Episode Details

Michael Jackson became the King of Pop before he was ever allowed to be ordinary. This episode traces Michael Jackson from the Jackson 5 and Motown to Off the Wall, Thriller, MTV, the moonwalk and Neverland, following the talent, pressure and isolation behind one of music’s most famous lives.

We begin with Joe Jackson, childhood pressure and the Jackson family home, then follow the breakout voice that made the Jackson 5 a Motown phenomenon. From there, the story moves through Off the Wall, Thriller, Billie Jean and the moonwalk, as Michael becomes a global icon and one of modern culture’s defining historical figures.

But this is also a dark history of image, control and fame: the Pepsi burn, changing public perceptions, Neverland Ranch, and the first Jordan Chandler allegations that mark the moment everything turns. For listeners of biography podcasts, music scandals, pop culture scandals, hidden histories and strange true stories, Michael Jackson’s rise is dazzling, uncomfortable and impossible to separate from what came next.

Topics Include 

• Joe Jackson, childhood pressure, and the Jackson family home
• The Jackson 5, Motown, and Michael’s breakout voice
• Off the Wall, Thriller, MTV, and the moonwalk
• The Pepsi burn, image changes, and Neverland
• Jordan Chandler and the moment everything turns

Resources and Further Reading 

• Michael Jackson - Encyclopaedia Britannica
• The Jackson 5 - Motown Museum
• Michael Jackson - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
• Pepsi fire left Michael Jackson in pain - Los Angeles Times

Host & Show Info 

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• Intro Music:Alice in dark Wonderland

Community & Calls to Action 

• Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
• Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
• Website: TheCompendiumPodcast.com
• Support us: Sign up to Patreon
• We’re Hiring: Find the perfect job at the circus

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Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland

Community & Calls to Action

• Review & follow on: Spotify &