Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell

Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell

By Pushkin Industries

Kamau Bell is known for embracing uncomfortable conversations that acknowledge differences, confront embarrassment, and change people’s perspectives. Throughout his career, Kamau has talked with ev

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Best of Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

  1. Number 1: Margaret Cho on Choosing to Matter

    Kamau chats with comedy legend Margaret Cho about her evolution from prodigy stand-up to comedy elder, activist, and craft‑obsessed lifer. They bond over their shared San Francisco roots and how he sees her as a “comedy mother.” Cho embraces that role, saying she loves taking ownership when younger comics build on what she did and “make it better.” They dig into her landmark solo show I’m the One That I Want, which kicked open the door for comics to be vulnerable and “give a damn” onstage. Cho contrasts traditional self‑deprecation with a philosophy of self‑affirmation, arguing that comics can “choose yourself,” insist “I matter,” and avoid self‑deprecation that, for comics of color, can reestablish white supremacy in front of mostly white audiences. Asked for her “state of the comedy universe,” she critiques the Kevin Hart roast as disheartening, praising Cheryl Underwood while condemning the racist jokes about lynching, George Floyd, and Underwood’s husband’s suicide, as ugly and unimaginative. This leads into a broader discussion of how comedy has drifted from speaking truth to power and punching up toward being “cozy with power,” with some comics mistaking racist or “forbidden word” jokes for genuine edginess. Cho’s decades‑long LGBTQ advocacy runs through the episode. The host notes she identified as queer early and helped define the universe of what comedy could be, especially in San Francisco’s queer scene. She warns that comics “testing” boundaries around trans people without understanding the stakes contributes to real‑world harm: “when you take trans lives lightly… trans people die.” She calls current conditions “really sad” and “scary,” citing bathroom and identity laws, driver’s license issues, and the re‑legalization of conversion therapy, and says “we’re in the middle of a transgenocide” that demands action to keep trans people safe and restore equality. The episode also touches on grief and community as Cho and the host remember their friend, brilliant but troubled comic Jim Short, reflecting on his neurodivergence, volatility, and genius, and wishing more people would discover his work. Support Friendly House, which provides assistance for low‑income women dealing with addiction, at https://friendlyhousela.org. Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Distributed by Pushkin Industries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 6min
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  2. Number 2: Mo Willems on The Necessity of Art

    The interview opens with W. Kamau Bell welcoming Mo Willems (and later his wife Cher) to the podcast. Kamau explains that he has never fallen out of love with children's books, even as an adult. The conversation quickly moves into a rich discussion about the nature of picture books. Willems describes them as songs rather than novels, meant to be experienced repeatedly, and argues that the reader supplies 51% of the book's meaning. He emphasizes that a writer's job is not to convey an idea but to recreate the discovery of that idea. Willems then explains his creative process, describing how he separates creative time from reactive time and stays unreactive until after lunch. He discusses his "idea garden" notebook and the practice of auditioning characters before assigning them to stories. He reveals that each book begins with a philosophical question he does not yet know the answer to, and that "The Pigeon Needs a Bath" grew from his personal resistance to doing things he loves. Mo's wife Cher joins the conversation, and the couple discusses their collaborative dynamic, describing themselves as co-philosophers who work out ideas together at the dinner table. The origin story of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" is shared, including how Cher first tested it with kindergartners in a library and the children responded with enormous enthusiasm. The interview closes with the Willems recommending local food pantries and regional food banks, as well as DonorsChoose, as causes they support. Willems ends with a reflection on generosity during difficult times. Find and support your local food bank, and donate to DonorsChoose at donorschoose.org Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Distributed by Pushkin Industries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 22min
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  3. Number 3: Ken Jennings on Carrying the Jeopardy! Legacy

    The interview opens with Kamau welcoming Ken Jennings and reflecting on how they first met at a Seattle Bumbershoot festival through comedian Doug Benson's podcast. They bond over the classic era of Twitter, agreeing that their generation of Gen Xers had one social media platform they tolerated before it deteriorated. Kamau shares his admiration for Jennings as a Jeopardy! host, recalling how smooth and natural Jennings appeared when Bell appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy!. The two discuss how Jeopardy! built itself around Trebek over decades, and Jennings admits he was skeptical the show would survive after Trebek's passing. Jennings describes the difficult circumstances of stepping into the hosting role, explaining that he was originally scheduled to guest host while Trebek underwent cancer treatment, only to receive a call the morning he was due to rehearse informing him that Trebek had died overnight. Jennings felt compelled to continue because crew members told him he reminded them of Trebek. The conversation turns to Jeopardy!'s cultural significance, its loyal multigenerational audience, and its role as a rare steady long-term job in show business. Jennings discusses his hosting philosophy of receding into the background, following Trebek's ethos that the show should be about the players and clues. The interview then addresses Jennings speaking out politically on issues including immigration enforcement, trans rights, and reproductive rights, with Jennings framing this as a matter of personal conviction rooted in his Latter-day Saints upbringing. Donate to World Central Kitchen at wck.org and support Scarecrow Video at scarecrowvideo.org. Support families in Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan at anera.org. Donate to immigration relief at alotrolado.org. Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Distributed by Pushkin Industries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 9min
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  4. Number 4: Ted Danson on Comedy with a Conscience

    Kamau Bell and Ted Danson discuss Ted’s long, storied career, starting with his breakout role as Sam Malone in the legendary sitcom Cheers. They discuss activism, Jane Fonda, Ted’s podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, and dive deep on the 1993 Friars Club Roast of Whoopi Goldberg. Kamau opens by praising Cheers, a show that was a huge comedic influence on him. They talk about how Ted’s innate goodness counterbalanced Sam’s sleazy ways, making the character palatable to mass audiences. They talk about Ted’s remarkably long career, which he attributes to good writers, and his recent work with showrunner Mike Schur. Ted and Kamau talk about activism and questioning if you’re doing enough to make a change in the world. Ted has been an advocate for saving our oceans for over 35 years and an outspoken advocate of progressive politics, but he still compares himself to his activist peers like Jane Fonda and wonders if he is doing enough. Kamau gives Ted his flowers for demonstrating how a White person can apologize, and the conversation takes a serious turn as they discuss his infamous Friars Club Roast of Whoopi Goldberg, in which he appeared on stage in blackface. Ted is and always has been deeply regretful and embarrassed by the incident, and is grateful for the opportunity to clear the air. He discusses his thinking leading up to that night, the immediate aftermath, and his work to right the wrong. They wrap up the conversation by talking about Ted’s favorite roles that he thinks haven't gotten enough attention. Donate to support formerly incarcerated individuals as they reintegrate into society at PathwaytoKinship.org, and help fight for our oceans at Oceana.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 34min
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  5. Number 5: Delroy Lindo on The Continuum of Black Creativity

    Kamau Bell and Delroy Lindo discuss themes of clarity, grace, Black artistic lineage, community, parenting, and place (especially Oakland), framed by Lindo’s long career and his recent awards campaign for the film Sinners. Kamau opens by “giving flowers,” describing Lindo’s career through the words “clarity” and “grace.” Lindo accepts these as fitting, explaining that he strives for clarity in his choices and communication, and sees grace, both extending and receiving it, as critical, especially in contemporary America. Kamau traces his first impression of Lindo back to Malcolm X, where Lindo’s performance as West Indian Archie convinced him that the actor’s clarity and grace were not just acting but an expression of who he is. Lindo responds by correcting a common misconception about a supposed “gap” in his career, clarifying that he spent roughly a decade as a New York theater actor before Malcolm X became the springboard for his film career. They discuss the great Denzel Washington; Lindo expresses his appreciation for Denzel, both with regard to his breadth of work and their personal relationship. Kamau, speaking as a fan, describes how Black audiences came to Malcolm X for Denzel but quickly recognized Lindo as a force: first as the cool, dangerous Harlem figure and later as the frail, broken Archie, concluding that Lindo’s range made him “capable of anything” and cemented him as “our guy.” They discuss Lindo’s range through the character Rodney Little in Clockers. Lindo explains that Rodney is nothing like him on the surface, and he had to stretch and challenge himself to make the character believable, which he’s proud of. Kamau and Lindo discuss why they chose Oakland over New York or Los Angeles, and they wrap up the conversation by getting into the recent controversy at the BAFTA awards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 16min
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How many episodes does Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell have?

The podcast currently has 20 episodes available.