroy the entire company. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the ...
Jan 29, 2025•35 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Boeing scrambles to improve its bestseller, the 737, as its competitor Airbus brings an upgraded rival plane to market. To create the 737 MAX, Boeing has to figure out a way to fit modern jet engines onto the 737’s aging airframe. When the MAX encounters problems, Boeing then creates a computer system to fix them. But their lack of transparency with both regulators and pilots will backfire badly. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign ...
Jan 22, 2025•35 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast It’s the late 1990s and the seeds of Boeing’s business disaster are being sown. An aerospace mega-merger and fierce competition from its chief rival Airbus are about to transform Boeing in ways that will lead to tragedy. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge th...
Jan 15, 2025•38 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 2019 and after another deadly plane crash, Boeing finds its reputation and business in free fall. Its best-selling passenger jet, the 737 Max, is forced out of the skies and the company is forced to reckon with its mistakes. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be ...
Jan 08, 2025•34 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast In this special episode, we're taking you behind the scenes of the show. We'll delve into how we chose our host and how the first season got off the ground. Then we'll explore how we bring the story to life with sound. And comedian Josh Gondelman will give David Brown a bit of a grilling. Plus, David reflects on a listener's message. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Busines...
Jan 08, 2025•47 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast TikTok gift guides and social media shopping platforms changed the game this holiday season. So how much did shoppers spend — and where did they make those purchases? Hint: it definitely wasn't Target. David is joined by Jordyn Holman, retail reporter for The New York Times, and Kitty Guo, a writer for The Strategist covering gifting, to find out how shopping habits shifted in 2024. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wo...
Dec 26, 2024•32 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Bob Iger has held the keys to the Disney castle since 2005. The last time this larger-than-life CEO tried to leave, an entire proxy battle broke out under the nose of his successor. Now, with Iger’s contract up in 2026, the entertainment industry (and Wall Street) are wondering who — and what — will come next. Sean McNulty, co-host of The Ankler Podcast, joins David to break down Disney’s next steps, and whether Iger can finally land the plane on his successor. Be the first to know about W...
Dec 25, 2024•37 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast When CEO Bob Iger fails to reassure Wall Street about his plans for Disney’s traditional TV operations, Nelson Peltz seizes the chance to launch a fresh attack on the Magic Kingdom. And this time, he won’t back down. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the ne...
Dec 18, 2024•34 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 2022 and Disney is in trouble. The combined forces of pandemic shutdowns, box-office bombs and political missteps have hammered Disney’s stock price. Marvel’s jilted former boss sees an opportunity. He allies with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz to plot a boardroom coup. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Ex...
Dec 11, 2024•33 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Is nostalgia alone enough to keep Chuck E. Cheese afloat in 2025? As the chain continues to crawl its way out of bankruptcy, they’ll need to win over the next generation of kids — or perhaps, their parents — to keep the arcade lights on. Ben Coley of the trade publication QSR Magazine joins David to discuss how Chuck E. Cheese is making money these days, and whether they’ll be able to stick it out for another 50 years. Later, Ross Brakman of the American Treasure Tour Museum shares the orig...
Dec 04, 2024•36 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 1982, and after months of bitter fighting, Nolan Bushnell of Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater and Robert Brock of ShowBiz Pizza Place finally strike a legal truce. With the video game market crashing and the novelty of their brands fading, Chuck E. Cheese faces mounting debt and is forced to file for bankruptcy. ShowBiz Pizza, also feeling the economic strain, realizes their only chance to survive is by merging with their former rival. But is combining forces enough to revive these aili...
Nov 27, 2024•38 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 1976, and Atari founder Nolan Bushnell is on a mission to launch a family arcade disguised as a pizza parlor. He comes up with a name that’s impossible not to smile at—“Chuck E. Cheese”—and combines pizza, video games, and animatronic entertainment. The chain quickly becoming the go-to destination for a generation of American kids. And as business takes off, hotel mogul Robert Brock sees the potential to franchise, but after feeling misled by Bushnell, he demands their contract be torn up. ...
Nov 20, 2024•33 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Get ready for a Business Wars pizza party! Sporkful podcast host Dan Pashman and Eater NYC reporter Melissa McCart join David to settle the years long debate: is East Coast pizza really better? Then, Dan goes out in the field to put hot honey pizza to the test. Plus, find out how foodies read the trends to determine whether a slice is all hype, or worth the wait. This episode is available early and ad-free for Wondery+ members. To stay up-to-date on new podcas...
Nov 14, 2024•36 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger boomed in the 2010s, but changing tastes have turned their sizzle into a fizzle. And as they continue to slide deeper into debt, these companies have struggled to get back on top of the plant-based food chain. . What’s next for these meatless giants? Jason Kartalian and Mike Keller, co-hosts of the podcast Vegan Hacks , join David to discuss the future of Beyond Meat, Impossible Burger, and the meatless meat market as a whole. Listen to Business Wars on th...
Nov 13, 2024•36 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 2022 and Kim Kardashian is chowing down on a Beyond Burger. But the Internet buzzes over whether she actually ate it. Meanwhile, after a boom in business during the pandemic, Americans are now cutting back on plant-based meats. And concerns are growing over their nutritional value. That creates a financial pinch for both Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, and both companies will have to consider cutting the fat in their operations. Just as the industry looks like it's overcooked, one company...
Nov 06, 2024•35 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 2019 and plant-based meats are on fire. But they’re also under fire. Supporters of the beef industry start a food fight with the plant-based meat industry. It kicks off on Super Bowl Sunday, with an aggressive TV ad. But Pat Brown’s Impossible Foods fights back with an ad of its own. Meanwhile, Ethan Brown pushes Beyond Meat to grow at all costs. As debts mount, Ethan tries to get the king of burgers, McDonald’s, to bite on a new plant-based patty. And, as the heat turns up at both companie...
Oct 30, 2024•32 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast It’s 2016 and both Pat Brown’s Impossible Foods and Ethan Brown’s Beyond Meat are cooking up plant-based burgers for mass consumption. Ethan tries to woo Whole Foods executives to carry his Beyond Burger in their stores from coast-to-coast. Pat’s taking a different route. He’s asking celebrity chefs to put his Impossible Burger — a plant-based meat that bleeds — on their menus. Soon enough, fake meat gets truly famous. But as Beyond Meat tries to cash in on Wall Street and as Impossible Foods ge...
Oct 23, 2024•31 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast It's 2008 and two men, both vegans, ponder what they can do to improve the climate. Though they’re on separate sides of the country and in different professions (but they coincidentally share a last name)— Ethan Brown is in the fuel cell business and Pat Brown is a lauded Stanford biochemist — they land on the same solution. They’re going to try and lessen the climate impact of animal agriculture by making meat from plants. Ethan calls his company Beyond Meat and notches the first commercial bre...
Oct 16, 2024•38 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast From smash burgers to plant patties, this episode is serving up some of the biggest trends in the burger world, and examining whether they're here to stay. Later, David puts some of Southern California's most iconic burgers to the test with Josh Scherer and Nicole Enayati, co-hosts of Mythical Kitchen , and Eater LA Reporter Mona Holmes . Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlo...
Oct 10, 2024•39 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast 
