Tavis Smiley

Mondaire Jones, U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner, reflects on today’s 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and shares why he co-authored the John Lewis Act when he served in Congress. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Professor of African American Studies at UCLA and writer Marcus Anthony Hunter gives his analysis about the future of the Voting Rights Act at 60. Rodericka Applewhaite, former Director of Black Media for the Biden-Harris adminstration and now VP of Media Relations at Focal Point Strategy Group, is back to reflect on a profoundly different political landscape since her time inside the White House....

Marique Moss, Afro-Indigenous educator, cultural strategist, and small business owner, takes us inside her delicious debut book, “Sweetgrass and Soul Food: A Memoir in Poems,” which even comes with its own soundtrack! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/68gSmGehcZVfX6tnD78874 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Basil Watson reveals the inspiration behind his sculpture of escaped slave and South Carolina lawmaker Robert Smalls, which will become the first statue of a Black individual in the State House. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Associate Professor and Founding Director of The Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University, Dr Michael K. Fauntroy talks about Trump's attack on diversity and Black leadership at George Mason University and the Voting Rights Act at 60 years old.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Victoria Chege, one of the thousands of federal employees who were laid off via email last February, tells us why her TikTok protest videos are gaining traction and how these cuts will devastate services in Black communities. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) unveils his “bicameral, bicoastal” resolution to recognize August 11, 2025, as “Hip Hop Celebration Day” and responds to the latest news from Capitol Hill. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Lindsey Stewart, Black feminist philosopher and an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Memphis, talks about her new book, "The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine and 400 Years of Black Women's Magic" and how Black women's ancestral spiritual beliefs forged a secret well of health and power for modern America. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker....

New York City Mayor Eric Adams joins Tavis to talk about the midtown Manhattan shooting, his re-election campaign and Housing Week in NYC. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Public intellectual, professor and author Dr. Cornel West shares his thoughts about the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and why we must know the truth, regardless of attempts to delete history. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

The Nation magazine's editorial director and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel gives her analysis about the future of public broadcasting, Gaza and other trending political topics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Marc Morial, former New Orleans mayor and now president of the National Urban League, tells us why Black America is in a State of Emergency with the Trump administration. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

John E. Jacob, former president of the National Urban League and author of his new memoir, “I Will F.E.A.R. No Evil,” takes us back to 1980 when candidate Ronald Reagan addressed the Urban League’s convention, two days after his seminal Philadelphia, Miss. speech. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Former U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) joins Tavis from the studios of WVON in Chicago to talk about the new memorials and walking tour honoring the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, which he found with Fred Hampton. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Public intellectual, professor and author Dr. Cornel West, shares his thoughts about Vice President Kamala Harris' announcement, starvation in Gaza and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Founder of Repairers of The Breach and Moral Mondays, Bishop William Barber, talks about the latest about the Texas redistricting controversy and their latest moral movement campaign. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Connie Rice, civil rights attorney and co-founder of the Urban Peace Institute shares her analysis about Former Vice President Kamala Harris announcing she won't run for governor of the Golden State and what it means for California and the country. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Cllr. Dr. Lilian Seenoi-Barr, who became Northern Ireland’s first Black mayor in the city of Derry last year, shares the good, the bad, and the ugly part of being Black in the occupied territories controlled by the British government. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Des Lee, musician and author of “My Saxophone Saved My Life: The Miami Showband Massacre and My Quest for Answers" tells us how he survived the Miami Showband Massacre 50 years ago this Thursday (July 31, 1975) and connects the dots to the far-right gangsters burning racist bonfires in Northern Ireland this month. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6...

Ernie Suggs, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter and author of "The Many Lives of Andrew Young," talks about Ronald Reagan historic “states rights” speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi 45 years ago; where the presidential candidate appealed to white supremacists, mere miles from the murder site of civil right workers, Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www....

Mark Barabak, political columnist for the Los Angeles Times, is back with details on Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA)’s redistricting plan and his state’s summer of discontent. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Professor, author and founder of the nonprofit Economic Education, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, gives her analysis about the reign of terror of ICE raids and other trending political topics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Roye Okupe, founder of YouNeek Studios, takes us inside “Iyanu”, the #1 series on The Cartoon Network, and tells us about his highly-anticipated San Diego Comic-Con appearance this past weekend. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .

Interim Executive Director of the Providence Foundation, Dexter Hall, talks about the impact of Trump's recent executive order on homelessness and the risks of criminalizing those who suffer from poverty, mental illness and addiction. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support .