In Part 2 of our Rejecting Manon Rhéaume episode, for the first time, Rhéaume plays with women. It’s Canada vs. the USA at the World Championships. Then, the goalie gets a strange letter in the mail – from the brand-new Tampa Bay Lightning. Hope you'll join us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manon Rhéaume was told hockey was for boys. Manon Rhéaume was cut from teams for being a girl. Manon Rhéaume was heckled by parents in the stands. Manon Rhéaume was told she was taking a spot away from boys with NHL dreams. Manon Rhéaume was told she’d never play pro. Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to ever play in an NHL game. If you enjoyed our Hayley Wickenheiser episodes last season, give this one a listen. It’s a story of courage, vulnerability and unbelievable determination. ...

Adam Driver is a two-time Academy Award nominated actor known for his roles in films like Marriage Story, BlacKkKlansman and the Star Wars franchise as Kylo Ren. But before landing his breakout role on HBO’s Girls, Driver was rejected from Juilliard, turned his Lincoln Town Car around before he reached Los Angeles and was medically discharged from the Marines prior to deployment. Broke and struggling to find his way, Driver made a bold decision: to apply to Juilliard again. Welcome to Season...

We Regret To Inform You returns to a podcast app near you in one week's time. We've got some inspiring stories to share with you this year – here's a sneak peek at what's to come. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We regret to inform you, this week marks the final episode of our 2023 season. And, as it’s the 20th of December, we thought it only fitting to tell a holiday-themed story. Elves love to tell stories. I bet you didn’t know that about elves… Elf is a beloved and timeless Christmas classic. Starring Will Ferrell, the film brought in over $200M at the box office, and 20 years later remains a holiday staple for many. But back in the year 2000, the script was rejected by production companies,...

Last week, we told the story of EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson. Hudson put the O in EGOT when she won the Oscar for her role as Effie White in Dreamgirls. It’s said Dreamgirls is based on the story of The Supremes – Deena as Diana Ross, Effie as Florence Ballard. And in researching that episode, we discovered it wasn’t just Jennifer Hudson who had a rejection story – The Supremes had a fascinating journey of their own. So, join us this week as we discover how the glamour girls of Motown went...

Like Rita Moreno last week, Jennifer Hudson is an EGOT winner. She’s won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony – not to mention a Golden Globe. But before earning THE major award in every major entertainment category, Hudson was eliminated from American Idol – twice. Rejected after her first Hollywood audition, she had fallen off the radar. That is, until she got an unusual phone call from her cousin. Get to know Apostrophe: Instagram Twitter Threads YouTube Hosted on Acast. See...

Rita Moreno is a member of the coveted and exclusive EGOT club. Meaning, throughout her career, she’s won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. And not only that, Moreno is the first and only Latina EGOT winner in history. But before earning her Academy Award for West Side Story, Moreno was dropped by MGM. She spent years typecast – or simply not cast – because of her ethnicity. Join us this week as we tell Moreno’s incredible story – from being discarded by Hollywood to earning the...

This week we thought we’d do something a little different. The Apostrophe Podcast Network has several shows on its roster. Four, to be exact. And one of those shows just crossed 1M listens in its very first season. Introducing Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Backstage welcomes listeners into the warm and comforting world of the Vinyl Cafe. Each episode features stories about Canada’s favourite fictional family – Dave, Morley and the kids – narrated by the late, great Stuart McLean. And, for the...

Did you know in the late 1800s, doctors didn’t wash their hands between procedures? 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. 75 years later, Dr. Robert Goddard – an American professor of physics – published a report via the...

Johnny Unitas is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. But once upon a time, the boy with the big hands and the golden arm was 6’1 and 140 pounds. He was told he was too "slight" to play high school football. He was rejected by Notre Dame. He was drafted, then cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was told he’d never make it in the NFL. Join us as we tell Johnny-U’s incredible story – from pile driving to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Get to know...

In Part Two of Rejecting Walt Disney, Disney plays around with his ‘mouse’ idea – but is quickly deterred. Suits are afraid the public is afraid of mice – especially 10-foot-tall mice. Disney plays with sound, then colour. Then, he has his craziest idea of all: feature-length cartoons. Get to know Apostrophe: Instagram Twitter Threads YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Walt Disney Company is worth $147B today. With over 800 films to its name, multiple television networks like ESPN and ABC, Pixar, Marvel, streaming, resorts and theme parks worldwide, it's the second-largest media conglomerate in the world. But before Mickey, before poisoned apples and before roller coasters, Walt Disney was rejected. He was fired from a local newspaper for “lacking creativity.” He was told drawing cartoons did not a legitimate career make. And his very first animation...

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?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

This week it's our mid-season break, and that means an encore presentation of one of our most-loved episodes: Rejecting Leslie Jones. Chris Rock once described Leslie Jones as “about as funny as a human being can be.” She was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live for six years, she’s a Ghostbuster and a three-time Emmy nominee. But before landing her big break, Jones was a struggling comedian. By the time she turned 45, she had yet to make a steady paycheck in comedy and considered...

Nina Simone is ranked #21 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. She was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and released over 40 albums in her lifetime. But back when Simone was an 18-year-old pianist, she was rejected from music school. She faced doubt, racism and abuse at every turn. Then she found her voice. Tweet us on Facegram: Instagram Twitter Threads Find the show notes on our website. Peruse our other pods: Under The...

Alan Ruck has several iconic roles under his belt. Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Stuart Bondek in Spin City. And most recently, the eldest Roy boy Connor in Succession. But would you believe that after Ferris Bueller, Ruck couldn't land a part and wound up taking a job at a local Sears warehouse? This week, it's a much requested post-success rejection story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon & Garfunkel is one of the greatest musical duos of all time. But before “The Sound of Silence” filled the airwaves, the pair’s debut album was a total flop. So much so that the partnership effectively split. Then their producer called – he'd remixed their best song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part Two of Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser, the results of the 1998 Canadian Olympic hockey games are brought to parliament. Pro teams come calling, then name-calling, then calling again. And Wickenheiser takes a shot at spinning her rejections into gold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hayley Wickenheiser is widely considered one of the greatest female hockey players of all time. She’s the longest-serving member of Canada’s national team with seven World Championships and four Olympic gold medals to her name. But before becoming Canada’s women's all-time leader in international goals, assists and points, Wickenheiser was told hockey was for boys. She was rejected for teams, bullied on the ice and kicked off of teams solely on the basis of sex. Join us this week as we tell...

Jim Carrey is Ace Ventura. He’s the Grinch. He’s Bruce Almighty. He’s Truman Burbank. Need we say more? But in 1989, Carrey was getting routinely crucified on stage, rejected for parts and was nearly starving to death – living in a bachelor apartment with a baby basket on the floor. Then one day, he wrote himself a check for $10M for “acting services rendered” – dated five years in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pedro Pascal is the man of the moment. In 2020 he was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainers of the Year, and in 2023 he became one of the highest-paid actors on television. But only 10 years ago, Pascal was struggling to make rent, rejected for parts and told he was aging out of Hollywood – quick. Until one afternoon, when he picked up a script for a 30-something bisexual Lothario from the 15th century... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Missy Elliott is the reigning Queen of Rap, credited with changing the face of hip-hop with her debut album Supa Dupa Fly and five consecutive platinum albums that followed. But before selling 30 million records, Elliott was rejected by producers, dropped by a major label and told she didn’t fit the “image” the industry was looking for. Join us this week as we tell Elliott’s story, from quitting the music business altogether to becoming the first female rapper nominated to the Rock & Roll...

The Hershey Company has the largest market share of any chocolate brand in North America. But before its founder Milton Hershey sold his first milk chocolate bar, he filed for bankruptcy – twice. By his 30th birthday, the struggling entrepreneur had lost two candy companies, and the faith of his family. Join us as we kick off Season 4 with the inspiring story of Milton Hershey – a man rejected by bankers for a $700 loan, who went on to build a $50 billion empire. Find the Apostrophe Network...