Best Hemlock Creatives Podcasts (2024)

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S23E12: Lena Horne 1:47:45

7h ago1:47:45

1:47:45

Hollywood legend Lena Horne changed what was possible for African-Americans performers in America. After a difficult childhood, she found a key ally in her father, who made clear to studio head Louis B. Mayer that he could hire a maid for his daughter - she would not need to play one on screen. Alternating between Hollywood, which was depressing be…

1
78. Grace O'Malley, Ireland's Pirate Queen 50:52

1h ago50:52

50:52

A century and a half before the "Golden Age of Piracy," an Irish woman of noble birth was conquering the inland seas and coastlines on the western edge of the island. Gráinne Ó Máille, anglicized to Grace O'Malley, hailed from the Umhaill line, a seafaring clan of Connacht, and while the family did conduct legitimate forms of trade, they also ran p…

1
184. A Glenconner Getaway | Part Two 47:07

3h ago47:07

47:07

We are still all aboard this journey with Dominick Dunne to the 60th birthday party of 3rd Lord Glenconner, Colin Tennant, with all the family. In this second part, we meet up with Princess Margaret, Raquel Welch, and a few other folks with some strong opinions when the American boat sallies up next to the Wind Star. Once the journey is over, there…

1
183. A Glenconner Getaway | Part One 44:51

20m ago44:51

44:51

We are taking a voyage this week with Dominick Dunne, who is attending the 60th birthday party bash of Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner at the end of 1986. Colin had a great party the decade before and Princess Margaret is no stranger to the party time hedonistic time happening on the island. Dunne attends this celebration, but this is not Nick’…

1
S23E11: Dumpster Dive | Dave Grohl, Tori Spelling, Britney Spears, Ben Affleck & JLo, Jon Bon Jovi, Oasis, Justin Timberlake, and Donald Trump Affair Rumors 1:21:33

8d ago1:21:33

1:21:33

Every so often, we like to take a beat to catch up with some of our exes in a show format we call Dumpster Dive! We do these weekly on Patreon, but in this super expanded mama-jama main feed edition, we bring you the latest in celebrity scandals from TD alums and beyond. This week, we take a look at Dave Grohl's disappointing baby drama (and some i…

1
77. The Difficult Sister | Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowden 1:29:12

1d ago1:29:12

1:29:12

When Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926, there were years of her childhood that were, compared to other future monarchs, quite normal. After all, she was never supposed to be the Queen. Her father was a second son; her Uncle David would succeed her grandfather, and certainly other male children would come along. And then, in 1930, Elizabeth's pare…

1
182. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowden | A Trashy Royals Crossover 1:29:27

1d ago1:29:27

1:29:27

When Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926, there were years of her childhood that were, compared to other future monarchs, quite normal. After all, she was never supposed to be the Queen. Her father was a second son; her Uncle David would succeed her grandfather, and certainly other male children would come along. And then, in 1930, Elizabeth's pare…

1
181. Dunne's Redemption in Los Angeles 55:05

9d ago55:05

55:05

In this episode, we take Dominick Dunne through many decades of his turbulent career, and get our man Nick redeemed in the Hollywood scene in the mid-1990s. Dunne knew the Bloomingdales and the Reagans socially back in his Hollywood halcyon days in the 1960s, but was most certainly booted out of their circle by his 1970s downfall. With the publicat…

1
S23E10: The Darmstadt Divorce | Ernest Louis and Princess Victoria Melita (Trashy Royals Crossover) 1:40:10

5d ago1:40:10

1:40:10

We've noticed a lack of royal divorce stories since we kicked off our sibling podcast Trashy Royals more than a year ago now (!). Today, Alicia is bridging that gap by bringing together - and busting apart - two of Queen Victoria's grandchildren. Yes, the long tradition of royal cousins getting hitched. These are Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse an…

1
76. Royal Family Feud: Charlemagne's Great-Grandkids & Pope Stephen VI's Cadaver Synod (ft. Pope Formosus) 37:10

8d ago37:10

37:10

Charlemagne, The Father of Europe, died in the year 814 and left only one surviving son to take the helm of the Carolingian Empire, which spanned the lion's share of the European continent. But his heir, Louis the Pious, had three sons, who each got a parcel of the empire when he died. Then those kings had children of their own, dividing the kingdo…

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180. A Nick in Crime | The Murder of Vicki Morgan, Alfred Bloomingdale’s Inconvenient Mistress 1:17:13

12d ago1:17:13

1:17:13

In this week’s episode, we take a journey to the second criminal case Dominick Dunne covered in his reporting for Vanity Fair. When Vicki Morgan was murdered in July 1983, it sent shockwaves through the political upper crust, as Vicki was the mistress of Alfred Bloomingdale, connected into the Reagan administration through the decades. Dominick Dun…

1
S23E9: Melissa Gilbert 56:49

12d ago56:49

56:49

Melissa Gilbert grew up in front of all of our eyes playing Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie, and she managed to avoid some of the pitfalls that beset other child stars. Then she met Rob Lowe, and America's Sweetheart started a whole new chapter. It's included two divorces - one trashy, one very much not trashy - and a whole lot …

1
75. Sultan Ibrahim the Mad of the Ottoman Empire 41:00

15d ago41:00

41:00

Content note: This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence and coercion that may not be appropriate for all listeners. Though only in power for eight years, the Ottoman Empire's Ibrahim the Mad made his own mark on history as a notoriously bad ruler, a sexual deviant, but also a bit of a fashion plate. He loved his furs and sparkly jewels.…

1
Introducing American Prankster: Wavy Gravy's Life Story 5:55

16d ago5:55

5:55

We are excited to share a show we're loving with you! American Prankster: Wavy Gravy's Life Story pairs the legendary entertainer and activist with our friend, podcaster Rainbow Valentine, following the incredible ride of a life that Wavy Gravy has been on through decades of American counterculture. Enjoy this sample, and subscribe wherever you lis…

1
Introducing American Prankster: Wavy Gravy's Life Story 5:55

21d ago5:55

5:55

We are excited to share a show we're loving with you! American Prankster: Wavy Gravy's Life Story pairs the legendary entertainer and activist with our friend, podcaster Rainbow Valentine, following the incredible ride of a life that Wavy Gravy has been on through decades of American counterculture. Enjoy this sample, and subscribe wherever you lis…

1
Introducing American Prankster: Wavy Gravy's Life Story 5:55

17d ago5:55

5:55

We are excited to share a show we're loving with you! American Prankster: Wavy Gravy's Life Story pairs the legendary entertainer and activist with our friend, podcaster Rainbow Valentine, following the incredible ride of a life that Wavy Gravy has been on through decades of American counterculture. Enjoy this sample, and subscribe wherever you lis…

1
179. Remembering Dominick Dunne 28:44

18d ago28:44

28:44

August 26 marks the 15 years since our man Nick’s passing in 2009, and this week, we honor him, his life and legacy. Dominick Dunne was fondly recalled by many – these are a few of the best stories about his life and impact, by Sean Elder and Jason Chaffee. Do you have a story to share about Dominick Dunne? Tell Alicia at doneanddunne@gmail.com. Al…

1
S23E8: Joan McCracken and Jack Dunphy 1:11:45

19d ago1:11:45

1:11:45

Dancer and actress Joan McCracken became one of America's biggest stars in the 1940s after her scene-stealing role in Oklahoma! as Sylvie, "The Girl Who Fell Down." In her real life, she was challenged by a secret diagnosis of diabetes in an era where management of the disease was complicated at best, and her marriage to fellow dancer Jack Dunphy -…

1
178. The Swan Song of Truman Capote 56:34

20d ago56:34

56:34

It's a double-up week here on Done and Dunne! In this first drop, we travel to the California home of Joanne Carson where Truman Capote spent his last days in August of 1984, forty years ago. Truman, infamous writer and collector of Swans, has some pretty epic stories in his last months, as told by his friends before his passing on August 25. Then,…

1
74. Empress Wu Zetian, China's Only Female Monarch 36:06

22d ago36:06

36:06

In its many thousands of years of history, China has had only one official ruling monarch who was a woman. Sure, there were powerful Empress Consorts who pulled the strings of weak Emperor husbands, but Empress Wu Zetian ambitiously, and ruthlessly, upended convention to claim the throne in her own name. Born to a prosperous and well-connected fami…

1
177. Roddy McDowall | A Fabulous Life and Friend To All 52:48

26d ago52:48

52:48

It is off to Old Hollywood this week, with the life and death of Roddy McDowall. Dominick Dunne was involved in both, and does he give a wonderful profile of his friend at this time of his passing in 1998. Roddy – legendary in Hollywood, not only for his prolific acting career, but also his photographs and very famous friendships. Roddy was the bes…

1
S23E7: Diana Ross and Berry Gordy 48:30

26d ago48:30

48:30

Diana Ross is rightly one of the biggest stars in the world, but her fortuitous proximity to Motown Records and its founder, Berry Gordy, and his obsession with her, supercharged the musical career of a girl who dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. Their romance may not have been long lasting, but it left carnage in its wake even as Diana's star…

1
73. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia, The Luckiest Romanov 1:14:37

29d ago1:14:37

1:14:37

As the Romanov era closed, some family members were more fortunate than others. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, youngest daughter of Tsar Alexander III and baby sister of the doomed Tsar Nicholas II, may be the most fortunate of the Romanov clan, escaping the country and living out a happy life in Denmark and Canada. Born into a large, loving, roy…

1
176. Elaine Young to Gig Young to Eugene Landy to Brian Wilson to Elizabeth Montgomery 39:27

1M ago39:27

39:27

This week, we are taking a little detour into the past in our investigation with a Not Dunne Yet bonus episode from many moons ago. Dominick Dunne really did interact with so many characters in his various acts, and this week we take our man Nick connecting a whole throughline of folks you might not know were connected. From Elaine Young to Gig You…

1
S23E6: Natalie Clifford Barney, Amazon Queen of Paris and Her Ladies Almanack Crew 1:47:00

1M ago1:47:00

1:47:00

All the televised sights from Paris lately put Alicia in a mood, so today she's got the incredible story of Natalie Clifford Barney, a leading light in the Parisian art world in the 19th century, and also a fearless out lesbian in a time when such a thing was inconceivable to most. American born, Natalie's story is fascinating on many levels, not l…

1
72. Ming Dynasty Emperors Hongwu, Yongle, and Zhengde 43:47

1M ago43:47

43:47

Most Americans have at least a basic sense of key elements of European history, but that's not necessarily true when it comes to places like China. And that's true for us, too. Today we take our first dive into China's extremely long history - 4,000 years by some accounts! - to meet three notably trashy emperors of the Ming Dynasty, which ruled Chi…

1
175. A Nick In Crime | The Manson Murders 1:04:45

1M ago1:04:45

1:04:45

Dominick Dunne did write about the murders of his friends Jay Sebring and Sharon Tate on that terrible weekend in August 1969. This is a weekend that would change everything in Hollywood, and our man Nick was on the scene, and has the story from all his friends, so connected into our ongoing investigation. Included: Robert Evans, Roman Polanski, Wa…

1
S23E5: Sondra Locke and Clint Eastwood 44:19

1M ago44:19

44:19

Once again, your requests are the best stories. Friends, we don't know where to begin with the trashiness that is Clint Eastwood, so we opted to focus mostly on his tumultuous relationship with fellow actor Sondra Locke. This one has everything - an almost pathological level of infidelity, indiscriminate fatherhood, unconventional marriages, and pr…

1
71. Irene of Athens, First Empress of Rome 45:27

1M ago45:27

45:27

Powerful women have always had to play the game a little differently than their male counterparts, but the story of Irene of Athens, who played politics with enough dexterity to become Empress of the Byzantine Empire for about 20 years in the 8th century, is extraordinarily complicated. The daughter of a prominent Greek family, she was brought to C…

1
174. Dunne's Best Friends | Erskine, Hollerith, and Sondheim! 34:06

2M ago34:06

34:06

Alicia is back from NYC with the stars of Broadway in her eyes. It seemed the perfect week to investigate Dominick Dunne's squad of best friends that include Howard Erskine, Charles Hollerith Jr., and Stephen Sondheim! These chums go all the way back to the late 1940s in their Williams College days, and what a life well led for each individual. But…

1
S23E4: Kelsey Grammer 1:22:04

2M ago1:22:04

1:22:04

You asked for this one, and now we know why! Kelsey Grammer, best known for playing the cerebral and neurotic Dr. Frasier Crane for two decades on NBC, is quite the contrast to his lovable character. A childhood and young adulthood marked by unimaginable tragedies may be the key to why this uber-successful actor's personal life has veered from cris…

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70. Meet the Bonapartes: Joseph Bonaparte, King of Naples, Spain, and New Jersey 32:27

2M ago32:27

32:27

To round out our Meet the Bonapartes series, we turn to Napoleon's eldest - and apparently coolest - brother, Joseph. Affable, charming, and comfortable in his own skin, he was a contrast to most of his siblings, including Napoleon. His easygoing nature made him popular even with political opponents, and Joseph was an important player in Napoleon's…

1
S23E3: Anthony Anderson 35:55

2M ago35:55

35:55

Black-ish star Anthony Anderson has been enjoying the pinnacle of his career for a decade now, having helmed the hugely successful sitcom for all eight of its seasons. But the spotlight can be a tough place for someone who has repeatedly faced allegations - even criminal charges - of sexual assault. Were those allegations part of the reason for the…

1
69. Meet the Bonapartes: Elisa Bonaparte, Grand Duchess of Tuscany 35:57

2M ago35:57

35:57

Napoleon's eldest sister shared many of his more imperious personal qualities, but would prove to be surprisingly gifted at governance after her brother named her Princess of the Italian principalities of Piombino and Lucca. More territories would be added to the holdings she governed, eventually including the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, with Florence …

1
173. Dunne on Paul Burrell: The Butler Who Knows The Secrets of Diana, Princess of Wales 56:26

2M ago56:26

56:26

In this episode of Done and Dunne, we take our man Nick to London in 2002 to report in on the trial of Paul Burrell, the royal butler who knows all Diana’s secrets. The Diana in question is, of course, Princess of Wales. Dunne reports in on this trial of the most loyal servant ever, which is halted after 11 days, right before Paul’s appearance on t…

1
S23E2: Michael Landon 51:22

2M ago51:22

51:22

Screen legend Michael Landon holds a unique spot even among other wildly successful actors. Landon starred in not one, not two, but three long-running hit television series, starting with Bonanza in 1959, then the iconic Little House on the Prairie in the 70s and early 80s, and finally Highway to Heaven. He was also the consummate family man - sort…

1
68. Meet the Bonapartes: Lucien Bonaparte, Head and Shoulders Above the Rest 36:26

2M ago36:26

36:26

It never hurts to have a hype man, and Napoleon's younger brother Lucien just happened to be a talented writer and orator. One could even say he was his brother's propagandist and co-conspirator in a ballot stuffing operation that led to Napoleon's initial domination of the government of France. But Lucien, who was also the tallest of the Bonaparte…

1
172. Dunne Profiles Phyllis McGuire 1:03:24

2M ago1:03:24

1:03:24

Investigators, this week we continue our journey into dip into Dominick Dunne’s reporting in personal profiles as he begins his third act. In June 1989, Phyllis McGuire was the subject of Nick’s gaze, in a story that takes us from the famous trio of singing sisters to Sam Giancana to Dorothy Kilgallen to Frank Sinatra, with jewels, personal Eiffel …

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