The Prince Mixtape

4.3 (480)
MUSIC
WEEKLY SERIES

On each episode of The Prince Mixtape, we’ll meet people who knew Prince, worked with him, or simply loved him from afar. Host Nichole Perkins will dig deep into key moments of his life, like when his sexually liberated lyrics gave birth to the Parental Advisory Sticker, when he fought to own his masters, and when he rocked that infamous, delicious booty cut-out pantsuit.

EPISODE 1

Minneapolis Always Been the Bomb

How did Prince Rogers Nelson become an international superstar? The story begins in Minneapolis in the 1970s. We speak to Prince’s first producer, Chris Moon, about helping Prince find his voice in the studio. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

50 min
EPISODE 2

She’s Doing What with a Magazine?!

How did Prince’s music end up being debated in the halls of Congress? Susan Rogers, the recording engineer on Prince’s Purple Rain album, shares what it was like making songs like “Darling Nikki” in Prince’s basement home studio. And scholar Lynnée Denise shares a personal story of how “Darling Nikki” impacted her life. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

39 min
EPISODE 3

Barbarella Meets The Godfather

How did Prince become synonymous with ruffled shirts and peekaboo lace? The women behind his most iconic looks lift the veil on what it was like to dress and design for a style superstar. We’ll meet Marie France, Prince’s costume designer during the Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon eras, and Stacia Lang, Prince’s costume designer responsible for his infamous booty cutout pantsuit. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 3m
EPISODE 4

Love Symbol No. 2

What inspired Prince to scrawl the word “slave” on his face and change his name to an unpronounceable symbol? Prince’s first manager, Owen Husney, scholar Lynnée Denise, and writer Anil Dash unpack Prince’s battle with his label to own his masters. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

37 min
EPISODE 5

Nothing But The Funk

What made Prince such a unique performer? Musician and Prince muse Patrice Rushen, professor Kat Okedeyi, and writer Anil Dash explore how funk infused Prince’s performance style, including his Super Bowl Halftime Show and one of his last concerts ever. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

39 min
EPISODE 6

Beyond The Lace

How did Prince engage with the world? Prince was a quiet activist and some say a feminist. We talk to Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza about Prince’s activism. And professor Lynnée Denise helps us makes sense of Prince’s complicated relationship with women. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

41 min
EPISODE 7

God, Prince, and Chocolate

What makes Prince fans so intensely passionate? Our superfan host Nichole sits down with some other superfans to unpack their collective and individual love of Prince, and how he contributed to their sexual awakenings. Also, Nichole and Prince expert Anil Dash reflect on the surprising ways Prince connected with fans. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

43 min
EPISODE 8

U R With Me

For our season finale, Nichole sits down with her good friends Mickey and Rashad to share how they continue to process their grief over Prince’s death and celebrate his unforgettable legacy. And we hear from several guests featured this season with their answers to the question “If you had five more minutes with Prince, what would you say or do?” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30 min
SEASON 2 TRAILER

Introducing The Prince Mixtape

The Prince Mixtape takes listeners inside the life of one of the greatest American music icons of all time through the people who knew him, worked with him or simply loved him from afar. Host Nichole Perkins digs deep into key moments of his life like when his sexually liberated lyrics gave birth to the Parental Advisory sticker, when he fought to own his masters, and when he rocked that infamous booty cut-out pantsuit. Just like a treasured mixtape from your favorite crush, this show is a reflection of the moments, the thrill and the passion, that made up Prince’s life. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 min

TRAILER

Introducing The Prince Mixtape

The Prince Mixtape takes listeners inside the life of one of the greatest American music icons of all time through the people who knew him, worked with him or simply loved him from afar. Host Nichole Perkins digs deep into key moments of his life like when his sexually liberated lyrics gave birth to the Parental Advisory sticker, when he fought to own his masters, and when he rocked that infamous booty cut-out pantsuit. Just like a treasured mixtape from your favorite crush, this show is a reflection of the moments, the thrill and the passion, that made up Prince’s life. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S2

•

4 min

Nichole Perkins

Host

4.3

out of 5

480 Ratings

goood

07/14/2025

love you songs

good
More please?!

09/06/2023

💟 💟 💟 💟

This is an excellent podcast on our beloved Prince. The narrator is devoted. Great content with a funky background that really left me wanting more episodes! I have listened to them all, twice!
Let the interviews play

04/20/2025

gl1wreck

Launching this based on impressions at age six are forced, as is the music arch of the parents. An interview from an early producer is drowned out by unnecessary narrative inserts. The whole things feels like two hours of googling and article skimming. Prince deserves better.
CNN style identity politics and culture war

09/28/2024

Grumpy Double Bass

The host seems to lay thick layers of the identity politics and CNN style culture war editorializing a couple of times each episode. It seems disingenuous seeing as how CNN, MSNBC, NPR, FOX, NEWSMAX et al are all pro genocide and consent manufacturers of Middle East warmongering. There is no difference between any of them except their variety of engineered domestic polarization.

On each episode of The Prince Mixtape, we’ll meet people who knew Prince, worked with him, or simply loved him from afar. Host Nichole Perkins will dig deep into key moments of his life, like when his sexually liberated lyrics gave birth to the Parental Advisory Sticker, when he fought to own his masters, and when he rocked that infamous, delicious booty cut-out pantsuit.