エピソード

  • The microphone that collapsed his stage and left Curtis Mayfield lying flat

    The microphone that collapsed his stage and left Curtis Mayfield lying flat
    2026/09/02
    A paralyzed Curtis Mayfield records an album flat on his back after a stage accident, holding on to a voice built in Chicago-how does he keep going?

    The microphone that collapsed his stage and left Curtis Mayfield lying flat

    In this episode, we follow Curtis Mayfield’s life from Cabrini-Green to the recording studio where he sang one line at a time while paralyzed. The episode covers his musical innovations, the accident that severed his body below the neck, and the decisions that kept him creating-what drove him to keep making music under those conditions?

    Person: Curtis Lee Mayfield
    Date: August 13, 1990 (stage accident)
    Location: Chicago, Illinois (born at Cook County Hospital); Brooklyn (concert)
    Event: Recording of New World Order while paralyzed
    Topic: open F-sharp guitar tuning and songwriting

    - Born June 3, 1942, in Cook County Hospital and raised in Chicago’s public housing, Curtis learned guitar at age ten and developed his signature open F-sharp tuning.
    - He formed the Impressions in the late 1950s, moved from background singer to lead after Jerry Butler left, and co-wrote hits even as colleagues pursued solo careers.
    - Mayfield co-wrote "He Will Break Your Heart" for Butler before stepping fully into the spotlight, then led the group to record “People Get Ready” with its sermon-like melody.
    - On August 13, 1990, a piece of stage equipment fell on him at a Brooklyn concert, severing the connection between his brain and his body below the neck and leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down.
    - By 1996 he recorded the album New World Order singing one line at a time while lying flat on his back in the studio, continuing to craft music despite industry and personal obstacles.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    17 分
  • The Stolen Millions and the Plane That Fell

    The Stolen Millions and the Plane That Fell
    2026/09/02
    A music icon's royalties are stolen, leaving him broke and desperate for cash. The rock and roll pioneer faces a final, fateful tour.

    The Stolen Millions and the Plane That Fell

    This episode explores the early life and career of Buddy Holly, from his humble beginnings in Lubbock, Texas, to his meteoric rise to fame. It delves into the financial struggles and industry pitfalls that plagued his career, ultimately leading to a tragic end.

    Person: Buddy Holly
    Date: September 7, 1936
    Location: Lubbock, Texas
    Producer: Norman Petty
    Record Label: Decca Records

    - Buddy Holly's bent and scratched glasses remained unclaimed for two decades in an Iowa courthouse, reflecting how his life outpaced the systems around him.
    - Norman Petty diverted the band's royalties into his own company accounts, leaving Buddy Holly in financial distress by January 1959.
    - Bob Dylan witnessed Buddy Holly perform in Duluth, Minnesota, just two nights before the plane crash, an encounter that shaped Dylan's future.
    - Buddy Holly learned guitar from his brother Travis on an instrument bought from a Lubbock pawnshop, developing patience by practicing silently.
    - Decca Records signed Buddy Holly in 1955 but dropped him in 1956 after misspelling his name and producing records that didn't capture his sound.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    17 分
  • The letters that unmade Bobby Darin's magnificent house

    The letters that unmade Bobby Darin's magnificent house
    2026/09/02
    A music legend builds a magnificent house on a foundation he was never allowed to inspect. His true origins remain hidden for decades.

    The letters that unmade Bobby Darin's magnificent house

    This episode explores the early life and hidden truths of Bobby Darin, a man who achieved immense fame while carrying a secret about his identity. It delves into the construction of his persona and the cost of building a life on an unexamined foundation.

    Person: Bobby Darin
    Date of Birth: May 14, 1936
    Location of Birth: East Harlem
    Date of Death: December 20, 1973
    Age at Death: 37

    - Walden Robert Cassotto was born in East Harlem in 1936, a neighborhood known for producing resilient individuals.
    - The official story of his childhood claimed his mother was Polly and his sister was Nina, but neither was entirely true.
    - Polly was actually his grandmother, and Nina, whom he called his sister, was his biological mother, unmarried at 18.
    - From age eight, Bobby suffered from recurring rheumatic fever, which damaged his heart and led doctors to predict he might not live past his mid-thirties.
    - His grandmother, Polly, a former performer, encouraged his musical talents, teaching him that identity could be constructed rather than inherited.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    20 分
  • The one word he swapped in Beethoven's Ninth toppled his life

    The one word he swapped in Beethoven's Ninth toppled his life
    2026/09/02
    A 71-year-old conductor changes one word in Beethoven's Ninth before 100 million viewers, marking a life's summit with 56 days left. This is the story of a musical icon.

    The one word he swapped in Beethoven's Ninth toppled his life

    This episode explores the life of Leonard Bernstein, a celebrated American musician who refused to choose a single path, embracing conducting, composing, and educating simultaneously. It delves into the origins of his relentless drive and the impact it had on his extraordinary career.

    Person: Leonard Bernstein
    Date: December 25, 1989
    Location: Berlin
    Event: Changed a word in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
    Awards: 16 Grammy Awards, 7 Emmys, 2 Tonys

    - Leonard Bernstein swapped "Freude" (joy) for "Freiheit" (freedom) in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on Christmas Day, 1989.
    - Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1918, Lenny's early musical passion was met with his father's initial disapproval.
    - He began teaching piano to neighborhood children to fund his own lessons, demonstrating an early refusal to accept obstacles.
    - Samuel Bernstein's opposition to music softened after taking 14-year-old Lenny to a Boston Pops concert in 1932.
    - Bernstein's career launched when he stepped in for an ill Bruno Walter to conduct the New York Philharmonic with no rehearsal on November 14, 1943.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    17 分
  • The Parade He Rewrote - Seventy-Six Trombones Toppled Him

    The Parade He Rewrote - Seventy-Six Trombones Toppled Him
    2026/09/02
    A celebrated composer turns small-town memory into a Broadway parade - but after eight years, what did he trade for a town called River City?

    The Parade He Rewrote - Seventy-Six Trombones Toppled Him

    In this episode, we follow Meredith Willson’s long creative drift from Mason City to New York, tracing how his radio, film, and concert work ran alongside eight years of nightly revisions. What did he build - and what did he give away - while composing a town around one recurring number?

    Person: Meredith Willson
    Date: born May 18, 1902; funeral 1984
    Location: Mason City, Iowa; River City (fictional)
    Topic: Eight years of writing, thirty revisions, over forty discarded songs
    Event: Composition of the show centered on "Seventy-Six Trombones"

    - He marched as a boy with a Salvation Army bass drum through Mason City, learning how music organized public life.
    - Trained at the Institute of Musical Art and played piccolo and flute in John Philip Sousa’s band from 1921-1924.
    - Held a chair in the New York Philharmonic under Arturo Toscanini until 1929 before moving into radio and film.
    - Built a radio career at KFRC and NBC, created the "Talking People" chorus, and worked for the Armed Forces Radio Service and Burns and Allen.
    - Spent eight years writing a show set on a town like Mason City, producing thirty complete book revisions and composing more than forty discarded songs.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    13 分
  • The orange juice that made the White House feel like home

    The orange juice that made the White House feel like home
    2026/09/02
    A man born into American power sees it not as a fight, but as furniture. He quietly reshapes a nation's environmental future.

    The orange juice that made the White House feel like home

    This episode explores the life of Russell Errol Train, a figure who profoundly influenced American environmental law and conservation. It examines how his unique upbringing and proximity to power shaped his approach to institutional change.

    Person: Russell Errol Train
    Date of Birth: June 4, 1920
    Location: Jamestown, Rhode Island
    Organizations Founded: Wildlife Leadership Foundation, African Wildlife Foundation, World Wildlife Leadership
    Political Appointment: Nixon appointee

    - Russell Train's father served as a naval aide to President Hoover, giving Train early exposure to the White House.
    - Train attended Princeton and Columbia Law School, then began a legal career that included serving as a federal judge on the United States Tax Court.
    - While still a federal judge, Train founded the Wildlife Leadership Foundation and co-founded the African Wildlife Foundation.
    - He became the first vice president of the World Wildlife Leadership when it was formally organized in 1961.
    - In 1968, Richard Nixon selected Train to chair his transition task force on the environment.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    15 分
  • The 1989 decision that followed her to the platform

    The 1989 decision that followed her to the platform
    2026/09/02
    A woman becomes Africa's first elected female president, but her past includes funding a rebellion led by a notorious war criminal. What was the price of power?

    The 1989 decision that followed her to the platform

    This episode explores the life of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, from her origins in Liberia's complex social hierarchy to her rise as a prominent economist and politician. It examines the difficult choices she made on her path to becoming a head of state.

    Person: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
    Date: January 16, 2006
    Location: Monrovia, Liberia
    Event: Sworn in as 24th President of Liberia
    Status: Africa's first elected female president

    - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's father, Jahmale Carney Johnson, was the first indigenous Liberian elected to the national legislature and renamed himself in loyalty to a president.
    - She married at seventeen, had four sons, and worked as a bookkeeper before leaving for the US to pursue higher education.
    - By the early 1970s, she held a Master of Public Administration from Harvard and became Assistant Minister of Finance in Liberia.
    - As Minister of Finance, she delivered a "bombshell speech" to the Liberian Chamber of Commerce, accusing corporations of hoarding profits.
    - Following the 1980 coup where President William Tolbert and cabinet members were executed, Sirleaf accepted a post as president of the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment under the new regime.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    19 分
  • The fragment that shattered what science believed

    The fragment that shattered what science believed
    2026/09/02
    In 1972, a scientist finds a chromosomal fragment in the wrong place. Her discovery challenges the scientific consensus on cancer's genetic origins.

    The fragment that shattered what science believed

    This episode tells the story of Janet Rowley, a scientist who made a groundbreaking discovery about human chromosomes and cancer. It explores her journey from early education to challenging established scientific beliefs.

    Person: Janet Rowley
    Date: 1972
    Location: Chicago
    Topic: Chromosomal translocations in cancer

    - Janet Davison was born in New York City in 1925, the only child of highly educated parents.
    - She earned a scholarship to the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools at age fifteen and completed a Bachelor of Philosophy, a Bachelor of Science, and a medical degree by age twenty-three.
    - After receiving her medical degree, she married Donald Adams Rowley and raised four sons while working part-time in various medical and research roles.
    - In 1962, she became an NIH trainee and joined the University of Chicago's Department of Hematology, focusing on chromosome research.
    - By 1972, using new laboratory techniques, she observed a chromosomal fragment attached to the wrong chromosome in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    14 分