Significant Others - Introducing Significant Others from Team Coco

Episode Date: July 12, 2022

Did you know that the novel "Lolita" would not exist if Vladimir Nabokov’s wife hadn’t stopped her husband from burning the manuscript? Or that Gandhi learned his legendary method of passive resistance from his wife? Alongside any famous name, there is often another story to tell—of an intimate relationship that made all the difference. Starting July 20th, join Liza Powel O’Brien as she explores the stories of the little-known individuals just beyond the spotlight of history. Because no one lives in a vacuum—not even geniuses. 

History is full of great individuals, but if we look beyond the spotlight, who else might we see? Who fed the great individual, and cleaned for them, and gave them a sounding board for their great ideas? In other words, who did the person who made history depend on? Often, it's impossible to find out. But once in a while, we get lucky, and the story was not only recorded, it's really good. And almost always, it sheds light not just on the past, but the present as well. My name is Liza Powell O'Brien, and I'm a writer, a reader, and the wife of a man who has been making headlines since long before I met him. Now, here he is,

Conan O'Brien! But he's the first to admit he doesn't do it all on his own. Of course, I don't do it alone. I wish I did. Which is what my new podcast from Team Coco is all about. It's called Significant Others. And each episode tells a story you might not know about a person you probably do, like Vera Nabokov, without whom the world might never have known the book Lolita,

or Kasturba Gandhi, who introduced her husband to the kind of passive resistance that helped him liberate his country from British rule. Some insanely talented Team Coco friends like Nick Offerman, Mega Malali, and Jamila Jamil are joining forces to bring these stories to life. And a series of fantastic guests will help me think out loud about how stories like these from the past are relevant to the present. Starting July 20th, wherever you get your podcasts, join us to learn more about all kinds of significant others. Because no one lives in a vacuum, not even geniuses.