Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation
is a monthly academic podcast that focuses on the life, art and creative work of Michael Jackson.
Presented by Academic Karin Merx, and academic Elizabeth Amisu, editors of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, it is the world’s first academic podcast that solely discusses the art of Michael Jackson as well as the broader contexts in which his music, performance and short films were created and received.
Each podcast is filled to the brim with academic insights, a plethora of references from a range of academic disciplines, humour and a great deal of discussion, taking Michael Jackson’s work and the study of its reception to new heights.
Recently, featured on the iTunes ‘New and Noteworthy’ lists, Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation is the world’s foremost podcast on Michael Jackson in academic studies. It is available via iTunes, Android, Email, RSS, and Stitcher
Latest Episode
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation SEASON 1 (2015-2016)
- Episode 1 (29/6/15): Was Michael Jackson an Artist?
- Episode 2 (7/1/16): 2015 Recap: Past, Present and Future Book 1
- Episode 3 (7/2/16): What is Michael Jackson Studies?
- Episode 4 (1/3/16): Michael Jackson And Monochromatic Cinematography
- Episode 5 (28/3/16): MJAS Exclusive – Michael Jackson’s Estate
- Episode 6 (7/4/16): Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to ‘Off the Wall’
- Episode 7 (7/5/16): MJ 7 Meets Shakespeare 400
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation SEASON 2 (2016)
- Episode 8 (28/5/16): MJAS Exclusive – Michael Jackson & Prince Part I
- Episode 9 (7/6/16): Michael Jackson & Prince Part II
- Episode 10 (25/6/16): MJAS Exclusive: 7 Albums, 7 Songs, 7 Years (With Dr Joe Vogel)
- Episode 11 (7/7/16): Author & Text: The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson Pt. 1
- Episode 12 (7/8/16): MJ Academy: The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson Pt. 2
- Episode 13 (29/8/16): MJAS Exclusive: Michael Jackson 58th Birthday: MJ & Afrocentricity
- Episode 14 (7/9/16): Michael Jackson’s HIStory
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation SEASON 3 (2016-2017)
- Episode 15 (13/9/16): MJAS Exclusive – Live from Kingvention
- Episode 16 (30/9/16): A Celebration of the Book Release of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson
- Episode 17 (7/10/16): The Isle Is Full Of Noises
- Episode 18 (30/10/16): Halloween Special: ‘Ghosts’
- Episode 19 (7/11/16): Celebrating Dangerous25: Michael Jackson’s ‘Dancing The Dream’
- Episode 20 (7/12/16): Michael Jackson & Cleopatra
- Episode 21 (7/1/17): 2016 Recap: Past, Present And Future Book II
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation SEASON 4 (2017)
- Episode 22 (7/2/17): International Michael Jackson Research
- Episode 23 (7/3/17): Michael Jackson as an Actor
- Episode 24 (30/4/17): Analysing Michael Jackson’s ‘Who Is It’
- Episode 25 (21/5/17): The Order of the Songs on Michael Jackson’s Invincible
- Episode 26 (21/6/17): Part 1: 8 Years – 8 Short Films
- Episode 27 (21/7/17): Part 2: 8 Years – 8 Short Films
- Episode 28 (21/8/17): Michael Jackson and Fashion
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation SEASON 5 (2017)
- Episode 29 (21/9/17): 1 Year: Celebrating The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson
- Episode 30 (30/9/17): Celebrating The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson, Part II: MJ in the BL
- Episode 31 (22/10/17) A Compilation Of Our Most-Loved Episodes
- Episode 32 (21/11/17) Part 1 of The Lost Recordings, ‘Leave Me Alone’ & ‘Jam’
- Episode 33 (21/12/17) Part 2 of The Lost Recordings, ‘Scream’ & ‘You Rock My World’
- Episode 34 (21/01/18) Recap 2017, Past, Present, Future, Book III
- Episode 35 (06/03/18) A Good Artist Copies, and A Great Artist Steals
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation SEASON 6 (2018/20)
- Episode 36 (25/06/18) ‘Michael Jackson FAQ’
- Episode 37 (21/07/18) Interview with Dr Susan Rogers
- Episode 38 (10/06/20) The King of Pop & Queen Bey
- Episode 39 (20/06/20) MJ & Civil Rights
- Episode 40 (21/07/20) Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
- Episode 41 (14/11/20) ‘Leaving Neverland’ & ‘The Real Michael Jackson’
- Episode 42 (27/12/20) Exploring Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation Season 7 (2021)
- Episode 43 (14/01/21)Past-Present-Future Book 4
- Episode 44 (21/01/21) ‘Earth Song’
- Episode 45 (21/03/21) ‘Stranger in Moscow’
- Episode 46 (04/04/21) ‘MJAS Exclusive Xscape’
- Episode 47 (08/05/21) ‘On The Wall – Part 1’
- Episode 48 (27/05/21) ‘On The Wall – Part 2’
- Episode 49 (27/06/21) ‘Faking It – MJAS Exclusive’
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation Season 8 (2021/2022)
- Episode 50 (29/08/21) Exclusive The 10 Songs of Karin & Elizabeth
- Episode 51 (21/01/22) Past-Present-Future Book 5
- Episode 52 (21/02/22) Book review and Discussion Book Pinder
- Episode 53 (21/03/22) Review MA Thesis Kelly O’Riley
- Episode 54 (25/04/22) Review MA Thesis Ryan Garey
- Episode 55 (30/05/22) Review Nakan Journal Issue 2 (part 1)
- Episode 56 (13/06/22) Review Nakan Journal Issue 2 (part 2)
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation Season 9 (2022)
- Episode 57 (25/06/22) Exclusive Interview with Marcos Cabotá About his documentary Sonic Fantasy
- Episode 58 (21/07/22) Review Essay Elizabeth Amisu for the Nakan Journal
- Episode 59 (29/08/22) Part-I Interview with Columnist Kerry Hennigan
- Episode 60 (21/09/22) Part-II Interview with Columnist Kerry Hennigan
- Episode 61 (21/09/22) Exclusive KingVention Interview with Elizabeth Amisu
- Episode 62 (21/10/22) Part-III Interview with Columnist Kerry Hennigan
- Episode 63 (21/11/22) Re-Imagining Michael Jackson with Geneva S Thomas and Nina Fonoroff
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation Season 10 (2022/2023)
- Episode 64 (21/12/22) In The Studio With MJ & Thriller 40
- Episode 65 (27/01/23) Past – Present – Future Book 6
- Episode 66 (21/02/23) Academic Book Review ‘Man In The Music’
- Episode 67 (21/03/23) Throwing Stones To Hide Your Hands
- Episode 68 (30/04/23) Otherness & Power Review
- Episode 69 (21/05/23) Keep Moving
- Episode 70 (25/06/23) Michael Jackson’s 14th Anniversary
Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation Season 11 (2023/2024)
- Episode 71 (21/07/23) Stranger In Moscow & They Don’t Care About Us
- Episode 72 (29/08/23) A Medley Of Essays: Racism, Transgender Voice, Inheritance
- Episode 73 (21/09/23) 7 Years The Dangerous Philosophies Of Michael Jackson
7 Reasons to Love This Podcast.
We are impartial and are not affiliated with any institution.
We are made by fans and academics, for fans and academics.
We publish enriching podcasts, columns and interviews for free.
MJ Studies is a wonderful way to learn about all of culture, music and art.
We offer our supporters and members exclusive content, gifts, collectors’ items and discounts.
We are the only academic hub for MJ Studies in the world.
We are supported by many wonderful academics and fans already.
What Happy Listeners are Saying About The Dream Lives On

Meet the Presenters
The public profiles of the editors and co-founders of the journal can be read below:
Karin Merx, BMus, MA is the cover artist and illustrator of the first comprehensive academic book on Michael Jackson, ‘The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife‘. Merx is the founder and editor of the world’s first peer-reviewed academic journal on Michael Jackson’s art, life and work, The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies and she is co-presenter of the acclaimed podcast, ‘Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation’, mentioned in iTunes as ‘New and Noteworthy’. Merx is an artist and academic. She studied at the Academy of Music in Amsterdam, and is an alumna of Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the Open University, Netherlands and holds qualifications in Art History. For The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, she wrote the well-received article: ‘From Throne to Wilderness. Michael Jackson’s ‘Stranger in Moscow’ and the Foucauldian Outlaw‘ and a book review on ‘Dangerous‘ by Susan Fast. This review is also translated into German and Italian. Find out more at karinmerx.co.uk/.
Elizabeth Amisu, author of The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson: His Music, His Persona, and His Artistic Afterlife, holds an MA in Early Modern English Literature from King’s College London. She is co-founder and editor of The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies online. For The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, she has edited two publications, An Academic Companion to Michael Jackson Studies and Michael Jackson’s Dream Lives On: An Academic Conversation – Michael Jackson & Prince; written several articles and book reviews, most notably ”Throwing Stones To Hide Your Hands’: The Mortal Persona Of Michael Jackson‘, which has been translated into Spanish and Italian; ”The Isle is Full of Noises’: Revisiting the Peter Pan of Pop‘, available in German; ”Crack Music’: Michael Jackson’s Invincible‘, also in Italian; and ”Heard it Through the Grapevine’: Are We Losing Michael Jackson All Over Again?‘, also available in Spanish.
You May Also Like:
