Text at upper left: Mid-Monthly Musings; image from the film FAME when the students dance in the street outside the school, stopping traffic; text at lower right: What does it mean to be famous?

What does it mean to be famous?

This post is taken from Mid-Monthly Musings for November 2025. Full newsletter is archived here. To receive Mid-Monthly Musings directly in your inbox, subscribe here. I’ve been asked about that word, “famous,” more than usual recently. It’s part of my podcast premise: I chat with famous people about the geek-outs, hobbies, or interests they’re not necessarily famous for. Which is …