Dr. Haley Gienow-McConnell is a cultural historian from Ontario, Canada. A self-described “second generation” David Cassidy fan, Dr. Gienow-McConnell became a fan in the 2000s, long after his heyday in the 1970s.

In this episode, she gives an insight into:

• How with the benefit of distance and hindsight, she became a fan of an international superstar instead of the manufactured image
• The marketing and manipulation of teenage idols
• How he unknowingly helped steer her out of the agony of anorexia
• What makes David Cassidy such a memorable idol and why his legacy should perhaps be about protecting the integrity of artists

When she isn’t listening to David Cassidy, Dr. Gienow-McConnell keeps busy carrying out and publishing research on history, culture, and disability.

Dr Gienow-McConnell shared her deeply moving story with me in Cherish David Cassidy A Legacy of Love, available from Amazon and all leading bookstores worldwide.

You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @haleyanngm