The Big Flop

Wondery

Fyre Fest goes up in flames, Ashlee Simpson bombs on SNL, and somehow even Taylor Swift couldn’t fix the ill-fated Cats movie. Who doesn’t love a good fiasco?! Join us each week as we dissect the most deliciously disastrous flops in recent history. On Wondery’s comedy & pop culture series The Big Flop, host and TikTok superstar Misha Brown unpacks all-time epic fails from Crystal Pepsi to Google Glass with the help of hilarious, highly-opinionated guests in every episode.

Find out what happens when massive hype turns into a major fiasco, and join us as we try to answer the age-old question...Who thought THIS was a good idea?!New episodes come out every week.

Listen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.

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Our Editor's Take

The Big Flop is a podcast about what happens when big ideas go bust. The host of the show is Misha Brown. He is a social media personality and comedian. His most popular project is the TikTok series Lessons in Not Crossing a Gay Man. Every week, Misha invites other comedians to the podcast to revisit disaster.

Each episode of the podcast focuses on a spectacular failure. The fall of Juicero is an example of what happens when hubris meets celebrity marketing. The company sold expensive juice-pressing devices for use with proprietary fruit packets. Juicero hired Oprah Winfrey to promote the product. Their downfall came when Bloomberg reported that squeezing packets by hand was as effective as using the pricey device.

Misha and friends also tell listeners about the Four Loko flop. The drink was a mixture of alcohol and energy drink. The problem? It caused people to black out and engage in dangerous behavior. The FDA has since banned drinks that mix caffeine and alcohol.

Some flops are bad ideas from the very beginning. The podcast asks, why did no one say anything? Belonging to that category is Kid Nation. In 2007, CBS wanted to further capitalize on the success of Survivor. Producers created Kid Nation, or Survivor for children. They sent a cohort of young children to fend for themselves in the Arizona desert. The result was traumatized kids and angry, litigious parents.

Country icon Garth Brooks once tried to reinvent himself. He wore skinny jeans, grew a soul patch, and performed under the name Chris Gaines. Audiences weren't impressed.

The Big Flop might appeal to listeners who delight in schadenfreude with many laugh-out-loud moments. New episodes premiere weekly.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

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Listen Now - REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana

Listen Now - REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana

Behind the closed doors of government offices and military compounds, are hidden stories and buried secrets from the darkest corners of history. Each week, Luke Lamana, a Marine Corp Reconnaissance Veteran, pulls back the curtain on what once was classified information exposing the secrets and lies behind the world’s most powerful institutions. From the hitmakers at Wondery and Ballen Studios, we bring you REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana. The stories are real, and the secrets are shocking.Listen Now: http://wondery.fm/REDACTEDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episodes

How Abercrombie & Fitch Lost Its Shirt with CJ Franco and Leslie Liao | 64

How Abercrombie & Fitch Lost Its Shirt with CJ Franco and Leslie Liao | 64

In the late '90s, Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries transformed the once defunct sporting goods store into the hottest brand in America. He did that by intentionally making Abercrombie & Fitch seem unattainable for any kids he deemed ""uncool."" But after crossing multiple lines with racial discrimination, offensive graphic tees, and absolutely appalling thongs for middle schoolers... Jeffries fell out of style. As sales continued to plummet, investors rightfully gave Jeffries the boot.Leslie Liao (The Tonight Show, Don't Tell Comedy) and CJ Franco (FBoy Island, The GOAT) join Misha to pull at the threads of Abercrombie & Fitch.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Martha Stewart Prison Living with Matt Friend and Nicole DuBois | 63

Martha Stewart Prison Living with Matt Friend and Nicole DuBois | 63

Martha Stewart used her oh-so-perfect cooking, gardening, and decorating skills to create one of the most valuable brands in the world. A guru, an icon, a billionaire: she had it all. That is, until an insider trading scandal spun her business into a death spiral and Martha went from decorating mansions to sprucing up "Camp Cupcake."Matt Friend (Friend in High Places, The Simpsons) and Nicole DuBois (NickyDoobs, Magic Carpet Rides) join Misha to get the inside scoop on Martha Stewart’s insider trading scandal ALT: to set the table for a talk about Martha Stewart’s insider trading scandalFollow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listen Now - REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana

Listen Now - REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana

Behind the closed doors of government offices and military compounds, are hidden stories and buried secrets from the darkest corners of history. Each week, Luke Lamana, a Marine Corp Reconnaissance Veteran, pulls back the curtain on what once was classified information exposing the secrets and lies behind the world’s most powerful institutions. From the hitmakers at Wondery and Ballen Studios, we bring you REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana. The stories are real, and the secrets are shocking.Listen Now: http://wondery.fm/REDACTEDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back to the Failure: The DeLorean with Betsy Sodaro and Arjun Banerjee | 62

Back to the Failure: The DeLorean with Betsy Sodaro and Arjun Banerjee | 62

After basically creating the "muscle car," rebel auto-maker John Delorean became GM’s golden boy, only to leave it all behind for a risky venture in troubled Northern Ireland. But when his gull-winged wonder flopped, DeLorean's desperate moves led to unethical dealings, courtroom drama, and cocaine stings. The infamous car king was all but forgotten until his car made an unexpected cameo in a film that cemented its legacy forever.Betsy Sodaro (Superstore, A Funny Feeling) and Arjun Banerjee join Misha to take a joyride along the twisty path of John Delorean's ruin. ALT: to figure out what's under the hood of John Delorean's flop.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Britney Spears, Guy Fieri, and Eva Longoria's Food Fails with Cody Rigsby and Amanda Hirsch | 61

Britney Spears, Guy Fieri, and Eva Longoria's Food Fails with Cody Rigsby and Amanda Hirsch | 61

The restaurant business is tough: The margins are slim and the risk of failure is high—but that doesn’t stop celebrities from trying to open their own restaurants over and over again, even though they should definitely know it is a bad idea. Britney Spears had Nyla, Guy Fieri had Guy's American Kitchen & Bar, Eva Longoria had a steakhouse for women called SHe (that is not a typo), and they each went bust in their own special way.Cody Rigsby (Peloton, Tactful Pettiness) and Amanda Hirsch (Not Skinny But Not Fat) join Misha to dish on three failed celebrity restaurantsFollow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May The Flop Be With You: The Star Wars Hotel with Jessi Cruickshank and Moshe Kasher | 60

May The Flop Be With You: The Star Wars Hotel with Jessi Cruickshank and Moshe Kasher | 60

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a park executive named Bob Chapek set out on a mission to create an immersive experience that Star Wars fans would never forget. The luxury Disney hotel would feature a two-day role playing adventure, fun foods, funner games, and unique memories they would cherish forever. But the exorbitant cost, embarrassing technical glitches, and a little thing called Covid, sent The Galactic Starcruiser spiraling into a black hole. In the end the dream was lost, and fans were left to wonder, wtf was up with that blue shrimp?Moshe Kasher (The Endless Honeymoon) and Jessi Cruickshank (Phone a Friend) join Misha to compare their limited edition lightsabers and take a journey to The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rachel Dolezal's White Lies with Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman | 59

Rachel Dolezal's White Lies with Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman | 59

Rachel Dolezal built a life for herself as a teacher, a civil rights advocate, and a leader in her local NAACP chapter. There was just one problem: She built it all on a foundation of lies—and the biggest lie of all was about her race. When a local news crew discovered her secret and called her out in front of cameras, it all came crashing down on a national scale.Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman (Couples Therapy) join Misha to break down the many lies of Rachel Dolezal—and there are a lot!Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hyperloop: Elon Musk's Fast Lane to Flopdom with Aparna Nancherla and Greta Titelman | 58

Hyperloop: Elon Musk's Fast Lane to Flopdom with Aparna Nancherla and Greta Titelman | 58

When Elon Musk boasted to Shervin Pishevar about inventing a revolutionary form of transportation, Pishevar took him at his word — turns out with Elon, that's a huge mistake. Musk promised travel at the speed of sound, unprecedented city connections, and a complete societal transformation, but conveniently left out the potential for catastrophic failure. After wasting millions of dollars and buckets of clout on the promise of Hyperloop, MULTIPLE billionaires are still reeling from the experience. At least they're not being sucked into a deadly vacuum! Or would that be a good thing?Aparna Nancherla (BoJack Horseman, The Introvert's Survival Guide) and Greta Titelman (Problemista, Senior Superlatives) join Misha for the ride of their lifetimes with Hyperloop.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Truth About D.A.R.E. with Fumi Abe and Jon Gabrus | 57

The Truth About D.A.R.E. with Fumi Abe and Jon Gabrus | 57

In the 80s and 90s, the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program sent police officers into schools to teach kids to stay off drugs. D.A.R.E.'s cringey curriculum was taught in schools all over the U.S., spawning lame PSAs, a whole bunch of weird merchandise, and maybe some light childhood trauma. There was just one problem… D.A.R.E. didn’t actually work. It did, however, cost taxpayers millions of dollars and miseducated a whole generation of kids.Jon Gabrus (High and Mighty, The Action Boyz) and Fumi Abe (The Tonight Show) join Misha to just say no… to D.A.R.E.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Battle Over Pink Slime with Van Lathan and Brad Leone | 56

The Battle Over Pink Slime with Van Lathan and Brad Leone | 56

For years, “lean finely textured beef” was added to meat products that could be found in supermarkets, fast food restaurants, and school cafeterias across America. Most consumers had no idea that this gooey, salmon-colored substance was in their food. Finely textured beef was a million dollar business, but it wound up setting off an all out PR-war between a meat magnate and some food bloggers that brought one of the biggest beef companies in the U.S. to the brink of collapse. It all started when people started calling the product by a new name that really matched its looks: Pink Slime.Brad Leone (It's Alive with Brad, Makin' It, Local Legends) and Van Lathan (TMZ Live, Higher Learning) join Misha to beef up their knowledge of Pink Slime.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I Wanna Marry "Harry": His Royal Lie-ness with Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt | 55

I Wanna Marry "Harry": His Royal Lie-ness with Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt | 55

In 2013, a British TV producer named Danny Fenton brought 12 American women to England to take part in a new reality dating show. The yanks were led to believe that they had a chance to marry one of the most eligible bachelors in the world: Prince Harry of the British royal family. There was just one problem: the guy they were competing for was actually a Harry look-alike. Even though Fenton spent a princely sum trying to gaslight his way to ratings gold, the show wound up being one of reality tv's most embarrassingly king-sized busts.The Bachelor franchise's own Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt (Bachelor Happy Hour) join Misha to dethrone one of the most manipulative reality shows of all time.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blockbuster: Streaming Killed the Video Store with Lauren Lapkus and Laura Ramoso | 54

Blockbuster: Streaming Killed the Video Store with Lauren Lapkus and Laura Ramoso | 54

At the turn of the millenium, Blockbuster Video, with its ubiquitous blue-and-yellow stores, was the reigning champion of movie rentals. But early on, when presented with the chance to buy a little company called Netflix... Blockbuster made the wrong choice. Despite attempts to launch online rental services, the quaint allure of browsing store aisles couldn't compete with the instant gratification of streaming. In the end, boardroom squabbling and Blockbuster's stubborn adherence to nostalgia led to its own unraveling.Lauren Lapkus (Newcomers, The Last Blockbuster) and Laura Ramoso (Sit Up Straight) join Misha to be kind and rewind all the way back to the heyday of Blockbuster.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tiger Woods Drives His Marriage Into the Rough with Even the Rich | 53

Tiger Woods Drives His Marriage Into the Rough with Even the Rich | 53

At 2:30AM on Thanksgiving night 2009, Tiger Woods, one of the most famous athletes in the world, drove his car into a tree outside his neighbor’s house. This bizarre accident set off a chain of events that exposed Tiger’s secret affairs to the world and wound up wrecking more than his Escalade: It wrecked his marriage, and almost totaled his career.Brooke Siffrinn and Aricia Skidmore-Williams from Even the Rich join Misha to tee off on the salacious scandals of Tiger Woods.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Celebration, Florida: The Unhappiest Place on Earth with Stuff You Should Know | 52

Celebration, Florida: The Unhappiest Place on Earth with Stuff You Should Know | 52

Celebration, Florida was conceived by the Disney Corporation as a magical utopian community, something straight out of a fairy tale—meticulously planned, picturesque neighborhoods replete with ice cream parlors, bike paths, and state-of-the-art facilities. But the promise of living in a theme park soon became nauseating thanks to a greedy real estate developer, crumbling houses, rampant divorces and allegedly… swingers? In the end, a confusing combo of micromanagement and neglect left residents feeling disappointed and certainly disenchanted.Josh Clark and Chuck Byrant from Stuff You Should Know join Misha to put a damper on Celebration, Florida.Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nipplegate: Janet Jackson's Super Bowl Slip Up with Dylan Adler and Akilah Hughes | 51

Nipplegate: Janet Jackson's Super Bowl Slip Up with Dylan Adler and Akilah Hughes | 51

It was the nip slip seen round the world. Whether by accident or on purpose, the nation caught a brief glimpse of Janet Jackson’s breast on live television during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show while she was performing with Justin Timberlake. Quickly dubbed "Nipplegate," the incident ignited a firestorm of controversy and debate over broadcast decency standards and media regulation. It led to a flood of complaints to the FCC, significant fines for broadcasters, and a lasting impact on cultural norms and entertainment industry practices in the United States.Akilah Hughes (Rebel Spirit, Akilah Obviously) and Dylan Adler (Comedy Central) join Misha to expose the truth behind Nipplegate!Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sam Bankman-Fried: The Downfall of a Crypto Bro with Fabrizio Copano and Zoltan Kaszas | 50

Sam Bankman-Fried: The Downfall of a Crypto Bro with Fabrizio Copano and Zoltan Kaszas | 50

Sam Bankman-Fried was the king of crypto, living large in a penthouse in the Bahamas. But his billion dollar empire was built on a foundation of fraud, and when his dubious deals were exposed, this crypto bro went from blockchain to a cell block.Fabrizio Copano (4th From the South) and Zoltan Kaszas (This Week in Zoltan, Honorary Jones) join Misha to decrypt how Sam Bankman-Fried lost his shirt--his grungy, rumpled shirt.Listen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oceangate: A Flop of Titanic Proportions with Jake Cornell and Noah Miller | 49

Oceangate: A Flop of Titanic Proportions with Jake Cornell and Noah Miller | 49

Billionaire Stockton Rush III dreamt of exploring the Titanic. Only problem? It's really freaking hard to get to. So he pieced together the world's shoddiest submersible built from Playstation parts and promised rich tourists a view of the Titanic for the price of $250,000. Less than two hours into the dive, Rush's dream quite literally imploded... taking 4 people with him. At least, according to sonar readings, Rush really went out with a bang.Jake Cornell (Hey Big Guy, Man & Woman) and comedian and former member of the Coast Guard, Noah Miller, join Misha to take a deep dive into the Oceangate disaster.Listen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shame of Thrones: How GOT Season 8 Imploded with Ronnie Karam and Ben Mandelker | 48

Shame of Thrones: How GOT Season 8 Imploded with Ronnie Karam and Ben Mandelker | 48

Game Of Thrones entered its final season as the undisputed king of TV. Every Sunday, millions would take a seat in the church of HBO in hopes of witnessing another Battle of the Bastards. Creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss needed to deliver a finale so grand it would make King’s Landing look like the Iron Islands. But when they were met with grueling night shoots, sloppy production mistakes, and no source material to base their ending off of, the final season basically Red Wedding-ed itself. Listen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gigli: A Cinematic Dumpster Fire with Peyton Dix and Hunter Harris | 47

Gigli: A Cinematic Dumpster Fire with Peyton Dix and Hunter Harris | 47

Gigli would go down in history as not only one of the biggest box office bombs… but also the reason Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez broke up the first time. In 2001, Oscar nominated filmmaker Martin Brest penned the gritty tale of a lowlife mobster unable to escape his mundane existence, but by 2003 Gigli had been reverse engineered into a corny, sloppy, rom-com thanks to the Hollywood “it” couple at its center: Bennifer. Gigli was such a cringe-inducing flop, it lost $70 million and earned its place among cinema's biggest disasters.Co-hosts of Lemme Say This, Peyton Dix and Hunter Harris, join Misha to get LOUD about how bad this movie was.Listen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rome's Most Bonkers Emperor: Nero with Rachel Bloom | 46

Rome's Most Bonkers Emperor: Nero with Rachel Bloom | 46

How much do you think about the Roman Empire? Emperor Nero’s answer would have been “not that much.” At just 16 years old, Nero starts his reign off with a bang, throwing lavish festivals for the plebs and giving himself headlining gigs as an aspiring singer-songwriter. But thanks to a power-hungry mom, some heated rivalries, and a whole lot of sex with people who are not his wife, Nero goes down in actual flames.Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) joins Misha to tell the epic tale of how Nero's legacy went up in smoke.Listen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.