We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

Overnight, Amanda Gorman became a household name. She is the youngest inaugural poet in American history, a National Youth Poet Laureate and a New York Times bestselling author. But before her Instagram following jumped from 3,000 to 3,000,000, Gorman faced rejection and struggled with a debilitating speech impediment. Join us this week as we tell her inspiring story, from bullies and skeptics to...

Mark Ruffalo is an Academy Award-nominated actor, known for his roles in The Kids Are All Right , Foxcatcher and The Avengers franchise. But before stepping into the Hollywood spotlight, Ruffalo was rejected at 800 auditions, ready to give up acting altogether and become a construction painter. Then, news from his doctor threw him for the loop of a lifetime. Kicking off Season Two we tell Ruffalo’...

We Regret To Inform You that we're back April 6th for our second season. Here's a sneak peek. Ask us Anything: Email us: hello@apostrophepodcasts.ca Write to us on socials: @apostrophepod Leave us a voicemail We 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...

We regret to inform you that today marks our final episode of the season. So we thought we’d do something a little different. This week, Sidney and Terry sit down to chat about the lessons and the stories from Season One AND answer some of your questions. Like - what are the key differences between the rejections of actors and musicians? Why are so many projects rejected 40 times specifically? And...

Fred VanVleet is an NBA champion who recently signed a four-year contract with the Toronto Raptors worth $85 million. But before becoming a key player for the Raps, VanVleet was overlooked and underestimated at every single stage of his basketball career. This week, we tell his amazing story. From being rejected by all 30 teams in the NBA draft to becoming the highest-paid undrafted player of all...

Taraji P. Henson is an Academy Award-nominated actress, known for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Hidden Figures as well as her iconic role as Cookie Lyon in the hit television show Empire . But before taking Hollywood by storm, Henson was rejected from acting school and rejected for parts, making $10 an hour as a receptionist between auditions. Join us this week as we tell Henson’s incred...

In the four short years Wham! was together, they sold 30 million records. Making them one of the best-selling duos of the ‘80s and launching the subsequent career of the late great George Michael. But before reaching the top of the pops, schoolmates and best friends Andrew Ridgeley and Georgios Panayiotou were laughed out of the room by dozens of record labels. Join us this week as we tell Wham!’s...

Splash launched the filmmaking careers of Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. It put Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah on the map and was nominated for an Academy Award. But as a budding movie producer, Grazer spent seven years trying to sell the script, facing unrelenting rejection from every studio in LA. Join us this week as dive into Grazer’s fascinating story. From being told mermaids don’t sell movie tick...

Bat out of Hell is one of the top albums of all time according to Rolling Stone. But before going certified platinum 14 times over, before shattering chart records and before selling over 40 million copies worldwide, it was rejected. Over 40 times. Join us this week as we tell Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s incredible story, from being told they were “too theatre” to crack the mainstream, to selling...

Back To The Future sits proudly in the Library of Congress National Film Registry as a work of enduring importance to American culture. But nearly 40 years ago when Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis first wrote the script, it was rejected. 40 times. Join us this week at the Twin Pines Mall as we tell the film’s incredible story. From being told by studios it was “too sweet” for the rebellious ‘80s yout...

Katy Perry was 15 years old when she was discovered, singing gospel songs in her parents traveling ministry. She quickly signed a record deal and thought she had it made. Little did Perry know, before becoming one of the highest-paid artists in the world, before tying Michael Jackson’s long-held records and before becoming the most-followed woman on Twitter, she would be rejected and dropped. By f...

Tyler Perry wears many hats - and wigs. He is a renowned writer, director, producer and actor. But before his massive studio complex, before his millions and before Madea, Perry was a struggling playwright living in his car. He was rejected by television networks and ignored by Hollywood studios. And yet, just this past week, Perry became the latest entertainer to join the exclusive Billionaires C...

The Dyson vacuum is the number one best-selling vacuum cleaner in the United Kingdom. Making its inventor, James Dyson, a billionaire. But back when he first designed his revolutionary cyclone technology, Dyson was rejected by every single vacuum company and every single investor he approached. This week we tell James Dyson’s amazing story. From building 5127 prototypes in his backyard to leaving...

Dirty Dancing is one of the most iconic cult classic movies of all time. But back when screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein and producer Linda Gottlieb first pitched the script, it promptly received 43 rejection letters. Studios labelled it as “too small, too soft and too girly.” This week we break down the film’s remarkable journey. From a low-budget indie movie no one wanted, to raking in over $200 mi...

Spanx has become the de facto brand name for an entire category. Like Kleenex or Q-tips. But in the ’90s, the shapewear company’s founder, Sara Blakely, was enduring relentless rejection as a door-to-door fax machine salesperson. When one day, she cut the feet off her pantyhose. This week we tell Blakely’s inspiring story, from being ridiculed for her idea to becoming a self-made billionaire. Ask...

RuPaul’s Drag Race has won 13 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Reality Host four years running. But RuPaul didn’t sashay into Hollywood overnight. He weathered decades of rejection fighting to be America’s first drag superstar. Join us this week as we tell RuPaul’s fabulous story, from sleeping in Central Park to becoming Supermodel of the World. Ask us Anything: Email us: hello@apostrophepodcas...

In 2020, Ed Sheeran was named UK Artist of the Decade. But 11 years earlier, he was dropped by his own management. And reeling from rejection after rejection by every major label in the country. This week, we break down Sheeran’s inspiring story. From being told he should just give out his music for free to setting the record for the highest-grossing world tour of all time. Ask us Anything: Email...

Lady Gaga is a force of nature. Sitting atop her piano are 11 Grammys and an Oscar. But a star isn’t born overnight. Mother Monster was forged through years of relentless taunting and repeated rejection from the music industry. This week, we tell Lady Gaga’s formidable story. From pounding her keyboard to pounding the pavement to pounding on doors. Ask us Anything: Email us: hello@apostrophepodcas...

In 2019, JAY-Z became the world’s first hip-hop billionaire. But 25 years earlier, no one would give him a record deal, labels said there was no market for his “brand of music” and radio stations refused to play his songs. Join us this week as we take a stroll through the Empire City and unpack JAY-Z’s remarkable story. From Marcy Projects to Madison Square Garden. Ask us Anything: Email us: hello...

Pretty Woman is the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time. But back when screenwriter J.F. Lawton first penned the script in 1987, it was neither romantic, nor a comedy. It was a dark drama. This week, we tell the story of the record-breaking film. Starting with Hollywood door slams and ending at the Academy Awards. Ask us Anything: Email us: hello@apostrophepodcasts.ca Write to us on socia...

Lisa Kudrow is Phoebe Buffay. Need we say more? But before starring in Friends , Kudrow was told she wasn’t “gorgeous” enough for television. Then, she landed the role of a lifetime. But was fired on day 2 of rehearsals. This week we analyze Kudrow’s incredible journey, from struggling to make rent to becoming the highest-paid actress on TV. Ask us Anything: Email us: hello@apostrophepodcasts.ca W...

Stranger Things is the #1 television show on Netflix. Its third season brought in 40 million viewers in just four days. But before the sci-fi series broke the Internet, its creators - The Duffer Brothers - were rejected by every major film school. And every major film studio. This week, we break down The Duffers’ amazing story. From their childhood worshipping Tim Burton, to their directorial debu...

Stephen King is the king of horror. But in 1973, he was a high school English teacher living in a double-wide trailer, writing stories at lunch and fielding rejection letter after rejection letter from publishers. Welcome to the premiere episode of We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast. This week, we break down King’s inspiring story and connect the fascinating dots between his...

The road to success is littered with speed bumps. Every celebrated actor, writer, musician, artist, inventor and entrepreneur has faced debilitating career rejection on their journey to the top. We tell their fascinating stories and break down exactly how they achieved their remarkable goals. Because hidden inside each rejection is a unique insight. And we’re here to find it. At its heart, this po...