Episodios

  • "All Along the Watchtower" by Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix
    Jan 2 2026

    The fifth season of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan" concludes with a very special guest: U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. A highly acclaimed writer and artist in her own right, Harjo joined the podcast to discuss Bob Dylan's “All Along the Watchtower," as well as Jimi Hendrix's classic cover.

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    30 m
  • "Home" by Stephanie Mills and Diana Ross
    Dec 26 2025

    In this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan," Jordan Embrack, a vocalist and graduate of the University of Maryland, joins Stephanie to discuss "Home," Dorothy's finale song in the 1975 Broadway musical The Wiz. "Home" was first performed by Stephanie Mills, and Diana Ross sang it for the film adaptation of The Wiz that premiered in 1978. Jordan and Stephanie discuss the song's national impact and the personal meaning it holds for Jordan as she begins her career as a singer and entertainer.

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    30 m
  • "Bound" by Ponderosa Twins Plus One and "Bound 2" by Kanye West
    Dec 19 2025

    In this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan," University of Maryland graduate Mekhi Abbott joined Stephanie to discuss the thematic differences between “Bound” by Ponderosa Twins Plus One and “Bound 2” by Kanye West. The original song, released in 1969, is full of affection and yearning, and was relatively unknown until Kanye West sampled it in 2013. But Kanye's interpretation of the song is a lot more coarse, and it’s often viewed as a dark twist on a love song.

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    30 m
  • "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand and Beyoncé
    Dec 12 2025

    University of Maryland Associate Director of Bands Andrea Brown joins Stephanie Shonekan on this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan" to discuss "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand and Beyoncé. The tear-jerking ballad was produced for a film by the same name in 1973, and the feeling of longing for a love gone by is still just as touching decades later.

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    30 m
  • "Living After Midnight" by Judas Priest and The Donnas
    Dec 5 2025

    In this season premiere of Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan, Stephanie sits down with KBIA Morning Edition host Darren Hellwege to discuss "Living After Midnight" by Judas Priest. It's a rebellious track about running amok under the cover of night. The Donnas covered it in 2001.

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    30 m
  • "Bein' Green" by Kermit the Frog and Ray Charles
    Jan 3 2025
    On this special season finale of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan," Cheryl Henson and Nick Raposo join the podcast to discuss "Bein' Green," a song from our beloved childhood friend Kermit the Frog. Cheryl Henson is the daughter of Jim Henson, Kermit’s original voice actor and creator of The Muppets. And Nick Raposo is the son of Joe Raposo, a songwriter and composer who was one of the producers for Sesame Street. Together, they break down the cultural significance of Kermit’s song and how Ray Charles interpreted the universal ode to self-acceptance just a few years later.
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    30 m
  • "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Nina Simone and The Animals
    Dec 27 2024
    Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," released in 1964, is both a personal plea for acceptance and a collective cry for justice. The Animals' version of the song — released just a few months later — maintains the same lyrics, but has a much lighter sound. On this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan," Craig Thompson joins Stephanie to discuss the two versions and how they reflect the cultural landscape of the 1960s.
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    30 m
  • "Superstar" by the Carpenters and Luther Vandross
    Dec 20 2024
    Kelvin McIlwain joins Stephanie Shonekan on this episode of "Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan" to discuss the song "Superstar." It was originally released in 1969 by Delaney & Bonnie under the name "Groupie," a word that describes someone who follows around a celebrity in the hopes of one day meeting them. The Carpenters released their own version of the song in 1971 and named it "Superstar." Luther Vandross released a cover of "Superstar" in 1983. Shonekan and McIlwain unpack the differences in the Carpenters and Vandross versions of the song, as well as the legacy the artists have left behind.
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    30 m