Dead and Kind of Famous

6d ago

Send us a text From streetwalking to a pseudo housewife life, this episode is a journey in and of itself. Holly sold her body, slept on the subway, and even suffered from "streetwalking pneumonia". But she survived. She also met her future Warhol Factory counterparts, Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis, and found herself in a very serious relationship with a straight man who made the mistake of gifting her a Macy's credit card. This isn't a tidy origin story. In fact, it's wildly messy and kind of terrifying. But it is in this episode that Holly steps into her own and finds her zone. You don't wanna miss this. Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Nov 23

Send us a text A lightning strike beside a soda machine. A pair of freshly shaved legs in a roadside motel. A runaway from Miami who would become the source of the first verse of Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side . She was a Warhol Superstar, trans icon, and hilarious writer as exemplified in her autobiography, A Lowlife in High Heels . This is the origin story of Holly Woodlawn—born in Puerto Rico, raised between San Juan, New York, and Miami Beach—and this episode traces how glamour became both her shield and her signature. Holly is the heavy hitter of the season, and this episode is the first in several more to come. Get ready for a wild first chapter of a trans trailblazer that will steal your heart. Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Nov 4

Send us a text We're back, baby! Season 2 of Dead and Kind of Famous is here for you so that you can continue to joyfully think about graveyards even though Halloween has passed. And catch up with Marissa and Courtney about how they're adjusting to living across the country from one another. But today, we're talking about Carroll Righter, "reader to the stars" and astrological legend who made horoscopes mainstream. Although he had many a celebrity client, he could never remember their names and often would refer to people as "Mr. Taurus" or "Ms. Libra". With mentions of Robert Mitchum, Marlene Deitrich, Maya Angelou and Ronald Reagan, the mashup of Hollywood stars and celestial stars in this episode is NOT to be missed. Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

May 9

Send us a text Today we bid adieu to Season 1! Join us as we visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to pay tribute to Season 1's final featured individuals (Tomata du Plenty and Maila Nurmi) and share some significant personal news as Courtney announces her upcoming move to Minnesota. To see our other grave offerings for Season 1, check out our instagram or substack ! In short order, we do all of the following in this episode: • Record from a bench in Hollywood Forever Cemetery on a cloudy day surrounded by peacocks • Announce that the podcast will continue remotely despite Courtney's upcoming relocation to Minnesota • Visit Vampira's grave where fans have left lipstick kisses, makeup, flowers, and trinkets • Explore unexpected graves including one for a woman described as an "occasional wife" • Color a peacock-themed page as an offering to Tomato DiPlenty • Share the origin story of our friendship and creative partnership • Reflect on how graves and memorials represent the importance of chosen family THANK YOU so much for listening this season and also showing us so much love. It means the world and we will see you for Season 2 in the fall! If you liked what you heard, or if you have any feedback at all—the good, the bad, the ugly, the dead, the alive—please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know what you think. Love, Courtney and Marissa <3 Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Apr 14

Send us a text Spoiler alert!!! - Tomata keeps doin' stuff in this episode. Our deep dive into his life reveals an artist who refused to be defined by any single medium, constantly evolving from drag performer to punk rock icon to folk artist without ever losing his authenticity. When a broken leg temporarily halted Tomata's performance career in 1983, he discovered a children's paint kit in an alley and began creating art. That same year, he received an HIV diagnosis – a death sentence in the 1980s. Yet instead of despair, he saw synchronicity and opportunity, launching an artistic career that would sustain him for the rest of his life. His approach was refreshingly unpretentious: "I always have lots of $20 pieces in the show because I think people should have art." Even in his final interview, just months before his death from AIDS-related cancer, his optimism and self-deprecating humor remained undimmed. For those seeking permission to reinvent themselves creatively, Tomata's story offers not just inspiration, but liberation. Have you been limiting your own creative expression? Perhaps it's time to follow Tomata's lead and simply create without overthinking. Episode Links: Population 1: https://youtu.be/B3QpxnCRtVY?si=b5OZfMaKce75kaNC Eva Braun - https://youtu.be/gIdlqWcGn_s?si=OpAI7nSRrS8bRSxZ Visual Art journey - https://sandraschulman.medium.com/tomata-du-plenty-from-screamer-to-artist-b5648dd369d Jack Rabid Interview - https://bynwr.com/posts/the-screamers-tomata-du-plenty https://www.ebay.com/itm/315411162470 https://art-for-a-change.com/Punk/psketch5.htm Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Mar 27

Send us a text At the intersection of drag theater, punk rock innovation, and fearless artistic evolution stands David Xavier Harrigan - better known to those in-the-know as Tomato DePlenty. From his early days with the revolutionary Cockettes (described by John Waters as "insane hippie drag queens" creating "complete sexual anarchy"), to founding Ze Whiz Kidz in Seattle, to pioneering synthesizer-based punk with The Screamers, Tomato consistently positioned himself at the cutting edge of artistic movements. What makes Tomato's story so compelling isn't just his artistic versatility - it's his uncanny ability to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. He embodied his personal philosophy: "Let's do things" and "Do plenty." Listen in as we uncover the first chapter in the fascinating life of this punk pioneer, theatrical innovator, and boundary-breaking artist who helped shape multiple movements while remaining just outside the spotlight. Links From This Episode: Tomata's Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plenty The Tupperware's at the TMT show recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyezrW9SNP0 The Screamers Target Studios Promo Video: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plenty Gary Panter's famous rendering of Tomata: https://obeygiant.com/gary-panter-a-provocateur-print-available-now/ The Cockettes Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPxQvN0f1c Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Feb 27

Send us a text Well, here it is. The final installment of our four part series on Maila Nurmi. Maila didn’t get all she deserved in her life and she never really reaped the benefits of her creations. But the life she lived was full of adventure, fascination, excitement and in many ways, love. In this particular episode, we explore her final romances, alleged marriages and marriages of convenience. We also dig into her lasting friendships (including Marlon Brando) and her counterculture grandmother relationship to the punk musicians of the late 70s and 80s. We all need someone to love and care for us, and Maila always found her community, even in her old age. This serves as some consolation for the loss of her intellectual property and her legal battles against her unwelcomed predecessor, Elvira. There's a lot of dirt to dig into here and we DIG. Thank you for listening to this one, and please leave us comments with any tributes or words you’d like to pass along for when we visit Maila’s grave. Links for this episode: Maila and Satan’s Cheerleaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2duQNeim6k Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

Feb 13

Send us a text Just when Maila’s career was starting to run out of steam, some luck with Liberace kept her in the spotlight for a time. But this was quickly followed by bad decisions, bad boys and a very bad movie called Plan 9 from Outer Space. Pop in those ear buds, friend. You don’t want to miss this. Links from the show: https://youtu.be/alPPXVJA4Kw?si=K0PQr8H7zHZCKA1x https://youtu.be/wtPgPYwtBhs https://youtu.be/qsb74pW7goU?si=BdDQ_BQEM72T2pkU Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!