229: The 21-Story Getaway

A bank robber disappears inside a 21-story apartment building while police close in. A short time later, he turns up badly injured in the basement—with the stolen cash still on him. His escape involved one of the worst plans in criminal history: a garbage chute, a 210-foot fall, and an astonishing amount of luck. Then, Polaroid was once one of America’s most innovative companies, transforming photography by letting people hold a picture in their hands just moments after taking it. So how did a company that dominated instant photography and generated billions in sales end up bankrupt just a decade later? Lindsay and Jethro trace the remarkable rise, spectacular fall, and unlikely resurrection of Polaroid—and the technology that nearly killed it before helping make it cool again. Plus, a listener discovers that karma, bath towels, garage doors, and security cameras can be an especially unforgiving combination. It’s another trip into the wonderfully questionable side of human decision-making on The Shallow End with Schnebly and Toth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices