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After a post-biopic summer hiatus, "Reading Michael Jackson" is back with Season 3! Having already covered Michael's books in Seasons 1 and 2, this season we will focus on Michael's most well-known, yet routinely under-appreciated writing: his lyrics. As a songwriter and lyricist Michael tackled themes of inspiration, heartbreak, global unity, humanitarianism, media, social commentary, sex, violence, spirituality, systemic racism, personal growth, love, vulnerability, and more. Yet as an artist, the shine of his aura and his talents as a singer and dancer often lend to his strengths as a songwriter being overlooked, if not entirely ignored. As the premiere of Season 3, this episode will cover my reasoning and decision for choosing Michael's lyrics as our focus this season, as well as my general parameters for picking songs to cover. Next week we will kick off with episode 1, with a full reading and analysis of the lyrics to one of Michael' greatest songs. If you have requests for specific songs to be covered this season, please leave a comment or send an email to [email protected].

In this special bonus episode of Reading Michael Jackson, we celebrate Michael's 68th birthday with a deep dive into the true meaning behind the creation of his Neverland Ranch, as well as his humanitarian legacy. Featuring interview clips from Neverland's Head of Security Violet Gaitan Booker, Amusement Park Manager Al Scanlan, and Audio support Brad Sundberg, as well as clips from Michael Jackson's own interviews, this episode focuses on the true heart of Neverland, and honoring Michael Jackson's dream of healing the world. Links and resources referenced in episode: Paris Jackson on Call Her Daddy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR8-dzLECUE&t=562s Paul Dwyer's Humanitarian Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW2YG8HjZxE&t=584s Humanitarian Book: https://www.humanitarianmj.com/ "Big Al" Interview, Humanitarian Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHddfdVHMZE&t=2567s Brand Sundberg Interview, MJCast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3Jh7jNbA7k&t=5018s Violent Gaitan Booker, MJCast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUP60S9I-JM&t=1460s Steve Harvey Interview, Michael Jackson, 2001: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW5poJgHXU4 Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Transcripts with Michael Jackson: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-michael-jackson-tapes-a-tragic-icon-reveals-his-soul-in-intimate-conversation/734582/#edition=5556084&idiq=1723326 Jennifer Love Hewitt on Jimmy Kimmel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCWnQ0vE5d4 Humanitarian fan initiative: https://www.michaeljacksonslegacy.org/

Seventeen years ago today Michael Jackson passed away and the world descended into a collective grief. Renowned poet Maya Angelou composed the poem "We Had Him" to honor Michael's life, legacy, and the gift of his presence on earth. In today's special June 25th episode of Reading Michael Jackson, join me for a reading and discussion of Angelou's beautiful tribute to Michael, as well as a segment on the many ways we may honor Michael, and his impact, in our own lives. For questions or comments email [email protected] "We Had Him" - https://allpoetry.com/poem/14326539-We-Had-Him-by-Maya-Angelou June 25th, 2025 Episode of RMJ: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6oKjtR8PKoCBT7LqfqpX0T?si=SX6PWtx5S8qXSzl4je40nw

As June 13th marks the anniversary of Michael Jackson being acquitted of all charges in his 2005 trial, this bonus episode of Reading Michael Jackson explores the ongoing media campaign to discredit the jury's findings. With a PhD in Rhetoric, host and former college professor Lena uses rhetorical theories of persuasion and manipulation, to identify specific tactics the media uses in misrepresenting the allegations against Michael Jackson. The episode concludes with a guide for where to begin your research journey into the allegations, citing reputable books, podcasts, and documentaries grounded in court transcripts, depositions, and the FBI's multi-year investigation into Michael Jackson. Sources mentioned in this episode: Documentary Square One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxNDb2PVcoM Mary Fischer's 1994 GQ Article, "Was Michael Jackson Framed?" https://mjjjusticeproject.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/was-micheal-jackson-framed-gq-mary-fisher-oct-1994/ Geraldine Hughes' Book, "Redemption": https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001K8FNI0?ccs_id=08e8339e-d453-4220-bebc-f400c5d63baa Aphrodite Jones' Book "Conspiracy" https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Jackson-Conspiracy-Aphrodite-Jones-ebook/dp/B00LIBDZPC?crid=1VDRDQEL5QRMR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PUIqdIM8-xo6XVaKfJsXRyEEaf8Fu0jplYzgOUK0DAfGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.8l-Qh9wb6hPlmnsxOHI9dwiaGN5QKIACpHTPfdCCVUw&dib_tag=se&keywords=aphrodite+jones+conspiracy&qid=1781114425&s=digital-text&sprefix=aphrodite+jones+conspiracy%2Cdigital-text%2C111&sr=1-1 Joe Vogel, "What You Should Know About the New Michael Jackson Documentary" https://www.forbes.com/sites/joevogel/2019/01/29/what-you-should-know-about-the-new-michael-jackson-documentary/ Jin Chohan's Documentary, "Leaving Neverland: The Aftermath" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hkNPmpudpc Jin Chohan's GO FUND ME for Documentary, "Trial By Media: The Michael Jackson Story" https://www.gofundme.com/f/themjstorydoc The MJCast Leaving Neverland Roundtable Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpdvL1OrLxQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIqkam3MGgI The Cast for Innocence Podcast: https://www.michaeljacksoncaseforinnocence.com/ Michael Jackson's Rebuttal to 'Living with Michael Jackson' - "The Footage You Were Never Meant to See" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpaIWbfqDxw For questions or comments email [email protected]

In this Part 2 of our Season Finale of Reading Michael Jackson, join me for a deep dive into the "Michael" biopic! After six trips to the theater I have a lot to say about this extraordinary film which, at times, both honors and expands on aspects of Michael's own storytelling in "Moonwalk," and at others falls completely short (where is Diana Ross?!). In this episode things get deep as we discuss Michael's childhood trauma, the true meaning of Neverland, the complex characterization of Joe Jackson, the meaning of destiny and manifestation, the long term impact this film will have on Michael Jackson's legacy, and so much more! I hope you enjoyed Season 2 of Reading Michael Jackson. Please follow, like, and subscribe to the show to stay updated on future seasons. For questions, or comments, email me at [email protected]

In this first part of our Season 2 Finale of Reading Michael Jackson, I offer a full, comprehensive review of "Moonwalk," the one and only autobiography Michael Jackson ever released. While offering a summary of the book, its themes, what its contents and omissions can teach about Michael (and his psychology), its strengths, weaknesses, and role in Michael's legacy, I also deconstruct several reviews written about the book spanning from 1988-2019. In addition to pointed discussion of the book itself, listeners are asked to consider who is the true intended audience for a story of Michael Jackson's life? How does the intended audience shape the way the story is told and received and what value is there in the "critic" perspective? What are we entitled to know about Michael's life, if anything, and what right does he have to privacy in the more intimate areas of his life? Who determines what is "enough" for an autobiography (or biopic) to reveal in order to be seen as an authentic depiction of his life? In addition, tune in for my pre-biopic expectations, considerations, and concerns based on what we learned in "Moonwalk" and beyond. Part 2 of our Season Finale will contain a full review of the Michael biopic in consideration of our reading of Moonwalk and this episode. For questions or comments please feel free to reach out at [email protected]

Announcement: I will be joining the Michael Jackson Book Club for a livestream event on Saturday April 18th on MJBC Events on Facebook. We will be discussing biographies about Michael Jackson as a lead up to the release of Michael. If you are interested in attending, check out the Michael Jackson Book Club on Facebook! In this week's episode of Reading Michael Jackson, we finally finish our reading of "Moonwalk"! Closing out chapter 6, and the book as a whole, Michael briefly reviews his experience recording the Bad album, while devoting most of his energy in these last few pages to making several "final" statements about his relationship to fame, his admiration for children, passion for performance, and devotion to humanitarian causes. It is evident here that Michael is making one final stitch effort to be "known" by the reader and to reveal something of his true nature in the pages. He even reveals how uncomfortable the concept of a book like this makes him, but the appeal of finally letting people in just a bit more. Despite an overall rushed ending, with many elements of his life post-Thriller jammed into one long final chapter, Michael closes Moonwalk with heart. Join me for the next episode for a final "review" of "Moonwalk." As mentioned in the episode... Jaafar Jackson Interview Magazine: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/jaafar-jackson-tells-miles-teller-how-he-unlocked-the-king-of-pop Michael Jackson Interview Magazine: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/michael-jackson-1982 Chris Liepe "Speed Demon" Breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_iL8HkUVJI

This week as we continue reading Chapter 6 of "Moonwalk," it becomes increasingly apparent that as this book winds down, we have a tremendous number of topics left to cover! In this section alone we learn about Michael's relationship with his sister's, most notably Janet. He also highlights his work on Captain EO, "We are the World" and the early stages of recording the Bad album. In the discussion portion of the episode, I do my best to fill in some additional details that Michael leaves out. As we reach the Bad era, what are some details YOU wish Michael spent more time with? For questions or comments feel free to email me at [email protected]

This week we kick off the final chapter of "Moonwalk," starting with Michael's recollection of the infamous "Pepsi burn," altering the course of his life forever. He also spends some time describing the connection he feels with fans. Recounting memories of the good and bad of the Victory Tour, Michael opens up about the challenges of touring before he was ready to, but giving it his all every show. In the discussion portion of this episode, I spend some time dissecting the impact of the Pepsi incident and, specifically, the ways in which Michael was silenced throughout his life from sharing the incredible physical (and emotional) pain this caused him. I discuss ways in which the media and public response to this incident represents the level of dehumanization Michael faced throughout his life, as well as the nuances of his family encouraging him to tour far before he was physically ready to do so. In this episode, I include clips from Michael's 2005 interview with Geraldo Rivera, as well as the leaked "memoir tapes" in which Michael discusses his frustration with the Victory Tour. For questions or comments, email me at [email protected]. Geraldo Rivera 2005 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhIXedgZAZY Memoir Tapes - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qITnlw5FB38

To finish off Chapter 5, this week we take on an especially large chunk of Moonwalk. We kick off with Michael's detailed recollection of Motown 25 and the massive success he saw immediately thereafter. As the window to promote the Thriller album began to close, he explains his decision to self-fund and produce the creation of the "Thriller" short film. He shares details about his relationship with Frank Dileo, as well as John Branca, who would go onto become the executor of his estate many years later. Michael also touches upon the evolution of his appearance, defending his changing look to an often critical public. In discussion, I go deep into all of these points and then some, considering how Michael's obsession with perfection may have been rooted in childhood pain, his challenges with his appearance, as well as his choice not disclose his vitiligo, and of course the music and iconography that defined this era of his life and career! I hope you enjoy another long one today! For questions or comments email [email protected].

As we continue Chapter 5 of Moonwalk, Michael takes us through the creation of the entire album by sharing his intentions for writing Beat It and his vision for (and experience of creating) the short film, the creative tension of perfecting the Thriller album as a whole, and more! But in the discussion portion of this episode, I try to take it a step deeper. How and why does Michael continue to gain younger fans? What did the creative tension mean when it came to Michael and Quincy's relationship? How did Michael himself contribute to the creation of Human Nature, even if he was not the songwriter? How did Michael's evolved perspective on the world shape the song and video for Beat It? We dive into all of these aspects of his creative process (and genius) in this episode! For questions or comments please email [email protected] Some of the clips included: Babyface (not LA Reid, as I misquoted) discussing MJ vs. other artists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1QYY6D8HA0 Eddie Van Halen discussing "Beat It": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YePluFoYSYE Michael's Human Nature Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acYbpNfMCEk&list=RDacYbpNfMCEk&start_radio=1

This week's episode of Reading Michael Jackson kicks off with a hefty intro covering topics of Michael's supposed "inexperience" with relationships, the recent passing of "She's Out of My Life" writer Tom Bahler and a clip of a recent interview he gave about Michael, a statement from Harry Styles about not "giving back" when it comes to music (and how I relate that back to Michael), and why, despite many attempted dethronings, there will never be another Michael Jackson Then, for this week's excerpt of Moonwalk, we kick off Chapter 5 which explores the creation of Thriller. Michael talks about his workstyle, his confidence, and his "manifestation" of Thriller as the biggest selling album of all time. He additionally opens up about his purchase of The Beatles catalog and his relationship with Paul McCartney and his creative choices around their collaborations. In the discussion portion of the episode, we discuss Michael's creative process with clips from the 1993 Mexico Deposition and the solo demo for "The Girl is Mine," Michael's goals when it came to buying The Beatles catalog and the many false narratives that persist around that choice. Links for clips shared today: Tom Bahler Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIkP_XuIDeY The Mexico Deposition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd6L9io4sYM The Girl is Mine Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94zKXFbMsCs

As we finish chapter 4 of Moonwalk, this extra long episode of Reading Michael Jackson goes deep into some of the most sensitive topics Michael discusses in his autobiography. While much of the chapter explores his creative process for Off the Wall, on a more personal note Michael explores his relationships with women, his views on love, sex, and connection, how closed off he feels from every day life experiences, and why he aims to be "the first Black King." Sharing clips of Michael's tearful recording of "She's Out of My Life," Maureen McCormick's confession of being "in love" with a teenage Michael, and reading Michael's handwritten note about his plans to take over the music industry, this episode is packed full of thoughtful discussion! Michael's Handwritten Notes from 1987: https://www.mjvibe.com/michael-jacksons-hand-written-notes-from-1987/ She's Out of My Life Alternate Studio Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww1mdAyREFo&list=PL46p8WlIN3xFfCFRSe5X1Djs4sEhnZfC7&index=137 Maureen McCormick's Interview on Being In Love with Michael Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktcdq3tIxoU

We are officially over halfway through Season 2 as well as our reading and discussion of Moonwalk. With 2 months left until the release of the Michael Jackson biopic, we still have plenty to cover from his autobiography. In this week's episode, we kick off Chapter 4 with Michael sharing some insights into his relationship with Quincy Jones, and their early partnership in recording Off the Wall. In addition. we learn more about the Jacksons recording of the Destiny album, and some of the tremendous pressure Michael felt from both his family and his loved ones to make decisions in their best interests. In the discussion portion of this episode, we review some of the issues Michael faced with collaborators spreading different narratives to the public, than what Michael himself remembered happening regarding their collaboration. This is an ongoing issue with Michael's legacy, and one that is easy to spot when we begin to take notice. We also discuss the emotional turmoil for Michael of firing Joseph Jackson as his manager, as well as his fear of letting his family down. Some sources discussed this episode! MJ Vibe article about Munich Shrine: https://www.mjvibe.com/michael-jackson-munich-shrine-in-the-news-again/ MjCast Destiny Album Roundtable: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4x5VWAvUvN42ULzJZ5tlJd?si=BtgFBOz6QdGtx2QMrCZfTg For questions or comments email [email protected]

In this week's episode of Reading Michael Jackson we kick off with a brief reflection on the changing discourse around Michael Jackson's innocence in light of current events. While Michael's image has been attacked for decades, social media is moving the public toward a more positive view of Michael. We can only hope that this trend is not short-lived, and the public continues to become more educated on Michael, including by continuing to learn his story in his own words. This week, we wrap up Chapter 3 of Moonwalk with Michael telling us about his experience working on The Wiz, falling in love with film, and meeting Quincy Jones. While this is a shorter section, there is still plenty to talk about! Michael's relationships with Stephanie Mills and Diana Ross, the pressures he faced as the creative force behind his family, and his drive to "transform" just beginning to manifest. For questions or comments email [email protected]