Stars of the Golden Age: An Old Hollywood Podcast

Erin Carlson focuses on what made these people tick before they became legends, and that angle makes Stars of the Golden Age stand out in a crowded field. Rather than just recapping filmographies, she traces the early lives, family backgrounds, and personal choices that shaped icons like Vivien Leigh, Gene Kelly, Dorothy Dandridge, and Butterfly McQueen. Each episode is essentially a biographical portrait that starts long before the fame arrived. With 108 episodes updated weekly and a strong 4.8-star rating, the show has built a loyal following since launching in 2024. Episodes typically run 30-60 minutes — long enough to tell a real story but short enough for a single listen. Recent installments also include fun segments like "Hot Off the Press," where Carlson revisits entertainment news from specific months in the 1950s, which adds a nice variety to the biographical format. The research is solid and the pacing is comfortable. Because the show focuses on individual figures rather than running season-long arcs, you can jump in at any episode that catches your eye. Interested in Gene Kelly? Start there. Curious about Dorothy Dandridge? That episode works perfectly on its own. Carlson clearly does her homework, and she presents it with enough personality that it never feels like a lecture.