EP. 139 Ben Franklin As A Rock Star & The Day MTV Begged Reporters To Watch TV

Send us Fan MailA bronze statue on a bench sounds simple until you hear what it takes to make it real and why it changes the feel of a town. I’m joined by Pam Lewis, founder of PLA Media and a true music and media insider, to talk about how she gifted “Ben on the Bench,” a Benjamin Franklin statue in Franklin, Tennessee, and how that single act ties into legacy, civic pride, and the kind of giving back that actually lasts. Along the way we get honest about time, goals, discipline, and the fight to stay grounded in a world built to distract you. Pam also brings Franklin to life in a way that feels surprisingly current. We dig into why she calls him “America’s first rock star,” from self-education and invention to influence, humor, and contradictions. We talk about her two books, including a kid-friendly story and an adult read that uses quotes, culture, and even colonial recipes to make American history approachable. If you’re searching for Benjamin Franklin fun facts, Franklin Tennessee history, or ideas for meaningful community projects, this conversation gives you plenty to take home. Then we turn the volume up. Pam shares behind-the-scenes stories from the earliest days of MTV, when the channel didn’t even have major-city carriage and had to hustle journalists just to watch “air checks.” We also get into David Bowie, the pressure to play Black artists, the Michael Jackson turning point, and the chaotic magic of that era with voices like JJ Jackson shaping what the world heard next. If you enjoyed this one, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share it with a friend who loves history or music, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Support the showThanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAMI also welcome your comments. email: [email protected]