Emmy Award–winning producer, actor, and comedian Larry Wilmore is back on the air, hosting a podcast where he weighs in on the issues of the week and interviews guests in the worlds of politics, entertainment, culture, sports, and beyond.
July 6
The Complexities of Celebrating the Fourth of July, and Bassem Youssef on the Power of Satire for Social Change
Larry Wilmore unpacks some of the complexities of celebrating the Fourth of July in the black community (1:00). He also touches on the increasing difference between “the right” and “the left” on the issue of immigration and prosperity (7:00), before sitting down with Bassem Youssef (often referred to as “the Jon Stewart of Egypt”) to discuss his influential rise to fame through satire and the dangers of doing political comedy under an authoritarian regime (13:00).
June 22
The Situation in North Korea, Patriotism vs. Criticism, and Kumail Nanjiani on Arranged Marriages and ‘The Big Sick’
Larry Wilmore discusses North Korea and the recent death of Otto Warmbier as well as the criticism he’s received over comments he made about Warmbier last year (0:30). He also checks in on the Cosby trial, the Philando Castile video, and the portrayal of President Trump in Julius Caesar (7:00). Then Larry sits down with comedian Kumail Nanjiani to discuss arranged marriages versus “love marriages” and his new film, The Big Sick (16:30).
June 15
Let’s Stop Giving Propaganda a Platform, and ESPN’s Cari Champion on Women and Politics in Sports and Broadcasting
Larry Wilmore touches on the recent shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia (0:30) before speaking out against television interviews that irresponsibly give voice to propaganda by interviewing subjects like Alex Jones and Vladimir Putin (3:30). Later, Larry sits down with ESPN’s Cari Champion to discuss her thoughts on NBA superteams, women in sports and broadcasting, and why she chose to ask Floyd Mayweather Jr. about his history with domestic violence (11:00).
June 8
The N-Word, a Formula for Detecting Bullshit, and Charlamagne Tha God on ‘Black Privilege’
Larry discusses Seinfeld’s awkward moment with Kesha on the red carpet, the Bill Cosby trial, Larry’s personal formula for detecting bullshit, and Bill Maher’s recent use of the N-word (1:00). Later, Larry talks to Charlamagne tha God about growing up in rural South Carolina and how it shaped his worldview (20:00), Kanye West’s impact on black culture (35:30), and setting yourself up for success (48:00).
May 25
Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Absence of Curiosity, Sounding Black, and Why Astrophysics Is His Calling
Larry answers tweets and catches up on some of Trump’s latest antics, from giving the Pope a set of books by Martin Luther King Jr. to the Melania hand-holding gaffe (0:30). Then Larry is joined by renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to discuss the concept of “sounding black” (18:00), why astrophysics is his calling (24:00), and the science of cute toys (48:00).
May 18
Cosby Resurfaces, Trump’s Three Degrees of Lying, and Bernie Sanders on the Polarization of America
Larry Wilmore reacts to Bill Cosby’s first public interview in two years before breaking down Trump’s 3 degrees of lying (1:20). Later he chats with Senator Bernie Sanders about the state of the Democratic Party and increasing political divide and polarization happening in America (14:00).
May 11
Trump’s Casual Lying and Norman Lear on Creating Socially Impactful Television
Larry Wilmore kicks off the inaugural episode of Black on the Air by riffing on the firing of FBI Director James Comey and President Trump’s casual relationship with the truth. Then he sits down with legendary television producer Norman Lear to discuss Lear’s string of socially impactful television shows, what he learned fighting in World War II, and how he created “the lovable bigot” Archie Bunker on All in the Family.
