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 the mission of ‘The Assignment’, the state of modern broadcast news, and Donald Trump’s recent town hall event (28:56). Larry and Audie end the pod by examining the future of political activism, her upcoming episode on CNN’s ‘The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper’, and the AI conundrum (1:00:04).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Audie Cornish

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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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 Wilson’s new book ‘Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution’ and explain the thematic connections it draws from in classic TV shows like ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘Star Trek’ (34:13). They end the pod by breaking down the importance of sacredness and pondering humanity’s artistic integration with nature (40:00).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Rainn Wilson

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton 

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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 break, Larry and Marcel talk about how humor and food play huge roles in ‘Fat Ham’ before shining a light on the amazing cast, Pulitzer Prize-winning script, and Tony-nominated costume design (30:17). Marcel ends the pod by sharing his future acting goals and what it was like to work with 'Fat Ham' co-star Nikki Crawford, who’s performance earned her a Tony nomination as well (46:01).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Marcel Spears

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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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, the production methods he developed while working with Bill Maher, and his take on Tucker Carlson (18:12). After the break, Scott explains his own interpretation of God, how it’s positioned within the wide proliferation of religions, and if faith can exist within a world of broad scientific advancements (38:02). They end the pod by pondering if God is necessary to have a moral life and shine a light on the state of religion in America (50:13).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Scott Carter

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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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 white board, her opinions on big bank machinations, and her aspirations to become a U.S. senator (19:52). They then talk about Joe Biden’s accomplishments in office, detail the many changes facing Democrats going forward, and touch on some hot-button political topics (38:41). Finally, Larry and Katie take questions from the Live Talks L.A. audience (56:30).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Katie Porter

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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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 Delroy Lindo and Kerry Washington were able to add their own talents and nuances into her story (9:03). This leads to conversations about the evolution of human attachment in our society, Tracy’s connections to her incarcerated father and subsequent foster families, and how the generational trauma experienced by African Americans manifests itself culturally (22:55). After the break, Tracy breaks down how she became a relationship expert and offers tools on how to take correct actions to achieve emotional and spiritual security (43:43). They end the pod by talking about the pitfalls of abundance avoidance and the ways Tracy was changed by the process of making ‘UnPrisoned’ (1:02:27).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Tracy McMillan

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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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 their shared love of cinematic storytelling, their individual acting processes, and Tracee's professional chemistry with her 'Black-ish' co-star Anthony Anderson (36:03). Finally, they discuss some of Tracee's most recent roles, her new hair care company Pattern, and the enduring qualities of her iconic mom Diana Ross (51:35).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Tracee Ellis Ross

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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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 to be a successful surgeon, Chin-Quee's journey to becoming a doctor, and how the system for testing an individual's specialization highlights racial discrimination within the medical industry (7:19). This leads to a conversation on how trauma is passed down through the family tree and the paths to address and work through it (30:10). After the break, Anthony details his personal struggles with suicidal thoughts, and talks about the metrics and techniques the health community uses to designate the severity of a patient's depression (38:01). Larry and Anthony end the pod by examining Chin-Quee's current relationship with himself and medicine, as well as the hurdles facing Black men in regards to treating mental health (51:29).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Anthony Chin-Quee

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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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' and how the incredibly diverse and talented writers group fomented a harmonious atmosphere of creativity that drove the making of the series (19:26). After the break, Larry and Ike examine their shared love of history, Ike's beginnings in the comedy industry, and Jordan Peele's genius (31:37). They end the pod by talking about Ike's future in comedy, debate their favorite Mel Brooks movies, and imagine an iconic character from one of them they would've liked to play (42:41).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Ike Barinholtz

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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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 her to research the primary aspects of her book. Next, they examine the history of segregation in professional basketball, how racial context was tied to the emerging style of play within the game, and pioneers like Connie Hawkins who insisted on wage equality for Black players in the league (8:19). They then dive into Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's influence on the ABA-NBA merger and the influence of racially biased media coverage on the public’s perception of Black players and the sport’s overall revenue in the '70s (25:15). After the break, they take a look at the ascension of Simon Gourdine, the first Black NBA executive, and talk about the obstacles that hinder Black coaches and executives throughout all of the major American sports leagues (38:27). Larry and Theresa end the pod by discussing how the ‘74 Finals, the emergence of Larry Bird, and the NBA's inclusion of the slam dunk contest spearheaded the marketability of the league into the modern era (42:42).

Host: Larry Wilmore

Guest: Theresa Runstedtler

Associate Producer: Chris Sutton

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