Craig Melvin is an award-winning news anchor on NBC News’ “TODAY,” a co-host of 3rd Hour TODAY, an anchor on MSNBC Live, and a host of “Dateline.” His breaking news coverage and reporting appear across all NBC News and MSNBC platforms. Melvin walks us step by step on the road to getting, “the dream job…the gig” that he has now and the important lessons he learned from his Pops that helped shaped the man he has become.

Learn More: Pops: Learning To Be A Son And A Father

Connect: @CariChampion  @CraigMelvin

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Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress, singer, author, and activist.  Ralph shares stories of her life in show business; from her very first audition, experiencing fame, and the various roles of her career. Ralph currently stars on Abbott Elementary and is the founder of, Diva's Simply Singing" the longest consecutive running musical AIDS benefit in the country. 

Connect: @CariChampion @theSherylLeeRalph

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This is a special extended episode with one of the players that inspired Cari’s initial attraction to collegiate basketball.

Grant Henry Hill is an American former professional basketball player who is a co-owner and executive of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association. He joins us from his family’s home in the D.C. area to share stories of his upbringing, family, and long-lasting commitment to the game.

Read: Game: An Autobiography

Listen: Game: An Autobiography – The Audiobook

Connect: @CariChampion @realGrantHill

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When you’ve been in the business since childhood your perspective of the industry has generations of evaluation and insight. We spend some time discussing yesteryears but in addition to what we know of Ali, she expounds on her dedication to the maternal health of black women. After experiencing a difficult birth with her son, Ali started to question why. Why her? Why do so many black women in America have such incredibly difficult deliveries? 

Connect: @TatyanaAli @CariChampion

Who should we interview next? @NakedwithCariChampion

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This next guest needs no introduction, on second thought we may need to, because he has the tendency to cause quite the uproar, especially among the ladies.  Michael Ealy has had high-class problems for the last twenty-plus years, but somehow he is still shy and humble to receive all the attention.  With a consistent career and staying power, he gears up for his latest project, “Reasonable Doubt” scheduled to premiere this fall. Ealy speaks openly about his longevity and how he controls his lane.

Connect: @MichaelEaly @CariChampion

Who’s Your Favorite Celebrity Crush? @NakedwithCariChampion

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Van Lathan is an established host and media personality from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At present, Van resides in Los Angeles and is developing both film and television projects. Lathan is the author of Fat, Crazy, and Tired: Tales from the Trenches of Transformation, Lathan explains on this episode why he wrote this book and how it helped him exercise some of his own demons. Van and Carrie have a heated discussion over the unbalanced attraction men and women have to power. 

The Book: Fat, Crazy, and Tired: Tales from the Trenches of Transformation

Connect: @VanLathan @CariChampion

Share your thoughts: @NakedwithCariChampion

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It’s this thing think called, Hip Hop and as it evolves and continues to open new chapters, the veterans of the genre are also finding new ways to design their thrones.  TOO SHORT a pioneer of West Coast Rap came into the game in the 1980s with lyrics often based on pimping and promiscuity. TOO SHORT was committed to telling the stories of Oakland, California; using humor and pimp vernacular he created a vibe capable of using the word “b*tch” as a term of endearment.  TOO SHORT-born Todd Anthony Shaw has been able to evolve with the music, now with a locked-in icon status is still recording, performing, and having fun with it.

Stat Connected: @CariChampion @TooShort

Listen: Spotify Apple Music

ION: Bring home Brittney Griner

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Valeisha Butterfield Jones grew up with Politics and Service ingrained into the culture of her family.  Her career was influenced by this innate leadership, although her initial interest was to follow her dream of becoming a Music Exec, she wanted to make her parents proud so she went to their alma mater to study law. After a year in law school, she pivots, moves to New York, and focuses all her energy on walking in her own path.  Fast forward Jones now serves as the first black female Co-President at the Recording Academy and as the Co-Founder of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network, here’s her story.  

Stay Connected: @CariChampion @Valeisha

Learn More: Valeisha.Org

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This week on Naked will talk about “Citizen Ashe”. the new documentary about tennis champion and activist Arthur Ashe, and we are joined the films creators Rex Miller and Sam Pollard. During the episode we discuss Arthur Ashe as a child in Richmond Virginia, becoming the first black man to win a tennis Grand Slam, and how his success gave him a platform to  become an activist. 

Cari also take a moment to give her thoughts on the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Listen and Enjoy!

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Gabrielle Dennis is a multi-hyphenated artist with a background as a trained dancer, actress, and singer. Being a triple threat was traditional approach to training and an upfront blessing for her career.  She is best known for her comedic flare and several television drama (The Game, Blue Mountain State, Luke Cage). Dennis uses all of her training to stay out of the corner of being pigeonholed into one category. She elaborates on the role and the nerves of playing the legendary, Whitney Houston and the creative pivot to the Black Lady Sketch Show. There is no role it seems Dennis can’t play and she has plans to move behind the scenes. Standing by to see what she creates next!

What’s everyone watching? @NakedwithCariChampion

Connect @Gabrielle_Dennis @CariChampion

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