We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul – crowned by Rolling Stone the greatest singer of all time – with a dozen million-selling singles to her name. But in spite of her talent, Aretha’s road to respect wasn’t exactly smooth. Her first seven albums flopped. It's a fascinating story. Hope you’ll join us.The major source for this episode is the biography: "Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin" by David Ritz. Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we take you through three books we consider essential reading for the rejected. Or the brave. Or the curious. One is about hope, one is a three-volume collection of most-hated things and the third is a memoir of the craft.Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, it’s a two-er. The stories of two Bluth brothers – Michael and Gob – aka Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. Their stories are entirely different, yet tethered by some interesting beats. Like – not finishing school, being labelled a smart-ass, being rejected for sitcom after sitcom and crediting Arrested Development with rescuing their careers. Hope you’ll join us.Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before becoming a publishing phenomenon, John Grisham was a small-town lawyer whose debut novel faced rejection after rejection. Hear how a devastating courtroom case inspired A Time to Kill, how he sold copies from his car, and how Hollywood’s surprise interest in The Firm transformed his career.

Apostrophe co-founder and director Callie-Rae O'Reilly has written a new book – a memoir – called “Let Me Down: Reflections on Abuse and Love.” It’s a personal story about the intersections of love, abuse, memory and the stories we tell ourselves about the people who hurt us. If you’ve ever wondered “why didn’t she just leave?” this book is an education. It’s fascinating. It’s healing. It untangles shame from so many of our stories.Let Me Down is available at Indigo, Amazon or your favourite indie bookstore. Find book tour events here.Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're heading back to Paris with an encore of one of our favourite episodes. Featuring an intro from our producer and researcher Allison, where she shares the story behind the inspiration for this episode. The Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world. 300 million people have climbed its stairs – or its elevators – since the landmark first opened in 1889. You’ve seen it in countless movies, you’ve marvelled at its 20,000 lights. But did you know back when the tower's design was first revealed to the public, 300 of France’s most-respected cultural luminaries called it a humiliation, a mockery and an "odious column of bolted metal?"Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a brand-new mini-series all about reviews. Reviews are tricky things. They have the ability to set something on fire – in one way or the other. They can be totally wrong. They can be devastatingly right. And they can be downright hilarious. Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of our summer hiatus, we’re bringing you an extended version of one of our favourite episodes – the doctor who was fired for washing his hands. We originally released this episode in 2023 as a short story. Then this summer, as part of our CBC Radio Summer Series, we reworked and extended the episode – to become a full-length show. Reminder we’re back in September resuming our regular season episodes. But for now, enjoy the crazy story of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis.Did you know in the late 1800s, doctors didn’t wash their hands? When Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis – an obstetrician in Vienna – realized women in his hospital were dying at staggering rates, he implemented staff-wide mandatory hand washing. Maternal death rates dropped by 90%. But doctors weren’t happy. Semmelweis was called "crazy," told his idea was superstitious, not scientific.Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special encore put together by our chief sound engineer Geoff Devine. Featuring an intro from Geoff and a favourite episode, reworked and revisited.The Sopranos is widely considered the greatest television show of all time. Just ask TV Guide, The Writer’s Guild of America and Rolling Stone. But before revolutionizing the one-hour drama and ushering in what’s become known as the second Golden Age of Television, the idea for The Sopranos was rejected. By every major network. At nearly 50 years old, the show’s creator David Chase nearly shelved his script – then his manager got an idea.Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear the full episode in Apostrophe All Ears. Try seven days, free.Ask us Anything:Email us: [email protected] to us on socials: @apostrophepodLeave us a voicemailWe don’t regret to inform you – you can now listen ad-free! Plus bonus episodes, chats with Sidney, Terry, Allison & more. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.