Kate Casey on Jayne Mansfield and Natalie Wood

When Grief Meets Glamour: The Daughters of Jayne Mansfield and Natalie Wood with Kate Casey

This week, I’m joined once again by the incomparable Kate Casey — a true force in the podcasting world and the brilliant mind behind Reality Life with Kate Casey. Kate has an uncanny ability to spot the heart of a story before the rest of us even know what we’re looking for, and today’s conversation is no exception.

We’re diving deep into two standout HBO Max documentaries: My Mom, Jayne, which explores the life and legacy of Jayne Mansfield through the eyes of her daughter, Mariska Hargitay, and Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind, a moving portrait of Natalie Wood created by her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner.

These films aren’t just about fame, tragedy or the glittering veneer of old Hollywood. They’re about the private pain behind the public image — and what it means to grow up grieving a mother the world thought it knew. We talk about identity, loss, and the long shadow cast by unanswered questions and complicated legacies.

This is a layered, emotionally rich episode about grief, fame, motherhood and memory — the kind of conversation that stays with you.

Follow Kate on socials at @katecaseyca

Get her What To Watch Guide here: www.katecasey.substack.com

Follow the show at @jana.firestone and leave us a rating and review on iTunes and Spotify.

Watch this episode and others in full, on YouTube at The Curious Life Podcast.

Thank you as always to our production /audio engineer wiz, Sam Talbot - best in the biz!