
Without Fail
Candid conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, visionaries of all kinds—about their successes, and their failures, and what they learned from both. Hosted by Alex Blumberg, from Gimlet Media.
Latest episodes

Sep 16, 2019 • 38min
Being an A$$hole: The Final Frontier for Women on the Screen
Aline Brosh McKenna got her big break as the screenwriter of The Devil Wears Prada. But even after successful box office hits and many years in Hollywood, she found herself having to compromise her vision over and over again. So she took matters into her own hands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 9, 2019 • 50min
From Hustling Dice to the Heights of Global Fashion: The Dapper Dan Story
Dapper Dan made a name for himself as one of Harlem’s premier fashion designers in the 1980s, creating unique leather designs covered in counterfeit logos from brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. But when the fashion houses found out, they shut him down. So how, 20 years later, did Dapper Dan make it to the top of the world that put him out of business? We created a playlist of some of the songs that name-drop Dapper Dan, from artists like LL Cool J, Missy Elliott, and Pusha T... You can find it exclusively on Spotify, at open.spotify.com/playlist/6Gl7MBd1RvVT4ihFVrSaqF?si=H6XBdhYHTTW8aBzbUhLXaQ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 19, 2019 • 29min
How a Stay-At-Home Mom Started an Empire
Jenny Doan and her husband, Ron, lost most of their savings in the 2008 financial crisis. Retirement was just around the corner, and they didn’t know how they would make it through. That’s when the family went all-in on an unlikely business—a quilt shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 22, 2019 • 40min
The Cost of Having a Conscience in the Senate
As a Democrat from a red state, Senator Heidi Heitkamp built a reputation for her willingness to buck party pressure and reach across the aisle. But when Brett Kavanaugh was nominated to the Supreme Court, she found herself facing a decision between her principles and her political fate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 15, 2019 • 32min
The Woman Who Brought Politics to Teen Vogue
When Elaine Welteroth was appointed editor in chief of Teen Vogue in 2015, she was the youngest and first black editor in the publication’s history. She set out to transform Teen Vogue into something more than just a fashion magazine...but Elaine had taken the helm of a publication in crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 8, 2019 • 44min
The Scared Child Inside Every Leader
This podcast explores the personal struggles of a former venture capitalist turned executive coach, delving into imposter syndrome, facing childhood patterns, and navigating internal battles. It also highlights the importance of addressing personal psychological challenges for effective leadership and the journey of self-awareness and growth.

Jun 17, 2019 • 46min
A 90s Sitcom Star's Fight for the Future of Black TV
Actor Erika Alexander came of age at a moment when there were lots of Black TV shows airing in primetime. She got her break in the early ‘90s with a role on the Cosby Show, and found fame as fast-talking lawyer Maxine Shaw in the hit sitcom Living Single. But then the number of Black sitcoms airing on the major networks dwindled, and so did roles for Black actors. In this conversation with The Nod’s Eric Eddings, Erika talks about navigating Hollywood after that Black entertainment boom went bust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 10, 2019 • 47min
Don’t Underestimate Gretchen Carlson
Gretchen Carlson, the long-time co-host of Fox & Friends, set off shockwaves in 2016 when she filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes. Just two weeks later, he was ousted from the network. But it had taken years of enduring abusive behavior before the former Miss America spoke out — and she's not done yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 3, 2019 • 39min
How a Hollywood Newcomer Shook Up Prime Time
Steven Canals was a virtual unknown when he co-created the award-winning TV series Pose. Set in the 1980s ballroom scene of New York, the show is unlike any prime time television drama that had come before it — and that is in large part because Steven Canals is unlike most other show creators in Hollywood. But getting Pose to the screen meant more than breaking down barriers for Steven; it meant coming to understand that the story could not be told without him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 13, 2019 • 46min
Exiled from the Industry He Helped Create
Jeff Ullrich was a struggling business manager with a drinking problem and a waning sense of professional direction when, in 2010, he saw an opportunity: podcasting. It was a brand new medium, and no one had really tapped its potential. Together with comedian Scott Aukerman, Jeff founded Earwolf, one of the first podcast networks, and developed shows like How Did This Get Made? and Comedy Bang! Bang!. Jeff was one of the biggest names in the industry — and then he made a decision that got him erased from the history books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices