A Life Lived

Whitney Houston’s life is a story of victory over adversity.  Of love and heartache. Of regeneration after decimation. This gospel queen escaped the ghetto and lived out her dream - but fairytales don’t always have happy endings.  Stephanie Okupniak is joined by singer-songwriter Gordon Chambers and backing singer Sy Smith for a journey through Whitney’s life. In part one, we find out how a young...

Whitney Houston’s life is a story of victory over adversity.  Of love and heartache. Of regeneration after decimation. This gospel queen escaped the ghetto and lived out her dream - but fairytales don’t always have happy endings.  Stephanie Okupniak is joined by singer-songwriter Gordon Chambers and backing singer Sy Smith for a journey through Whitney’s life. In part two, we see what happens when...

Rambling troubadour. Strumming vagabond.  An American treasure. Rock and roll icon Tom Petty is forever Free Fallin’. From rural Florida to the bright lights of Hollywood, Stephanie Okupniak takes us on a journey through Tom’s life alongside his good friend, record promoter Jon Scott.

B.B. King is  the blues.  The musical giant performed with everyone from rockstars to presidents through the decades - and provided the soundtrack to 20th century America - all with his beloved Lucille by his side.  Stephanie Okupniak honours the life of this Beale Street icon with the help of his daughter Shirley King, former drummer Tony Coleman and close friend Chris Clouser. 

What would you be willing to give up to be famous?   George Michael gave his fans songs they will sing for the rest of their lives - but he had to live a lie for decades. Stephanie Okupniak is joined by his friend and manager Rob Kahane and publicist Phil Lobel to shine a spotlight on his life. In part two, we find out how George was inspired by love and loss to create some of his most iconic trac...

What would you be willing to give up to be famous?   George Michael gave his fans songs they will sing for the rest of their lives - but he had to live a lie for decades. Stephanie Okupniak is joined by his friend and manager Rob Kahane and publicist Phil Lobel to shine a spotlight on his life. In part one, we explore how George transitioned from boyband heartthrob to a chart-topping solo phenom -...

Lemmy lived life in the fast lane.  The heavy metal pioneer rewrote the history books - fueled by speed, cigarettes and a bottle of Jack.  Stephanie Okupinak takes a deep dive into the rock god's life with the help of journalist Morat and writer Steffan Chirazi. 

Prince was more than pop royalty - he was an artist, a trailblazer, a pioneer and a symbol - literally .  Stephanie Okupniak talks to his studio engineer Susan Rogers and mega fan and biographer Matt Thorne to see what it’s like to work and play with a legend.

Imagine fleeing a cult at four to become a movie star by 14. River Phoenix was more than an 80’s heartthrob. He was a musician, a vegan, an environmental activist and an Oscar nominee.  Stephanie Okupniak is joined by director William Richert and family friend Josh Greenbaum to talk about the echo River left behind.

A Life Lived is back Monday November 2nd. Stephanie Okupniak talks to friends and family members of icons to find out what their lives were like behind the curtain. Find out how Prince supported the Black Lives matter movement and why Margot Kidder was arrested outside the White House in Series 2. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify - or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Introducing the newest Audioboom original podcast, Truth vs Hollywood. Join cinephiles David Chen and Joanna Robinson as they do a deep dive into well known films and discuss how similar they are to the actual story.  •  Truth vs Hollywood premieres June 12th •  subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Carrie Fisher is best known for her role as Star Wars' iconic feminist hero Princess Leia. But before she ruled over Alderaan, she grew up here on earth as Beverly Hills royalty. In the spotlight her whole life, Carrie battled demons, family feuds, drug addiction and bipolar disorder - all while navigating a successful Hollywood career. Through turbulent relationships and personal heartache her re...

Kurt Cobain was one of the most iconic rock stars of all time. A reluctant spokesperson for a generation, this boy from a broken home would change the face of rock music forever.  After the raw energy, but moderate success of their debut Bleach, nobody could have predicted the world conquering phenomenon that was Nirvana's Nevermind. Its success would weigh heavily on Cobain. From fights with Axl...

Harold Ramis could do it all. Actor, comedian, director, writer. This Ghostbuster has had an undeniable influence on generations of comedians, comedy writers, actors and singers - a lasting legacy for a man who started off as a grocery bagger in his family's store in Chicago. Join Stephanie Okupniak as she gets to the heart of one of the industry's most beloved stars with the help of Harold's daug...

Alexander McQueen was one of the most striking, controversial and talented designers of his generation.  But how did a taxi driver's son from Lewisham become a four-time 'British Designer of the Year' and attract the following of stars from Lady Gaga to Kate Moss. Join Stephanie Okupniak and authors Andrew Wilson and Dana Thomas to hear the story of the boy who swapped life in a council house for...

Aretha Franklin is the undisputed Queen of Soul. Join Stephanie Okupniak as we find out how a preacher's daughter who was raised by the church would go on to become the voice of a generation - and winner of 18 Grammy Awards in a remarkable career which spanned six decades. Documentary film producer Tirrell D. Whitley and newscaster & journalist Evrod Cassimy shine a light on the life of the mu...

George Romero isn't affectionately known as the Father of the Zombie film for nothing. Join Stephanie Okupniak and enter the mind of the horror movie legend - who started with a love for comics and gore & went on to become one of the genre's most iconic directors. Filmmaker John Harrison takes us through the life of his pioneering mentor, friend and collaborator. We couldn't make this show wit...

Bill Paxton was one of Hollywood's most beloved actors - a true southern gentlemen; adored by friends and peers.  Join Stephanie Okupniak to discover how Bill Paxton went from painting sets with James Cameron to starring in the legendary Director's biggest movies.  So stop your grinning and drop your linen to spend to time with co-stars Paul Reiser, Mark Rolston and Jenette Goldstein as they share...

The origin story to end them all. Stan Lee's influence on modern culture is unquestionable, but how did a boy who lived in an apartment with one window develop an imagination that would wow the world? Join Stephanie Okupniak to discover how Stan Lee and his comic book creations conquered the world of cinema, one cameo at a time. Sandy Fries explains how it felt to have Stan as a boss and Lee's for...

Tupac Shakur is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Born Lesane Parish Crooks, his mother would rename him Tupac at the age of one - he died at just 25, but during his short life he became the voice of a generation. Join Stephanie Okupniak and find out how Tupac Shakur went from hustling on street corners to conquering the world of rap. In this episode documentary maker and...

Joan Rivers was a conquistador of comedy. She spoke her mind and spoke from the heart and it took this blonde bombshell from housewife to household name. Her life saw as much tragedy as it did comedy, but at every turn Joan Rivers found a way to keep laughing.  Join Stephanie Okupniak to discover the tale of how this daughter of Russian immigrants conquered the world of comedy.  In this episode yo...

One of the biggest selling and most influential music stars of the last 50 years, David Bowie left an indelible mark on the musical landscape. His androgynous looks, shifting alter-egos and his outstanding catalogue of groundbreaking music, cemented him as a true artist, right to his deathbed. Join Stephanie Okupniak and Bowie's friend and fellow singer Dana Gillespie to discover the amazing journ...

Anthony Bourdain's breakthrough as a world-renowned chef first came from his writing about cooking, not his cooking itself. If you've ever read one of his bestselling books, you'll know why. His humour, his depth of knowledge and his incredible honesty not only helped Bourdain sell millions of books, it also brought him to the attention of TV executives, looking for a different way to talk about c...

The name's Bond. James Bond...the role as the world's most famous spy was made for Sir Roger Moore - the very epitome of suave sophistication. But how did a policeman's son from London, England grow to play one of the most iconic roles in cinema?  Join Stephanie Okupniak and discover the man behind the golden gun. In this episode you'll hear from Sir Roger's daughter Deborah on why there is so muc...

Muhammad Ali was 'The Greatest'. In or out of the ring, Ali was a force of nature. From refusing the draft to becoming the heavyweight champion of the world at just 22, Ali lived his life without fear. In this episode you'll hear from Muhammad Ali's daughter Hana about her father's playful side and his love of life (and women!), alongside Sky Sports Boxing correspondent Johnny Nelson on what made...