Mobituaries with Mo Rocca

Follow Mobituaries with Mo Rocca
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Mo Rocca has always loved obituaries. In season 1 of Mobituaries he introduces listeners to the people who have long intrigued him—from the 20th century’s greatest entertainer … to the Civil Rights pioneer who is completely forgotten … to sitcom characters gone all too soon. Even if you know the nam…

CBS News, Inc.


    • Dec 25, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 63 EPISODES

    4.8 from 21,568 ratings Listeners of Mobituaries with Mo Rocca that love the show mention: mo rocca, vaughn, first family, orphan, rocco, mo mo, wait wait don t tell, thank you mo, branigan, paine, audrey hepburn, cbs sunday morning, sammy davis jr, thanks mo, moe, meader, obituary, mo's, ravioli, obituaries.


    Ivy Insights

    The Mobituaries with Mo Rocca podcast is an absolute gem in the world of podcasts. Mo Rocca's voice and inflections make for a delightful listening experience, and I am grateful to have stumbled upon this show. Through his captivating storytelling, Mo brings more history into my life and reintroduced me to the fascinating world of obituaries. I always learn something new from each episode, and Mo's smart, sweet, and funny personality shines through. It's truly a one-of-a-kind podcast that combines humor, history, and biographies in an engaging way.

    One of the best aspects of The Mobituaries with Mo Rocca podcast is the depth of the stories and interviews. Whether it's exploring the life of a forgotten historical figure or shining a light on an overlooked aspect of our culture, each episode is thoroughly researched and presented with care. Mo has a knack for finding the beauty and struggles in a person's life, leaving no word wasted in his storytelling. The production quality is slick and well-written, reminiscent of programs like This American Life.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its ability to appeal to a wide range of listeners. Even if you're not particularly interested in biographies or history, you'll still find something to love about Mobituaries. Mo's storytelling prowess makes even mundane matters feel like murder mysteries, keeping daytime listening engaging and interesting. The episodes are thoughtfully crafted to provide insightful and sensitive portrayals of people's lives while avoiding any political biases.

    However, there are no apparent downsides to The Mobituaries with Mo Rocca podcast. From start to finish, every episode is a joy to listen to, leaving you wanting more. It offers a refreshing break from typical news-driven podcasts by focusing on lesser-known stories that deserve attention.

    In conclusion, The Mobituaries with Mo Rocca podcast is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys riveting storytelling combined with intriguing history. Mo Rocca's passion for what he does is evident in his podcasts and his book, both of which are fantastic. This podcast stands out for its in-depth stories and interviews, its light-hearted yet informative approach, and its ability to engage listeners from all backgrounds. Mo's dedication to sharing the beauty and struggles of people's lives shines through each episode. Thank you, Mo, for creating such a wonderful podcast that brings joy and knowledge into our lives.



    Search for episodes from Mobituaries with Mo Rocca with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Mobituaries with Mo Rocca

    Wishbone: Death of a Working Dog

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 37:12


    In the 1990s, PBS introduced young audiences to a canine star like none other: a Jack Russell terrier who imagined himself as characters from classic works of literature. The show was called Wishbone. Today there's a whole generation of adults who were first weaned on Mark Twain, the legend of Faust or the Greek epics through this series. Wishbone is also the first TV show Mo wrote for. Mo talks with Wishbone head writer Stephanie Simpson and dog trainer Jackie Kaptan about the show and the life and career of its beloved lead actor, a dog named Soccer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Death of a Name | Reviving a Mobit

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 42:05 Transcription Available


    What do you think will be the top baby names of 2025? Will "Mildred" make a comeback? What's in a name…that makes it popular to one generation, and downright ugly to the next? From "Bertha" and "Layla" to "Reagan" and "Katrina," history shows us that politics, pop songs and news events all play roles in sending baby names skyrocketing or plunging in the rankings. Mo (short for "Maurice"!) returns to his elementary school to speak with his fifth grade teacher about his own name then talks to Columbia University linguist John McWhorter and actor Todd Bridges about other names that have seen better days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Marlene Dietrich Goes To War | Reviving a Mobit

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 13:07 Transcription Available


    We're celebrating the birthday month of the iconic Marlene Deitrich by revisiting a special episode from the "Mobituaries" audiobook. Marlene Dietrich cemented her status as a Hollywood legend with a series of iconic performances that flouted traditional women's roles and ignited the screen. But it's her passionate support for the United States, her adopted homeland, and the troops fighting in World War II that led Hitler to label her a traitor to the "Fatherland." When she could have enjoyed the indulgences of fame, she risked everything. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Sammy Davis Jr.: Death of the Entertainer | Reviving a Mobit

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 50:15 Transcription Available


    This week, we're celebrating the birthday of the legendary Sammy Davis Jr. by revisiting a special Mobit. From the age of three Sammy Davis, Jr. did it all better than anyone else - singing, dancing, acting, even gun spinning. Mo talks to friends and family about what drove him to keep performing, even after the car crash that nearly killed him. Featuring Carol Burnett, Chita Rivera, Kim Novak, Dionne Warwick and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Wishbone: Death of a Working Dog | Reviving a Mobit

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 37:12 Transcription Available


    This week marks 8 years since the finale of the beloved series "Wishbone". In the 1990s, PBS introduced young audiences to a canine star like none other: a Jack Russell terrier who imagined himself as characters from classic works of literature. The show was called Wishbone. Today there's a whole generation of adults who were first weaned on Mark Twain, the legend of Faust or the Greek epics through this series. Wishbone is also the first TV show Mo wrote for. Mo talks with Wishbone head writer Stephanie Simpson and dog trainer Jackie Kaptan about the show and the life and career of its beloved lead actor, a dog named Soccer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Neanderthals: Death of a Human Species | Reviving a Mobit

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 41:23 Transcription Available


    Did you know November 9 is National Neanderthal Appreciation Day? Reivist this episode where Mo welcomes his friend Michael Ian Black – comedian, author, podcaster, and, as it turns out, Neanderthal (we'll explain). Mo talks to Michael and the world's leading researchers about why our extinct human cousins Neanderthals have gotten such a bad rap for so many many years, and how we're learning more about how close we really were. Oh, Mo also talks to the guy who played Cha-ka on the 70s kids show Land of the Lost.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Sitcom Deaths and Disappearances | Reviving a Mobit

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 40:05 Transcription Available


    In honor of the anniversary of the first-ever sitcom broadcast on a U.S. television network (fun fact: it was "Mary Kay and Johnny" back in November 1947), we're revisiting "Sitcom Deaths and Disappearances." Characters on sitcoms aren't supposed to die. So when they do, it's never less than weird. Mo examines some of the most infamous sitcom deaths and disappearances with Henry Winkler, Sandy Duncan and Alan Sepinwall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Literary Frontierswoman: Laura Ingalls Wilder

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 20:35


    This special episode comes from the audiobook edition of ROCTOGENARIANS, a brand-new collection of stories from Mo Rocca that celebrates the triumphs of people who made their biggest marks late in life. Chances are, you know something about the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. If, like sixty million other people, you once enjoyed the Little House books, you'll know that the series breaks off when Laura, at eighteen, marries Almanzo Wilder and leaves her parents to start her own life and her own family in her own little house. But Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't publish Little House in the Big Woods until she was sixty-five. So what happened in the intervening years? And how did the heroine of the books become the beloved author who, many years later, told these charming stories? ROCTOGENARIANS is available wherever hardcover, ebooks and audiobooks are sold. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bOBgn6See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    LaWanda Page: Death of a Comedy Queen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2024 44:27 Transcription Available


    Long before her turn as the sermonizing Aunt Esther on "Sanford and Son," LaWanda Page was dazzling Black nightclub audiences - first as the flame-swallowing “Bronze Goddess of Fire”. Then, following in the footsteps of her childhood friend and eventual costar Redd Foxx, she became a queen of raunchy, tell-it-like-it-is stand up comedy. (Let's just say Aunt Esther would not have approved of LaWanda's act.) In this season 4 finale, Mo reflects on Page's influential career with entertainment icon Whoopi Goldberg and remembers the adults-only "party record' phenomenon with comedian Alonzo Bodden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Revisiting the Orphan Train: An American Odyssey

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 44:43 Transcription Available


    Between 1854 and 1929, 250,000 orphans and abandoned children were placed on East Coast city trains and sent west to live with new families. A desperate solution to a desperate problem, some of the stories turned out well and some far from well. The remarkable stories of these riders live on through their descendants, many of whom continue to search for answers about their ancestry. Mo talks to one of these descendants and tracks down the last surviving Orphan Train rider. This episode originally aired on December 20, 2019.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Death of a Sports Team: Satchel Paige and Los Dragones

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 25:13 Transcription Available


    There's no shortage of sports teams that change cities or names over the course of their franchise history. But what about the teams that just cease to exist? Perhaps no team story packs more drama into one year of existence than that of Los Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo. It's a story that combines one of the most celebrated names in baseball history with one of the biggest names in twentieth-century dictatorship. This special episode comes from the audiobook edition of Mobituaries. You can learn more here: http://bit.ly/MoAudioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Death of the Very Special Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 43:17 Transcription Available


    If you were a kid watching TV in the 1980s and 1990s, you probably saw a fair number of “Very Special Episodes,” when the usual blissful bubble of the sitcom world was punctured by real-world issues for a half-hour. Drugs, drinking and driving, stranger danger, even AIDS. But never fear, all would be resolved by episode's end. (Sometimes the material was so heavy, it required a two-parter.) So why did such a mainstay for a generation of families disappear? And how much was Seinfeld to blame? Mo talks with entertainment writer Jessica Shaw and the late great Norman Lear about the birth, life and death of a cultural phenomenon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mobits Extra: How Norman Lear Changed Television

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 16:38 Transcription Available


    Starting in the early 1970s, Norman Lear changed the face of television, fusing comedy with social commentary. Lear died on December 5th at the great old age of 101. Mo revisits their 2015 conversation for CBS Sunday Morning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Habsburg Jaw: Death of a Dynasty

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 49:55 Transcription Available


    For centuries European royals married only each other. It was believed to be the best way of consolidating power. But rampant royal inbreeding had increasingly negative consequences––including genetic abnormalities (like the protuberant “Habsburg Jaw”), the dying off of whole lines, and eventually serious geopolitical instability that culminated in World War I. Mo and Barnard College professor and bestselling author Caroline Weber discuss the practice that ended up being way more than just a family matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Death of a Nepo Baby

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 50:45 Transcription Available


    “Nepo Baby” is a term popularly used to describe the celebrity children of celebrity parents. But family connections affect every field of work, and always have. And where family is involved, so is drama. Mo tells the stories of three of history's biggest Nepo Babies: Edsel Ford, the son of Henry Ford; President John Quincy Adams, the son of President John Adams; and Pushinka, daughter of Soviet space dog Strelka. (Yes, fur babies can be nepo babies!)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    JFK Impersonator Vaughn Meader: Death of a Career

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 49:59 Transcription Available


    November 22, 2023, marks 60 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the end of one of the era's biggest comedy acts. During Kennedy's term, Vaughn Meader's impersonation of the president made him a household name. The comedy album "The First Family,” in which Meader uncannily played JFK, broke sales records and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Meader's act was so convincing and edgy for the time, White House advisers actually worried about the public confusing him for the real thing. Mo tells the story of Vaughn Meader's brief and blazing time in the limelight and the long darkness that followed, alongside never-before-heard tape of Meader recorded shortly before his death. This episode originally published on January 17, 2019.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Charlie McCarthy: Death of a Dummy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 40:14 Transcription Available


    When Candice Bergen describes her childhood as weird and eccentric, she isn't exaggerating. She grew up with a world-famous sibling, who met presidents and movie stars. He was also a dummy – the kind made of wood. Charlie McCarthy was the creation of her ventriloquist father Edgar Bergen. Candice tells Mo what life was like sharing her father's love and attention with a puppet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Things I Wish Would Die

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 41:47 Transcription Available


    On this podcast we've honored some of our past's most outstanding and underappreciated people and things. May they live on in memory. But let's face it, some things deserve to disappear and be consigned to the dustbin of history. In this episode, Mo nominates three things that he'd like to see go the way of the dodo. Mo talks to food writer Kim Severson about buffets, culture critic Erick Neher about standing ovations, and sensory historian Mark Smith about noise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Death of an Accent

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2023 48:28 Transcription Available


    Have you ever wondered about that old timey accent so many actors used in black and white movies? Hollywood stars like Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis and Orson Welles, who sounded sort of British … but not quite. Was it all a put on or did people back then talk that way in real life? Mo investigates the emergence and disappearance of the accent commonly known as “Mid-Atlantic” with the help of linguist John McWhorter. Plus Hollywood dialect coach Jessica Drake tries her best to teach Mo how to talk that way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Jim Thorpe: Death of an All-American

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 47:28 Transcription Available


    When gold medalist Jim Thorpe was dubbed "the world's greatest athlete" at the 1912 Olympics, it wasn't hype. Football, baseball, lacrosse, even ballroom dancing ... Thorpe was the world's first multi-sport superstar. But when the Native American icon had his Olympic medals unjustly stripped from him, he faced his toughest hurdle yet. Mo talks to biographer David Maraniss about Thorpe's meteoric rise from Oklahoma Indian territory to global celebrity, and his surprising third act in Hollywood. Plus an interview with granddaughter Anita Thorpe. And Mo visits Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, a town with a history as startling as the man himself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Peggy Lee: Death of Cool

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 45:37 Transcription Available


    There were so many different Peggy Lees: The woman who defined cool in the 1950s with songs like "Fever." The songwriter of hits including the score to "Lady and the Tramp." The icon who inspired Miss Piggy, originally named Miss Piggy Lee. (Yes, really.) But all those Peggy Lees can be traced back to the plains of North Dakota, where she endured a painful upbringing and dreamed big. Mo travels with Lee's granddaughter Holly Foster Wells to her childhood home. You'll also hear from biographer Peter Richmond, and hear previously unreleased material recorded by Lee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Died on the Same Day (with special guest Anderson Cooper)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 60:14 Transcription Available


    When it comes to obituaries, Mo has always been obsessed with the phenomenon of public figures who share the same death day. So he's asked CNN anchor and 60 Minutes correspondent Anderson Cooper to join the podcast to talk about who gets top billing and why. You'll hear about the case of one person's death getting “buried” by the death of somebody else. (#Justice4Farrah) There's also the eerie coincidence of two Founding Fathers dying on the same exact day -- July 4th, no less. And finally, we'll look at some of the oddest “death fellows” in recent history. Special appearances by legendary obit writers Kay Powell and John Pope.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Coming Soon: Season 4 of Mobituaries with Mo Rocca

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 2:27 Transcription Available


    Mo Rocca is back with another fascinating season of Mobituaries, exploring the people and things that are no longer with us but deserve a second look. You'll hear all about notable figures who "Died on the Same Day" along with the three "Things Mo Wishes Would Die." There's also the story behind the Queen of Cool, Peggy Lee, and the remarkable tale of Jim Thorpe, long considered the world's greatest athlete. Plus, so much more to come! Listen to new episodes every Wednesday starting October 4th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Timothy Scott: Death of a Dancer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 49:58


    When Andrew Lloyd Webber's original Broadway production of the musical Cats premiered in 1982, a young dancer named Timothy Scott was just entering his prime. Cast in the role of Mr. Mistoffelees, he left audiences (including a young Mo) spellbound with an acrobatic dancing that seemed to defy physics. But before the end of the decade, Scott was a victim of the AIDS crisis. 35 years after his death, Mo remembers Tim Scott and his dazzling talent, with help from his partner Norman Buckley and Broadway legends Betty Buckley, Baayork Lee and Ken Page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Benedict Arnold: Before They Went Bad

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 41:30


    Before his name became synonymous with treason, Benedict Arnold was a bonafide hero of the American Revolutionary War. At critical moments Arnold inspired the Patriots with his grit and determination and earned the admiration of George Washington. Despite his popularity and battlefield prowess, Benedict Arnold eventually broke bad. Mo talks with author Nathaniel Philbrick about the now-notorious military man's twisty path to betrayal - and explores the surprising backstories of other villains including France's Philippe Pétain and Satan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Gros Michel: Death of a Banana

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 40:29


    The banana we eat today is not the same kind our grandparents grew up eating. Today's variety, called the Cavendish, is generally regarded as the bland successor to the richer tasting Gros Michel (French for “Big Mike”) of yesteryear. But when a deadly fungus ravaged the Gros Michel in the mid-20th century, the banana barons had no choice but to make a switch. Mo talks with ‘Banana' expert Dan Koeppel about the surprising history of the fruit, and talks - and sings! - with Broadway legend André De Shields.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Samantha Smith: Death of a Peacemaker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 53:00


    At one of the most dangerous moments in the Cold War, an ordinary 5th grade girl from Maine wrote to the leader of the Soviet Union with a simple plea for peace. When he wrote back with an invitation to visit the Soviet Union in the summer of 1982, it became an international news story and one of the most improbable peace missions of the era. Mo tells the story of the “Littlest Diplomat” and how she became a powerful symbol of shared humanity on both sides of the iron curtain. Guests include childhood friends of Samantha, her Russian “summer camp buddy” and actor Robert Wagner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Second Place Finishers: Larry Doby, Judith Resnik & The Dave Clark Five

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 47:01


    We love historical “Firsts” so much that we end up ignoring the people who come right after them. But without these runners-up, the trailblazers are just one-offs or oddities––instead of the beginning of big change. Mo celebrates the Black baseball great who joined the major leagues just eleven weeks after Jackie Robinson, the second American woman in space, and the British invasion band that for a time played second fiddle only to The Beatles. With guests sportscaster Otis Livingston, Michael Oldak and Rhino Records co-founder Harold Bronson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Fanny Brice: Death of the Original Funny Girl

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2023 47:43


    Fans of Broadway and Barbra Streisand probably know the name Fanny Brice as the woman who refuses to let anyone rain on her parade in the beloved musical "Funny Girl." But the real Fanny Brice, the original funny girl, was a trailblazing Jewish comedian, who lit up Broadway and created one of the most famous characters on radio. Mo looks back at Fanny's story (The ups! The downs! The nose job!) with biographer Barbara Grossman and talks with culture critic Erick Neher about how Barbra Streisand would ultimately eclipse the star she portrayed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mobits Extra: Burrata and Anchovies with Major Garrett

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2023 46:20


    Mo goes behind the scenes of season 3 of Mobituaries with the host of The Takeout, Major Garrett. They share a delicious meal and dig into the highlights of Mobits' history and the complexity behind why people and things deserve a second look at their lives. Hear a sneak peek into the upcoming stories of season 3 and Major's very own recommendation for his ideal Mobit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mobits Extra: Mo's Mystery Bust

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 24:52


    Mo's deep appreciation for our less-remembered presidents led him to purchase a giant bust of Grover Cleveland, which has dominated his living room for over 20 years. But when the New York Times questioned the bust's identity, it set in motion a quest, culminating in an appearance by Mo and his bust on PBS's Antiques Roadshow. Producer Adam Monahan documented the saga on this season 2 episode of his podcast Detours (GBH and PRX), a podcast that reveals what happens to all that stuff on America's favorite antiques show, which originally aired in January 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mobits Extra: Leslie Uggams & The Power of Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 10:04


    Mo talks with Leslie Uggams, the award-winning and boundary-breaking entertainer. On the Mitch Miller Show, Uggams became the first Black woman to be a regular on a variety show. And her own later variety series was a milestone. She talks to Mo about her career and her 1965 marriage to Australian Grahame Pratt, at a time when interracial marriage was illegal in many states. This episode comes from a CBS Sunday Morning interview originally aired in 2020.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dragons: Death of the Fantastic

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 17:20


    For thousands of years, people believed in dragons. They were considered part of zoology, no more mythical than horses or chickens. Then along came a scientist/dragonslayer. This special episode comes from the audiobook edition of MOBITUARIES.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    My Favorite Mobits: Anna May Wong

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 57:43


    On October 24th, 2022, the U.S. Mint issued a quarter with the image of movie star and trailblazer Anna May Wong, making her the first Asian American featured on U.S. currency. Wong wasn't supposed to be in the movies. Her laundryman father was dead set against it. And Hollywood preferred white actors in "yellow face" for Asian characters. But Wong knew what she wanted. Mo talks with comedian Margaret Cho, actress Rosalind Chao and best-selling author Lisa See about the woman who is finally getting her due. This episode originally aired on Mobituaries in February 2020 and was honored with a Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Valentino, Novarro & Lamas: Death of the Latin Lover

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 48:55


    The frenzy Rudolph Valentino caused in life was matched only by the pandemonium unleashed when he died at age 31. With his brooding good looks and vulnerability, he and the other "Latin Lovers" that followed redefined the leading man. Mo also recounts the triumphant and tragic story of superstar Ramon Novarro and talks with TV star Lorenzo Lamas about his father, the debonair Fernando Lamas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    June Foray: Woman of a Thousand Voices

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 40:01


    It's hard to imagine childhood without the classic cartoon characters June Foray gave voice to: Little Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch, Granny from the Sylvester and Tweety cartoons, Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Natasha Fatale, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi's villainous cobra. June Foray even provided the voice of the Chatty Cathy doll. Mo talks with Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) and Bob Bergen (Porky Pig) about the woman they call 'the Meryl Streep of voice actors.'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Death of a Marriage Ban

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 47:02


    1967 was a big year for marriage in America. The Supreme Court's ruling in Loving v. Virginia overturned bans on interracial marriage in 16 states. The movie Guess Who's Coming to Dinner starred Sidney Poitier as a Black doctor engaged to a white woman. And in the middle of it all, Peggy Rusk and Guy Smith, a very private couple who made the cover of Time Magazine for their wedding. Mo talks to Peggy Rusk about their remarkable love story (involving presidents and horses) and to Professor Sheryll Cashin about the surprising history of interracial relationships.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Death of a Name: Mildred, Bertha & Todd

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2022 42:05


    What's in a name…that makes it popular to one generation, and downright ugly to the next? From "Bertha" and "Layla" to "Reagan" and "Katrina," history shows us that politics, pop songs and news events all play roles in sending baby names skyrocketing or plunging in the rankings. Mo (short for "Maurice"!) returns to his elementary school to speak with his fifth grade teacher about his own name then talks to Columbia University linguist John McWhorter and actor Todd Bridges about other names that have seen better days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    In Memory of Loretta Lynn

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2022 11:35


    In 2010 Mo traveled to Loretta Lynn's ranch to profile the country music icon for CBS Sunday Morning. Here is that profile along with some reflections on one of history's great singer-songwriters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    John Denver: Death of the Sunshine Boy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 56:34


    The utter sincerity of his songs ("Country Roads," "Rocky Mountain High") endeared John Denver to fans worldwide and helped make him one of the biggest stars of the 1970s. But the easy-mannered mountaineer with the dutch boy haircut and granny glasses was often dismissed as shallow or corny. The longing in Denver's voice was real, though, and twenty-five years after his passing, the singer's music and message continue to resound. Mo visits Aspen, Colorado to meet Denver's former wife Annie Denver and close friend Tom Crum and talks with music writer Bill Flanagan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Coming Soon: Season 3 of Mobituaries with Mo Rocca

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 2:20


    Mo Rocca's long love of obituaries returns for a third season. Mo looks to celebrate the dearly departed people (and things) of the past who have long intrigued him— this season explores the most intriguing history from TV's most beloved dog to the woman of a thousand voices. Hear fresh takes on these famous legacies and why they deserve a moment in the spotlight. Listen to new episodes starting Wednesday, October 5th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Station Wagon: Death of a Leviathan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 16:13


    For a few decades the station wagon was as central to the American Dream as the white picket fence and the basketball hoop in the driveway. It was the quintessential family car. And really, who didn’t want to ride in the “way back”? This special episode comes from the audiobook edition of MOBITUARIES. You can learn more here: http://bit.ly/MoAudio.

    Anna May Wong: Death of a Trailblazer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2020 55:58


    Anna May Wong wasn't supposed to be in the movies. Her laundryman father was dead set against it. And Hollywood preferred white actors in "yellow face" for Asian characters. But Wong knew what she wanted. With her talent, beauty and tenacity, she ran a gauntlet of social and legal obstacles to become Hollywood's very first Chinese-American star. Mo talks with comedian Margaret Cho, actress Rosalind Chao and best-selling author Lisa See about the woman who is finally getting her due.

    Mobituaries LIVE!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2020 29:37


    In a Mobits first, Mo takes the show on the road! Mo shares his love of obituaries; investigates why we confuse certain dead celebrities; and interviews former New York Times obituary writer Margalit Fox about what it's like to write about the dead for a living. This episode was recorded in Asbury Park, NJ and Fairfield, CT.

    Lawrence Welk: Death of a Square (with special guest Fred Armisen)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2020 35:14


    Fred Armisen joins Mo to pay tribute to legendary bandleader and TV host, Lawrence Welk. Welk was another victim of television's Rural Purge of the early 1970s, when his long running musical variety show was canceled by ABC after his audience was deemed too old. But Welk did not go quietly. He defied the critics, bringing his show back to life on his own terms - and reaching an even wider audience.

    Merry Christmas from Laura Branigan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2019 2:02


    In December of 1993, Laura Branigan called into Ernie Manouse's Chicago-based radio show and sang O Holy Night a capella. Technically the recording isn't perfect, but Laura's pitch is. And her spirit shines through. We thank Ernie, now an award-winning host with Houston Public Media, for allowing us to play it for you here. And we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday.

    The Orphan Train: Death of an American Experiment

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2019 43:07


    Between 1854 and 1929, 250,000 orphans - at peril in the dangerous, overcrowded streets of New York - were placed on trains and sent west to live with new families. A desperate solution to a desperate problem, some of the stories turned out well and some far from well. The bond between the riders lives on in their descendants, many of whom continue to search for answers about their ancestry. Mo talks to the daughter of a rider, plumbs the CBS News archives for voices of the riders themselves, and tracks down the last survivor.

    Laura Branigan: Death of a Singer, Life of a Song

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2019 42:56


    The St. Louis Blues hockey team had the worst record in the NHL in January 2019, before deciding to adopt the 1982 hit song Gloria as their anthem. They ended up winning the Stanley Cup. But many of their fans didn't even know that the woman who sang that song had died back in 2004. Mo talks to Laura Branigan's brother, her high school best friend, songwriter Diane Warren (who wrote her first hit song for Branigan) and attends a reunion of fans to tell the poignant story of an undersung pop star whose voice lives on.

    The Rural Purge: Death of the Country Broadcasting System

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2019 40:03


    In the early 1970's, CBS axed its slate of hit country-themed sitcoms. The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and Petticoat Junction were just three of the shows that bought the farm. Mo talks to Linda Henning (star of Petticoat Junction), author Sara Eskridge and TV critic Alan Sepinwall about the sitcom slaughter.

    The Black Congressmen of Reconstruction: Death of Representation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2019 43:43


    During the 1870s, more than a dozen African American men, many of whom had been born into slavery, were elected to the U.S. Congress. These political pioneers symbolized the sky high hopes of millions of former slaves during the years right after the Civil War. It was a period that ended all too quickly. But it happened. Mo talks to Professor Henry Louis Gates, Reconstruction historian Eric Foner, and a descendant of one of the legendary lawmakers.

    Thomas Paine: Death of a Forgotten Founding Father

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2019 44:37


    Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense, the pamphlet that inspired the American Revolution. So why did only six people show up at his funeral? Mo finds out why this essential Founding Father has never gotten his due - and, with the help of a Tony nominated Broadway songwriting team and The Daily Show's Lewis Black, stages a rollicking memorial service for Paine on the spot where he dropped dead.

    Claim Mobituaries with Mo Rocca

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel