Larry Wilmore: Black On The Air

Larry is joined by comedian Nate Jackson to talk about his new Netflix special ‘Nate Jackson: Super Funny’. They begin their conversation by examining the different ways that comedians develop relationships with an audience and sharing how they each mentally process jokes while they're performing. Nate then details how he became a comedian and the journey he took to find his unique creative voice (22:41). This leads to a conversation about the importance of owning your own space as a black comedian and the different occupational lessons he learned as one of the few African-American comedy club owners in the U.S. (29:58) After the break, Larry and Nate dive into how social media has changed the way comedy is monetized and discuss the sacrifices necessary to climb the ladder in the industry (40:31). Nate ends the pod by shining a light on his role in the upcoming “The Office” spinoff and sharing advice to aspiring stand-up comedians (57:07). Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Nate JacksonProducers: Brandy LaPlante and

Larry is joined by reporter and journalist Elizabeth Wagmeister to talk about her experiences covering the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs federal criminal case for CNN. They begin their conversation by shining a light on the atmosphere both inside and outside the courtroom, and detailing the individual charges being brought against Combs. They then examine the legal definition of sex trafficking and break down how the prosecution's underestimation of the public perception of this case may have blocked their hopes of a stronger verdict (22:48). After the break, Larry and Elizabeth discuss the effectiveness of Cassie’s testimony and it’s possible contribution to the ‘Me Too’ movement’s ultimate goals (30:07). They end the pod by speculating on how this scandal and trial will affect Diddy’s career and brand moving forward (44:10). Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Elizabeth WagmeisterProducers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist Alex Thompson from Axios to discuss the new book he coauthored with CNN’s Jake Tapper, ‘Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, It’s Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.’ They begin their conversation by analyzing the personal history between Joe Biden and Barack Obama and breaking down how the elements of the book came together. This leads to an examination of the mainstream media's coverage of the public incidents that seemingly showcased Biden’s mental decline and the monumental effect his infamous debate with Donald Trump had on the American political landscape (18:39). After the break, Larry and Alex talk about the role family members like Jill and Hunter played in the cover-up and examine the differences in how Trump's current term is reported on versus his previous administration (25:55). They end the pod by discussing the political implications of Tucker Carlson’s viral takedown of Ted Cruz and whether or not the U.S. is heading into a war with Iran (47:33).

Larry is joined by author, television host, and political commentator Joy Reid to discuss her new podcast, The Joy Reid Show. They begin their conversation by talking about why Joy left MSNBC and examining the state of cable news in modern culture. This leads to an analysis of the different ideological splits within the Republican Party and the current status of the U.S. on the global stage (10:09). After the break, Larry and Joy discuss why the Democrats are struggling so hard to get their messaging through to voters and the controversial revelations surrounding Joe Biden’s last days in office (29:23). Joy ends the pod by sharing her thoughts on how American politics can move forward and breaking down the focus of her new podcast (43:01). Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Joy ReidProducers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by writer and media executive Mark Whitaker to discuss his newest book ‘The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon’s Enduring Impact on America’. They begin their conversation by talking about what inspired Mark to write the book and detailing Malcolm X’s Shakespearean life journey from harrowing childhood to celebrated civil rights icon. This leads to a conversation about why both progressives and the modern black conservative movement have championed Malcolm’s teachings, and a breakdown of X’s relationship with Muhammad Ali (14:47). After the break, Larry and Mark discuss how Alex Haley’s posthumous autobiography of Malcolm X came together and examine the role its played in preserving Malcolm's historical significance (32:06). Finally, they end the pod by taking a hard look at the events surrounding Malcolm X’s assassination and shining a light on the strength of his cultural legacy against Martin Luther King's (45:02). Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Mark WhitakerProducers: Brandy LaPlan

Larry starts off a special listener mailbag episode by sharing some of his biggest concerns with Donald Trump’s second term so far and his administration’s attack on government agencies and the Constitution. Next, he talks about the brand-new Pope Leo XIV and the role of religion in modern society (22:23). After the break, Larry discusses the future of his L.A. Lakers and breaks down the fundamental changes Hollywood filmmakers are feeling in today's political climate (35:38). He ends the pod by answering questions sent in from aspiring TV writers and reflecting on some of the experiences that shaped his path as he was coming up through the industry (40:52). Host: Larry WilmoreProducers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School and co-host of the podcast ‘Strict Scrutiny’, Leah Litman, to discuss her forthcoming book ‘Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes’, publishing on May 13th. They begin their conversation by talking about how the politicization of modern Supreme Court operations inspired her book, and shining a light on the history of the conservative right’s use of Roe v. Wade as a stepping stone to further their patriarchal influence on the U.S’s civil rights policies. This leads to a discussion about about voters who agree with this antiquated agenda and the individual Supreme Court justices who are motivated to implement it (24:24). After the break, Larry and Leah take a look at LGBTQ-rights issues in relation to the Supreme Court and how the current administration is using grievance policies to dismantle the 14th Amendment (33:18). They end the pod by talking about the ultimate governmental g

Larry is joined by billionaire entrepreneur and ‘Shark Tank’ costar Daniel Lubetzky, and they begin their conversation by analyzing the importance of independent thought in today’s political climate. They then focus on the objectives of the Builders Movement and Daniel's efforts to curb political extremism and heal divisions within the business community (9:17). After the break, Daniel shares how the story of his father surviving the Holocaust has inspired his unifying world view and discusses the damaging effects antisemitism has had historically on different societies around the world (25:46). Daniel and Larry end the pod by shining a light on ‘Shark Tank,’ relaying advice for young entrepreneurs, and breaking down the success of Kind LLC (52:01). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Daniel Lubetzky Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by political journalist Tara Palmeri, writer of ‘The Red Letter’ Substack and host of The Ringer podcast ‘Somebody’s Gotta Win’, to discuss all of the latest buzz shaking up Washington D.C. They begin their conversation by analyzing the possible political repercussions of Trump’s new tariffs. This leads into a talk about the viability of a third Trump term and a detailing of the apparent unseriousness of the president’s current cabinet officials (13:13). After the break, Larry and Tara turn their eyes left toward new reporting on the covering up of Joe Biden’s mental state during the final stretch of his presidency, and the coordinated efforts to keep Biden from debating and ultimately running for a second term (24:54). They end the pod by shining a light on ways Kamala Harris’s team failed her during the 2024 campaign, and speculating on the length of Elon Musk’s tenure within the White House orbit (31:31). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Tara Palmeri Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPla

Larry is joined by Axios Senior Political Reporter Alex Isenstadt to talk about his new book ‘Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power’. They begin their conversation by discussing Alex’s approach to writing the book and the environment surrounding Trump when he decided to run for president a second time. They then analyze the personality differences between Trump’s first and second administration, particularly the bevy of influential allies currently in his cabinet, like White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (10:25). This leads to an examination of Trump as an indomitable political athlete, whose mystique has kept a solid base of followers even through his most politically devastating moments (15:40). After the break, Larry and Alex shine a light on Trump’s mercurial relationship with Fox News, Rupert Murdoch, and Tucker Carlson, while highlighting the behind-the-scenes machinations that led to JD Vance’s ascendancy to vice president (28:13). Finally, Larry and Alex analyze the viability of Elon

Larry is joined by actress Krys Marshall to talk about the Season 2 release of her Hulu show ‘Paradise’. They begin their conversation by examining Marshall’s upbringing and the many factors that inspired her to become an actor. This leads to a conversation about the mental, interpersonal, and familial hurdles Krys overcame to reach her personal goals within the industry (9:03). Next, Krys details the synopsis of ‘Paradise’ and describes how the cast, crew, and writers created an ideal and enriching acting environment (22:47). After the break, they shine a light on the importance of representation in modern television and how Marshall’s Apple TV show ‘For All Mankind’ has provided a safe space for Black nerds (39:28). Larry and Krys end the pod by discussing the projects they hope to work on in the future and sharing stories of manifesting their own success (54:54). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Krys Marshall Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.

Larry is joined by filmmakers George and Teddy Kunhardt to discuss their newest documentary ‘Becoming Katharine Graham’, currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. They begin their conversation by talking about what inspired them to start the project and shining a light on the male-dominated world Katharine lived in when she was running the Washington Post. They then debate the accuracy of famous cinematic portrayals of Graham and take a hard look at her relationship to the feminist movement in the late '60s and early '70s (28:49). After the break, George, Teddy, and Larry break down how Graham’s famous family is intrinsic to her legacy and share the biggest lessons they learned from making the film (37:57). They end the pod by examining the state of print media in society today and the factors that motivate the Kunhardts to create their patented brand of documentaries (45:54). Host: Larry Wilmore Guests: George Kunhardt and Teddy Kunhardt Producers: Brandy LaPlante and Chris Sutton Learn more about your

Larry is joined by writer and cultural critic Thomas Chatterton Williams to discuss his latest essay for The Atlantic, "How the Woke Right Replaced the Woke Left". They begin by shining a light on the political left’s weak hold on the cultural landscape, and breaking down the definition, history, and downfall of "woke" ideology. Next, they take a look at the rise of right-wing counterculture and its strength within the government and popular media (13:13). After the break, Larry and Thomas examine the growing acceptance of racist rhetoric both domestically and abroad before talking about the serious regime changes they are seeing within the current Donald Trump administration (36:09). They end the pod by debating the political allure of Trump and the next moves for the Democratic Party (48:37). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Thomas Chatterton Williams Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by actor and comedian Roy Wood Jr. and they begin their conversation by acknowledging Black History Month. Roy then breaks down his new CNN show ‘Have I Got News for You’ and opines on whether or not comedic "bubbles" will last under the new Trump administration (5:41). They then pivot to his recently released stand-up special on Hulu, ‘Lonely Flowers’, and examine the different ways some of their favorite comedians navigate performing darker or more emotional comedic material (20:51). Roy ends the pod sharing his love for Alabama and shining a light on the importance of community (52:37). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Roy Wood Jr. Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist and MSNBC political analyst Juanita Tolliver to discuss her new book, ‘A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics’. They begin their conversation by talking about what inspired Tolliver to write about the legendary political fundraiser and shining a light on the many influential luminaries that were in attendance, including Huey Newton, Flip Wilson, and Berry Gordy. After the break, Larry and Juanita talk about the converging ideologies that aligned themselves with Chisholm’s groundbreaking campaign and draw comparisons between her and Kamala Harris’s recent bid for the presidency (30:19). Juanita ends the pod by contemplating on who could fill Shirley Chisholm’s revolutionary shoes in today’s politics, and sharing some of the favorite things she learned while researching the book (46:03). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Juanita Tolliver Producers: Brandy LaPlante and Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c

Larry is joined by CNN Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates, and they begin their conversation by talking about Laura’s stylistic approach to the interviews she conducts on her show ‘Laura Coates Live’. They then break down the defamation case between ABC News and Donald Trump and discuss the reasons why there is currently a general mistrust in the mainstream media (11:30). This leads to a conversation about how to avoid bias in journalism and the role social media plays in people’s perception of the news (18:08). After the break, Larry and Laura look ahead to Trump’s upcoming inauguration and examine the legalities behind some of the executive orders he wants to enact on his first day in office (26:37). They end the pod by examining the definitions between the right and left political factions, shining a light on how the rest of the world may be preparing for the new presidential administration, and speculating on how long the Trump/Musk love affair will last (44:30). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: L

Larry weighs in on the L.A. fires. He’s then joined by writer and Academy Award-winning filmmaker RaMell Ross to discuss his newest movie ‘Nickel Boys ’(8:33). They begin their conversation by talking about how the project came together, RaMell's experimental inspirations, and the screenwriting process with co-writer Joslyn Barnes. Next, they dive into RaMell’s personal connection with the Colson Whitehead novel that provides the movie's base and break down the "epic banal" philosophy behind the images in his storytelling (24:10). After the break, Larry and RaMell shine a light on the exquisite casting for ‘Nickel Boys’ and discuss what Ross took away personally from making the film (36:14). RaMell ends the pod by discussing why he loves teaching so much and his thoughts on the state of the movie industry (55L43). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: RaMell Ross Producers: Brandy LaPlante and Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Alan Zweibel to discuss his experiences working on ‘Saturday Night Live’ during its first few years on the air. Alan begins the conversation by sharing his feelings about the 50th anniversary of ‘SNL’ and detailing the anatomy of a good joke. Larry and Alan then talk about Lorne Michaels’s original concepts for the show and detail the inspiration for some of Zweibel’s favorite sketches (15:34). Next, they examine some of the iconic performers and hosts who made those first shows so special, including Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Andy Kaufman (24:36). After the break, they talk about the lasting influence of ‘SNL’s early commercial parodies and pay tribute to the great Gilda Radner (38:11). Alan ends the show by remembering some of the lessons he learned as one of the original writers at ‘SNL’ and some of the projects he has lined up for the future (49:17). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Alan Zweibel Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn

Larry is joined by technology journalist Emily Chang to talk about her Bloomberg Originals limited series ‘Posthuman’, and her podcast ‘The Circuit’, which features interviews with influential figures in the tech industry. They begin their conversation by discussing the inspiration for ‘Posthuman’, which delves into humanity’s connection to artificial intelligence, and shine light on some of AI's latest innovations. Larry and Emily then touch on many hot-button topics regarding AI, including its uses for medicine, warfare, and mental health (15:57). They end the pod by sharing their predictions, hopes, and fears about the future of AI (37:33). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Emily Chang Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by writer and historian Timothy Shenk to discuss his newest book, ‘Left Adrift: What Happened to Liberal Politics’. They begin their conversation by talking about why they think the Democrats failed with their messaging in the 2024 election and what the rise of Trumpism means about American culture today. Next, Shenk shares the historic and societal reasons he was inspired to write his book, which tells the story of modern Democratic ideology through the lens of highly influential political thinkers like Stan Greenburg (19:23). They then look at historical figures like George Wallace and Eugene McCarthy to see how their vision of populism led to the rise of politicians like Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Barack Obama (24:50). After the break, Larry and Tim debate what the Democrats can do to reconnect to the working and lower classes and examine which major political party is best positioned for success going forward (52:05). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Timothy Shenk Producers: Chris S