The Chicken Soup for the Soul series exemplifies the power of storytelling in promoting positivity, despite facing criticism for its oversimplification of complex issues.
After a transition to broader consumer goods and media, the brand struggled to maintain its identity, leading to financial challenges and a decline in stock prices.
Deep dives
The Origins of Chicken Soup for the Soul
The concept of Chicken Soup for the Soul originated in 1993 when motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen decided to compile uplifting stories that promote positivity and resilience. They combined their expertise in self-help with personal anecdotes to showcase how individuals can overcome obstacles. Despite being rejected by multiple publishers, they self-published 20,000 copies, using innovative sales strategies that included selling from non-traditional venues. The book quickly gained popularity, selling millions of copies and expanding into various themed spin-offs that catered to diverse audiences and needs.
Cultural Impact and Criticism
The Chicken Soup for the Soul series became a cultural phenomenon throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, reflecting a growing appetite for feel-good narratives. However, it also faced criticism for promoting a simplistic view of complex issues like mental health and structural inequality. The series was often characterized as overly sentimental and avoiding political controversy, with detractors pointing to its message of individual responsibility as problematic. Nonetheless, it became a go-to resource for many seeking comfort and inspiration during challenging times.
Transformation and Legacy
As the original creators sold the company in 2008 to a new management team, Chicken Soup for the Soul transitioned from a self-help brand to a broader lifestyle and media company. The new owners aimed to expand the brand into food products, television, and streaming services, but many of these ventures did not resonate with audiences. Attempts to leverage the brand for consumer goods like pasta sauce and pet food also faced challenges, often leading to the discontinuation of these products. While the brand struggled to maintain its momentum in the evolving media landscape, it nonetheless retained significant brand recognition, still publishing books and continuing to expand its reach.
The Downfall and Current State
The acquisition of Redbox by Chicken Soup for the Soul in 2022 marked a significant and controversial chapter, as it coincided with the decline of DVD rentals and changing consumer behavior. This merger not only drove the company into substantial debt but also associated the once-beloved brand with a struggling video rental service, leading to a decline in stock prices. The company's attempts to ride the wave of meme stock enthusiasm faced reality, as investor expectations were not met, culminating in the bankruptcy filing in 2024. Despite this, the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand continues to exist, adapting to modern trends while aiming to maintain its legacy of positivity through various media and products.
Chicken Soup for the Soul was the brainchild of two motivational speakers who preach the New Thought belief system known as the Law of Attraction. For more than 30 years, the self-help series has compiled reader-submitted stories about kindness, courage, and perseverance into easily digestible books aimed at almost every conceivable demographic: Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul, Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul, and on and on. Since 1993, these books have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling non-fiction book series of all time.
But in recent years, the company has become many other things that seem lightyears away from inspirational publishing: a line of packaged foods, a DVD kiosk retailer, and a meme stock. In this episode, with the help of journalist Amanda Chicago Lewis, we tell the story of how this feel-good brand went from comfort food to junk.
This episode was written by Willa Paskin and Max Freedman and produced by Max. It was edited by Evan Chung, Decoder Ring’s supervising producer. Our show is also produced by Katie Shepherd. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director. Special thanks to Rachel Strom.
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