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Big Lives

Pushkin Industries and BBC Studios

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"

Listen ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up on the Big Lives show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. Subscribe to BBC on Apple Podcasts and on BBC.com.

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  • 20 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 58 min
  • English
  • August 10 · 51 min

    David Remnick: Stories That Shape Our Time

    Where have you been, what did you find, and who did it make you? We're sharing an episode from a new podcast, Traveling Through. Host David Prior, travel writer and founder of immersive travel company PRIOR, invites culture makers like Jenna Lyons, David Remnick, Deborah Needleman, and Athena Calderone to unpack the places, objects, and experiences that have changed their perspective, influenced their work, or marked a turning point in their lives. Because the best stories aren't about the destination; they're about curiosity. David Remnick, Pulitzer Prize winner and editor of The New Yorker for 27 years, recounts his own travels – from Moscow to Tel Aviv to campaign trails and tour buses – reflects on what nearly three decades of dispatching the world's finest writers has revealed about history, cultural connectedness, and the vast breadth of stories to be found. Find Traveling Through on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get podcasts. Photo Credits: - Mona Museum Images (in order of appearance) - Museum of Old and New Art. Photo Credit: Mona/Stu Gibson. Image courtesy of Mona, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia - Girls Rule, 2016-18, Tom Otterness. Photo credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artists and Mona, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia - Snack 1970 - 72. Sir Sidney Nolan. Photo Credit: MONA/Jesse Hunniford. Image Courtesy MONA Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia - Museum of Old and New Art. Photo credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy Mona, Hobart, Tasmania - Siloam tunnels, Museum of Old and New Art. Photo credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona, Hobart, Tasmania - Unseen Seen, 2017. Artist: James Turrell. Photo Credit: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona, Hobart, Tasmania - Museum of Old and New Art. Photo credit: Mona/Rémi Chauvin. Image courtesy of Mona, Hobart, Tasmania See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  • S1 · E20
    August 3 · 1 hr 4 min

    How Madonna Started a Culture War

    Why is Madonna one of the most controversial pop stars of all time? Before cancel culture and social media outrage, Madonna was already at the centre of America's biggest culture wars. Hosts Kai and Emmanuel sit down with writer and Scamfluencers host Scaachi Koul to explore Madonna's most defining controversies, from Like a Prayer to the infamous Sex book, and reveal how she turned feminism, sexuality, and provocation into cultural power. A must-listen for fans of pop history, music, and feminism. 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.

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  • S1 · E19
    July 27 · 1 hr 6 min

    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.

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  • July 24 · 1 hr

    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.

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  • S1 · E18
    July 20 · 57 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.

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  • S1 · E17
    July 13 · 1 hr 5 min

    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.

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  • S1 · E16
    July 6 · 1 hr 6 min

    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.

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  • July 4 · 49 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.

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  • S1 · E15
    June 29 · 48 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.

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  • S1 · E14
    June 22 · 1 hr 30 min

    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.

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  • S1 · E13
    June 15 · 57 min

    Star Trek’s George Takei and the Courage to Come Out

    Before the fame, there was incarceration. George Takei has lived an extraordinary life: from a childhood in Japanese American internment camps to a groundbreaking role on Star Trek, to a decades-long struggle with identity. This Pride Month, George Takei’s journey reminds us that coming out is not just a moment. It’s a lifetime of courage. Additional archive: Star Trek: Mirror, Mirror, 1967, Paramount 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.

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  • S1 · E12
    June 8 · 48 min

    Kylie Minogue and the Power of Pop Without Apology

    Pop princess, gay icon, global enigma. We unpack how Kyle Minogue, soap star with “manufactured” hits, became the ultimate symbol of joy for generations of fans. For Pride Month, celebrate the singer embraced by queer communities long before the mainstream caught up. From chart bangers to queer club anthems, Kylie turned criticism into cultural staying power. Additional archive: Can’t Get You Out of My Head, Parlaphone, 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.

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  • S1 · E11
    June 1 · 52 min

    David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust: Performance, Persona, Revolution

    Ziggy Stardust didn’t just land - he detonated. We rewind to David Bowie’s 1972 Top of the Pops breakthrough and unpack the paradox at its core: a “meaningless” persona that transformed culture. Was Ziggy a liberation engine, a postmodern performance, or just a bored kid’s rebellion dressed in glitter? This Pride Month, we revisit the gender-bending, rule-breaking persona that helped a generation imagine new ways to be. 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.

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  • S1 · E10
    May 25 · 59 min

    Meg Ryan and the Golden Age of Rom‑Coms

    What happened to the golden age of Rom-Coms? Emmanuel and Kai tell the story of the Rom-Com boom via the career of its biggest star, Meg Ryan. From When Harry Met Sally, to one of the more infamous talk show appearances of all time, we unpack Meg Ryan’s appeal, and what we actually want from love in the movies. Additional archive: When Harry Met Sally, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1989; Burger King commercial, Burger King Company LLC, 1982 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.

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  • S1 · E9
    May 18 · 56 min

    Little Richard: The Architect of Rock and Roll

    He screamed, shimmered and rewrote popular music and then disappeared from the throne he built. This episode reveals Little Richard’s unstoppable rise, painful erasure, and lifelong battle between the divine and the profane. A vivid, funny and heartbreaking meditation on race, queerness, faith and why rock and roll history still gets its origin story wrong. Additional archive: Tutti Frutti by Little Richard, Speciality, 1957 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.

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  • S1 · E8
    May 11 · 1 hr 9 min

    Muhammad Ali: Boxing, Fame and The Trap

    What happens when a black icon refuses to make white audiences comfortable? This episode traces Muhammad Ali’s BBC interviews—full of swagger and wit, fury and fallout—to reveal how he reshaped media, protest and public speech. Along the way: Vietnam, the Nation of Islam, Joe Frazier, and a blueprint every outspoken Black celebrity still wrestles with today. Additional archive: When We Were Kings, PolyGram Film Productions, 1996 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.

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  • S1 · E7
    May 4 · 51 min

    Liza Minnelli: Surviving the Spotlight

    Born into a spotlight she never asked for, Liza Minnelli didn’t only survive her inheritance—she made it into her own art. Using BBC archive, iconic performances, and her complicated bond with her mother Judy Garland, we reveal why her vulnerability is her superpower. From Broadway to Hollywood, nepo baby discourse to Cabaret breakout, we explore her raw emotional magnetism, impossible childhood, legendary resilience, and that indefinable spark you can’t look away from. Additional archive: New York, New York (Original Motion Picture Score), United Artists Records, 1977 Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, Live At The London Palladium, Capitol Records, 1965 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.

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  • S1 · E6
    April 27 · 1 hr 1 min

    Sir David Attenborough: The Voice of the Natural World Turns 100

    Sir David Attenborough turns 100 this year—and no one has done more to shape how humanity sees our planet. But for years, there was one issue he didn’t talk about. Emmanuel & Kai chart the story of how one nerdy rock-collecting kid became one of TV’s biggest stars, and took on the most important mission of his life. Additional archive: Our Planet II, Netflix 2023 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.

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  • S1 · E5
    April 20 · 40 min

    LL Cool J: The Corny King of Hip Hop

    LL Cool J didn’t conquer hip‑hop by being the toughest or the slickest, he did it by being unabashedly himself. Kai & Emmanuel break down the charisma, contradictions, and carefully crafted showmanship that turned a Queens teenager into a global cultural force. Through BBC archive gems and Kai’s own teenage misadventures, revisit the chaotic early days of Def Jam Records and the Soft Boy anthem that shook hip‑hop. 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.

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  • S1 · E4
    April 13 · 44 min

    Amy Winehouse: The Price of Being Honest

    Amy Winehouse rewrote the rules of modern songwriting by refusing to fake a single feeling. In this episode, Kai and Emmanuel explore the BBC archive and find how a teenage jazz obsessive became a generational storyteller. Someone who insisted on truth over polish, grit over gloss, and emotional precision over pop perfection. Through her own words and early performances, we trace how Amy crafted songs that felt like conversations, confrontations, and confessions all at once - and why her radical honesty still reverberates. Connect with the team! Follow our hosts Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi Follow Pushkin on Instagram, LinkedIn or X Follow BBC Podcasts See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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