We receive a mysterious micro-cassette containing a 20-year-old voicemail message from Sylvester Stallone. It allows us to tap into the mind of the man himself — uncovering why he created Rocky and what elements of Philadelphia he used to build the world around him. We meet possibly the biggest Rocky fan ever. Then, from the top of the Art Museum steps, we explore what the Rocky statue can teach us about the future of our monuments.

Show Notes

• NPR interviews Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish, authors of Rocky Stories.


• Rocky Stories, by Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish.


• The documentary about Mike Kunda, The Pretender.


• Kunda’s podcast, The Rocky Files.


• Kunda’s Rocky Tours in Philly.


• Kirk Savage, Tangled Histories blog.


• Salamishah Tillet and Paul Farber, National Mall monuments exhibition.


• Rocky’s 40th anniversary documentary.