The Bakari Sellers Podcast

Bakari welcomes cohost of 'Higher Learning' Van Lathan and emergency medicine physician Dr. Italo Brown to discuss the de-politicization of the virus (7:24), explain how COVID mutates and produces new variants (14:58), and break down the pros and cons of vaccine mandates (33:23).  Host: Bakari Sellers Guests: Van Lathan & Dr. Italo Brown Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Donnie Beacham...

Bakari Sellers is joined by student debt expert Ashley Harrington to break down the pros and cons of student loan forgiveness (6:39), and the impact it would have on the Black community (8:43). Plus, what’s the motivation of those opposed to debt cancellation (19:44)? Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Ashley Harrington Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad...

Bakari Sellers is joined by CNN correspondent Ryan Nobles to discuss the influence of longtime senator Harry Reid (2:55), plus voter anxiety during a pandemic (16:07) and the perception around the Hill on Kamala Harris’s first year as VP (23:43). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Ryan Nobles Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Donnie Beacham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...

Bakari Sellers is joined by actor Russell Hornsby to break down the art of channeling the energy of the Black men of his youth (4:58) and to discuss whether the thespian has a preference for the stage or the screen (8:22). Plus, Russell provides insight into his role as Charles Flenory in the hit Starz show ‘BMF' (12:48).  Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Russell Hornsby Executive Producer: Jarrod Load...

Bakari Sellers is joined by senior vice president of the United Negro College Fund Lodriguez Murray to discuss the necessity of minority scholarship programs (6:48) and break down the support for HBCUs during the Trump administration (10:09) compared to Joe Biden’s term (15:28).  Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Lodriguez Murray Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Donnie Beacham Learn more ab...

Bakari Sellers is joined by attorney and legal analyst Laura Coates to discuss the importance of reform-oriented prosecutors in the U.S. justice system (5:04) and the difference between having a seat at the table and being a decision-maker at the table. Plus, how effective has the DOJ been in the January 6 prosecutions (7:26), and what should we make of Congressional inaction regarding voting righ...

Bakari Sellers is joined by journalist Geoff Bennett to discuss his journey in media from a one-man band to being the chief White House correspondent of 'PBS NewsHour' (1:52). Plus, Geoff breaks down which politician gives the best interview (8:52), the role misinformation plays in today’s politics (12:28), and what it was like covering the Trump administration (18:43). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest:...

Bakari Sellers welcomes Mayor Frank Scott to discuss the career path that led him to hold office in Little Rock, AR (1:22), having a servant's heart in the world of politics (5:33), and governing during the pandemic (8:04). Plus, Mayor Scott discusses the effort to fight for police reform while combating an uptick in violent crime (12:29).  Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Mayor Frank Scott Executive P...

Bakari Sellers is joined by author, activist, and Super Bowl champion Michael Bennett to discuss how he’s spending his post-NFL days studying architecture (7:12), opportunities (or the lack thereof) for Black coaches and executives in the league (10:45), and mental health in the Black community (20:51).  Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Michael Bennett Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Donn...

Bakari Sellers is joined by Deidre DeJear, who is running to be the next governor of Iowa, to talk about the growing diversity in the state (1:00), lessons she learned after her failed run for Iowa's secretary of state (9:30), and what Democratic voters need to see to be motivated to vote in 2022 (16:34). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Deidre DeJear Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya...

Bakari is joined by legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin to talk about the details of the Kyle Rittenhouse case (1:00) and what sort of verdict we should expect (10:40), and the dilemma that Democrats are facing regarding the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer (15:40). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Jeffrey Toobin Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices....

Bakari is joined by Soledad O'Brien to talk about transitioning from being a reporter to owning her own production company (2:24), the issues with political media and the coverage of Kamala Harris (14:08), and what O'Brien is working on right now including her show, 'Matter of Fact,' and a documentary on Rosa Parks (21:20). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Soledad O'Brien Executive Producer: Jarrod Loa...

Bakari Sellers is joined by Politico reporter Maya King to talk about the importance of HBCUs and the recent activism at Howard (2:23), how the politics around crime have changed in recent years (9:59), and what we can expect to happen in the 2022 midterm elections (19:15). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Maya King Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad ch...

Bakari is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Oden to talk about the impact his life experiences have had on the way he practices psychiatry (3:15), his use of alternative medicine in his work (15:24), and how COVID-19 has impacted mental health (18:37). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Dr. Thomas Oden Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...

Bakari is joined by author Michael Eric Dyson to talk about the Democrats’ loss in Virginia and how the Democratic Party has yet to step up for Black voters (5:50), some common misconceptions about critical race theory (12:55), and his newest book, ‘Entertaining Race’ (16:45). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Michael Eric Dyson Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more abou...

Bakari Sellers is joined by former NFL player Ricky Williams to talk about his NFL career (3:24), why he left the NFL to start a cannabis brand (15:58), and his predictions for this football season (25:25). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Ricky Williams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bakari is joined by comedian Roy Wood Jr. to talk about how he got started in stand-up (1:00), how his Alabama roots have influenced him as a comedian (8:37), and the qualities that make a good comedian (17:08). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Roy Wood Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bakari Sellers is joined by talk show host Tamron Hall to discuss her journey from being a news anchor to hosting a weekly talk show (1:00), why she decided to write a mystery novel for her debut book (12:11), and what we can do to fight misinformation in the media (23:29). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Tamron Hall Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad...

Bakari is joined by comedian Cedric the Entertainer to talk about his career and working on ‘Kings of Comedy’ (1:00), his work on the sitcom ‘The Neighborhood’ (10:37), and his thoughts on the controversy around Dave Chappelle’s latest special (21:37). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Cedric the Entertainer Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Bakari is joined by president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Desmond Meade, to talk about how overcoming homelessness and addiction shaped his worldview (3:45), his work in Florida to restore voting rights to people with past felony convictions (12:04), and his new book 'Let My People Vote' (23:32). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Desmond Meade Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Produce...

Bakari is joined by Dr. Charles Thompson, a bariatric surgeon, to talk about some of the common misconceptions about bariatrics (3:21), racism in medicine (9:39), and the various connections between mental health and physical health (17:03). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Dr. Charles Thompson Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...

Bakari is joined by New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin to talk about the infighting among Democrats around President Joe Biden's domestic agenda (2:22), what is motivating senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema (12:48), and whether and when we can expect to see Biden's infrastructure bill passed (21:08). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Jonathan Martin Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Producer...

Bakari is joined by Quentin James, founder of the Collective PAC, to talk about the Black political power that helped get Biden into office and where it is now (4:47), whether or not Kamala Harris is being utilized correctly as vice president (18:30), and some candidates to watch for in the 2022 midterm elections (23:32). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Quentin James Producer: Kaya McMullen Learn more...

Bakari is joined by Tory Dandy, the co-head of CAA Sports' football division, to talk about what it's like to represent major football players like DK Metcalf and Sammy Watkins (2:40), how he's helping his players navigate COVID in the NFL (19:48), and some of his predictions for the current college football season (23:45). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Tory Dandy Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt...

Bakari is joined by New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb to talk about the Haitian asylum seekers currently at the Texas border (1:00); 'The Matter of Black Lives,' a new collection of essays on race published in The New Yorker (6:36); and how to turn the Black Lives Matter movement into long-term political power (10:35). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Jelani Cobb Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Additio...