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Recorded in June 2026, shortly after Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday celebrations in Los Angeles.

In this episode of All Things Marilyn, Scott Fortner and Elisa Jordan look back at an extraordinary week of events surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s centenary.

From Elisa’s revived Marilyn’s Hollywood tour and the podcast’s first live event at the Los Angeles Public Library to screenings, exhibitions, gallery events, and the Marilyn Remembered Fan Club’s sold-out birthday celebration at the historic Avalon Hotel, Scott and Elisa share what it was like to experience Marilyn’s 100th birthday alongside fans from around the world.

They revisit the live discussion surrounding Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, The Last Interview, including the participation of family members connected to photographer Allan Grant and LIFE journalist Richard Merryman, and reflect on the emotional impact of hearing Marilyn’s own voice during the event.

Scott and Elisa also take listeners inside the Academy Museum’s major Marilyn Monroe exhibition, discussing iconic costumes, personal artifacts, photography, and some of the stories behind the objects on display. Scott shares what it was like to see pieces from the Marilyn Monroe Collection exhibited alongside important costumes and memorabilia from other major collections.

The conversation continues with memories from the Marilyn Remembered centenary celebration at the Avalon Hotel, formerly the Beverly Carlton, where Marilyn once lived and was photographed by Philippe Halsman. They also discuss the June 1 launch event for the ICON skincare collection at the Academy Museum and its connection to Marilyn’s esthetician, Madame Renna.

More than a recap of events, this episode is a conversation about Marilyn’s continuing cultural impact, the experience of walking in her footsteps, and the remarkable community of fans, historians, collectors, authors, photographers, and organizations that came together to celebrate Marilyn Monroe at 100.

ATM Podcast: @allthingsmarilynpodcast
Scott @marilynmonroecollection
Elisa @la_woman_tours

Credits
Artwork by @marilynmexico
Soundtrack by @silver_technicolor

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Recorded live on Friday, May 29, 2026, before a packed audience at the Los Angeles Public Library, this special episode of the All Things Marilyn Podcast is part of Marilyn Monroe’s centennial celebration.

Hosted by Scott Fortner and Elisa Jordan, the conversation explores one of the most significant Marilyn Monroe projects to emerge in decades: Marilyn: The Lost Photographs & The Last Interview. Joining the discussion are authors Chris Flannery and Jason Greene, along with Meredith Landis, daughter of journalist Richard Meryman, and Karin Grant, widow of LIFE magazine photographer Allan Grant.

Together, they share the remarkable story behind Marilyn’s final professional portrait sitting and final formal interview, conducted at her Brentwood home in the summer of 1962. Photographed by LIFE magazine’s Allan Grant, the session is widely recognized as Marilyn Monroe’s last professional magazine photo shoot. Although George Barris would later photograph Marilyn on the beach in Santa Monica, the Grant photographs represent her final professional portrait session and the last time she sat for a major magazine assignment. The discussion explores how Richard Meryman’s groundbreaking interview style allows Marilyn’s voice to take center stage, creating what many consider her most candid and revealing conversation.

Listeners hear actual excerpts from Marilyn Monroe’s final interview, allowing Marilyn to tell her own story in her own voice. The panel also reveals new details about the iconic photo session, including the colors of the clothing Marilyn was wearing in the famous black-and-white photographs captured by Allan Grant.

Meredith and Karin offer personal insights into the two men who preserved this historic material for more than six decades. They discuss the journalistic integrity, professionalism, and trust that led Richard Meryman and Allan Grant to protect Marilyn’s words and images rather than exploit them.

The episode also features a brief telephone appearance by legendary Marilyn Monroe superfan and historian James Haspiel, one of the few surviving people who knew Marilyn personally. Haspiel reflects on his memories of Marilyn and shares what he would say to her if she were here today.

Throughout the conversation, one theme emerges again and again: allowing Marilyn to speak for herself. Rather than focusing on myths, headlines, or speculation, this discussion centers on Marilyn’s own words, revealing an intelligent, thoughtful woman who remained hopeful about her future, proud of her newly purchased home, and determined to continue growing as an actress and artist.

For Marilyn fans, historians, and anyone interested in Hollywood history, this episode offers a rare look at the people who preserved Marilyn Monroe’s final words and photographs, and why those voices continue to resonate more than sixty years later.

ATM Podcast: @allthingsmarilynpodcast
Scott @marilynmonroecollection
Elisa @la_woman_tours

Credits
Artwork by @marilynmexico
Soundtrack by @silver_technicolor

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For this special episode of the All Things Marilyn Podcast, released on June 1 in celebration of the 100th birthday of Marilyn Monroe, Scott sat down with James Haspiel, a longtime figure in the Marilyn community whose connection to Marilyn began in 1954 outside the St. Regis Hotel in New York. This is the first "in-person podcast interview" for All Things Marilyn as Scott was with Jim in his home.

What started as a chance encounter grew into a personal relationship that Haspiel has spoken about for decades. In this conversation, he shares his memories of Marilyn both in public and in private moments, offering a perspective shaped by proximity, emotion, and the passage of time.

This episode explores:

• Haspiel’s first meeting with Marilyn in New York and how their connection developed.
• His recollections of time spent with Marilyn in her homes, in public settings, and during key moments in her life.
• His perspective on Marilyn’s relationships with figures including Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller.
• Stories surrounding iconic events such as Marilyn’s appearance for John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden.
• His reflections on Marilyn as both a global icon and the private person he believes he knew.

Throughout the episode, Haspiel shares vivid and often emotional stories, from his earliest impressions of Marilyn to his lasting memories of her presence, personality, and impact.

This centennial episode offers a rare and deeply personal lens into the enduring fascination with Marilyn Monroe, and the stories that continue to shape how she is remembered 100 years after her birth.

Don’t miss this compelling and unforgettable episode.

ATM Podcast: @allthingsmarilynpodcast
Scott @marilynmonroecollection
Elisa @la_woman_tours

Credits
Artwork by @marilynmexico
Soundtrack by @silver_technicolor