Podcast
The Biographers
Hosted by The Biographers · EN
The Biographers is a deep-dive biography podcast that aims to tell the full and complete stories of history’s most fascinating and influential characters. Join hosts Daniel Newman and Akiva Meola as they take you through the expansive and entertaining stories of various historic figures.
In a time where short-form, hardly-researched videos flood TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, we are doing the exact opposite. The Biographers gives you the chance to learn the full life stories of historic figures, both famous and obscure, without cutting corners. With hour-long, deep-dive research, we provide a bigger, better story than what’s in your feed. If you love true crime, but are craving stories about people who truly made a difference, then you’ve just discovered your new favorite podcast.
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Frida Kahlo Part 3: Gringolandia
Mar 2101:26:40Tap to summarizeIn part three of our series on Frida Kahlo, we explore Frida’s early years of marriage to the world-famous painter Diego Rivera, along with her time spent touring the United States. In Cuernavaca, Diego finds himself painting the Mexican Revolution for American oil investors, while Frida begins to paint from within. As fascism spreads across Mexico like a disease, the two depart for America — or, as Frida called it, “Gringolandia.” There, Diego relishes his newfound fame, while Frida is less than pleased. In New York, Frida confides in her new American friends, feeling disillusioned as she watches Diego's wealthy new clients trivialize their message. Following Diego's success, the two are whisked to the Motor City, where Frida's expressive, rebellious side begins to flourish more and more, laughing in the faces of the elite. Unfortunately, the fun is short-lived, as tragedy lurks just around the corner. Tune in to part three of Frida Kahlo to learn more! (Ep. 073)
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Frida Kahlo Part 2: El Elefante y la Paloma
Mar 701:26:37Tap to summarizeIn part two of our series on Frida Kahlo, we discuss the aftermath of one of Frida's greatest tragedies that would ultimately leave Frida in pieces. With dozens of shattered bones and an iron bar piercing her abdomen, Frida would spend the next two years evading death. As she recovered, her novio, Alejandro, slowly disappeared from her life, and Frida would find new meaning through painting. During this time, she created some of her first portrait works while mummified in a plaster corset to realign her spine. When she “recovered,” Frida reunited with the Cachuchas to support La Raza Cósmica through José Vasconcelos’ campaign. He would lose the election, but it gave Frida the opportunity to join the Communist Party, and there she would meet the world-famous muralist (and womanizer) Diego Rivera. Despite a 20-year age gap, the two would fall in love, and wedding bells were soon heard in the distance. Everyone had an opinion on the slovenly painter’s new fling, and Frida’s own mother called it “a marriage between an elephant and a dove.” Tune in to part two of Frida Kahlo to learn more! (Ep. 072)
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Bonus! -- A Taste of History: An Interview with Max Miller
Feb 2401:31:46Tap to summarizeWe are thrilled to be speaking with incomparable Max Miller of the sensational YouTube channel: Tasting History. Max kindly agreed to work with us on a recent collaboration video about the eating habits of Nikola Tesla, whose culinary preferences are as specific as they are riddled with historical inaccuracies. We got the chance to sit down with Max to discuss our respective research processes, and how "facts" about history are not always what they seem.
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Frida Kahlo Part 1: La Pequeña Diablillo
Feb 2101:30:09Tap to summarizeWe're officially starting series 13, and this time we're focusing on one of the most influential artists of all time: Frida Kahlo! In part one, we discuss Frida's family origins, the political turmoil in Mexico at the time, her early struggles with illness, and her wild years studying at the esteemed National Preparatory School in Mexico City. At school, she rubbed elbows with some of the greatest young minds in Mexico while also causing trouble with her rebellious gang, the Cachuchas. Frida would also experience all the ups and downs of being an angsty teenager, like falling in love, causing trouble, churning up drama, and occasionally detonating small bombs that shattered all the glass windows of her school . But just as her young life was beginning to blossom, she would experience a tragedy that would alter her life forever. (Ep. 071)
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Office Hours Ep 9: Historical Prophylactics
Feb 701:11:35Tap to summarizeTime to sit back and relax for another casual episode of Office Hours. We go through questions and corrections from our series on Mark Twain, and share an amazing story from one of our listeners who has some personal connections to Pancho Villa. We'll be back for our regularly scheduled programming in two weeks, starting into our next biography subject: Frida Kahlo!
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Concerning Jim: An Interview with Professor Shelley Fisher Fishkin
Jan 2301:19:37Tap to summarizeThis week, we are thrilled to be joined for an interview with one of the world's leading Mark Twain scholars who currently teaches at Stanford University: Professor Shelley Fisher Fishkin (https://shelleyfisherfishkin.com/bio) . Most recently, Professor Fishkin has published a book called "Jim: The Life and Afterlives of Huckleberry Finn's Comrade", which aims to debunk the notion that Mark Twain's character, Jim, in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a racist portrayal. Join us as we explore this complex subject with one of the world's leading authorities on all things Mark Twain. Buy the book here: https://shelleyfisherfishkin.com/jimListen to the audiobook here: https://a.co/d/18NXmE8
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Mark Twain Part 10: No Humor In Heaven
Jan 1001:50:04Tap to summarizeIt’s finally time to close the book on the life of the incomparable Mark Twain. His final ten years would not be easy, riddled with heartache and devastation, but the world at large would finally awaken to the utter genius in its midst, and his works would take their place among the great masterpieces of literature. Join us as we say goodbye to our pal, Mark Twain. (Ep. 070)
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Mark Twain Part 9: A Long Farewell To Business
Dec 2701:36:02Tap to summarizeTough times lay ahead for Mark Twain in part nine of our series on the legendary humorist. Somewhere along the way, Sam Clemens got it into his head that he was a businessman, but nothing could be further from the truth, and none of his business deals would yield any profits. He would tell the press that he was taking his family to Europe for his wife's health, but the truth was that the US dollar could go further abroad. For nine years, the Clemens family would live in exile, before Sam would finally decide to pay off his debts by going on a worldwide lecture tour... But the tough times would be far from over. We're in the home-stretch: tune in for part nine of Mark Twain to learn more! (Ep. 069)
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Ian Fleming Part 2: The Name’s Fleming. Newspaperman Fleming.
Dec 16, 2023Tap to summarizeIn part two of our series on James Bond creator, Ian Fleming, we watch the young Ian as he struggles to find his first job, but ultimately landing a position with one of the oldest news organizations in the world as a journalist. What famous racing legend does Ian work alongside while reporting on a treacherous alpine race? Why was he later dispatched to Moscow, and what the heck is the Metro-Vickers affair? Is it possible for Ian to truly find love, or is he just hanging out with you to not-so-secretly decipher German radio transmissions? Tune in to Ian Fleming Part 2 to find out! (Ep. 007)
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