Famous and Gravy &#8211; Wondery | 14th Street Studios

NYT Obituary for James Van Der Beek

Asshole for Hire — James Van Der Beek for Funny or Die

Castle in the Sky (1986) — Studio Ghibli

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James Van Der Beek gave Famous & Gravy its name for a category. In this special tribute episode, Michael Osborne and co-host Sarah Murphy remember the Dawson's Creek star not as a punchline but as a person: a self-aware kid who knew what he wanted at 15, a reluctant internet icon who leaned into the memes with humor and grace, an adopted Texan who found peace on a ranch with six kids and a gratitude that came through in his final videos. RIP Category retires the Vanderbeek and replaces it with the Pitch at the Pearly Gates — and makes the case that James Van Der Beek, at 48, had lived a genuinely good life.

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F&G is relaunching! May 27, 2026

Show notes

After a hiatus, Famous & Gravy is coming back! In this episode, Michael Osborne shares what’s been happening behind the scenes, why the show took a pause, and what’s changing moving forward. We’ll have a new weekly release schedule, experimental off-format episodes, and the launch of full-length video episodes for the first time.

Michael also talks candidly about the future of the show, the evolution of the format, and why listener feedback has become more important than ever.

Then, in the second half of the episode, Michael also reads a new essay written for Podcast Review called Your Favorite Podcast Host Is Probably in Recovery. It’s an exploration of why so many influential podcast voices come from recovery communities, and what that might reveal about intimacy, vulnerability, storytelling, and the medium itself.

The print version of the essay is here:

https://podcastreview.org/essay/your-favorite-podcast-host-is-probably-in-recovery/

As always, please write it you want to participate in the opening quiz: hello@famousandgravy.com

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How to Bring Famous & Gravy Back, with Arielle Nissenblatt Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Michael shares an update on the hiatus and what’s next for Famous & Gravy. After the update, there's a backstage conversation with Arielle Nissenblatt (Head of Community & Content at Pinwheel; founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective; Podcast Hall of Fame inductee) who offered to audit the show and talk through what’s working, what’s unclear to first-time listeners, and where the biggest growth levers might be. A podcast is a theater: you can build the stage, but you also need a lobby and a backstage. If you have thoughts on what the Famous & Gravy “lobby” or “backstage” could look like—or you want to offer feedback by email or a listener call, we'd would love to hear from you.

Contact

michael@famousandgravy.com

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Your Feedback Requested Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

We’re pausing production of the show, and need YOU to help us improve Famous & Gravy.

Link to our anonymous short survey: https://forms.gle/8rHVzfLL3RQU75kr6

Michael’s email to schedule a 1:1 call: michael@famousandgravy.com

SOCIALS for Public comment:

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Mountain Boy (John Denver) Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

This person died in 1997 at age 53. He was born in Roswell, New Mexico, the son of an Air Force pilot who later taught him to fly. He enrolled at Texas Tech in 1961 to study architecture, performed at coffeehouses, then dropped out and moved to Los Angeles, where he adopted a stage name. His first wife once said, “If you listen to his songs, there’s a lot of loneliness there. I don’t think he ever really got how much people loved him.” In songs like Take Me Home, Country Roads, Sunshine on My Shoulders, and Rocky Mountain High, he captured a rural American ideal built on nature, beauty, and unwavering devotion. Today’s dead celebrity is John Denver.

If you liked this episode, you might also like Episode 100 Divine Neighbor (Fred Rogers) or or Episode 99 Crikey Inner Child (Steve Irwin).

LINKS:

NYT Obituary for John Denver

John Denver testifies before Congress

Rocky Mountain High, Live at Red Rocks 1974

John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together

People Magazine retrospective, How Did John Denver Die?

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Singer-songwriter John Denver gets the full Famous & Gravy treatment in this biography-driven podcast episode, exploring the stories behind “Rocky Mountain High,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” and more. We dig into his nature-connected songwriting, environmental activism, battles with fame and depression, PMRC censorship testimony, Muppet cameos, and a Dumb & Dumber joke to ask a bigger question: would you actually want John Denver’s life?

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Beloved Light (Toni Morrison) Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

This person died in 2019, age 88. Her father was a shipyard welder who took such pride in his work that, according to many accounts of her life, when he finished a perfect seam, he would write his initials on it—hidden in the skeleton of the ship. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Howard University with a major in English and a minor in classics in 1953, she earned a master’s in English from Cornell in 1955. In 1958 she married an architect from Jamaica, but they divorced in 1964. Her novels appeared regularly on the New York Times bestseller list, were featured multiple times on Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club, and became the subject of countless critical studies. Today’s dead celebrity is Toni Morrison.

If you liked this episode, you might also like Episode 119 Hungry Ghost (Anthony Bourdain) or Episode 118 Frizzy Fitness (Richard Simmons).

LINKS:

NYT Obituary for Toni Morrison

Charlie Rose interview (1993): Morrison on race as a mental construct

Bill Moyers conversation with Toni Morrison on “Master Narrative” (1980s)

Toni Morrison’s Nobel Lecture (1993)

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Toni Morrison reshaped the American story. In this episode of Famous & Gravy, Michael Osborne and guest host Kiely Walter reflect on the Nobel Laureate’s journey from editor to author, from imposter syndrome to self-love. They discuss her concept of the “master narrative,” her wisdom as a mother and teacher, and her understanding that goodness is more interesting than evil. Drawing from archival interviews and intimate conversation, Beloved Light asks what Morrison’s life teaches us about wholeness, grace, and the stories that set us free.

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Rolling Thunder (James Earl Jones) Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

This person died in 2024, age 93. He started out in destitute days working in a diner and living in a $19-a-month cold-water flat. He collected Tonys, Golden Globes, Emmys, Kennedy Center Honors, and an Honorary Academy Award. He once appeared in 18 plays in 30 months, often made a half-dozen films a year, alongside his TV work – and he did it for half a century. He was a bear of a man—six-foot-two with a barrel chest, large head, and emotional fire. He did voiceover work in the original Star Wars trilogy and in The Lion King. Today’s dead celebrity is James Earl Jones.

If you liked this episode, you might also like Episode 87 Simply the Best (Tina Turner), Episode 101 Soul Queen (Aretha Franklin), or Episode 95 Total Consciousness (Harold Ramis).

LINKS:

NYT Obituary for James Earl Jones

Kurt Vonnegut letter read by James Earl Jones (Letters Live, 2018)

James Earl Jones A&E Biography

The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror — “The Raven”

James Earl Jones counts to 10 on Sesame Street (1969)

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