Big Lives
Pushkin Industries and BBC StudiosEvery 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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 18 | Founded | 5 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
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... more
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 ti... more
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... more
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 ... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- Delighted!
My wikipedia rabbit holes on lore before my time have been turned into a podcast, with smarter, funnier people, and live archival footage. What a brilliant concept, and such charming hosts. Their enthusiasm and personal stakes make it. Thank you both! I’m learning so much.
Apple Podcasts5cellolover123
United States19 days ago - Fantastic
I absolutely love this podcast. The way they analyse social icons’ is very insightful and informative.
Just when you like you know a famous person, Emmanuel and Kai find facts you may not know.
I love their presentation style. Always look forward to the next episode.
Apple Podcasts5Oil454
Australia22 days ago - Some episodes…
Are not great but some are clear and informative and having excerpts from the archives presented is really nice
Apple Podcasts4TheInfiniteJester
United Kingdom22 days ago - Comfort Podcast
I’ve never been one to listen to podcast ever but recently I wanted to try something new during my morning drive to work. You won’t be disappointed listening to these two retell these artist stories. Love getting to learn something new about these Big Lives.
Apple Podcasts5DresantanaUnited Statesa month ago - Favorite Podcast!
This is literally my favorite podcast. I’ve never been more excited to come across Mondays now lol it’s so joyful to listen to. What I really enjoy is that the two gentleman don’t go on ad nauseum about someone, but they include clips of the featured person from BBC archives. It adds a nice touch and perspective to this podcast. Can’t love this show enough!!
Apple Podcasts5ChemGirl512United Statesa month ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #211 |  Canada/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #120 |  Colombia/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #137 |  Ireland/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #138 |  Argentina/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #156 |  Chile/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #175 |  Singapore/Society & Culture |
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interests | Professions | 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
Where can I find podcast stats for Big Lives?
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How many listeners does Big Lives get?
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What are the audience demographics for Big Lives?
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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. This American Life
2. The Secret World of Roald Dahl
3. Heavyweight
4. Search Engine
5. Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem
How many episodes of Big Lives are there?
Big Lives launched 5 months ago and published 18 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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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Big Lives?
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What guests have appeared on Big Lives?
Recent guests on Big Lives include:
1. George Takei
2. Rain Pryor
3. Paul Mooney
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.