Original Air Date: April 19th, 2021Oprah talks with Viola Davis, the most nominated Black actress in Oscar history, about her film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. In yet another superb performance, Davis inhabits “the mother of the blues” in an adaptation of the August Wilson play. Davis reveals what Ma's struggle says about today's America and what it taught her about harnessing her own powers as a Black woman. She also shares her thoughts on working with the late Chadwick Boseman on his final film.  Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah’s Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN 

Viola Davis shares writing tips like 'show don't tell' and considering ghost writers. Norm Macdonald discusses storytelling techniques and blurring truth and absurdity. David Sedaris reveals the humor of repetition and the power of responding with stories. The podcast explores the influence of childhood memories, admiration for David Sedaris, and the effectiveness of ending a story without reflection or lessons.

Exploring the storyline of Kung Fu Panda 4 with Jack Black returning as Po and Aquafina as a new fox character, facing a new villain played by Viola Davis. Discussing the emotional depth, humor, and themes of identity and chosen family in the franchise. Critiquing Aquafina's performance and examining the representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood.

Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu, and John Boyega discuss the film The Woman King. The hosts share their thoughts on the movie, its historical inaccuracies, and lukewarm reception. They also discuss the portrayal of women characters, skepticism towards another slavery movie, and the role of Portuguese slave traders. Critiques include confusion over proximity, underdeveloped pacing, and the villain's depth. They also discuss competition scenes, the need for story tightening, and scene placement.

Thuso Mbedu opens up about what it was like to work with Viola Davis in “The Woman King,” why she decided to pursue acting from a social impact standpoint, and what she hopes to achieve with her new production deal with Paramount+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.