Episode 51 — Why Do We Obsess Over The 27 Club?

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses topics of death, suicide, and emotional distress, which may be difficult for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or visit ⁠988lifeline.org⁠ for free, confidential support.

Why have so many cultural icons died at 27? In this episode, Kelsey explores the lives and deaths of artists, musicians, and actors who joined what's now known as the 27 Club. From Jean-Michel Basquiat to Amy Winehouse, and from Kurt Cobain to Alexandre Levy, we trace the pattern behind this unsettling coincidence—looking at what connects these stories across generations, genres, and geographies.

We also examine the mythos surrounding the number 27: the superstitions, the rumors (like the so-called white lighter curse), and the real social pressures behind the headlines. Is this just a tragic statistical cluster, or does the age carry deeper cultural weight? This episode asks why we keep returning to the idea of the 27 Club—and what it says about fame, mortality, and the way we tell stories about loss.

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This episode was produced and edited by Kelsey Jae.