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Big Lives: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Pushkin Industries
Every legend has a twist. From pop culture icons to music and comedy greats, award-winning journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to unpick the story behind the icons who shape our culture. Each week on Big Lives, Kai and Emmanuel take an iconic figure — from musical trailblazers like David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner to stars of the screen like Richard Pryor, Meg Ryan and Jane Fonda — and dissect their lives. Join them as they see these icons in a new light, uncover deep cuts from the BBC's archive, and learn how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape. After all, you can't understand today's culture until you understand the icons who built it. Smart, curious, and full of heart. The Guardian: "A smart and chatty show" The Telegraph: "Presenters sift wittily through the BBC archive"
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- 5 days ago1h 6m
James Baldwin: Love, Identity and the Truth Behind an American Icon
Who was the real James Baldwin, beyond the famous speeches and viral quotes? Hosts Kai and Emmanuel are joined by biographer Nicholas Boggs to explore the life and legacy of one of America's greatest writers. From his friendships and romances to his fiercest political battles and literary triumphs, discover how a Black, queer writer became one of the sharpest observers of America and its contradictions. James Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs is out now in paperback Connect with the team! Follow our hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X Follow BBC Podcasts on YouTube and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 1 weeks ago1h 0m
From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey
The new Odyssey movie was just released, with a star-studded cast including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattison. If you’re a fan of fantastical myths and legends, heroes behaving badly, ancient Greek culture and want to know more about Homer’s epic poems that have inspired countless writers, artists and filmmakers for centuries, look no further than this episode of You’re Dead To Me from the BBC - the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Host Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Greece by historian Dr Emily Hauser and comedian and actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe to learn about the Iliad and Odyssey. Traditionally attributed to the poet Homer, these works tell parts of a legend that has fascinated us for centuries: the story of the Trojan War. Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters – Achilles, Odysseus, Paris, Helen, Hector and Agamemnon – the war between ancient Greece and Troy has inspired writers, artists and filmmakers for over a millenium. But the Iliad and Odyssey only recount episodes of this much bigger story. In this episode, Greg and his guests trace the origins of the poems in the 8th century BCE, looking at whether Homer really wrote them and how these originally oral tales came to be written down, before exploring the fantastical tales they tell. Along the way, we also look at whether or not the Trojan war really happened, how the ancient Greeks defined heroism, and examine the role of gods and monsters in the poems and the lives of their heroes. You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past. They have just launched a new season, so find more episodes of You’re Dead To Me wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 1 weeks ago57 min
How Tina Turner Built Rock 'n' Roll (And Got Left Out of It)
We trace Tina Turner's journey from the cotton fields of Nutbush, Tennessee to global superstardom. We dig into the abuse that nearly ended her career, her extraordinary reinvention, and the overlooked influence she and other Black women had on a genre that too often erased them. This is the real story of one of music's most powerful voices, and the legacy the industry tried to forget. Additional archive: Simply The Best, Capitol Records, 1991 River Deep Mountain High, Philles Records, 1966 Connect with the team! Follow our hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X Follow BBC Podcasts on YouTube and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 2 weeks ago1h 5m
Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation, The Fugees and Her Enduring Legacy
Lauryn Hill is a generational voice, a cultural lightning rod, and one of music’s biggest what-ifs. This time, we're joined by NPR’s Code Switch host B.A. Parker to unpack the meteoric rise of the Fugees frontwoman, Lauryn Hill, and the intense pressures that pushed one of hip-hop and R&B's brightest stars out of the spotlight. From Grammy-winning highs to the questions that still surround her, we explore why Lauryn Hill's influence continues to shape hip-hop, soul, and pop today. Listen and subscribe to Big Lives for more deep dives into the artists who defined a generation. Connect with the team! Follow our hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X Follow BBC Podcasts on YouTube and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 3 weeks ago1h 6m
The Beckhams: From World Cup Villain to Billionaire Power Couple
David and Victoria Beckham weren't always the untouchable power couple we know today. In 1998, David was public enemy number one after a red card cost England the World Cup. So how did the Beckhams go from national villains to a global billion-dollar brand? We break down the Beckham playbook: how David and Victoria used humor, honesty, and razor-sharp media instincts to rewrite their story, survive relentless tabloid scrutiny, and build an empire spanning football, fashion, music, and celebrity culture. From World Cup backlash to billionaire status, this is the story of image, reinvention, and the making of modern celebrity power. Additional archive: Ali G, Comic Relief, 2001 Connect with the team! Follow our hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X Follow BBC Podcasts on YouTube and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 4 weeks ago49 min
From Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise
Sharing Malcolm Gladwell’s latest project, featuring our very own Kai Wright: a podcast called Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise. Imagine a time when the United States was split in two. And then had to put itself back together. It was a time of chaos and sometimes violence as millions of people fought for the right to become citizens. Americans struggled over questions like: who gets to be a citizen? Who has the right to vote? To own property? In short, who belongs? This was Reconconstruction… the era following the Civil War. When Americans ended slavery and expanded voting rights. But none of this was easy. Many people consider the promise of Reconstruction unfulfilled. Why? In this episode, Kai shares the story of the legendary abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass and how he navigated a world without Abraham Lincoln. Find Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise on Audible or wherever you get podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Jun 29, 202648 min
Sinéad O’Connor: The Story Behind the Icon and the Outrage
Sinéad O’Connor had one of the most unforgettable voices in music history and one of the most misunderstood lives. Kai and Emmanuel go beyond the "angry pop star" label and headlines to tell the real story of Sinéad O'Connor: the artist, the activist, and the icon who was right long before the world caught up. From "Nothing Compares 2 U" to her infamous 1992 Saturday Night Live moment, we explore the trauma, the artistry, and the fierce moral courage that defined her. What emerges is a portrait of a soft-spoken, deeply principled woman whose so-called controversies look a lot like clarity in hindsight. Additional archive: Nothing Compares 2 U, Chrysalis, 1990 Saturday Night Live, NBC, 1992 Connect with the team! Follow our hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X Follow BBC Podcasts on YouTube and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Jun 22, 20261h 30m
Jesse Jackson and the Making of Modern Black Politics
This Juneteenth, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s seismic rulings on voting rights, Emmanuel and Kai talk about the legacy of one man: Jesse Jackson. We trace his journey from teenage activist to Martin Luther King Jr.’s inner circle to building a political movement that reshaped America. Along the way: the ambition, conflict, and vision behind one of the most complex figures in Black politics. Additional archive: Hosea Williams interview In this episode, you'll learn about: Jesse Jackson's early years as a civil rights activist His pivotal role in Martin Luther King Jr.'s inner circle How he built a grassroots political movement The ambition, controversy, and vision that defined his legacy What Jackson's story means for Black politics today Connect with the team! Follow our hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X Follow BBC Podcasts on YouTube and Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
About Big Lives
Every legend has a twist. From pop culture icons to music and comedy greats, award-winning journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to unpick the story behind the icons who shape our culture. Each week on Big Lives, Kai and Emmanuel take an iconic figure — from musical trailblazers like David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner to stars of the screen like Richard Pryor, Meg Ryan and Jane Fonda — and dissect their lives. Join them as they see these icons in a new light, uncover deep cuts from the BBC's archive, and learn how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape. After all, you can't understand today's culture until you understand the icons who built it. Smart, curious, and full of heart. The Guardian: "A smart and chatty show" The Telegraph: "Presenters sift wittily through the BBC archive"
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