No matter which side of the aisle you stand on, we can all agree on one thing:
Chicago played a crucial role in Barack Obama’s rise to the country’s highest elected office, and ultimately, the history books.
That’s the topic of Making Obama, a six-part podcast series from WBEZ that premieres today.
Through interviews with key advisors, mentors and the man himself, the show charts how the city shaped 44’s political identity.
Fair warning: it may induce nostalgia.
And if it does, we have four more recent pop-culture cuts to help you reminisce, from David Letterman’s exclusive interview with the former POTUS to a must-have book from a former White House photographer.
LISTEN: Making Obama
Hosted by NPR’s Jenn White, Making Obama could very well be the most comprehensive look at the connection between Chicago and the country’s first African-American president. The show comes on the heels of Making Oprah, another highly recommended podcast that provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the media titan built her empire. With Making Obama, you’ll hear interviews with more than 50 different players from Obama’s 20-year stint in Chicago, from his start as community organizer in 1985 all the way up to his bid for president.
LOOK: Obama: An Intimate Portrait
Pete Souza — chief official White House photographer for Barack Obama — has racked up a considerable following since leaving 1600 Penn thanks to his Instagram. Here’s his behind-the-scenes look into a world-changing presidency.
WATCH: My Next Guest Needs No Introduction
If David Letterman and the ex-POTUS can teach us anything, it’s that you can’t keep a low-profile forever. The new Netflix show sees the return of the two cultural icons sitting down for an hour-long chat at New York University. The one-one-one covers a range of topics, from legacy to post-presidency life, and sees Obama (and Letterman) at their most relaxed.
READ: Obama’s 2017 Reading List
Continuing the tradition of sharing his favorite books and music every year, Obama published a diverse list for 2017. Dig up your next read from Obama’s Facebook page, and listen to the full playlist on Spotify.
FOLLOW: The Obama Foundation
While the Presidential Center faces stiff opposition (read the latest: here, here and here) the Obama Foundation still remains the best source for keeping up with the issues most important to the ex-POTUS. We already saw the Obama Foundation Summit bring civic leaders from around the world come to Chicago last November. Did we also mention they’re hiring?
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