Episode #175 | 05.14.24
Marilyn Monroe (Part 1): JFK, RFK, and a Conspiracy Theory that Won’t Quit
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In this episode
Marilyn Monroe is one if not the greatest Hollywood stars of all time. She rose from orphan to icon by creating an on screen character America could not peel their eyes away from. And she did it all while battling anxiety, depression and addiction. Along the way she bedded, married and otherwise conquered America’s most impressive men; Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller, Frank Sinatra and President John F. Kennedy to name a few and her relationship with JFK and his younger brother Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy would prove disastrous and result in longrunning rumors and conspiracy theories about her death that are as hard to debunk as they are to dismiss.
This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault and suicide. If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Sources
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, by Donald Spoto
Marilyn Monroe: A Biography, by Barbara Leaming
Music for Chameleons, Truman Capote
The Guardian: Michel Schneider’s top 10 books about Marilyn Monroe
Time: The Best Response Ever to a Celebrity Nude Photo Scandal
Fox 5 San Diego: Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
Marilyn Forever: A History of Suicide Attempts
Newsmax: Sexual Exploitation by Therapists
Alarabiya News: Bobby Kennedy ordered murder of Marilyn Monroe, new book claims
Daily Mail: Did Marilyn Monroe abort JFK or RFK’s love child?
Nashville Noise: Marilyn Monroe Songs: The Bombshell’s Best Music Moments
New York Times: Channeling a Bombshell, One Jazzy Note at a Time
Time: The Story Behind the Only Known Photo of Marilyn Monroe and John F Kennedy Together
Credits
Hosted and written by Jake Brennan.
Copy edited by Pat Healy.
Scored and mixed by Colin Fleming.
Additional music and score elements by Ryan Spraker.
DISGRACELAND theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie,” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.
*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak