From Brooke Shields to The Beatles, we’ve rounded up the best podcasts to give you the inside scoop on your favorite stars.
Stars, they’re just like us: It’s a phrase as old as the tabloids. But that adage might make you raise an eyebrow when you’re scrolling past conspicuously spotless celebrity kitchens and “no makeup selfies” that would have you believe some women were born without pores. But stars have insecurities, regrets, and big life questions just like the rest of us…and some of them are eager to talk. From Shannen Doherty to Paul McCartney, Hollywood heavy hitters have found a favorite new way to connect with fans: podcasting. It’s no surprise that celebrities are a lot more relatable when you take away the stress of having to look perfect on camera or playing to a live audience. So if you want to get to know your favorite famous folks beyond the silver screen, all you have to do is open your podcast app.
Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty
Anyone who owned a television set in the 1990s knows Shannen Doherty as Brenda Walsh, the fun, rebellious teen queen from Beverly Hills, 90210. But the hit drama wasn’t Doherty’s first foray into acting — at just 11 years old she starred as Jenny Wilder in Little House on the Prairie, and has spent her entire life in the public eye.
Since Doherty grew up in the spotlight, it’s no surprise to Doherty to see her triumphs and trials splashed among the tabloid headlines. But at 52, Doherty is finally ready to talk about her life in her own words. In her new podcast Let’s Be Clear, Doherty opens up about everything from childhood stardom to dating in the public eye to the end of an 11-year marriage. She’s also getting candid about her ongoing cancer battle. In 2015, Doherty was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, and earlier this year she shared that her cancer had spread to her bones and brain. Let’s Be Clear is Doherty at her most vulnerable, and the result is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Now What? With Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields has lived one of the most interesting lives in show business. She’s also had to grapple with the media’s insistence on placing her in a box: as an underage sex symbol, a virginal role model, or an uptight college grad. It took decades for Shields to chart her course in Hollywood, and life has thrown her dozens of curveballs. On more than one occasion, she’s found herself asking, “Now what?”
In her new podcast, Shields is on a mission to learn how others have coped with their own “now what” moments. In conversation with celebrities, newsmakers, and authors, Shields is asking some big questions to some big people to find out how life’s major moments shape who we are today.
Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon
If you follow Kevin Bacon on Instagram, you’re probably already taken with Bacon. From sharing his excitement over his homegrown vegetables to showing off his dancing skills with wife Kyra Sedgwick, the Footloose star approaches even the most mundane activities with adorable delight. So when news came out that he would be starting a podcast, we were as delighted as Bacon riding the subway on Thanksgiving.
The premise is this: Bacon interviews celebrity guests about their favorite charities, and what inspires them to give back. It’s a subject close to Bacon’s heart: In 2007, Bacon capitalized on the viral parlor game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon (a play on the six degrees of separation theory, but instead picking a Hollywood star at random and connecting them back to Kevin Bacon) to form his own nonprofit. Called Six Degrees, the organization “connects people to resources, shares stories, and amplifies causes to make the greatest possible impact in communities.” In the podcast, Bacon shares the joy he’s gotten from making a positive impact in the world, and explores what has inspired others to do the same.
McCartney: A Life In Lyrics
When The Beatles burst onto the scene in the 1960s, they changed both music and pop culture forever. What is it about the band that still resonates with millions of fans, and how did they write the music that turned them into a global sensation? Now’s your chance to find out. In this fascinating new podcast, McCartney: A Life in Lyrics Paul McCartney shares the inspiration behind The Beatles’ most beloved songs and offers a glimpse into the mind of a musical genius.
