Podcast pick: 'Startup' some controversy with American Apparel's former CEO
Looking for something new to listen to while you drive to work/go for a walk/wash the dishes? We're here for you. In a weekly series, we're highlighting a podcast, audio personality or specific story worth hearing.
This week's pick: Startup Season 4
When Gimlet Media announced that most of Startup's fourth season would follow the ousted CEO of American Apparel, the news was met with skepticism. It seemed inappropriate to many that Dov Charney, a man with several sexual assault allegations, should be the star of a series meant for listeners curious about what it takes to start a business.
Why it's ripe for listening
Charney is a multi-faceted and charismatic character whose controversial history has many untold sides, which are coming to light in the podcast that has host Lisa Chow following Charney as he starts a new T-shirt company.
Chances are, you've purchased an item of clothing at American Apparel, whether it's a pair of neon-colored leggings for a theme party or a grey leotard that you got on a major sale last week (OK maybe just me). So you probably have some idea about the brand that has comfy, label-less clothes advertised by naturally beautiful, provocative models.
But you probably have questions, which the podcast addresses, like...
How did the store start? (It came from the brain of Charney, a manufacturing nerd from Canada who thought American-style T-shirts fit his small frame well.) And then what happened? (Well, Charney was fired in 2014.) What did Charney do to his workers and employees that drew both deep admiration and assault claims? (Chow and her team talked to more than 100 people associated with Charney, including his mother and a few of "Dov's girls" as they called themselves, for those layered answers.) How is Charney looking to develop a new line of clothes? (He's relying on a bunch of his old connections, and making new ones, many of whom live in his house.)
Yeah, there's a lot going on in the 7-part series. And it's all fascinating. Start with "Part 1: Labels" and listen all the way through to "Part 7: MAGIC."
Memorable line
Charney talks about how he wouldn't fire a passionate employee in "Part 4: Boundaries."
"Okay, one time, I had an employee, like, punch me in the nose to a bleed. Seriously. He’s just like, BOOM! And I was bleeding all over my face, you know. And I said, 'I’m not gonna fire a guy for punching me in the face. No way.' I’m born in 1969, you know? A guy takes a swing at me. This politically correct crap, you know what I mean? I’m a man. He had a reason. No, he ain’t going anywhere."
To see our most recent podcast pick go here, and to take a look at the best new podcasts of 2016, go this way.
