Billy Corgan sits down with Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, granddaughter of Disney animation pioneer Ub Iwerks, for a fascinating conversation about family legacy, creative ambition, and the stories history almost forgot.

Leslie traces her journey from USC film school to becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected documentarians, with credits including The Pixar Story, Industrial Light & Magic, and her latest film, Disneyland Handcrafted.

Along the way, Billy and Leslie dig into Ub Iwerks’ indispensable role in creating Mickey Mouse, explore Walt Disney’s visionary drive, Roy Disney’s underrated role as the financial backbone of the company, and the near-impossible feat of building Disneyland in less than a year.

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In this deeply personal conversation, Billy Corgan and Melissa Auf der Maur reunite after 25 years to unpack the full story: how a $1 Tuesday night show sparked one of rock's most unlikely friendships, how Billy secretly recommended Melissa to Courtney Love, and why she almost said no — twice. The two dive into the early days of the Smashing Pumpkins, the chaos of underground rock clubs, Courtney's Hollywood pivot that gutted the band, the rise of grunge, and how a single moment of pure rock-and-roll intensity changed both of their lives.

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Rockabilly legend Slim Jim Phantom sits down with Billy Corgan for a fascinating look into the birth of the Stray Cats and the unlikely road from Long Island bars to global rock stardom. Phantom traces his musical roots from studying under jazz drummer Mousey Alexander to discovering the raw power of Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, and Eddie Cochran. What followed was pure rock-and-roll mythology: three young musicians chasing a dream to London with almost no money, sleeping in parks, and hustling for gigs until word spread through the British music underground. Soon icons like Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ray Davies were showing up at their shows—helping launch the Stray Cats into international fame. It’s a conversation about risk, rebellion, and how a “too weird” band helped spark an entire revival.

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On this provocative episode, Billy Corgan sits down with returning guest Conrad Flynn to explore the uneasy intersection of fame, power, the occult, and modern celebrity culture. Their conversation moves beyond headlines into the architecture of influence, the blurred lines between entertainment and politics, and the deeper question of who actually shapes the cultural narrative. They debate whether the surge of occult symbolism in pop is pure marketing, spiritual theater, or a reflection of something deeper—and whether rock’s once-defiant cultural voice has quietly been sidelined. Corgan also reflects on the personal cost of fame, the realities of industry manipulation, and why faith, truth, and integrity are the only antidotes to a rigged system.

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In this deeply personal conversation with Billy Corgan, Jack Osbourne reflects on growing up in the spotlight, getting sober at 17, and carving out his own path beyond the shadow of rock royalty. He revisits the reality TV phenomenon that reshaped pop culture and the pressures of teenage fame, shares intimate stories about his parents’ relationship, the gentleness and laughter behind the chaos, and what it was like watching Ozzy wrestle with fame and self-worth. The conversation turns emotional as he revisits Ozzy’s final Birmingham show: the Herculean effort to make it happen, the healing reunion with Black Sabbath, and the peace Ozzy found at the end. 

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In this candid conversation with Billy Corgan, legendary Heart co-founder Nancy Wilson reflects on a nomadic childhood shaped by military life, seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, and falling in love with the guitar. She revisits the Vancouver club grind, the rare alchemy of sibling harmony, and earning credibility in a male-dominated rock world. Nancy also looks back on the 80s era of big hair, outside songwriters, and creative compromise, before turning personal around Ann—her once-in-a-generation gift, what it demands, and the isolation that comes when identity is inseparable from the stage. It’s a sharp, unsentimental look at what it takes to build something that survives trends, egos, and time.

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Join Billy Corgan for an intimate, funny, and surprisingly revealing conversation with legendary designer Gilles Mendel—founder of J. Mendel and House of Gilles, and yes, Billy’s father-in-law. Gilles traces his journey from postwar Paris and a fifth-generation fashion legacy to haute couture, dressing icons like Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Obama, and Taylor Swift—while pulling back the curtain on fashion’s punishing, nonstop grind. He relives his surreal 1980s New York run-ins with Andy Warhol and Keith Haring and tells the hilarious moment he discovered who his daughter was dating (including a panic-fueled Google deep dive). He breaks down why true bespoke couture still matters in the age of fast fashion—and what it really takes to make a custom gown: 2–3 months, countless hours, and borderline obsession.

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There are artists who make the art—and then there are artists who are the art. On this episode of The Magnificent Others, Billy Corgan sits down with Kommunity FK frontman and goth pioneer Patrik Mata. In this rare, unguarded conversation, Patrik talks about his early fascination with Dadaism, surrealism, and David Bowie, arriving in Los Angeles in 1975 with fifty dollars and no plan, enduring hostile crowds, and turning down record deals on principle. Along the way, Billy and Patrik explore individuality, anti-art, creative innocence, and the real cost of originality.

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REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin joins Billy Corgan for an intimate conversation about Midwest rock, a shared Catholic upbringing, and five decades inside one of America’s defining bands. Cronin shares the real story behind writing “Keep On Loving You,” his getting fired in the early days—and later rehired—by REO, and the creative partnership with guitarist Gary Richrath that led to the diamond-selling Hi Infidelity. From Chicago folk clubs to Soldier Field, as well as unknowingly providing cover for gun runners with the band’s plane, to navigating the industry alongside titan Irving Azoff, Cronin reflects on the working-class ethos behind rock and roll made from the heart. 

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Billy Corgan sits down with Penn Jillette for a sprawling, razor-sharp conversation that moves from magic to morality. What begins as a discussion about deception quickly becomes something deeper: why consent turns lying into art, and why Penn proudly calls himself an “honest liar.” Penn traces his path from a strict Christian upbringing to agnosticism and atheism, shaped by mentors like James Randi, a teenage crisis of faith in science, and a romantic (and very real) stint as a street performer inspired by Bob Dylan. Along the way: clown college, illegal busking, Vegas stages, and a 50-year creative partnership with Teller performing magic without disrespecting the audience.

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Stephen Pearcy, founder and frontman of Ratt, joins Billy Corgan for a conversation that swings from the near-fatal accident that first pushed him toward music to the creative vision that shaped Ratt’s distinctive sound alongside guitarist Robbin Crosby. They trace Pearcy’s all-out hustle through the LA club circuit, following Van Halen’s blueprint while drawing from unexpected influences like David Bowie, Blue Öyster Cult, and Adam Ant—elements that gave Ratt a melodic edge that set them apart from their metal contemporaries. Pearcy speaks candidly about internal fractures, the business decisions that changed everything, why he believes Ratt was uniquely positioned to survive the grunge era and what it means to be an OG of the ’80s scene still driven to perform decades later.

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