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Peak To Dust

Peak To Dust

Written by: Shan Elan
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Peak to Dust is a documentary podcast exploring the rise and fall of history's greatest giants — companies, civilizations, sports dynasties, governments, and movements that climbed to extraordinary heights before collapsing into ruin. Each episode traces the strategic triumphs, warning signs, and fatal missteps behind their arc, grounded in verified sources, contemporaneous reporting, and primary documents rather than speculation. We ask not just what happened, but why even the mightiest eventually fall. Subscribe to follow the next giant on its journey from peak to dust.Shan Elan Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Jawbone: Anatomy of a Wearable Tech Failure
    Aug 3 2026

    In the early 2010s, Jawbone wasn’t just a company—it was a status symbol. With sleek, minimalist designs and industry-leading audio engineering, they convinced the world that wearables were the future. From the iconic Bluetooth headsets that defined mobile communication to the UP fitness band that arguably kicked off the quantified-self movement, Jawbone was the envy of Silicon Valley. Yet, behind the polished glass and innovative marketing, a storm was brewing.


    This documentary explores how a company valued at over $3 billion plummeted into obscurity, leaving behind a trail of abandoned hardware and frustrated investors. We pull back the curtain on the supply chain crises, the fierce battle against Fitbit and Apple, and the fatal leadership decisions that turned a category-defining titan into a ghost of the tech industry. To ensure absolute accuracy, this documentary draws on an exhaustive analysis of over 205 primary and secondary sources, including internal corporate filings, legal depositions, and contemporaneous investigative reports.


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    32 mins
  • Kenny Rogers Roasters: The $100 Million Chicken Disaster
    Aug 2 2026

    In the early 1990s, the "Gambler" himself, Kenny Rogers, teamed up with former KFC executive John Y. Brown Jr. to conquer the fast-food world. With a wood-fired rotisserie promise and a massive celebrity endorsement, Kenny Rogers Roasters seemed destined to become the next household name in American dining. Yet, within just a few short years, the empire crumbled, leaving behind a trail of shuttered storefronts and legal battles. How did a concept backed by a country music legend go from a national sensation to a cautionary tale?


    This documentary deconstructs the frantic expansion, the questionable management decisions, and the internal struggle to define the brand’s soul. We pull back the curtain on why the rotisserie revolution ultimately ran out of steam, exploring how even the most recognizable faces in the world can't save a business model built on shifting sands. This production is informed by an exhaustive investigation into 93+ primary documents, including internal corporate filings, contemporaneous financial reports, and exclusive news coverage from the height of the restaurant’s collapse.

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    37 mins
  • Eastern Air Lines: The Spectacular Fall of an Aviation Titan
    Aug 1 2026

    Once the jewel of the American skies, Eastern Air Lines wasn't just a carrier; it was an empire. From its humble beginnings as a mail carrier to becoming the pride of the jet age, Eastern defined the way the world traveled. For decades, it dominated the industry with unparalleled service and innovation. But behind the glitz and the glamour, a rot was setting in.


    This is the definitive story of how a legendary corporate giant went from soaring to record-breaking profits to a chaotic, bitter collapse that shook the foundations of the aviation industry. Through a comprehensive investigation drawing on over 182 verified primary and secondary sources—ranging from government filings and union records to contemporaneous news coverage—we pull back the curtain on the labor wars, the disastrous management decisions, and the cold reality of deregulation that ultimately sent Eastern crashing to the ground.

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    38 mins
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