Thrilling Tales of Modern Capitalism

Companies in the news, and how they got there.

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About the Show

Navigating the marketplace is the original choose-your-own adventure. Thrilling Tales of Modern Capitalism takes a company in the news, and looks at its history to figure out why it finds itself in its present circumstances. Host Seth Stevenson brings you stories you may not have heard about the brands that shape how you live and work. And whether they’ve succeeded or failed, these companies have been on more of an adventure than you may have imagined.

Host

Joint Venture: The Story of High Times

As traditional capitalists take hold of the cannabis industry, High Times is facing an identity crisis.

Milking It: The Story of Oatly

It started as a small Swedish company. Now, it’s a multibillion-dollar lifestyle brand. Can it stay true to its environmental mission?

Hair Today, Hair Tomorrow: The Story of Supercuts

Supercuts vowed to change the way America cut its hair, and it did. But then came a pandemic.

Anything for a Buck: The Story of Dollar General

Dollar General got its start in the Great Depression. Today it continues to thrive in hard-hit communities.

Organic and Inorganic Growth: The Story of Whole Foods

Whole Foods started an organic revolution. It also gave Amazon the opportunity to get into the grocery business.

What Streams May Come: The Story of HBO

It invented the home box office. Can it keep up in the streaming wars?

Swabber Barons: The Story of Puritan

How a family-held company in Maine became one of the country’s most important manufacturers during the pandemic.

Bugging Out: The Story of Volkswagen

How Hitler’s car of the people became a vehicle loved and popularized by American hippies.

I Want to Ride My Internet-Enabled Bicycle: The Peloton Story

Before the pandemic, Peloton’s future was somewhat uncertain. Then we all started spending a lot more time indoors.

We’re Getting the Band Back Together: Tower Records

The last Tower Records in America closed 15 years ago. Now, new owners are hoping to bring it back online.

They’ve Got Issues: The Story of Marvel

The company risked its entire catalog of characters on the bet that they could make it in the movie business.

Loss Leader: Weight Watchers

The dieting titan is rebranding around wellness, but “WW” is still selling weight loss programs.

The Color of Money: Pantone

It picks Colors of the Year. But what does it actually do?

The Dull Shall Inherit the Earth: The Story of Salesforce

Salesforce just bought Slack. Its CEO owns Time magazine. Its name is on the tallest building in San Francisco. But what does it actually do?

Hallmark and the Selling of Sentiment

Hallmark has been turning feelings into revenue for more than a century. But can it succeed in an era when emotions seem too big to fit in an envelope?

Purple Reign: The Story of Manischewitz

How a terrible-tasting wine became a holiday essential.

Kingpins: The Business of Pinterest

It’s known for pretty pictures and cute crafts. But is Pinterest pleasant on the inside too?

The Tithes Are Turning: The GoFundMe Story

What happens when the “like” button is replaced by a click to donate.

Unforgiven: Wells Fargo

When scandal hit, this historic bank couldn’t hide behind its stagecoaches.

The Shocking True Story of the National Enquirer

The rise and fall of a once-formidable tabloid.