Rephonic
Artwork for Big Lives
LL Cool J
George Michael
Sinéad O'connor
David Beckham
Jane Fonda
David Attenborough
Liza Minnelli
Kylie Minogue
Jesse Jackson
James Baldwin
Madonna
Frederick Douglass
Lauryn Hill
Iliad and Odyssey
George Takei
Culture War
Reconstruction
Richard Pryor
Little Richard
Star Trek

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... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes25Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureArts

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Artwork for Big Lives

Latest Episodes

On Big Lives, we're interested not just in the story of the icons we cover, but also on the impact they have on the world around them. And when it comes to George Harrison, his legacy has continued to evolve. So we're sharing an episode today from Hi... more

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, D... more

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 hos... more

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 ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Chris Molanphy
Music critic and chart historian
Slate Magazine
Episode: From Hit Parade: The Harrisong Edition
David Remnick
Editor-in-chief of The New Yorker for 27 years
The New Yorker
Episode: David Remnick: Stories That Shape Our Time
Saachi Koul
Writer at Slate; host of Scamfluences; author
Slate
Episode: How Madonna Started a Culture War
Nicholas Boggs
Biographer of James Baldwin
Author of Baldwin, A Love Story
Episode: James Baldwin: Love, Identity and the Truth Behind an American Icon
Emily Hauser
Senior Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
Episode: From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey
Kiell Smith-Bynoe
Actor, comedian, broadcaster; familiar from Taskmaster and other shows
Comedy and television
Episode: From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey
BA Parker
Host of NPR's Code Switch
Code Switch/NPR
Episode: Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation, The Fugees and Her Enduring Legacy
David Blight
Douglass biographer and historian, appeared in the episode as a guest discussing Douglass and Reconstruction
Yale University (historical context)
Episode: From Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise
George Takei
Actor (Captain Sulu on Star Trek) and activist
Actor; LGBTQ+ rights advocate
Episode: Star Trek’s George Takei and the Courage to Come Out

Hosts

Emmanuel Dzotsi
Host of Big Lives; BBC Studios / Pushkin Industries collaboration across episodes.
Kai Wright
Co-host / Host of the show; brings historical and cultural analysis with archival context.

Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars from 260 ratings
  • Meh

    Tried to get through the Lauren Hill episode and couldn’t. The Madonna episode was the last straw. Why on earth you would invite a writer who was admittedly a child when Madonna hit the scene, and give any credence to the claim that they really didn’t get why religious folks made such a big deal about like a prayer… massive eye roll. At least try to have hosts and guests that understands the context of the times. The podcast is such a great idea. The hosts not so much. It’s like they’ve grown ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    horribleservice_2019
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love it

    Fascinating stories and great coversations from the hosts and guests. I was familiar with all of the icons, but learned so much more from these episodes. The BBC clips were like a time capsule. Looking forward to new eps!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MB Cuse Fan
    United Statesa month ago
  • Brilliant entertaining and informative!

    LOVE THIS SHOW!!! Love Emanuel and Kai’s relationship! It’s so fun to hear the influence of their different upbringings in the US/ UK and their different generations. I am entertained, laughing, and learning as I listen. Also just love hearing hot takes from fabulous gay black men!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KassThomas4
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Really fun and interesting.

    I accidentally came upon this podcast and was delighted! The podcast hosts have interesting perspectives. The BBC archives are so fun to hear. Listening to actual interviews of the people that they are talking about throughout. the ages is really eye-opening. Fun, entertaining, and pushes you to see things a bit different differently. Have fun and listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Booyahedfhvdyj
    United Statesa month ago
  • More Please!

    The show was recommended by a friend who enjoyed traveling in the way back machine for LL. Since then I’ve listened to the entire season. Great snapshot of people when know well from a different angle. Looking forward to more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MaJiC1
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the thoughtful, archival approach and engaging hosts.
Some critics note heavy use of clips works best for fans of the subject.
Feedback is mixed on pacing and editing for certain episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#190
Denmark/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#193
Ukraine/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey
Q: Question nine, what famous trick did Odysseus use to enter Troy?
The Trojan Horse deception.
From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey
Q: Question eight, name one obstacle Odysseus faces on his 10-year journey home.
The Cyclops with whom he blinds and escapes, aided by his clever ruse of the name 'Nobody'.
From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey
Q: Question ten, what regret does Achilles share with Odysseus in the underworld?
Achilles expresses that he would have preferred a simple, peaceful life over a heroic but destructive fate.
From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey
Q: Question four, what event supposedly caused the Trojan War?
The abduction or taking of Helen by Paris, initiating the Greek coalition against Troy.
From You’re Dead To Me: Iliad and The Odyssey
Q: Question two, how were the Iliad and Odyssey first communicated?
They were sung aloud in oral performance before being fixed in written form.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Lives

What is Big Lives about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Big Lives offers thoughtful, archive-driven portraits of cultural icons, spanning music, film, and comedy. Two hosts use BBC archival material to unpack a subject's life, work, and the broader social context, weaving in personal anecdotes and critical reflection to reveal nuance beyond headlines. Recent episodes showcase how fame intersects with race, sexuality, politics, and identity, with a steady emphasis on context, nuance, and the human stories behind public personas. The show tends to blend intimate storytelling with documentary-style analysis, often spotlighting archival clips to illuminate a subject's impact on culture and contemporary conversations. Noteworthy traits include its collaborative host dynamic, use of rare archival mate... more

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How many subscribers and views does Big Lives have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Big Lives?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Lives:

1. Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem
2. Decoder Ring
3. This American Life
4. The Secret World of Roald Dahl
5. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

How many episodes of Big Lives are there?

Big Lives launched 7 months ago and published 25 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Big Lives?

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What guests have appeared on Big Lives?

Recent guests on Big Lives include:

1. Chris Molanphy
2. David Remnick
3. Saachi Koul
4. Nicholas Boggs
5. Emily Hauser
6. Kiell Smith-Bynoe
7. BA Parker
8. David Blight

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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