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 | 24 | Founded | 6 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
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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
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Reviews
- Fun hosts!
Although I am not a bald Black man (see Tina Turner episode), I feel like these hosts are good stand ins for my experience. One’s my age, one grew up with a Catholic worldview, and they are just curious optimists who want to celebrate people. Love it.
Apple Podcasts5Not a Sister
United Statesa month ago - Points off for the host
Points off for the host who doesn’t know how to pronounce Wyclef Jean’s last name.
Apple Podcasts2JLK100United Statesa month ago - Love it
I love this show! Looking forward to more episodes. Thank you guys.
Apple Podcasts5singerincalifornia77United Statesa month ago - So Much to Uncover
The conceit of the show - use BBC archive interviews to uncover new perspective on larger-than-life figures - is delightful. As an American, much of these interviews are completely new to me, and I enjoy the cheeky, often wide-eyed banter of the hosts as they (re)learn about their subjects. Fun and light, and lets the footage shine.
Apple Podcasts5Bryan BelloUnited States2 months ago - Always a surprise
I frequently see the name of the subject and think “I’m not that interested” and boy am I surprised. Consistently interesting and insightful. The hosts do a great job of weaving together BBC audio to create a portrait of their subject. I’ve learned details about public figures that are often surprising and frequently heartwarming.
Apple Podcasts5lphelanUnited States2 months ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #148 |  Finland/Society & Culture |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
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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?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Big Lives. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Big Lives and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
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?
To see how many followers or subscribers Big Lives has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to Big Lives?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Lives:
1. Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem
2. The Secret World of Roald Dahl
3. This American Life
4. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
5. Heavyweight
How many episodes of Big Lives are there?
Big Lives launched 6 months ago and published 24 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?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Big Lives from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Big Lives?
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What guests have appeared on Big Lives?
Recent guests on Big Lives include:
1. David Remnick
2. Saachi Koul
3. Nicholas Boggs
4. Emily Hauser
5. Kiell Smith-Bynoe
6. BA Parker
7. David Blight
8. George Takei
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.