
Famous and Gravy
We explore the lives of notable people who’ve just died—celebrities, icons, cultural figures—and asks what their stories can teach us about ourselves. It’s part obituary podcast, part biography, and part existential detective work.Think you know everything about some of modern history’s most recognizable figures? We’re Amit and Michael, two pop culture enthusiasts who upend your assumptions about the iconic and the famous. Because that’s where you find the “gravy” – the rich, flavorful sauce that brings out the best parts of the dish that is life.Each episode we’ll put the lives of recently deceased celebrities under the microscope to consider the not-so-obvious ways these icons of culture left their impact and imprint on modern history. It’s a hilarious and fresh perspective on the celebrities you thought you knew.Listen to episodes of Famous & Gravy early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/famous-and-gravy/ now.
Latest episodes

Jun 15, 2022 • 51min
Hungarian Socialite (Zsa Zsa Gabor original)
This person died in 2016 at age 99. She appeared as a nightclub manager in Orson Welles’ 1958 “Touch of Evil”, and the same year as a sexy alien in “Queen of Outer Space”. She appeared on scores of talk shows, game shows, comedy specials, and episodic dramas. In 1989, she was arrested for slapping a police officer. She was married at least eight times, and called everyone “Dahlink.” Today’s dead celebrity is Zsa Zsa Gabor. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Zsa Zsa GaborDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 1, 2022 • 59min
Florida Man (Tom Petty)
This person died in 2017 at age 66. There was a scrappy defiance in his career choices. He melded California rock with a deep Southern heritage to produce a long string of durable hits. He played the Super Bowl halftime show in 2008. His songs were staples of rock radio for decades, with hits like “Refugee”, “Free Fallin”, and “Into the Great Wide Open”. Today’s dead celebrity is Tom Petty.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Tom PettyDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 18, 2022 • 1h 1min
Notorious Dissenter (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
This person died in 2020 at age 87. She once said her writing style was partly inspired by Vladimir Nabokov, who she studied literature under at Cornell. In the mid 2010s, she became an internet sensation. She was barely five feet tall and weighed around 100 pounds. She was the second woman to serve on the Supreme court and a pioneering advocate for women's rights. Today’s dead celebrity is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Ruth Bader GinsburgDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 4, 2022 • 1h 4min
Singing Mailman (John Prine original)
This person died in 2020 at age 73. He was a relative unknown in 1970 when Kris Kristofferson first heard him play one night at a Chicago club. Roger Ebert, the film critic, wrote an early review of him with the headline “Singing Mailman Who Delivers a Powerful Message in a Few Words.” He won a Grammy for best new artist in 1972, and again in 2020 for Lifetime Achievement. Today’s dead celebrity is John Prine.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for John PrineJohn Prine official website‘John Prine’s Perfect Songs’ in the New Yorker‘John Prine Isn’t Counting the Time’ from The RingerVideo for ‘When I Get to Heaven’Kacey Musgraves sings “Burn One with John Prine” liveDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 20, 2022 • 1h 1min
Darling's Critic (Roger Ebert)
The person died in 2013 at age 70. The force and grace of his opinions propelled him into the mainstream of American culture. He went on two dates with Oprah Winfrey. In 1975 he became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize. He had multiple operations for cancer and eventually lost his ability to eat, drink and speak. His thumbs-up-or-down approach drew scorn from some critics, who said it trivialized film criticism. Today’s dead celebrity is Roger Ebert. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Roger EbertDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 13, 2022 • 1h 3min
Modest Moonwalker (Neil Armstrong)
This person died in 2012 at age 82. His most famous moment lasted 2 hours and 19 minutes. He was a quiet, private man, and at heart an engineer. He was part of a mission that capped a tumultuous and consequential decade. On July 20th, 1969, he said “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Today’s dead celebrity is Neil Armstrong. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Neil ArmstrongDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 6, 2022 • 59min
Quintessential Quizmaster (Alex Trebek)
This person died in 2020 at age 80. He won six Emmys and a lifetime achievement award. He ran a leg of the Olympic torch relay in advance of the 1996 Games in Atlanta. He was an authoritative and unflappable fixture for millions of Americans. He had impeccable diction, and had a friendly rivalry with Pat Sajak. He hosted “Jeopardy!” for a record-setting 37 years. Today’s dead celebrity is Alex Trebek.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Alex TrebekWashington Post Obituary for Alex TrebekDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 30, 2022 • 58min
Cocaine Soccer God (Diego Maradona)
This person died in 2020 at age 60. FIFA, soccer’s governing body, voted him and Pelé the sport’s two greatest players of the century. He led Argentina to win a legendary World Cup in 1986, scoring one of history’s most controversial goals and one of its most celebrated in the span of four minutes during a quarterfinals match. His ability to surprise and startle developed a darker edge as he became addicted to cocaine. After he retired from playing soccer, his thick musculature bloated into unhealthy corpulence. Today’s dead celebrity is Diego Maradona. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Diego MaradonaVideo of Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal from 1986 World Cup QuarterfinalsMaradona’s “Goal of the Century” in the same game“The Two Sides of Diego Maradona” article from The RingerTrailer for HBO’s “Diego Maradona” documentary on IMDBList of 6 Great Films & TV Series about Diego MaradonaDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 23, 2022 • 1h
Dimpled Ambassador (Shirley Temple original)
This person died in 2014 at age 85. In the 1930s, she was a determined child actress who sang and tap-danced her way to the height of Hollywood stardom. In 1972 she held a news conference in her hospital room after her mastectomy, encouraging women discovering breast lumps to not be afraid. She was the United States ambassador to Ghana from 1974 to 1976, and to Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992. Today’s dead celebrity is Shirley Temple Black. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Shirley Temple BlackDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 16, 2022 • 51min
Stubbled Pop Star (George Michael)
This person died in 2016 at age 53. He was a handsome, smiling teen-pop idol making lighthearted singles like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” then arriving as a grown-up pop sex symbol with his 1987 album “Faith.” He was the most-played performer on British radio from 1984 to 2004. In 1998 he came out as gay. Today’s dead celebrity is George Michael.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for George MichaelDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.