The Kennedys story isn’t just one of success; it’s also one of heartbreak. Known as the “Kennedy curse,” this family has faced unimaginable tragedies. Carney shares original interviews from his own archives from experts who have studied the family extensively, and those who were close to them - some so close they even had blood splatter from the assassination of JFK.

Join us as we uncover the stories that continue to captivate the nation—this is the Kennedy dynasty like you’ve never heard it before.

Featured interviews:

Chris Mathews

Clint Hill (Part ONE)

Mark Shaw

Cory Taylor

Rosemarie Terenzino

Clint Hill (Part TWO)

Paul Landis

David Hayman

David Talbot

Find John Carney's ThemeMachine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere else you find podcasts.

Check thecarneyshow.com for all episodes of the ThemeMachine, info about CarneysKids and anything else John wants you to see.

Welcome to another edition of The Theme Machine. This week, we're diving into a topic that's been on my mind—how the people behind our favorite books and screenplays do it all. You know, how they craft stories that resonate with us, inspire us, and sometimes even change our lives. It all started when a friend asked me, 'How do they do it?' And now, here I am, sitting here thinking about it too."

This week, I've invited some of the biggest names in storytelling to share their journeys. We're talking about the process, the inspiration, and what happens behind the scenes when writers bring their visions to life. So, let's get started with this week's Theme Machine.

Join me as I chat with them about their journeys in storytelling.

Augustine Burroughs

Anne Rice

Mitch Albom

Kinky Friedman

RL Stein

Scott Turrow

Dave Barry

Thomas Kineely

Nora Ephron

James Patterson

Find John Carney's ThemeMachine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere else you find podcasts.

Check thecarneyshow.com for all episodes of the ThemeMachine, info about CarneysKids and anything else John wants you to see.

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(Sitcoms PART ONE can be found in our previous episode.)

In PART TWO of sitcoms, John Carney visits with and shares conversations with more stars of the shows we loved...and still do.

Rosanne Barr

Gabe Kaplan

Harry Shearer

Ron Palillo

John Sebastian

BJ Novak

Rainn Wilson

Al Jean

Jeff Garland

Find John Carney's ThemeMachine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere else you find podcasts.

Check thecarneyshow.com for all episodes of the ThemeMachine, info about CarneysKids and anything else John wants you to see.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of "The ThemeMachine" delves into the television shows became part of the fabric of our lives and decades later, live on in syndication and YouTube clips. One exceptional highlight of this episode is the story Sherwood Schwartz tells about the creation of the iconic "Gilligan's Island" theme.

Also making an appearance:

Garry Marshall

Henry Winkler

Marion Ross

Dave Coulier

Hal Linden

Barry Williams

Bob Saget

Barbara Eden

Be sure to catch PART TWO of sitcoms in our next episode of The ThemeMachine.

Find John Carney's ThemeMachine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere else you find podcasts.

Check thecarneyshow.com for all episodes of the ThemeMachine and anything else John wants you to see.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this inaugural episode of The Theme Machine, John Carney shares conversations of with people who were pivotal in the event back in 1969.

These are the things that you hardly ever hear about - NOT the iconic performances from the big names you know - most of them weren't big names yet - these are some of the things that went wrong at Woodstock.

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John Carney, a celebrated St. Louis radio icon, has dedicated his career to capturing the essence of American storytelling. As an inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame, alongside his father Jack Carney, John brings a wealth of experience and a unique interviewing style to The Theme Machine.

This podcast is his passion project, offering listeners a treasure trove of cultural narratives and firsthand accounts. From exploring the legacy of the Kennedys to reliving the magic of Woodstock, each episode is a testament to his commitment to preserving the voices and stories that define our culture.

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