In Memoriam: Who We Lost in 2021

Remembrances of notable people that we lost in 2021.

Curated byHark Editors

22 CLIPS1 HR 22 MINS

Clip 1 of 22

Hank Aaron

On Preston & Steve's Fun Size Podcast, hosts remember legendary baseball player Hank Aaron, who beat Babe Ruth's home run record.

Preston & Steve's Fun Size Podcast

4 MINS

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Larry King

Hosts remember legendary television host Larry King on the Preston & Steve's Fun Size Podcast.

Preston & Steve's Fun Size Podcast

3 MINS

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Larry Flynt

Larry Flynt, founder of the Hustler empire, died this year. Hosts of Past Present discuss the life and legacy of pornographer and free speech champion Larry Flynt.

Past Present

2 MINS

Clip 4 of 22

Mary Wilson

Music writer and journalist Adam White remembers the life of Mary Wilson of the Supremes, who died 2/8/2021.

Last Word

2 MINS

Clip 5 of 22

U-Roy

Ewart Beckford, or U-Roy, was a Jamaican DJ revolutionizing music-making in the 1970's. His influence is felt around the world and across genres. He's remembered on Here & Now.

Here & Now Anytime

3 MINS

Clip 6 of 22

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Sounds from Ferlinghetti's past. From The Kitchen Sisters Present, and sound designer Jim McKee.

The Kitchen Sisters Present

5 MINS

Clip 7 of 22

Elgin Baylor

Writer Dave McKenna describes Elgin Baylor taking a train from DC to Idaho for his only shot at playing college basketball in segregated America. From the podcast Hang Up and Listen.

Hang Up and Listen

3 MINS

Clip 8 of 22

Beverly Cleary

The Remember Reading Podcast remembers Beverly Cleary, one of America's most successful authors, who struggled with reading herself. She died on 3/25/2021.

Remember Reading Podcast

3 MINS

Clip 9 of 22

DMX

Author of DMX’s autobiography Smokey Fontaine speaks about the difference about DMX’s vulnerability and comparing him to Jay Z. From the podcast Popcast.

Popcast

4 MINS

Clip 10 of 22

Yuan Longping

Yuan Longping was a Chinese crop scientist who invented high-yield hybrid rice that has since fed billions, despite the fact that this was during a time when intellectuals were persecuted and imprisoned in China.

Nature Podcast

4 MINS

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Janet Malcolm

The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker remember Janet Malcolm, who died in 2021, and her hugely impactful book The Journalist and the Murderer, and the meaning of the book’s first sentence.

The Press Box

5 MINS

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Charlie Watts

Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot pay tribute to the legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts.

Sound Opinions

2 MINS

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Norm MacDonald

Conan O'Brien pays tribute to Norm MacDonald's fearless approach to comedy on the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend.

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

4 MINS

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Melvin Van Peebles

Black cinema lost a legend this year, Melvin Van Peebles. All Rev'd Up hosts discuss his many talents as an accomplished actor, filmmaker, playwright, novelist and composer.

All Rev'd Up

4 MINS

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Colin Powell

On the New Yorker Radio Hour, Dexter Filkins, a new Yorker staff writer joins Dorothy Wickenden to discuss the complicated legacy of Colin Powell, the Secretary of State under George W. Bush, who helped to shape post Cold War foreign policy.

The New Yorker: Politics and More

4 MINS

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Mort Sahl

Mark Breslin, CEO and co-founder of Yuk Yuks remembers the unique brilliance of Mort Sahl, the satirist who revolutionized stand-up comedy on the Kelly Cutrara Show.

Kelly Cutrara

2 MINS

Clip 17 of 22

Stu Rasmussen

Stu Rasmussen was the country’s first openly trans mayor. Host Tuck Woodstock discusses their political career and identity on the Gender Reveal podcast.

Gender Reveal

1 MIN

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Robert Bly

We also lost the great poet, Robert Bly from Michigan. Here is a reading of his poem “Wanting Sumptuous Heavens,” which originally appeared in The New Yorker from the podcast Audio Poem of the Day.

Audio Poem of the Day

46 SECS

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Michael K. Williams

Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald reflect on the passing of actor Michael K. Williams who is best known for his roles in 'The Wire' and 'The Night Of.' From the podcast The Watch.

The Watch

5 MINS

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Stephen Sondheim

Popcast host Jon Caramanica speaks to Jesse Green, The New York Times’s chief theater critic, about how Stephen Sondheim brought psychology into musical theater.

Popcast

4 MINS

Clip 21 of 22

Virgil Abloh

WSJ's Jacob Gallagher unpacks the legacy of Virgil Abloh, the artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton and the first Black American to hold a top creative job at a major luxury label. On the podcast The Journal.

The Journal.

3 MINS

Clip 22 of 22

Bob Dole

On the Sound On podcast, Bloomberg Washington Correspondent Joe Mathieu speaks to political consultant Rick Davis, about former senator Bob Dole.

Sound On

4 MINS

Curated byHark Editors

22 CLIPS1 HR 22 MINS

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In Memoriam: Who We Lost in 2021

Hank Aaron

Preston & Steve's Fun Size Podcast

Larry King

Preston & Steve's Fun Size Podcast

Larry Flynt

Past Present

Mary Wilson

Last Word

U-Roy

Here & Now Anytime

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

The Kitchen Sisters Present

Elgin Baylor

Hang Up and Listen

Beverly Cleary

Remember Reading Podcast

DMX

Popcast

Yuan Longping

Nature Podcast

Janet Malcolm

The Press Box

Charlie Watts

Sound Opinions

Norm MacDonald

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Melvin Van Peebles

All Rev'd Up

Colin Powell

The New Yorker: Politics and More

Mort Sahl

Kelly Cutrara

Stu Rasmussen

Gender Reveal

Robert Bly

Audio Poem of the Day

Michael K. Williams

The Watch

Stephen Sondheim

Popcast

Virgil Abloh

The Journal.

Bob Dole

Sound On

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