In this episode of pplpod, we explore the turbulent genius of Nina Simone, the "High Priestess of Soul" whose music bridged classical, jazz, blues, and gospel. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in North Carolina, she originally aspired to be a concert pianist but was denied admission to the Curtis Institute of Music, a rejection she attributed to racial prejudice. We discuss how she adopted the pseudonym "Nina Simone" to hide her career playing "the devil's music" in Atlantic City bars from her religious mother.

Tune in as we trace her evolution from a nightclub sensation with hits like "I Loves You, Porgy" to a fierce voice of the Civil Rights Movement. We examine the pivotal moment she wrote "Mississippi Goddam" in response to the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, marking a shift toward radical activism and Black nationalism.