Think Twice: Michael Jackson

Think Twice: Michael Jackson

By: Leon Neyfakh
Narrated by: Leon Neyfakh, Jay Smooth
Listen for free

About this listen

More than a decade since Michael Jackson’s death, his legacy remains complicated and unresolved. Think Twice: Michael Jackson is an exploration of the King of Pop’s life and impact – and an investigation into why his global influence continues to endure, despite the disturbing allegations against him. In this ten-part series, journalists Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth bring you a new perspective on the Michael Jackson story, based on dozens of original interviews with people who watched it unfold from up close.

Episodes of Think Twice: Michael Jackson contain explicit descriptions of child sexual abuse and may be triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

©2023 JP Audio One, LLC (P)2023 Amazon.com Services, LLC, Amazon Digital UK Limited, Amazon.com Sales Inc., and Audible Originals, LLC Historical Music
Episodes
  • Episode 1: Is This Scary?

    Episode 1: Is This Scary?
    Apr 27 2023

    It’s 1993 and Michael Jackson is on top of the world: receiving lifetime achievement awards, appearing at Bill Clinton’s inaugural gala, performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. More popular and powerful than he’s ever been, he uses that caché to create a music video that stands among his most personal and prescient works. Then everything falls apart.

    You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/ThinkTwiceMJ
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • Episode 2: All Children, Except One, Grow Up

    Episode 2: All Children, Except One, Grow Up
    Apr 27 2023

    As news breaks of the first sexual abuse allegations against Michael, reporters scramble to dig up any information they can while Michael Jackson’s PR machine battles to control the narrative. Meanwhile, a by-the-book LAPD detective struggles to investigate the case in the midst of the frenzy.

    You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/ThinkTwiceMJ
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Episode 3: Big Boy

    Episode 3: Big Boy
    Apr 27 2023

    Michael Jackson’s childhood, or lack thereof, is cited constantly in the conversation around his relationships with children. In this episode, we go back to Michael’s earliest days in Gary, Indiana, where he grows up under the domineering hand of his father while he and his brothers take the local music scene by storm in search of a better life.

    You can find a list of books, articles, and documentaries we used in our research at bit.ly/ThinkTwiceMJ
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
Brilliant. Intelligent. Everything you would expect from this team. They've dealt with a very tough subject in a respectful and thought provoking way.

Brilliant. Intelligent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Leon is well known for his podcast, Fiasco. Teaming with Jay Smooth, they have produced dignified and compelling look at MJ. Great rapport between the hosts, great research.

Excellent podcast

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I enjoyed this deep dive into both Michael the artist and Michael the alleged pedophile. Gives a voice to the unheard, now we know so much more.

A complex case, beautifully unfolded

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
MJ has been present my whole life. I’m not a fan but enjoy some of his stuff. And he has been such a constant mysterious figure. These episodes provide a nice factual meander along his life story. I remembered some milestones but had no idea of the context. I also value the time spent on the allegations that followed him, handled with pragmatism.
The narrators are very enjoyable as well as the format of the podcast. A smooth dialogue away from judgement.

Great summary, away from speculations

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Thank you for taking on the challenge to better understand and make sense of an iconic gifted artist who’s public and personal behaviour continues to polarise and divide opinions. Enjoyed the balance of fact and outcome reporting coupled with a reflective view on the collective behaviour towards MJ his entire life. All of which influenced and shaped him, making it clear responsibility is not his alone to bare.

Perspective and Collective responsibility

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks but this is my first podcast. It's an engaging reprieve from the sole performer format of the former. Having said that, listener beware. In no way is this an objective reporting of the facts. while the folk who compiled this work did a decent job of sourcing comment from a wide range of people, I feel as if their intention all along was to find the man guilty, and they both go so far as to say as much in the final episode. I have no idea who these guys are but I suspect they were never close enough to the actual events to pass comment. There is a serious 'woke' undercurrent throughout the piece, as much as I am loath to use that description. Personally I'm turned off hearing two grown men playing into the current trend of pathetic victim mentality whinging.
If anything I felt the work was a revealing look at how utterly disgusting certain aspects of (largely) American celebrity culture is these days. For instance, to fly the second court case jurors around the country on a publicity tour is downright foul. And I'm sorry but I doubt any sane person has any interest in the obesity challenges of a certain juror who, obviously, relished in becoming a pseudo celebrity by the end of the ordeal.
Lastly, why is it no-one ever asks why the hell the parents of these kids have not been held accountable for their actions, releasing their kids into the care of a man who, aparently, the world has always suspected to be guilty of sexual crimes??? It's simple. Greed and vanity. How about we take a leaf from MJ's songs namesake and take a look in the mirror and take responsibility for our own actions.

Revealing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.