Humanitarian - The Real Michael Jackson

Chantal Obrist has been a devoted Michael Jackson fan since 1987. In this episode of The Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson podcast, she shares her firsthand experience of traveling from Switzerland to New York in September 2001 to attend Michael Jackson’s historic 30th Anniversary Concert.

What followed was unimaginable. After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, New York—and the world—came to a standstill. Fans from across the globe were stranded, unable to return home. Chantal recounts how Michael Jackson chose to remain in New York and personally instructed his team to ensure that every fan was cared for and safely returned home.

During this time, Michael covered food, accommodation, and transportation for stranded fans, offering comfort and support when it was needed most. This episode focuses purely on the verified events and Chantal’s experience of Michael’s compassion in the days following 9/11.

An extended version of Chantal’s conversation, including additional personal encounters with Michael Jackson, will be available on YouTube. For now, this is Episode 15 of The Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson podcast—a powerful reminder of humanity in one of history’s darkest moments;

9/11: Michael Jackson’s Compassion After the Chaos

You can connect with Chantal on Facebook HERE

HumanitarianMJ Twitter

HumanitarianMJ Insta

HumanitarianMJ Facebook

HumanitarianMJ YouTube

HumanitarianMJ TikTok

Paul Dwyer Insta

Paul Dwyer Twitter

Support the show

Support the show

Jimmy Van Norman was Michael Jackson’s bodyguard for over a decade and went on to work for the king of pop at his Neverland home. In this episode Jimmy, who also worked with Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Taylor Swift, is brutally honest and tells us of a caring, gentle Michael that gave so much of himself to all those around him.

You can connect with Jimmy HERE

Get the book "Humanitarian - The Real Michael Jackson" HERE

Watch the documentary HERE

HumanitarianMJ Twitter

HumanitarianMJ Insta

HumanitarianMJ Facebook

HumanitarianMJ YouTube

HumanitarianMJ TikTok

Paul Dwyer Insta

Paul Dwyer Twitter

Support the show

Support the show

Mallory Cyr is a young lady who works with Children & Youth with Special Healthcare Needs. She has done a lot of work for Disability Justice & Health Equity, but Mallory also has an interesting story from the early 90’s that Michael Jackson fans might be interested to hear.

The story features briefly in my book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson.”

In 1993, Michael Jackson sent a letter and a donation to an 8-year-old Mallory Cyr, who suffered from microvillus inclusion disease, which limited her ability to eat. She received intravenous feedings. Michael responded to a letter-writing campaign organized by school children for Mallory. In his letter, he wrote "I am sending you all my loving and caring, Mallory, along with the enclosed gift, which I hope will help nourish you and keep you strong." The donation amount was undisclosed. 

Mallory so graciously agreed to tell us about her story, so after a lengthy break from the podcast, I hope you enjoy this new episode…

You can connect with Mallory HERE

Get the book "Humanitarian - The Real Michael Jackson" HERE

Watch the documentary HERE

HumanitarianMJ Twitter

HumanitarianMJ Insta

HumanitarianMJ Facebook

HumanitarianMJ YouTube

HumanitarianMJ TikTok

Paul Dwyer Insta

Paul Dwyer Twitter

Support the show

Welcome to the final episode of season one of my podcast, "Humanitarian - The Real Michael Jackson." 
I'd love to bring you another season and I still have a lot of people I want to speak with to tell their stories of how Michael Jackson helped them in their time of need or contributed to their recovery from illnesses or people that were just first-hand witness to his many humanitarian acts. But to bring you these stories, I really need you to subscribe to the podcast, subscribe on Apple podcasts, on Spotify to my YouTube channel and share the stories. There's so many great stories of Michael Jackson's humanitarian endeavors out there, and they're not something that the mainstream media like to talk about. So please share the stories and support the show and hopefully I'll see you in season two of the #HumanitarianMJ podcast. 

Now, I have two very special guests today. Michael Jackson donated many times to the United Negro College Fund and to this day is one of their highest contributors.

Kenya Gray was a recipient of the UNCF Michael Jackson Scholarship in the 90’s and thanks to the fund, went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication with highest honors and in a full circle moment, she's gone on to become the Director of Scholarships for the UNCF and now manages two of the three scholarships that she received, the Michael Jackson Scholarship and also the Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation Scholarship. So Kenya joins me today alongside UNCF's communication manager Roy Betts.

Support, donate or get to know more about UNCF HERE

Buy the book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson” HERE

HumanitarianMJ Twitter

HumanitarianMJ Insta

HumanitarianMJ Facebook

HumanitarianMJ YouTube

HumanitarianMJ TikTok

Paul Dwyer Insta

Paul Dwyer Twitter

Support the show

In 1998, through the Make-a-wish foundation, Michael Jackson met 5-year-old cancer sufferer Aza Woods at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. Michael cleared his afternoon schedule and spent time with Aza and Aza’s father at the themed attraction "Star Trek: The Experience.” In this episode, Dustin Woods, Aza’s father tells us of the afternoon he got to spend with The King of Pop.

To donate to St Judes Hospital, click HERE

To support Warchild, click HERE

Buy the book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson” HERE

HumanitarianMJ Twitter

HumanitarianMJ Insta

HumanitarianMJ Facebook

HumanitarianMJ YouTube

HumanitarianMJ TikTok

Paul Dwyer Insta

Paul Dwyer Twitter

Support the show

In July of 1997, as a crowd of fans sprinted after Michael Jackson’s limousine, one of his vans accidentally ran over a fan’s leg, pushing the fan, Joseph Yenish to the ground resulting in a broken foot. Joseph later received a phone call to inform him that Michael had heard of the accident and had arranged for him to attend Michael’s concert for free and then meet him. Joe went backstage at the Wembley stadium in London and in this episode, he tells us about it and the many other Michael Jackson adventures he’s had since.

PLEASE subscribe to the podcast on apple & Spotify.

Buy the book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson” HERE

Subscribe to #HumanitarianMJ's YouTube HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Facebook HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Instagram HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Twitter HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s TikTok HERE

Support Joseph's chosen charity, "Everytown for Gun Safety" HERE

Follow Paul Dwyer's Instagram HERE

Follow Paul Dwyer's Twitter HERE

Follow Paul Dwyer's TikTok HERE

Support the show

Christine Fossemalle owns and runs a dance school in Santa Ynez, California, in the same neighborhood that Michael Jackson called home at his Neverland Valley Ranch for 15 years. In the summer of 2003, Michael Jackson not only helped Christine with a fundraiser for her school, but also invited the entire school for a day at Neverland. In this episode, Christine tells us all about it.

Buy the book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson” HERE

Support Fossemalle Dance Studio HERE

Follow Fossemalle Dance Studio on Facebook HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Facebook HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Instagram HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Twitter HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s TikTok HERE

Support the show

As seen on page 101 of my book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson,” on July 19, 1997, Irish Michael Jackson fan Christina Dowling, who suffers from Morquio syndrome was bought up on stage with Michael Jackson during his HIStory show in Dublin, Ireland. Michael held Christina’s hand during the song “Heal the World” and the result, as you’re about to hear, was nothing short of a miracle. Hear Christina’s story of how Michael’s touch affected her and how his passing inspired her to do more to help others.

Buy the book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson” HERE

Learn more about Morquio syndrome HERE

Contact Christina on Twitter HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Facebook HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Instagram HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Twitter HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s TikTok HERE

Support the show

As seen on page 27 of my book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson,” on November 13, 1987, Michael Jackson visited The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, where he spent the day with children and their families, giving out gifts, signing autographs and chatting to the patients. In episode 7 of the podcast, I spoke with Angela Darlington, who was in the hospital recovering from a head injury when Michael visited her. As Angela was only 5 years old and recovering from a head injury at the time, her memory of the visit is murky, so Helen, Angela’s mother joins the chat to tell us about her memories of the king of Pop’s visit and its impact on her, Angela and the other patients and families in the hospital.

Buy the book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson” HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Facebook HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Instagram HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s Twitter HERE

Follow #HumanitarianMJ’s TikTok HERE

Buy Angela’s book “Slim: Frank 1922-2012” HERE

Connect with the Slim: Frank 1922 - 2012 Facebook page HERE

Support Melbourne’s Royal Children Hospital HERE

Leave a voicemail for me HERE

Support the show

Allan Scanlan, affectionately known by Michael Jackson and the Michael Jackson fan community as “Big Al” worked at Michael’s home, Neverland Valley Ranch for 15 years. I had the pleasure of meeting the amusement ride specialist last year and have spoken to him a few times in regards to Michael’s humanitarianisms. The chat you’re about to hear was actually recorded last year but I wanted to include it in the podcast because Allan had some great information about the groups of sick & underprivileged people that came to Neverland on a regular basis. 

Ladies & Gentlemen, please enjoy this very informative chat with Allan “Big Al” Scanlan…

If you'd like to leave me a voicemail with any feedback or suggestions, do it HERE

Buy the book “Humanitarian – The Real Michael Jackson” HERE

Connect with Big Al via Facebook HERE

Support The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation HERE 

Connect with the HumanitarianMJ Facebook HERE

Connect with the HumanitarianMJ Instagram HERE

Connect with the HumanitarianMJ Twitter HERE

Connect with the HumanitarianMJ TikTok HERE

Connect with Paul Dwyer’s Instagram HERE

Connect with Paul Dwyer’s Twitter HERE

Support the show