History Podcast / DesperateActsOfCapitalism

** In the Procter & Gamble Satanic Panic episode, it's eventually revealed that recurring rumors stating that Proctor & Gamble was a front for a satanic cult were being spread by several Amway salesmen, as P&G is a competitor.

** In the Proctor & Gamble Satanic Panic episode, it's eventually revealed that recurring rumors stating that Proctor & Gamble was a front for a satanic cult were being spread by several Amway salesmen, as P&G is a competitor.

** Ray Crock, the man responsible for much of [=McDonalds's=] early explosive growth, is described as a sleazy sociopath whose greatest skill is in lying and bullying his franchisees.

In this case, these are stories of the bizarre, unethical, and/or outright illegal ways in which companies attempt to improve the bottom line. Special attention is paid to ''failures'' in this process - the UncannyValley effect which led many [=ImageMover=] films to flop, for example, or the way that Radio Shack squandered its excellent retail position before it could take advantage of the maker movement.

* UncannyValley: Discussed in the [=ImageMover=] episode. The unsettling animation used in WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress, [[WesternAnimation/Beowulf2007 Beowulf]], [[WesternAnimation/AChristmasCarol2009 A Christmas Carol]], and WesternAnimation/MarsNeedsMoms led to the shuttering of the studio after only a couple films.

** Near the end, the podcast notes that Radio Shack was a factory for these - store managers might join up bright-eyed and empathetic, but the grueling requirements and unrelenting stress swiftly drove many to become shrieking, abusive monsters.

* ThereAreNoGoodExecutives: ''[[AvertedTrope Averted]]'', surprisingly enough. They're not shown often, but the hosts do give credit to one or two executives who legitimately seem like stand-up people.

* HorribleHollywood: With examples such as Series/FearFactor, Film/TheOogielovesInTheBigBalloonAdventure, the various Literature/DoctorDolittle adaptations, and [[Film/Cats]], the warts in the Hollywood system are on clear display.

* HorribleHollywood: With examples such as Series/FearFactor, Film/TheOogielovesInTheBigBalloonAdventure, the various Literature/DoctorDolittle adaptations, and Film/Cats, the warts in the Hollywood system are on clear display.

** One noteworthy example is Eddie Lampert, whose out-of-touch mismanagement drove Sears into the ground (and may have been part of a scheme to defraud the company).

* HorribleHollywood: With examples such as Television/FearFactor, Film/TheOogielovesInTheBigBalloonAdventure, and WesternAnimation/Cats, the warts in the Hollywood system are on clear display.

In this case, these are stories of the bizarre, unethical, and/or outright illegal ways in which companies attempt to improve the bottom line. Special attention is paid to ''failures'' in this process - the UncannyValley effect which led many [=ImageMover=] films to flop, for example, or the way that Radio Shak squandered its excellent retail position before it could take advantage of the maker movement.

** One noteworthy example is Eddie Lampert, whose out-of-touch mismanagement drove Sears into the ground (and may have been part of a scheme to defraud the company).
** Near the end, the podcast notes that Radio Shak was a factory for these - managers might join up bright-eyed and empathetic, but the grueling requirements and unrelenting stress swiftly drove many to become shrieking, abusive monsters.