Making Obama - WBEZ

Before the Grammys, before the platinum records, before Destiny’s Child, there was just a shy girl growing up in Houston. We follow Beyoncé Knowles from the stages of local talent shows to her first crack at a record deal with the group Girls Tyme.

From the makers of  Making Obama , WBEZ Chicago presents  Making Beyoncé , a new three-part bio-podcast series that explores Beyoncé Knowles’ rise from local talent shows to global musical icon.  Find episodes of  Making Beyoncé right here beginning Friday, Nov. 15, 2019.

Just two and a half years after his 2004 Democratic National Convention speech, Barack Obama announced he was running for president.

Barack Obama burst onto the national stage during his U.S. Senate run. Hear how ambition and luck propelled him to Washington.

Former president Barack Obama has only lost one election in his life. It was in 2000, and that defeat set him on the course for his eventual U.S. Senate run. Making Obama is a production of listener-supported WBEZ Chicago. Support WBEZ and the future of podcasts like this at