Big Lives
Hosted by Emmanuel Dzotsi and Kai Wright · Pushkin Industries and BBC Studios
4.1from 206 ratings
- 25
- Episodes
- 10
- Transcribed
- 206
- Ratings
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2026
- First episode
About Big Lives
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.
- Publisher
- Pushkin Industries and BBC Studios
- Category
- arts · history · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 9 Mar 2026
- Latest episode
- 7 Sept 2026
Latest episodes
10 of 25 episodes have a transcript.
7 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
From Hit Parade: The Harrisong Edition
10 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
David Remnick: Stories That Shape Our Time
3 Aug 2026
How Madonna Started a Culture War
Inside a recent episode
From Hit Parade: The Harrisong Edition
Published 7 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Something similar had happened in 2007, when Led Zeppelin made their debut on the iTunes Music Store, and Stairway to Heaven, previously never a single, was available for the first time. There's a lady who's sure All it glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven But, as it turns out, my theory was wrong. Here Comes the Sun's popularity was deep, abiding, and lasting. We received further evidence when Spotify came to America in 2011, kicking off the streaming era on the charts. Here Comes the Sun quickly established itself as the Beatles' most streamed song. Remember, the difference between downloads and streams is that streams track how much folks play a song, not just buy a song. […]
Read the full transcript with a Pod Engine plan.
See plansWho has been a guest on Big Lives
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
- David Remnick
- BA Parker
- George Takei
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.1 / 5
- 131 ratings
- Spotify
- 4.1 / 5
- 75 ratings
Contact Big Lives
- Guest appearances
- Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Shows with a similar audience
Questions about Big Lives
Who hosts Big Lives?
Emmanuel Dzotsi and Kai Wright host the show. Published by Pushkin Industries and BBC Studios.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Big Lives take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
10 of 25 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
Host of Big Lives?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show
Podcast research with Pod Engine