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Big Lives

Big Lives

By: Pushkin Industries and BBC Studios
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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.

2026 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia Art Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Sinéad O’Connor: The Story Behind the Icon and the Outrage

    Sinéad O’Connor: The Story Behind the Icon and the Outrage
    Jun 29 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Jesse Jackson and the Making of Modern Black Politics

    Jesse Jackson and the Making of Modern Black Politics
    Jun 22 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 31 mins
  • Star Trek’s George Takei and the Courage to Come Out

    Star Trek’s George Takei and the Courage to Come Out
    Jun 15 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
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