Tough Cookie: The Wally “Famous” Amos Story
Claim This Podcastby Vanity Fair
Podcast Overview
<p>Tough Cookie: The Wally “Famous” Amos Story, named the Tribeca Festival’s 2025 Nonfiction Audio Storytelling Award winner, tells the story of a Black pop-culture icon and cookie mogul, through his booms and busts spanning the American century, from the perspective of his daughter, Sarah Amos. <br> <br>Famous Amos was an overnight hit, leading to a life of glamour, prestige, and cookies for Wally and his family—for a while. But all the charisma and fame in the world couldn’t save Wally from a string of bad business decisions and a family fractured by his choices. <br><br></p><p>From Vanity Fair, this six-part series unravels decades of family drama—alternately hilarious and heartbreaking—against a backdrop of ’70s and ’80s pop-culture nostalgia while asking the question: Can you ever really escape your family’s past?</p><p><br></p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/15/2025
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Recent Episodes
December 19, 2025
Holiday Bonanza! Cookie Q&A and A Very Dickens Christmas
Enjoy this episode from our friends at Milk Street Radio! We answer your calls with Vaughn Vreeland (of New York Times Cookie Week fame) to help you bake the best cookies of the season; historian Pen Vogler breaks down classic Christmas dishes featured in Charles Dickens’ stories, from turkey to plum pudding; author Kat Lieu shares her recipe for Old-Fashioned Cantonese Shortbread; and reporter Mackenzie Martin shares the true story of a Wisconsin holiday tradition, the wildcat sandwich.
November 26, 2025
Legacy Is a Tricky Thing
The final chapter of Wally Amos’s life (and this podcast) begins with him quite literally on the run back to Hawaii and sets up a series of painful battles for host Sarah Amos and her family. As Sarah navigates the struggles so many face with an aging parent, she is finally forced to reckon with a father and life she had managed to avoid unpacking at all costs. Will the Amos family be able to come together to say goodbye to the charismatic figure at the center of it all, and will Sarah find the answers she was searching for when she started this journey?
November 19, 2025
When a Cookie Crumbles
As Wally Amos continues to chase the fading fame from his Famous Amos days, he drifts farther and farther away from those who know him best, including host Sarah Amos, his daughter. New wives, new cookie companies, and new schemes to win back his fame create a version of her dad from which Sarah does her best to run. But to Sarah’s surprise, it's Wally who makes the much more dramatic escape. New episodes every Wednesday.
8 total episodes available with 6 transcripts
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Tough Cookie: The Wally “Famous” Amos Story?
<p>Tough Cookie: The Wally “Famous” Amos Story, named the Tribeca Festival’s 2025 Nonfiction Audio Storytelling Award winner, tells the story of a Black pop-culture icon and cookie mogul, through his booms and busts spanning the American century, from the perspective of his daughter, Sarah Amos. <br> <br>Famous Amos was an overnight hit, leading to a life of glamour, prestige, and cookies for Wally and his family—for a while. But all the charisma and fame in the world couldn’t save Wally from a string of bad business decisions and a family fractured by his choices. <br><br></p><p>From Vanity Fair, this six-part series unravels decades of family drama—alternately hilarious and heartbreaking—against a backdrop of ’70s and ’80s pop-culture nostalgia while asking the question: Can you ever really escape your family’s past?</p><p><br></p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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