We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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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 podcast 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.

Recent Episodes
  • Rejecting Josh Allen
    Apr 24, 2025 – 35:13
  • Encore: Rejecting Women in the Boston Marathon (The Stories of Bobbi Gibb and Kathrine Switzer)
    Apr 21, 2025 – 47:17
  • Rejecting Alanis Morissette
    Apr 9, 2025 – 32:18
  • Minisode: Hader’s Haters – Bill Hader & Critic Anxiety
    Apr 2, 2025 – 22:34
  • Hug the Cactus: Lessons on Rejection from Under the Influence
    Mar 26, 2025 – 27:48
  • Rejecting the Goalie Mask
    Mar 19, 2025 – 32:57
  • Rejecting Yellowstone
    Mar 5, 2025 – 39:47
  • Season 6. 🤚🏽
    Feb 26, 2025 – 1:10
  • The Reflection Podcast, 2024
    Dec 18, 2024 – 25:02
  • Rejecting Eddy Goldfarb
    Dec 5, 2024 – 34:13
  • Short Stories: Rejecting No Doubt & Chappell Roan
    Nov 21, 2024 – 37:58
  • Rejecting Ellen DeGeneres, Part 2
    Nov 7, 2024 – 32:42
  • Rejecting Ellen DeGeneres
    Oct 23, 2024 – 30:03
  • Meet The Worst Podcast
    Oct 16, 2024 – 37:16
  • Rejecting A Wrinkle In Time
    Oct 2, 2024 – 32:21
  • Rejecting Still Alice
    Sep 18, 2024 – 32:57
  • Rejecting Yennier Cano
    Sep 4, 2024 – 33:42
  • Rejecting Sir Harold Ridley (Inventor of Modern Cataract Surgery)
    Aug 22, 2024 – 35:29
  • Listener Rejection Stories
    Aug 7, 2024 – 20:03
  • Rejecting Pedro Pascal (Encore)
    Jul 24, 2024 – 35:26
  • Rejecting Canva
    Jul 11, 2024 – 36:22
  • Short Stories: Rejecting Melissa McCarthy & Jennifer Aniston
    Jun 26, 2024 – 42:28
  • Rejecting Bessie Coleman (The First Black Woman Pilot)
    Jun 12, 2024 – 38:01
  • Rejecting The Sopranos
    May 30, 2024 – 45:15
  • Rejecting Dr. Seuss
    May 16, 2024 – 33:27
  • Rejecting Manon Rhéaume, Part 2
    May 2, 2024 – 38:38
  • Rejecting Manon Rhéaume (The First Woman to Play in the NHL)
    Apr 17, 2024 – 30:43
  • Rejecting Adam Driver
    Apr 3, 2024 – 37:21
  • Season 5. 🤚🏽
    Mar 27, 2024 – 1:37
  • Rejecting Elf
    Dec 21, 2023 – 41:27
  • Rejecting The Supremes
    Dec 8, 2023 – 33:20
  • Rejecting Jennifer Hudson
    Nov 30, 2023 – 36:14
  • Rejecting Rita Moreno
    Nov 15, 2023 – 43:50
  • Introducing Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe
    Oct 25, 2023 – 43:38
  • Short Stories: Rejecting the Fathers of Hand Washing and Rocketry (Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis & Dr. Robert Goddard)
    Oct 18, 2023 – 46:24
  • Rejecting Johnny Unitas
    Oct 4, 2023 – 42:46
  • Rejecting Walt Disney, Part 2
    Sep 20, 2023 – 43:21
  • Rejecting Walt Disney
    Sep 6, 2023 – 38:23
  • Rejecting The Eiffel Tower
    Aug 23, 2023 – 41:13
  • Rejecting Leslie Jones (Encore)
    Aug 9, 2023 – 32:01
  • Rejecting Nina Simone
    Jul 26, 2023 – 32:50
  • Rejecting Alan Ruck
    Jul 12, 2023 – 40:37
  • Rejecting Simon & Garfunkel
    Jun 28, 2023 – 36:57
  • Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser, Part 2
    Jun 15, 2023 – 40:22
  • Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser
    May 31, 2023 – 31:35
  • Rejecting Jim Carrey
    May 17, 2023 – 44:57
  • Rejecting Pedro Pascal
    May 2, 2023 – 35:26
  • Rejecting Missy Elliott
    Apr 18, 2023 – 41:13
  • Rejecting Milton Hershey (Hershey's Chocolates)
    Apr 4, 2023 – 41:57
  • Season 4. 🤚🏽
    Mar 28, 2023 – 0:59
Recent Reviews
  • staceywrites
    Well researched, well presented, inspiring
    Just discovered this series and binge listened to catch up on every episode. I find rejection stories like this to be just the inspiration I need to keep pushing forward in my own pursuits. Would love to hear stories about Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, and HBO’s The Wire.
  • Kul4Life360
    LOVE this podcast, EXCEPT FOR
    This is a very well produced, interesting podcast. What else would it be with Terry O’Reilly at the helm? I’ve been following him since Under the Influence—brilliant. Every show has been great except for Rejecting Gal Gadot. Why tell her story when there’s no story to tell? There was no suffering, no inspiration, no real rejection. I don’t count flying back and forth to Israel as a challenge or a hardship. The flights are pretty nice and they are expensive. Gadot waited out the audition algorithm—small parts, bigger parts, plum part—until she got Wonder Woman. Boring. You have done way better than this show. Otherwise, awesome podcast. I’m a super fan.
  • Jersey Girl 23
    inspiring
    Whenever I need inspiration to keep pursuing my dreams, I listen to this podcast. I wish there were more episodes- it’s that good!
  • Dagda9
    This is an amazing podcast
    Everyone should listen to this podcast. It is the most positive and uplifting podcast. Some of the stories will take you from tears to feeling good. It is presented perfectly. A must listen
  • foxsongs
    Love
    10 stars
  • megowatt
    Critique
    Great story telling talent. Did she learn from her father? Entertaining, clever and worth the listen.
  • GioJoens
    The. Most. Motivational. Podcast. Ever!
    During the darkest days of the pandemic I needed something to help me get through the many many days of isolation and remote work. I’m so grateful that I found this gem of a podcast. Each installment is a story of failure and eventual success told in a way that keeps me listening. And for a while I can forget the isolation and boredom. Each episode is a story all it’s own and sometimes the stories are so detailed with so much juice that they stretch to two episodes. I now look forward to the next installment and makes the days go by a little quicker and brighter. My thanks to Apostrophe Podcasts for continuing to produce this show. You rock!
  • ScottSent
    For the underdog in all of us!
    Inspiring stories of now famous and successful people who overcame soul-crushing rejection while overcoming their own physical and emotional hurdles to stay the course and realize their dreams. It is nice to have someone read all of these fascinating biographies and distill them into a a podcast that you will instantly love!
  • Nater01230075
    I’m conflicted
    I‘ve really enjoyed these stories but I became alarmed when I heard the story of Spanx. The narrator described Blakely’s experience working at Disney World. The narrator said Blakely wore a chipmunk costume while buckling kids into rides. And Cinderella was smoking cigarettes in the parks. Anyone who knows Disney knows neither could have happened. Characters do not work at attractions and Cinderella is not allowed to smoke and Cinderella never walks the parks without attendants so she couldn’t sneak a smoke. Why do I care? Because these facts are so wrong I’m now wondering what else is incorrect in all these entertaining stories. What else is more exaggerated than poor Pinocchio’s nose?
  • I.Sanse
    Very necessary
    I love the concept and the host. Very entertaining and everything you need to hear if you’re dealing with rejection letters!
  • Vuch0802
    Story Telling
    Reviewers will over do it but I’ll give this an initial solid 4 stars. We’ll researched, written, presented and, most importantly, entertaining. I personally love an underdog and more often than not, famous people have been rejected repeatedly and still found their way. I love the concept. We’ll done and let’s watch this evolve. Keep moving forward.
  • Chazvoltaire
    Really inspiring
    I think that some of the reviews on here are being a bit harsh. Yes we could all do our own research on the subjects presented in the podcast, but I don’t want to. The information is presented in a fun and engaging form and I feel inspired every time I listen to an episode. I enjoy the intro/outro music but I will say that the sound effects don’t add anything to the stories and sometimes are distracting. Overall, I’m glad to have this show and will continue to listen and support and tell my friends about it.
  • -CCDeYapp
    Meh…
    The narration is like Pepsi that has been left open over night, a touch too flat. This makes it difficult to become engrossed in what could be very interesting stories. I may revisit this cast at a later date to see if you have hit your stride.
  • samesamesameX
    Weird format
    Don’t love this format. It’s like an audio book when I thought we’d be hearing from guests themselves. The intonations of the reader are really distracting.
  • apecor
    Ehh
    The premise is great, and I thought the first ep that covers Stephen King was an interesting and quick listen. But the story of the Duffer Brothers sounds like a Wikipedia entry that they wrote themselves (yes, just as other reviewers have noted). Not for me.
  • aelders
    A mediocre narration of famous people’s stories.
    This seemed so promising at first. The names listed in the episode guide were all people I liked and was curious about, so I was excited to hit play and binge a few. Sadly, it’s just a narrator, a bad one, telling you their history and unknown facts about the celebs journey. It’s like if you had the Wikipedia page read to you by Siri… no thanks.
  • Winterfuzz55
    Stories good
    Intro music loud. Sound effects lame and unnecessary. Don’t need guy at end repeating the same premise. Could be better overall.
  • CheeseMuzik
    Incredible
    An absolutely wonderful podcast! The Stephen King Segment literally brought tears to my eyes at the end. I wish they would do two of these every day.
  • Giovandreoli
    This show is so good
    This podcast slaps so hard I love it
  • Andrew-Jon
    Insubstantial
    This podcast is insubstantial, corny and sometimes just stupid. You can get the same information from scanning a People magazine article. In fact, it’s like having a student from grade 7 summarize a People magazine article. Too bad.
  • fi swope
    Great content
    I love the content of this podcast but the narrator’s voice lacks emotion, sort of npr style, which feels weird with the Jay-Z story in particular. Pretty minor critique and I will definitely keep listening, would recommend you give it a listen
  • acababies
    Great podcast!
    Love this podcast! Very interesting to learn about the famous people who were rejected so many times. I never knew that Steven King had so much trouble getting published!
  • gingerrican44
    What are they feeding you in the Terradome ?
    Wow can’t wait for more episodes....! Will recommend to all !!!!
  • Dean Gemmell
    Draw Inspiration from Failures of Greats
    If you’re a creative type, being able to endure rejection is critical. Up to a point, of course. First episode of this podcast reminds us that even the most celebrated did not have an easy road to success.
  • corner like a rockstar
    Awesome!
    Great podcast! The hosts are easy to listen to and tell a great, original story. Can’t wait to hear more.
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