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Artwork for Famous and Gravy: Dead celebrity biographies

Famous and Gravy: Dead celebrity biographies

14th Street Studios | Michael Osborne
Hollywood
Comedy
Celebrity Culture
Television
Marriage
Addiction
Music
Legacy
David Bowie
Fame
Prince
Steve Jobs
Johnny Cash
Saturday Night Live
John Hughes
Bob Saget
Music Industry
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Pop Culture
Maya Angelou

Famous & Gravy is a celebrity biography podcast with a twist of self-reflection.

Each week, host Michael Osborne and a guest choose a celebrity who died in the 21st century — musicians, athletes, actors, comedians, and cultural icons – and they dive into the hidden elements of their biography. The format is built around segments that probe a simple thought experiment: Would you want that life? Our... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes140Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryTV & Film

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Artwork for Famous and Gravy: Dead celebrity biographies

Latest Episodes

After five years of grading obituaries from The New York Times, Famous & Gravy finally has a conversation with with someone who actually writes obituaries from The New York Times. Sam Roberts is on the show to share his experiences as a NYT obit writ... more

Val Kilmer walked off his first professional set at age 13. It was a hamburger commercial, he thought the burgers looked terrible, and he refused to sell them. He never got paid, and it turned out to be a preview of the rest of his career.

Kilmer on... more

Matthew Perry died in 2023 at fifty-four, and despite his very public battle with addiction, the first line of his obituary made no mention of his disease. Michael Osborne and Alice Orr argue that Matthew Perry is a case study in fame and addiction, ... more

Marco Polo spent 24 years crossing the Mongol Empire and came home with stories so wild that his own neighbors called him a liar. In this episode, Michael sits down with Denis Belliveau, who in the 1990s spent two years retracing Marco Polo's actual ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Denis Belliveau
Explorer, filmmaker, educator; retraced Marco Polo's route with Fran; part of the Explorers Club
In the Footsteps of History / Explorers Club
Episode: Extra Gravy: Marco Polo with Denis Belliveau
Chip White
Vanna White's brother, Relatively Famous guest
Relatively Famous (podcast)
Episode: Extra Gravy: Chip White, Vanna White's Brother
Ruth Westheimer
Dr. Ruth, renowned sex therapist and media personality
Public figure / Sex education advocate
Episode: Sexy Munchkin (Dr. Ruth Westheimer)
Nichelle Carr
Guest host, returning from previous episodes
Famous and Gravy
Episode: Rolling Thunder (James Earl Jones)
Sarah Murphy
A friend of the host and a recurring guest
Episode: Southern Expat (Harper Lee)
Anthony Bourdain
Celebrity chef, author, and television personality
Episode: Hungry Ghost (Anthony Bourdain)
Isaac Kestenbaum
Director of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
Episode: Comic Mythmaker (Stan Lee)
Sara Murphy
A friend of Michael and sports enthusiast
Episode: Mamba Mentality (Kobe Bryant)
John Watts
Friend of Michael Osborne and frequent guest
Episode: Script Doctor (Michael Crichton)

Host

Michael Osborne
Lead host and co-creator, central voice and interviewer; frequently co-hosts with guests and overlaps with production leadership.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 343 ratings
  • Fun!

    I enjoy learning more information about these celebrities in an interesting way!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fungamesreveiwer
    United Statesa month ago
  • More than once

    I have listened to the same episodes more than once, they are that interesting. Always enjoyable to break down the first line of their obituary. Often tidbits of facts not commonly known if you don’t know their whole bio.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    no excuses, just fix it
    Canadaa month ago
  • Love the Podcast

    Learn something on each episode. Fascinating stories of real people. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gojo1111
    United States2 months ago
  • Always interesting

    All your shows I’ve learned a new side of the person. It’s been real knowledge to know these people and I hope you keep your show going

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Auntie boo1963
    United States7 months ago
  • Never ever boring. Great hosts.

    This pod is one of my favorites.

    I love the category based structure because it gives the show a repeatable and familiar shape, yet the episodes never feel repetitive or dull.

    My mom and I both listen, so the storytelling captures the interest of multiple generations.

    Michael, enjoy your time away, and we all look forward to your return.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    2026FavoriteDino
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise thoughtful, well-researched storytelling and engaging guests.
The show is seen as insightful and entertaining, with a compelling mix of humor and depth.
Audiences appreciate the biographical focus and fresh takes on famous figures.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Iceman Transcendeth (Val Kilmer)
Q: How did Kilmer's identity as a difficult actor shape his career trajectory?
They discuss Kilmer's commitment to character, his conflicts with directors, and how his artistic process and ambition influenced both his famous roles and later career choices.
Extra Gravy: Marco Polo with Denis Belliveau
Q: All right, your initial reaction to the first line of the obituary, Denis, what do you think?
Denis says the line is spot on, noting the historical detail about Polo spending a long stretch in Beijing and that some nuance about the length of the travels can shift the perception, but overall he agrees with the framing and finds it a strong launch for the conversation.
Extra Gravy: Chip White, Vanna White's Brother
Q: What is the best setting to really see a side of your sister?
Dinner at home is suggested as ideal to observe a more personal, relaxed side, with conversations over wine enabling closer connections.
Extra Gravy: Chip White, Vanna White's Brother
Q: What are some surprising traits about Vanna White beyond her public image?
Chip notes her savviness, business sense, generosity, and consistent support for people, challenging the stereotype of the 'bimbo' and highlighting hard work behind the scenes.
Extra Gravy: Chip White, Vanna White's Brother
Q: What does the long shadow of being a relative of someone famous mean in your life?
Chip explains that the dynamic is about balancing visibility and privacy, and finding a path that honors family while creating a personal identity beyond the famous relative.

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 This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show surveys the lives of notable, mostly deceased, figures through in-depth biographies and obituaries, offering a thoughtful blend of cultural history, personal psychology, and social context. Episodes typically mix rigorous research with candid, human conversations, uncovering lesser-known facets of well-known lives and drawing practical lessons about fame, ambition, and resilience. A recurring strength is bringing fresh perspective to familiar stories, often weaving humor with serious reflection to illuminate what these icons can still teach today. A notable edge is the rotating set of guest hosts and the ongoing relaunch-style experiments, including alternate formats and potential video distribution, which keep the discourse dynam... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Fresh Air
2. Next Question with Katie Couric
3. Selected Shorts
4. The Moth
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 140 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Denis Belliveau
2. Chip White
3. Ruth Westheimer
4. Nichelle Carr
5. Sarah Murphy
6. Anthony Bourdain
7. Isaac Kestenbaum
8. Sara Murphy

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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