Legacy
Original Legacy Productions
Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan tell the wild stories of some of the most extraordinary men and women ever to have lived – and ask whether they have the rep they deserve. Should Nina Simone’s role in the civil rights movement be more celebrated than it is? When you find out what Picasso got up to in his studio, can you still admire his art? Was Napoleon a hero or a tyrant - or both? (And, while we’re at it, was he even short?) Legacy is the show that looks at big lives from the perspective of now – and doesn’t always like what it sees. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 30, 2024 • 41min
Cleopatra | A Taste for Betrayal | 1
Cleopatra's luxuriously violent rise to power, betrayal by close allies, controversial portrayal as a black woman, origins in vibrant Alexandria, political maneuverings in Rome, and power struggles with Mark Antony amidst growing tensions between Rome and Egypt.
Apr 23, 2024 • 33min
Alan Turing | A Forgotten Hero | 4
Alan Turing’s life is tragically cut short. And his crucial impact during the war remains unknown for years. But in the 21st century, his legacy in Artificial Intelligence is more relevant than ever and so is his identity as a queer man. How should we reassess the legacy of Alan Turing? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 16, 2024 • 36min
Alan Turing | Illegal Love | 3
Alan Turing, the renowned British mathematician and computer scientist, is featured in this episode discussing his post-war life and struggles with societal acceptance of his sexual orientation. Topics include Turing's pioneering work on the ACE machine, innovations in computing and memory, his personal controversies, trial for 'gross indecency', and the practice of chemical castration. The episode delves into Turing's resilience in the face of adversity while seeking normalcy post-trial.
Apr 9, 2024 • 48min
Alan Turing | Cracking the Code | 2
Join Alan Turing, the renowned codebreaker, as he navigates the challenges of decrypting Nazi messages during WWII at Bletchley Park. Explore the eccentricities of Turing, the importance of cracking the Enigma code, and the significant role of codebreakers in shortening the war.
Apr 2, 2024 • 52min
Alan Turing | An Awkward Genius | 1
A curious bookish boy, Alan Turing is already an outsider at a young age. But at Cambridge, he comes up with an idea that shapes the foundation of computer science. His genius will later alter the course of the Second World War. But Turing's personal life will destroy his reputation for generations to come. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 27, 2024 • 37min
Nina Simone | Rebirth | 4
The tide is turning for Nina Simone. A new generation falls in love with her music, she's reconciled with her daughter and her mental health has recovered. But alongside the civil rights movement, Nina's significance as an activist is forgotten until recent events in the US give them new relevance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 20, 2024 • 40min
Nina Simone | Breakdown | 3
Amidst marital and financial problems, Nina escapes the US for an eclectic life abroad - finding love in Barbados, happiness in Liberia, and a better education for her daughter in Switzerland. But mental health struggles soon come to the fore and before soon Nina Simone will reach a new low. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 13, 2024 • 48min
Nina Simone | To Be Young, Gifted and Black | 2
Nina Simone's star is rising - however cracks in her personal life are starting to show. Meanwhile, the civil rights movement is catching up with her. Where does she stand in the midst of this? And will she be on the right side of history? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 6, 2024 • 49min
Nina Simone | The Road to Carnegie Hall | 1
Born in the Jim Crow South, Nina Simone's talent is obvious from an early age. She dreams of becoming the first black classical pianist but after a life-changing rejection, she has no choice but to reinvent herself... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 28, 2024 • 38min
Gorbachev | The Man Who Lost an Empire | 4
Under Gorbachev's leadership the once sprawling empire that was the Soviet Union collapses. Is this his true legacy? Or was it all inevitable? And with present day Russia looking to the past for glory, what lessons can we learn from history's last Soviet leader? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
