The Bakari Sellers Podcast

Bakari Sellers is joined by Caitlin Byrd, senior politics reporter at The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, to discuss Senator Tim Scott’s presidential announcement (2:46), what distinguishes the senator from the rest of the field (7:52), and his chances of attracting Black voters to the Republican Party (10:25). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Caitlin Byrd Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. E...

Bakari Sellers is joined by journalist Kara Swisher to discuss the evolution of covering the tech business since the early days of the internet (2:15), the positives of artificial intelligence (6:37), and the prospect of a 2024 election with two elderly candidates (14:25). Plus the evolution of Elon Musk (16:32). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Kara Swisher Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Produ...

Bakari Sellers is joined by Wall Street Journal reporter Dion Rabouin to discuss his journey from entertainment to finance news (:58), ways in which the crypto crash impacted Black people (7:50), and how Black-owned banks have fared amid the widespread failures of larger banks (22:12). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Dion Rabouin Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn m...

Bakari Sellers is joined by author and founder and CEO of Squad Isa Watson to discuss the burgeoning social media platform (2:38) and her new book ‘Life Beyond Likes’ (5:35), plus advice for parents raising kids in the age of social media (14:03). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Isa Watson Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

Bakari Sellers is joined by writer, journalist, and podcaster Molly Jong-Fast to discuss Senator Diane Feinstein and calls for her to resign amid health concerns (4:48). Then they talk about expectations for President Joe Biden’s upcoming campaign (12:13) and the unfair criticisms of VP Kamala Harris (15:32). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Molly Jong-Fast Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Produc...

Bakari Sellers is joined by comedian W. Kamau Bell to react to Roy Wood Jr.’s set at the White House Correspondents' dinner (2:36), and discuss his new HBO documentary, ‘1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed’ (6:48). Plus, discussing the importance of representation on TV (16:30). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: W. Kamau Bell Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your...

Bakari Sellers is joined by writer and podcaster Panama Jackson to discuss his ‘Dear Culture’ podcast series ‘True-ish Black Stories’ (5:21), Deion Sanders and the "savior complex" (14:22), and the conversation surrounding the upcoming documentary about Freaknik (16:14). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Panama Jackson Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about you...

Bakari Sellers is joined by NBA Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood to discuss the 1971 Supreme Court decision on NBA draft eligibility (4:15), his and former Lakers’ opinions on the HBO show ‘Winning Time’ (11:47), and competing with and beating the greats of the 1980s (18:45). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Spencer Haywood Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about...

Bakari Sellers is joined by law professor and NBC legal analyst Joyce Vance to discuss the abortion pill ruling in Texas (2:25), Donald Trump's arrest and indictment (11:12), and what Trump’s legal troubles could mean for his presidential candidacy (22:37). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Joyce Vance Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Bakari Sellers is joined by White House correspondent April Ryan to discuss the LSU women’s basketball team’s much-publicized White House visit (4:22), the impact of Kamala Harris’s visit to Africa (9:05), and the outlook of the 2024 election (17:41). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: April Ryan Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...

Bakari Sellers is joined by NFL insider Jay Glazer to discuss the latest news in the 2023 offseason (6:29), his book ‘Unbreakable’ and building mental wellness (10:27). Plus, the role that self-care plays in the lives of pro athletes (18:25). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Jay Glazer Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.  Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...

Bakari Sellers is joined by chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Nikki Fried, to discuss running for governor in the 2022 election (3:13), her time serving as the agriculture commissioner of Florida (9:42), and what the Democratic Party needs to do to win Florida back (12:29) Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Nikki Fried Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about...

Bakari Sellers is joined by Amanda Tyler, author and professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, to discuss Donald Trump’s unprecedented legal troubles (4:12), co-authoring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s final book, ‘Justice, Justice Thou Shalt Pursue’ (7:54), and life lessons learned during the final months of Ginsburg’s life (15:40). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Aman...

Bakari Sellers is joined by actress, comedian, and author Sherri Shepherd to discuss her early days in stand-up (:41), her comedy Mount Rushmore (9:33), and being her authentic self while hosting ‘Sherri’ (11:29). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Sherri Shepherd Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bakari Sellers is joined by principal at Education Counsel and former New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Zakiya Ellis to discuss the future of higher education access for Black students (4:15), the prospect of student debt relief (11:58), and reacting to Florida’s new bill that would ban diversity and inclusion programs (17:15). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Dr. Zakiya Ellis Producer: Donn...

Bakari Sellers is joined by FUBU founder and CEO—and ‘Shark Tank’ cohost—Daymond John to discuss the beginnings of the iconic brand (1:09), supporting Black entrepreneurs (8:52), and his new children’s book ‘Little Daymond Learns to Earn’ (17:08). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Daymond John Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas...

Bakari Sellers is joined by HBCU advocate and senior fellow, higher education at The Century Foundation Denise Smith to discuss the importance of public HBCU’s (4:31), the funding disparities between HBCUs and PWIs (7:54), and what lawmakers can do to lessen the gaps and increase equity (12:29). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Denise Smith Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.  Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadh...

Bakari Sellers is joined by author, journalist, and host of NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ Ari Shapiro to discuss his first book, ‘The Best Strangers in the World’ (3:37), accidentally becoming an early face of same-sex marriage (11:05), and his life as a member of the band Pink Martini (14:21). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Ari Shapiro Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt...

Bakari Sellers is joined by criminal justice scholar Paul Butler to discuss how growing up in Chicago formed his views on policing (:45), disappointment in the Biden administration’s lack of progress on reform (13:20), and the work being done by the January 6 congressional committee (15:33). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Paul Butler Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Le...

Bakari Sellers is joined by producer and filmmaker Raymond Lambert to discuss the film ‘Punch 9 for Harold Washington’ (2:13), the influence of Harold Washington on Barack Obama’s career (8:45), and the path to getting documentary films financed and made (13:15). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Raymond Lambert Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.  Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your ad c...

Bakari Sellers is joined by University of New Mexico law professor Vinay Harpalani to discuss teaching the intersection of race, education, and the law (:54), the potential end of affirmative action (6:16), and why it’s Asian American students who are leading the effort (18:37). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Vinay Harpalani Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more...

Bakari Sellers is joined by author, businesswoman, and former CEO of BET Debra Lee to discuss her memoir ‘I Am Debra Lee’ (8:33), writing with the intention of empowering young Black women (17:56), and the early days of the first Black-controlled television company (22:30). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Debra Lee Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your...

Bakari Sellers is joined by writer, culture critic, and host of ‘How to Citizen,’ Baratunde Thurston, to discuss personal growth since his last appearance on the podcast (:32), education in the age of book banning (12:52), and the upcoming season of PBS’s 'America Outdoors With Baratunde Thurston' (17:45). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Baratunde Thurston Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. Executive Produc...

Bakari Sellers is joined by scholar Dr. Deborah McDowell to discuss her role as director of the Carter G. Woodson Institute at the University of Virginia (2:59) and the archiving and publication of activist Julian Bond’s writings in the Julian Bond Papers Project (4:53). Plus, the impact of SNCC on Bond’s legacy (23:59). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Dr. Deborah McDowell Producer: Donnie Beacham Exe...

Bakari Sellers is joined by lawyer, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson to discuss representing inmates on death row (:57), US policy changes around capital punishment (9:41) and the state of mass incarceration under the Biden administration (15:42). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Bryan Stevenson Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.  Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more abou...