logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2023
12m 6s

The Counterfeit Queen of Soul

The Retrospectors
About this episode
Mary Jane Jones, known professionally as Vickie Jones, was arrested on fraud charges on 15th February, 1969 after successfully impersonating soul legend Aretha Franklin during multiple sold-out shows across Florida. When her case ended up before a judge, Jones maintained her innocence, insisting that she had been press-ganged into the deception by conman, ki ... Show More
Up next
Today
The First Boob Job
Dr. Vincenz Czerny performed the world’s first breast augmentation in Vienna on 24th November, 1893. After removing a benign tumour via a mastectomy, Czerny addressed the asymmetry left behind by innovatively transplanting a non-cancerous lipoma from his patient’s lower back to r ... Show More
11m 51s
Nov 21
The First Hanukkah
When the Maccabees celebrated the recapture of Jerusalem from the Macedonian emperor Antiochus IV, they lit a menorah in the city's holy temple. The date, in the ancient Hebrew calendar, was the twenty-fifth day of the third month of Kislev 3597… the first Hanukkah.  Hanukkah's ... Show More
11m 45s
Nov 20
Microsoft's Windows Gamble
Windows 1.0 came out on 20th November, 1985, introducing graphical user interface to the masses for the first time. Well, that was the concept, anyway; in truth, users required mighty hardware by the standards of the time (TWO floppy drives!), and hardly anybody bought it. But it ... Show More
13m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
The Impersonator
Mary Jones could sing just like Aretha Franklin. One night, a James Brown impersonator saw her perform at a Motown tribute show - and thought he could take her on tour and trick audiences into believing she was the real Queen of Soul. Jeff Maysh tells the story. Learn more in Jef ... Show More
34m 40s
May 2023
Rerun: Aretha Franklin
Today, we are here to give a little Respect to a queen we think you’re really going to love. No, not our usual kind of queen, but just as fascinating. She may not have had a coronation, but she is regal through and through. Of course, we’re talking about the one and only Queen of ... Show More
1h 21m
Sep 2021
Aretha Franklin
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to Re. Welcome back to season 5! We are SO excited to show some respect to the one and only Queen of Soul... Aretha Franklin! Aretha Franklin was one of the most iconic singers ever. But her life wasn't without drama. Raised in a very busy an ... Show More
1h 23m
Oct 2021
I’ll Be Your Mirror
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by Karen Han. First, Slate’s music critic Carl Wilson chimes in to discuss Todd Haynes’s new The Velvet Underground documentary, which he wrote beautifully about for Slate. Next, the panel (minus Dana) is joined by Slate staff writer Rebecca O ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2023
Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson Style
This week, the panel begins by reviewing The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar, Wes Anderson’s faithful adaptation of a 1977 Roald Dahl short story, that doubles as a sumptuous meta-commentary on the director’s exacting approach to his craft. Then, the three discuss The Super Models ... Show More
57m 55s
May 2024
The Real Carrie Jade: Trailer
<p>Long before anyone ever heard of this story, 3yrs ago, in 2021, a 32-year-old English woman approached us with a heartbreaking story. She was dying from a terminal illness. But she thought she might have a lifeline through lifesaving brain surgery, and she'd like us to record ... Show More
3m 47s
Aug 2023
HELEN SLATER: Pressure of Supergirl, Christopher Reeve Training, Mythology & Smallville Memories
Helen Slater (Supergirl, The Legend of Billie Jean) joins us this week to talk about her experience being thrust into the iconic role of Supergirl at 18 years old and the many different pressures and difficulties that came along with it. Helen was so open this week - she gets can ... Show More
1h 17m
Feb 2024
Episode 702 | "Cutting Diamonds"
<p>In the latest episode, the JBP starts with music including their reactions to Jeezy's Tiny Desk performance (16:38), J. Cole's freestyle (28:38), and the streaming games artists are playing after French Montana drops six versions of 'Mac & Cheese 5' (38:18). Wendy Williams has ... Show More
3h 5m
Dec 2023
Comediennes: Kitty Clive
Kitty Clive (1711-1785) was a well known English actress and singer at the famed Drury Lane Theater in London. Her career spanned many decades and took many forms over the years. She transformed from a dramatic lead to a comedic caricature of herself, evolving to win back public ... Show More
4m 36s
Feb 2024
The Suffolk Strangler / Steve Wright - Part 2
<p>PLEASE LISTEN TO <strong>‘SEASON 8 - EPISODE 44’ </strong>FOR PART ONE OF THIS TWO-PART CASE. The bodies of five vulnerable women who went missing from the streets of Ipswich were found over a ten-day period.&nbsp;Suffolk Police launched the most extensive investigation in the ... Show More
1 h