Jemele Hill is Unbothered

Accomplished actor Don Cheadle joins Jemele for the season 4 finale to discuss his multi-decade acting career, including his new series Secret Invasion, which also stars longtime friend Sam Jackson. Don also shares the humorous story of how he landed the career-changing role of James Rhodes, also known as War Machine, in the Marvel Comic Universe. Don also explains why married his wife Brigid Coul...

Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith joins Jemele to discuss his 17-year NBA career, including the difficulties of transitioning from high school to the NBA, dealing with negative perceptions about him as a person and player, and how discovering a passion for golf fed his competitive spirit. J.R. also shares why he decided to start attending college at age 36, why he specifically picked a historically...

Actor Blair Underwood joins Jemele to discuss his versatile, multi-decade career, how he was inspired as a young actor by director Spike Lee, and how he landed his breakout role as the star of Krush Groove in the mid-1980s. Blair also discusses how starring in the popular television drama L.A Law changed his career, if the rumors are true that they plan to bring the series back, and he’s seen acti...

Singer Kenny Lattimore joins Jemele to discuss his multi-decade career, including how he forged a relationship with Michael Jordan and the impact of fans finding out in Jordan’s documentary, The Last Dance, that the NBA superstar was a super fan. Kenny also shares his thoughts on the current landscape for R & B singers, and how he handled the music industry trying to change his image. Kenny also r...

Therapist, author and podcast host Dr. Joy Harden Bradford joins Jemele to discuss her new book, Sisterhood Heals, which explains how integral Black sister circles are to healing and building community. Dr. Joy also shares how she built the Therapy for Black For Black Girls mental health community, the four critical pillars for healthy sisterhood, why she believes it’s a mistake to use romantic re...

Director Kasi Lemmons joins Jemele to discuss how she used her love of writing to make the transition from acting to directing. Kasi shares how directing Eves Bayou -- her first film — had an immense impact on her career, why the movie continues to be relevant, and whether or not she’s ever considered adapting Eve’s Bayou for television. Kasi also discusses what it was like directing the Whitney H...

Actor Dominique Fishback joins Jemele to discuss her incredible performance in the Amazon Prime television series Swarm, and her upcoming role in the summer blockbuster, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Dominique shares what it was like playing Dre, a murderous, but naive woman who is obsessed with a global pop star. Dominique gives her thoughts on the assumption that Swarm was a critique of Beyo...

Model and philanthropist Sabrina Elba joins Jemele to discuss her marriage to actor Idris Elba, their decision to start a skin care line together, and what it means for her to be an United Nations global ambassador for the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Sabrina shares her and Idris’ heartwarming, love at first sight origin story, and what it was like growing up in Canada as a Som...

Jason Wilson, the founder and operator of the Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy, joins Jemele to talk about his revolutionary martial arts training program that emphasizes the emotional growth and development of young Black boys. Jason also discusses the ESPN documentary made about his training program (Cave of Adullam), how Laurence Fishburne became involved as an executive produc...

Entertainment Tonight host Nischelle Turner joins Jemele to discuss what it means for her to be the first Black woman to host the iconic entertainment show, and how she handled the ups and downs of her career before earning her dream job. Nischelle shares what it’s like covering and interviewing some of the biggest entertainers in the world, and how entertainment coverage has changed with the prol...

Talk show host and actor Sherri Shepherd joins Jemele to discuss the success of her talk show, Sherri, what it means that her show has been renewed for two additional seasons, and the popularity of her podcast with dear friend Kym Whitley, Two Funny Mamas. Sherri also shares why stand-up comedy remains her first love, and the lasting lessons she learned from her time as co-host on The View. Plus,...

Scholar-activist Dr. Yaba Blay joins Jemele to discuss her social justice work, and academic background. Dr. Blay shares her thoughts on the significant changes in the social justice climate since George Floyd’s murder in 2020, her book, One Drop: Shifting the Lens, and what it means to be an ally versus an accomplice. Dr. Blay also explains how growing up in New Orleans shaped her, and web series...

Award-winning author Leila Mottley joins Jemele to discuss her highly-acclaimed, New York Times best-selling novel, Nightcrawling, which was published in 2022 when she was 20 years old. Leila shares how she came up with the idea to write a fiction novel about a Black Oakland teenager whose life is derailed by poverty, sex trafficking and corrupt police. She also discusses why it was important to c...

Filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee joins Jemele to take a deep dive into his Best Man series, including his latest iteration The Best Man: The Final Chapters. Malcolm discusses the incredible reception the final chapter of the Best Man franchise received, and why he’s ending the series, despite its overwhelming success. Malcolm takes Jemele through the journey of getting the Best Man made, including how he...

Singer and actor Chloe Bailey joins Jemele to discuss her debut solo album, In Pieces, and her current starring roles in two major film projects. Chloe shares what it was like being the centerpiece of the Peacock hit movie, Praise This. Chloe also discusses her provocative performance in the Donald Glover-executive produced thriller, Swarm, including her reaction to her sex scene with Damson Idris...

Salli Richardson-Whitfield joins Jemele to discuss her career longevity, and how she navigated Hollywood during a time when there were limited roles for Black actresses. Salli also explains why she pivoted to directing, and shares if she intends to fully return to acting. Salli also discusses what it’s like directing the HBO hit series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, starring John C...

Media personality Bomani Jones joins Jemele to discuss the second season of his hit HBO show Game Theory with Bomani Jones, his pivot from being an economist to cultural commentator, and how he handled not completing his PhD. Bomani also shares how being raised by academics shaped his cultural viewpoint. Plus, Jemele gives her thoughts on Jonathan Majors recent arrest. Learn more about your ad cho...

Ahead of WrestleMania 39, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair joins Jemele to discuss her meteoric rise in professional wrestling, her journey from being one of the top collegiate track athletes into pro wrestling, and what it means for her to be the longest reigning Black world champion. Bianca is candid about her battle with eating disorders, and how she reclai...

Media personality and popular Peloton fitness instructor Ally Love joins Jemele to discuss the traumatic childhood incident that shaped her perspective on life, how she went from being a trained dancer who danced with Beyonce to a Peloton instructor, and her new Netflix competitive dance show, Dance 100. Ally also shares if writing a book is on her radar, and recalls some of her memorable interact...

Actor Grace Byers joins Jemele to discuss the latest season of her hit Amazon Prime series, Harlem, and the complexities of her character, Quinn. Grace shares what she’s learned about herself during her pregnancy, what it was like growing up in the Cayman Islands with a deaf mother and how the bullying Grace experienced as a child inspired her to write children’s books. Grace also discusses the le...

Gabrielle Dennis joins Jemele to discuss her multi-faceted, multi-decade career, which has included acting, dancing, singing and stand-up comedy. Gabrielle shares her roots in stand-up comedy and why a breakout role on the hit series The Game caused her to pull back from stand-up comedy. She also reveals how became a regular cast member on A Black Lady Sketch Show, how the success of both former A...

Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley joins Jemele to discuss her personal battle with alopecia, what made her decide to wear a bald head, and how she feels her revealing this private struggle has impacted others. Rep. Pressley also responds to her Republican colleagues’ behavior during President Joe Biden’s State of the Union, and explains why she remains optimistic in such politically divi...

Actor Gail Bean joins Jemele to discuss what it’s like having major roles on two hit shows, P-Valley and Snowfall. Gail shares how she felt filming the final season of Snowfall (premieres February 22), what it took to land the role as Wanda, and what it means to be part of the late John Singleton’s legacy. Gail also reveals how she eventually convinced her mother that she was serious about pursuin...

Actor Omari Hardwick joins Jemele to discuss cultural impact of his hit television show, Power, and his role in helping the Power universe expand. Omari dives into how he played the iconic character, Ghost, and how it made him expose some of his own personal failings. Omari details his career journey, and the process of making himself into an actor after his professional football career didn’t pan...

Motivational speaker Eric Thomas joins Jemele to discuss in detail his latest book, “You Owe You: Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose and Your Why.” Eric shares how his mother not disclosing the truth about his biological fatherhood led to him being homeless and estranged from his family. He also discusses how having children inspired him to reconnect with his father, explains the pitfalls of making y...