Larry Wilmore: Black On The Air

Larry is joined by journalist and host of CNN’s ‘NewsNight’, Abby Phillip, and they begin their conversation by discussing Donald Trump and his influence on the news media and the Republican Party. They then pivot to Kamala Harris and shine a light on her meteoric rise to the top of the Democratic ticket and break down the effectiveness of her media strategy heading into the final stretch of the election (15:38). After the break, Abby talks about why civil disagreements are the essential fuel for her nightly show ‘NewsNight with Abby Phillip’ and shares her assessment on the state of TV journalism (28:39). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Abby Phillip Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. He’s then joined by producer Will Packer to discuss his new Peacock limited series ‘Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist’. They begin their conversation by discussing the premise and history behind the project, which leads to a discussion about the art of creating content in today’s entertainment industry (12:57). After the break, Larry and Will shine a light on the artistic way Don Cheadle, Kevin Hart, Terrence Howard, and Samuel L. Jackson embody their individual characters in ‘Fight Night,’ which tells the story of a heist that took place at a Muhammad Ali boxing match (37:52). Finally, Will talks about his journey to becoming one of Hollywood’s top producers and shares some sage advice for aspiring filmmakers (56:06). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Will Packer Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the state of the presidential race and shares some of dates of his upcoming tour. He’s then joined by Sophia Cai from Axios and they begin their conversation by talking about Kamala Harris’s historic rise to Democratic presidential nominee and the change in party dynamics after Joe Biden dropped out of the race. They then examine Kamala’s running mate Tim Walz before breaking down the differences between the Harris and Biden campaigns, and the contributions Barack Obama has made to the current movement (27:40). After the break Larry and Sophia take a look at the biggest issues motivating voters this election and speculate on how Kamala will do versus Trump in their upcoming date and how she'll deal with the press between now and November (44:26). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Sophia Cai Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by actor, writer, and comedian Langston Kerman to talk about his brand new Netflix stand-up comedy special ‘Bad Poetry’, streaming on Aug. 20th. They begin their conversation by breaking down different types of comedy writing and examining Langston’s process when coming up with themes for a special. This leads to discussions about dating apps, love relationships, and biraciality, and how each of those subjects contribute to Langston’s art (13:03). After the break, Larry and Langston share stories that reflect the obstacles and triumphs they faced during their respective comedy writing careers (34:14). They end the pod by debating the viability of some of their favorite conspiracy theories and shining a light on Langston’s podcast ‘My Momma Told Me’ which deals with those subjects from a black perspective (45:52). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Langston Kerman Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on his favorite moments from the 2024 Olympics so far, Tim Walz, Trump’s wild press conference, and the state of Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. He’s then joined by former world champion track-and-field athlete Marion Jones and they begin their conversation by discussing her journey from teenage phenom athlete to a star on the U.S. Olympic team (14:09). They then talk about the struggles Marion faced throughout her athletic career with the spectre of performance enhancing drugs and discuss the importance of relaying her tumultuous story to the youth for inspiration (21:29). After the break they shine a light on Marion’s partnership with Driven Inc., a program that seeks to motivate athletes and entrepreneurs to find balance in their careers and be open to reinvention to gain success (42:52). Larry and Marion end the pod by sharing their favorite athletes and moments from the Paris Olympics (52:34). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Marion Jones Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad

Larry weighs in on this week’s attacks against Kamala Harris by the right-wing media. He’s then joined by Maryland Governor Wes Moore and they begin their conversation by discussing the many accomplishments Moore has achieved for his state, and the general mood of the Democratic Party after Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Kamala Harris stepped in as the presumptive presidential nominee (9:16). They end the pod by talking about what Vice President Harris needs to do to unite her party and win in November against Donald Trump (29:13). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Governor Wes Moore Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race. He’s then joined by professor, author, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway; they begin their conversation by discussing the art of doing interviews, the state of mainstream TV as a viable information source, and the schism between left and right political ideologies (16:47). They then shine a light on the importance of proper mentorships for young men in today’s culture, and how this lack of guardrails has negatively impacted our society in the last century (47:53). Larry and Scott end the pod by examining Galloway’s most recent book ‘The Algebra of Wealth,’ and break down the philosophy of finding what you're good at, rather than following your passion as means for stabilizing your finances for the future (58:23). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Scott Galloway Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on President Joe Biden. He’s then joined by director, playwright, and Emmy Award-winning actor Colman Domingo to discuss his latest film ‘Sing Sing’ (13:55). They begin their conversation by talking about the process of choosing roles for a project and describing the premise of ‘Sing Sing’, which centers around a group of prison inmates that organize and perform a play. This leads to a discussion about the real-life program Rehabilitation Through the Arts that helps people escape from the realities of incarceration through creativity, and the importance of the arts in our society, particularly impoverished communities (29:14). Colman ends the pod by sharing how he “downloads” characteristics into his creative process when fleshing out a role and shining a light on the emotional reactions he received from some of the pre-release screenings of ‘Sing Sing’ (40:35). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Colman Domingo Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic

Larry is joined by comedian Bill Maher in front of a live audience at Live Talks L.A. to discuss his new book 'What This Comedian Said Will Shock You'. They begin by shining a light on how Bill compiled his favorite editorials from ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ for the book and contrasting the focus of the hit HBO series with the celebrity-formatted vibes of his previous show, ‘Politically Incorrect’. This leads to a conversation about the difficulties of staying true to your artistic principles in modern culture and how to deal with the specter of white guilt in the internet age (9:01). They then pivot to the presidential race between Biden and Trump, and analyze the prevalence of self-imposed ignorance in the two major political parties and society at large (33:29). After the break, Larry and Bill answer hot-button questions from some of the event attendees (52:45). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Bill Maher Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by writer, producer, and showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois to discuss her latest venture ‘The Big Cigar’ currently streaming on Apple TV+. They begin their conversation by discussing the difficulties of making a genuine high-budget biopic that features such a polarizing cultural icon like Huey Newton. Janine then shares what she learned about the Black Panthers during the creation process, in particular the group’s deep awareness of their image in relation to the media (17:50). Larry and Janine end the pod by talking about the importance of gathering contemporary accounts when making period pieces, praising the amazing cast of ‘The Big Cigar’, and giving advice to upstart writers looking to get into show business (38:34). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Janine Sherman Barrois Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by actor and comedian Stephen Merchant and they begin their conversation by comparing the American and British versions of ‘The Office’, and sharing stories from making their respective iterations of the hit TV show. They then pivot to the Amazon Prime series ‘The Outlaws’ which recently premiered its third season and features Merchant as a writer, producer, and actor (17:31). During their breakdown of the show Larry and Stephen touch on subjects as wide-ranging as the viability of lonely characters in storylines, the sadness of Donald Trump, and the invigorating energy of doing stand-up comedy (21:13). They end the pod by talking about the amazing cast of ‘The Outlaws’, their love of heists, and the career lessons Merchant has learned from his many occupational hats (39:51). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Stephen Merchant Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by U.S. Representative from California’s 17th congressional district Ro Khanna and they begin their conversation by discussing the protest movement happening on college campuses around the U.S. and the principal factors contributing to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. They then pivot to the congressional misconceptions surrounding TikTok before examining the viability of progressive capitalism and the role of AI in modern industry (20:22). After the break, Larry and Ro try to make sense of Donald Trump’s popularity, break down the immigration issue, and talk about the most important qualities in leadership (36:46). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Rep. Ro Khanna Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by attorney, political commentator, and host of 'The Bakari Sellers Podcast', Bakari Sellers, to discuss his new book ‘The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn't and How We All Can Move Forward Now’. They begin their conversation by discussing the importance of relatability in politics and examining the level of this quality within Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Next, Bakari breaks down the personal and sociological reasons he decided to write his book and how he hopes it can re-engage readers, particularly African-American ones, to be more active in local and national politics (15:38). After the break, Larry and Bakari talk about what today’s youth can learn from traumas and grassroots movements of the past, the value of celebrity in activism, and some of the biggest issues concerning Black voters heading into the 2024 election (29:12). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Bakari Sellers Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist and author Tiffany Cross and they begin their conversation by discussing the racial obstacles Tiffany faced during her time at MSNBC and how her passion for storytelling developed. They then dive into her new podcast 'ACross Generations with Tiffany Cross', and talk about how the show touches on, and attempts to bridge the gap between, the psychological motivations between different age groups in our society (17:55). This leads to some deep examinations on the keys to personal success, the importance of maintaining healthy dynamics within all facets of life, and the value of giving versus receiving gifts (30:20). After the break, Tiffany shares a personal story of interviewing her mom for the ‘ACross’ pod and explains the biggest existential issues stunting Black relationships today (47:01). Larry and Tiffany end the pod by shining a light on Tiffany’s new political podcast ‘Native Land Pod’ and debating the viability of African-American Trump voters (1:06:05). Host: Larry Wilmor

Larry is joined by Oscar and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and producer Ed Zwick to discuss his new memoir ‘Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood’. They begin by examining the state of the film industry against other forms of modern media and reflect on the importance of the movie-going experience in the 1970s and '80s. Next, Ed expounds on some of the remarkable moments he experienced working with geniuses like Woody Allen, Matthew Broderick, and Denzel Washington, and on legendary projects like ‘Special Bulletin’, ‘Glory’, and ‘Thirtysomething’ (12:40). After the break, Ed offers tools to young creatives on dealing with fame, overcoming career lulls, and the finished script (45:37). Larry and Ed end the pod by talking about their favorite parts of filmmaking and the effect of streaming culture on Hollywood (54:46). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Ed Zwick Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Larry reaches deep into the ‘Black on the Air’ Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram mailbags to answer some questions from some of you! Throughout the Q&A he weighs in on a myriad of burning topics including Donald Trump (11:30), the JFK assassination (24:18), ‘Cowboy Carter' (41:31), Louis Gossett Jr.(52:56), much, much more. Host: Larry Wilmore Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist Taylor Lorenz to discuss the latest technology buzz, the state of internet culture, and her new podcast on Vox Media focusing on these subjects called 'Power User’. They begin their conversation by breaking down the recent congressional moves to ban TikTok and analyzing whether or not our representatives are correct to be concerned about its effect on young users. Next, they dive into the world of Elon Musk and X/Twitter, and shine a light on the platform’s influence on the lucrative right wing digital movement (20:11). After the break, Taylor talks about her personal ties to social media before sharing her takes on independent citizen journalism and online disinformation (36:10). Larry and Taylor end the pod with deep thoughts on the future of AI and Neuralink (51:56). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Taylor Lorenz Producer: Chris Sutton  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist Antonia Hylton to talk about her latest book ‘Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum’. They begin their conversation by talking about what inspired Antonia to write about the Crownsville mental health facility and the tribulations surrounding black mental health in the early part of the 20th century. Next, Antonia details her personal connection to the book's subject via the tragic story of her dad’s cousin Maynard, who struggled with schizophrenia. Larry then reads a powerful passage from ‘Madness’ that leads to a discussion about residual effects of terror tactics used by racists during the Jim Crow era (22:08). After the break, they shine a light on how Crownsville evolved over time to become an integrated and valuable resource for the local Black community until its closure in the early 2000s (40:52). Antonia ends the pod by offering accessible ways to propagate positive mental health accessibility and acceptability in working class soc

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated VFX supervisor Andrew Roberts to discuss his work on the movie ‘The Creator’ currently streaming on Hulu. They begin their conversation by breaking down the movie’s plot, examining Andrew’s creative approach to VFX, and detailing his collaboration process with director Gareth Edwards and production designer James Clyne. Next, Andrew talks about the biggest challenges he faced during the making of ‘The Creator’ and his favorite moments from the film (22:57). After the break, Larry asks Andrew about how he got started in digital effects as a career and what legendary movies inspired him to dive into the realm (39:19). They end the pod by debating the effects of AI on the futures of both filmmaking and humanity (52:05). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Andrew Roberts Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated writer and director Cord Jefferson to discuss his newest film ‘American Fiction’. They begin their conversation by reminiscing about their time together on ‘The Nightly Show’ and marvel at the amazing journey that Cord's career has taken up to this moment. They then shift to ‘American Fiction’ and discuss the myriads of genres the movie attempts to encompass and how its main character Monk, played by Jeffrey Wright, reflects the real limitations put on Black writers in Hollywood (5:10). This leads to a discussion on the process of adapting a screenplay from an original book, in this case ‘Erasure’ by Percival Everett, and how Cord used his journalism "superpower" to navigate his transition from TV to cinema storytelling (13:38). After the break, Cord talks about the diverse reactions he’s received from people who have seen ‘American Fiction’ and shares an educational showbiz story passed along by legendary actress and member of the film's cast,