Marilyn Monroe. Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Rudolph Valentino. Casablanca.
Anna May Wong. Gone with the Wind. Sidney Poitier. The Wizard of Oz.
Audrey Hepburn. Singin’ in the Rain. Charlie Chaplin.
What do they all have in common?
They had to make it first.
When They Were Making It (WTWMI) is a narrative documentary podcast hosted and produced by Patrick Rankin. Each episode traces the life of a classic Hollywood figure or the making of a landmark film — from the silent era through the early 1960s — letting the facts, the era, and the human stakes speak for themselves.
Not the myths. Not the takedowns.
The whole human story.
New episodes every Tuesday.
Listen to WTWMI now — wherever you get your podcasts.
A century of Marilyn.
June 1, 2026, marks 100 years since Marilyn Monroe was born. To honor her centennial, WTWMI launches with a three-part series tracing her invention, her rise, and the cost of becoming the most famous woman in the world.
Listen to Part One, Part Two, and Part Three now.
A story of strength, ambition, and self-invention — about a girl who shouldn't have had a chance, and the woman she gave everything to become.
Want to get in touch with WTWMI?
Have a question, a correction, a suggestion for a future topic, or just want to say hello? Drop a note here.
WTWMI — listen now, wherever you get your podcasts.