Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

Larry is joined by journalist and author Brian Raftery to discuss his new podcast at The Ringer called ‘Do We Get to Win This Time?’ which focuses on Hollywood’s depiction of the Vietnam War during the ’70s and ’80s. They begin by talking about the importance of a great trailer, the excitement of seeing a classic movie on opening night, and how the podcast came together. Next, Brian and Larry shar...

Larry is joined by journalist, author, and CNN anchor Jake Tapper to discuss his new novel ‘All the Demons Are Here: A Thriller’’. They begin their conversation discussing how the book combines fiction with contemporaneous real-life historical moments, particularly the rise of Rupert Murdoch's media empire and tabloid culture in the late 1970s. They then dive into the current indictments facing fo...

Larry is joined by environmental strategist, educator, and author Kylie Flanagan to discuss her book ‘Climate Resilience: How We Keep Each Other Safe, Care for Our Communities, and Fight Back Against Climate Change’ publishing on August 1. They begin their conversation by talking about the uniquely personal method Kylie utilized to convey the impact of the global climate crisis in her book and bre...

Larry is joined by astronomer and actress Aomawa Shields to discuss her new book ‘Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe.' They begin their conversation by examining the myriad of intersecting issues and topics presented within the book and the personal journey Aomawa went through that led to its creation. Dr. Shields then details the mental obstacles she overcame to r...

Larry is joined by award-winning sportswriter and author Sally Jenkins to discuss her new book ‘The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life’. They begin by talking about some of the world-class athletes that inspired her to write the book, how talent was such a small part of each of their successes, and the lessons non-athletes can garner from their stories. This leads to conversation...

Larry is joined by actor, producer, and director Numa Perrier to discuss her new film ‘The Perfect Find’ starring Gabrielle Union and currently streaming on Netflix. They begin by describing the premise of the movie, how Numa got involved with the project, and her process preparing to direct Gabrielle. Next, Larry and Numa examine how improv factored into the on-screen performances, what it takes...

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, and fellow podcaster Mike Reiss to discuss the recent Titan submersible tragedy that occurred during a deep-sea exploration of the Titanic shipwreck. They begin by discussing some of the projects they’ve worked on together and why Mike started regularly going on exciting travel adventures. Mike then details his reaction to the tragedy, the su...

Larry weighs in on the federal indictment of Donald Trump. He then digs into the mailbag and answers some of your listener questions, which involve such wide-ranging topics as the Beatles, the political and entertainment industry landscapes, his favorite comedians, and much more (7:26). Host: Larry Wilmore Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/...

Larry is joined by journalist, anchor, and CNN correspondent Audie Cornish to discuss her new podcast ‘The Assignment with Audie Cornish’, and they begin by breaking down the differences between audio and TV fame. They then dive into the art of crafting good interviews, the reasons Audie chose journalism as a career, and her decision to part ways with NPR (11:11). After the break, they talk about...

Larry is joined by actor Rainn Wilson and they begin their conversation by reminiscing about their time working together on ‘The Office’. Next, they dive into Rainn’s new Peacock show ‘Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss’, talk about the origins of the project, and detail its search for the definition of happiness within different cultures around the world (8:37). After the break they examine...

Larry is joined by actor and comedian Marcel Spears to talk about the new Broadway play ‘Fat Ham’. They begin their conversation by discussing all of the creative ways it reimagines Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ and explore how the play dissects the family dynamic and challenges the misconceptions of masculinity in African-American culture, particularly from a Southern point of view (4:42). After the bre...

Larry is joined by producer and playwright Scott Carter to discuss his new podcast ‘Ye Gods! With Scott Carter’. They begin their conversation by talking about why Scott wanted to create the pod and how a near-death asthma attack led to an epiphany that kickstarted his journey into the study and consideration for all religions. Next, they dive into Scott’s path to becoming a television producer, t...

Larry is joined by U.S. Representative from California Katie Porter at Live Talks L.A. to discuss her new book ‘I Swear: Politics is Messier Than My Minivan’. They begin the conversation by discussing Katie’s early days in politics, her commitment to legislative transparency, and how a deep passion for bureaucracy pushed her to run for office. Next, Katie shares the inspiration for the iconic whit...

Larry is joined by writer Tracy McMillan to discuss the new Onyx Collective show ‘UnPrisoned’, currently streaming on Hulu . They begin by talking about what inspired Tracy to create such a deeply personal show and the journey she and the original script went through to get to the finalized product. They then dive deep into the process of integrating real-life traumas into your art and how actors...

Larry is joined by actress Tracee Ellis Ross and they begin their conversation by sharing what they've learned about themselves and society through the events of the pandemic. Next, Tracee talks about her new podcast 'I Am America', explains why she wanted to start the project, and details some of the amazing individuals and stories featured in the show (18:22). After the break, they dive into the...

Larry is joined by writer and former physician Anthony Chin-Quee to discuss his upcoming book 'I Can't Save You: A Memoir' coming out on April 4. They start their conversation by discussing Anthony's process for putting together the memoir and some of the experiences he went through as a Black physician that inspired him to write it. They then dive into the emotional compartmentalization required...

Larry is joined by actor, writer, and comedian Ike Barinholtz to discuss the Hulu series 'History of the World Part II'. They begin their conversation by discussing how the project came together, what it was like working with comedy titan Mel Brooks, and the pioneering aspects of Brooks's legendary movie 'Blazing Saddles". Next, Ike talks about the process of constructing the sketches for 'History...

Larry is joined by professor and writer Theresa Runstedtler to discuss her new book 'Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA'. They begin their conversation by discussing how Dr. Runstedtler's connection to the NBA via the Toronto Raptors dance team and the corporatization she witnessed within that organization during her stint inspired h...

Larry is joined by professor, historian, and host of the PBS series 'Finding Your Roots' Henry Louis Gates Jr. They begin their conversation by discussing how Henry's upbringing and the parental influence fueled his passion for storytelling and education. Henry then details how the show and the accompanying DNA technology have evolved over the years from exclusively connecting African-Americans to...

Larry is joined by author, journalist, and media executive Mark Whitaker to discuss his newest book, 'Saying It Loud: 1966—The Year Black Power Challenged the Civil Rights Movement'. They begin their conversation by talking about why Mark decided to write the book and break down the social and political events that led up to this turbulent year. They then get into the key figures and organizations...

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning writer and director Craig Mazin to talk about his newest venture 'The Last of Us' on HBO. They begin their conversation by breaking down the synopsis of both the series and the popular video game it's based on while also touching on Craig's relationship with the two. Next, they discuss the obstacles and advantages of making comedies, the flexibility of comedic...

Larry is joined by comedian and host of 'Pod Save America' and 'Lovett or Leave It', Jon Lovett. They begin their conversation by discussing the progressive network he co-founded, Crooked Media, and the tumultuous political landscape that inspired its genesis. Next, they dive into the nature of the political system and the success of some of its arbiters, notably Barack Obama, and point to the ris...

Larry is joined by journalist, Ringer contributor, and Academy Award–winning producer Van Lathan Jr. to discuss his book ‘Fat, Crazy, and Tired: Tales from the Trenches of Transformation.’ They start their conversation by reviewing some of their personal experiences from the past couple of years and discussing the importance of perseverance when navigating the mental roadblocks in your career. Van...

Larry weighs in on the new year, the Speaker of the House race, and 'Harry & Meghan'. He is then joined by sports writer and analyst for ESPN's 'NFL Live', Mina Kimes. They begin their conversation by discussing the Damar Hamlin tragedy and the complications it presents, both institutionally within the NFL and ethically for the fanbase (11:17). They then dive into the current state of the league,...

Larry begins the pod by resharing a lovely discussion he had with his daughter Lauren from an episode in 2020 where they dissect the lyrical intricacies of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and examine how the song has evolved over time. He's then joined by award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins to discuss his new television show 'Kindred' streaming at FX on Hulu. They begin their...