Toni Morrison is widely considered one of America’s greatest writers. She published 11 novels and is the recipient of a... more

“I don’t believe I’m going to die slipping on a piece of ice. I don’t believe I’m going to die... more

In just 86 years Maya Angelou lived dozens of lives. Perhaps best known for her seminal autobiography I Know Why... more

“Why can’t I be MVP of the league?” Derrick Rose said. With unimpressive statistics and an unselfish playing style, sports media... more

With 36 billion streams on Spotify, 14 No. 1 hits and 9 Grammys, Rihanna is regarded as one of the... more

Virgil Abloh changed fashion in the 21st century. His brand Off-White redefined streetwear and youth culture for a notoriously elite... more

Hyphy Kids Got Trauma is an exploration of a transformative year in Bay Area music history, 2006, through the eyes... more

In early September, 19-year-old Coco Gauff won the U.S. Open. She is the first American teenager to win the tournament... more

Over the course of her climb to the Hollywood A-List, Whoopi Goldberg has worn many hats: stand-up comedian, Broadway star,... more

Since November, dozens of states have introduced legislation that could criminalize drag performances, including Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina. This week... more

Shonda Rhimes has been called TV’s greatest. With groundbreaking shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with... more

Jordan Peele is responsible for modern classics in the horror genre, including the films Us, Nope and the Oscar-winning Get... more

Part 1: Touch the sky. Before becoming a cultural lightning rod, Kanye West was a self-confident teenager, handing out mixtapes on... more

Part 2: It all falls down. Ye becomes a mouthpiece for the more sinister parts of American society. In the... more

Robyn Rihanna Fenty was just a 15 year-old student in Barbados when she showed up late for her audition with... more

When Ida B. Wells was just 21 years old, authorities kicked her off a train for sitting in the all-white... more

Jesse Owens’ four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin is the stuff of legend. “A man who's a second... more

Frederick Douglass’ journey out of slavery and into the most powerful rooms in the country is a story of tenacity,... more

When RuPaul’s mother was pregnant, she went to a psychic who said RuPaul would be famous. That psychic was right. With... more

Perhaps best known for her seminal autobiography I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou is one of the... more

Hear the story of how a legendary athlete climbed the NBA's mountaintop of greats. It's a story that takes asymmetrical... more

Before there was Barack Obama on the ballot, there was Jesse Jackson. Preacher, civil rights soldier and activist, Jackson ran... more

Robyn Rihanna Fenty was just 16 when she signed a record deal with Jay-Z. She was 19 when her smash... more

Serena Williams is a household name. The recently retired tennis legend has won 23 Grand Slam titles – more than... more

From the creators of Making Oprah, Obama and Beyoncé, WBEZ brings you a new season of its hit bio-podcast series,... more

Former President Barack Obama recently spoke with Aarti Shahani, host of WBEZ's Art of Power podcast, about masculinity in the... more

In the lead up to Beyoncé's solo album debut, Dangerously in Love, a lot was at stake. She was hoping... more

After Girls Tyme dissolves, Beyoncé and the other girls begin building their new group, Destiny’s Child. Finally, things start to... more

After failing to secure a record deal, Beyoncé and the members of Girls Tyme try another avenue to success: a... more

Before the Grammys, before the platinum records, before Destiny’s Child, there was just a shy girl growing up in Houston.... more

From the makers of Making Obama, WBEZ Chicago presents Making Beyoncé, a new three-part bio-podcast series that explores Beyoncé Knowles’ rise from... more

Just two and a half years after his 2004 Democratic National Convention speech, Barack Obama announced he was running for... more

Barack Obama burst onto the national stage during his U.S. Senate run. Hear how ambition and luck propelled him to... more

Former president Barack Obama has only lost one election in his life. It was in 2000, and that defeat set... more

In 2000, Barack Obama ran for Congress against a Chicago political legend. It became a contest about race and identity.

Former President Barack Obama won his first political seat in 1996. Hear what he had to learn, and the conflicts... more

When Barack Obama first came to Chicago, a political transformation was happening in the city. Hear how that change inspired... more

Before he was the 44th President, Barack Obama worked as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago. Hear... more

Former President Barack Obama — along with friends, mentors, and rivals — tells the story of his climb from Chicago... more

In our final bonus installment, the Making Oprah production team revisits an extended interview with daytime talk show legend Phil... more