We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

Hosted by Apostrophe Podcast Network

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Episodes

161

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Nov 2026

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About the show

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 pod is about persistence and inspiration. From the creators of Under The Influence , this show is brought to you by the Apostrophe Podcast Company and powered by Acast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

November 12, 202633 min

Can Trees Talk? Rejecting Dr. Suzanne Simard – the Woman Who Changed How We See Forests

Dr. Suzanne Simard is one of the world’s leading forest ecologists. A New York Times bestselling author. A professor of forest ecology at UBC – of nearly 25 years. And yet, when Simard first published her findings proving trees communicated with one another, she was nearly shunned from the forest industry altogether. Simard was called a liar, a hippy, an anthropomorphizer. Join us, won’t you, as we dig into the story of one brave, Canadian woman. 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 information.

October 28, 202634 min

Rejecting Aretha Franklin

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: 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 information.

October 21, 202618 min

Minisode: Books, books, books

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: 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 information.

October 8, 202642 min

Short Stories: Rejecting Jason Bateman & Will Arnett

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: 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 information.

September 24, 202633 min

Rejecting John Grisham

John Grisham has authored nearly 60 books, adapted into nine motion pictures. He’s written over 50 consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers and is considered one of the best-selling authors of fiction in the U.S. But there was a time when no one wanted his books. Not publishers, not agents, not readers. Grisham drove around Mississippi with boxes of his first novel in the trunk of his car. Then he got an unexpected phone call. 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 information.

September 17, 20261 min

“Let Me Down” by our own Callie-Rae O'Reilly

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: 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 information.

September 11, 202644 min

Encore: Rejecting The Eiffel Tower (with a special intro from our producer Allison)

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: 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 information.

September 4, 202615 min

Minisode: Will Ferrell's Delicious Reviews

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: 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 information.

August 25, 202627 min

Rejecting Hand-Washing (Extended Version)

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: 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 information.

August 12, 202647 min

Encore: Rejecting the Sopranos (reimagined by our Chief Sound Engineer Geoff)

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: 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 information.