My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success Spinal Tap’s Greatest Mistakes — And Why They Still Matter 41 Years Later
In this very special solo episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban breaks down the gloriously ridiculous — and surprisingly instructive — mistakes made by the characters in his all-time favorite film, This Is Spinal Tap.
With the long-awaited sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, now in theaters, Mark explores why Spinal Tap endures not just as a cult comedy classic, but as a brilliant satire of human behavior, team dysfunction, communication breakdowns, and leadership gone sideways.
And yes — these mistakes still matter, even four decades later.
From the Stonehenge measured in inches…
To the foil-wrapped “courgette” in the pants…
To the pod that wouldn’t open and the drummers who keep dying…
…these moments are funny because they’re true. And they’re great reminders that how we respond to mistakes matters more than pretending they never happened.
🔑 Topics & Highlights:-
Why This Is Spinal Tap is more than just a comedy
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The iconic “Stonehenge” prop mistake and what it teaches us about communication
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How real-life rockstars refused to drum in the sequel (because of the “curse”)
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Why remembering the courgette as a cucumber is itself… a mistake
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The brilliance of “We don’t have time for that” and the backstage loop in Cleveland
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Why doing what you’re told isn’t the same as doing what’s right
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Mark’s personal story of seeing the film 100+ times — starting with a VHS in high school
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💻 SpinalTarp.com – A curated list of character mistakes from the film
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and check out past episodes of My Favorite Mistake — where we talk to leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, and creatives about the mistakes that made them who they are.
🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your shows.