I Couldn’t Throw It Out Michael Small

Some of us just can't toss our furry friends from childhood. And we're not talking about a cute new collection of plushies. We're talking about stuffed animals with some history, saved for decades till fur and eyes are missing.  Why do we save them?  And what do we do with them now?  To get answers, we've asked adults to tell us about their much-loved cloth animals, including the tale of two German teddy bears who escaped the Nazis, and brought a precious secret cargo with them. Hear their stories, then tell us about your own stuffed animal. Send us a message on Instagram @throwitoutpod – and we'll share selections so everyone can honor our enduring companions.

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When singer/songwriter Melanie Safka died in January, many people remembered her for the #1 pop song "Brand New Key" (also known as the roller skate song.) But those of us who loved her know that her biggest hit never conveyed the richness of her career and her talents.

That's why I asked photographer Maddy Miller to join us on I Couldn't Throw It Out.  Not only did Maddy take iconic photos of Melanie, including the cover photo on Melanie's gold album Gather Me, she also was Melanie's close friend for more than 50 years. While sharing some of the gifts she received from Melanie, Maddy tells never-heard stories about their adventures – including an excellent close encounter with The Who's Keith Moon.

Though Melanie released dozens of albums and wrote new songs for six decades, little is known about the full scope of her life and music.  Find out what you missed – and what you could still enjoy – as we look back on her performance at Woodstock, and the varied songs that won her a legion of passionate fans.

Plus, I share my never-heard interview with Melanie and my authentic mementoes from the '70s.  Will I toss 'em? Let's just say that Maddy figures out what to do with her own treasures. Listen and find out…

MORE ABOUT MELANIE

Maddy Miller's personal collection of Melanie photos:  See the gallery
My playlist of favorite Melanie songs:  Listen now

More info, photos, and transcript: throwitoutpodcast.com
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Why should you watch Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson in 1967's long-lost-comic gem The Tiger Makes Out?

The surprise reason: After 50 years when you couldn't watch it anywhere, we just discovered that you can stream it for free.

But wait! That's just a start. Before you dive into this satire from another era – which can be a challenge – let us give you a prep session, with help from our special guest: Katherine Wallach, daughter of Eli and Anne.

Katherine shares the back story of The Tiger Makes Out, and her parents' wondrous performances in it. Then she talks about her family life, which included starring with her parents on Broadway, and a babysitter named Marilyn Monroe.

We also point you to the highlights of The Tiger Makes Out, including a cameo by Dustin Hoffman, an unhinged performance by Charles Nelson Reilly, and comic twists hiding in every single performance and every tiny detail of the set.

After decades of frustration when I couldn't share my favorite movie, now everything has changed. I could even throw out the sacred items I saved that remind me of The Tiger Makes Out, right? Well… we'll see about that.

More info, photos, and transcript: throwitoutpodcast.com
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Welcome to the invasion of the most entertaining people in Sweden -- who want all of us earthlings to start thinking about... death.  Yup, it sounds kooky.  But, in this episode, we have a blast absorbing the wit and wisdom of three experts on Swedish Death Cleaning.

In case you wonder what that means, these Swedes are the hosts of the Peacock TV series The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (produced and narrated by Amy Poehler).  They're the ultimate experts on a philosophy of reducing your possessions in a way that's much more  profound than a decluttering with Marie Kondo. 

Dialing in from Sweden, psychologist Katarina Blom, professional organizer Ella Engstrom, and designer Johan Svenson help us evaluate a sampling of stuff I've saved for decades, including treasures related to Andy Warhol, Billy Idol, and Joni Mitchell from my years as a People Magazine reporter.  So now it's time to let it all go.  Okay, maybe some of it...

Along the way, these Swedes showed us how to laugh about death.  But they also caught me off guard with a revelation so powerful that... I kind of lost it.

Would a little Swedish Death Cleaning do wonders for you too?  Listen and find out.

More info, photos, and transcript: throwitoutpodcast.com
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Covering live Olympic figure skating on TV is no easy task. Just ask Meg Streeter Lauck, who worked for 23 years as a director for ABC Sports and other networks.  Her behind-the-scenes tales  -- which she shares in this episode -- reveal how her team nabbed the perfect shot of Canadian skating champions Sale and Pelletier at the 2002 Olympics. Plus, she recreates the thrill of first seeing 13-year-old Dorothy Hamill on the ice, and the sadness of a visit to an NYC fire station after 9/11.  Will telling these tales help Meg make the leap -- and toss some of her stuff?

More info, photos, and transcript: throwitoutpodcast.com
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How fun was VIP access to Diana's '80s concerts? Very -- if you liked chatting with Andy Warhol, stalking Richard Gere, and dancing with Diana on a party boat at 1:30 AM

More info, photos, and transcript: throwitoutpodcast.com
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