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Inside the Michael Jackson legacy industrial complex

The Jackson family and estate have joined forces to give us another biopic of Michael Jackson’s life. Michael doesn’t tell us anything new about the King of Pop, but it has had the biggest opening weekend of a music biopic ever. From Whitney Houston to Freddie Mercury, why do these posthumous biopics always seem to fall flat, and what do decades of Jackson family drama say about how we reckon with the complicated figures in pop culture and our own lives? Brittany talks with Aisha Harris, critic and co-host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, to find out.

Want more deep dives on the legacies of pop culture icons? Check out these episodes:
Jesse Jackson & the end of the civil rights superhero
Marilyn Monroe was more than just ‘Blonde’

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How to be a “Super Ager” (it’s not your genes)

From peptides and protein, to sleep hygiene and vaccines, what actually helps you age well? Physician Eric Topol breaks down the science — and the myths — of longevity and anti-aging.

TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper conversations with Manoush. By signing up for Plus, you directly support our work and public media, so all your episodes (like this one!) come to you without sponsor breaks. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted.

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New Music Friday: The best albums out May 1

Kacey Musgraves. American Football. Tori Amos. NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson chats with Jewly Hight from WPLN in Nashville about their favorite albums out Friday, May 1. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Kacey Musgraves, ‘Middle of Nowhere’
(08:41) American Football, ‘American Football (LP4)’
(16:25) Isaiah Rashad, ‘IT’S BEEN AWFUL’
(21:42) Tori Amos, ‘In Times of Dragons’
(28:09) Ana Roxanne, ‘Poem 1’

(33:38) The Lightning Round

– Jesca Hoop, ‘Long Wave Home’
– Casper Sage, ‘PATINA’
– duendita, ‘existential thottie’
– Maisy Owen, ‘Dark on a Sunny Day’
– Octo Octa, ‘Sigils For Survival’

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Jewly Hight, WPLN
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Ann Powers and Hazel Cills

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