Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

Larry is joined by writer Tina Nguyen and they begin their conversation by discussing Tina’s journalistic journey and what it was like working for Tucker Carlson. From Tucker’s disdain for her high school principal to firing her, Tina gives an insight on what Tucker the person is like (2:34). They then discuss why MAGA hasn’t embraced Ron DeSantis, differences between MAGA and conservatism, and how MAGA can be so brilliant, yet so weak-minded. They also discuss what the Convention of States is (34:03). Finally, they end the pod by predicting whether Donald Trump will win the 2024 nomination, and talking about who the intellectuals involved in the movement are (40:43).Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Tina NguyenProducer: Kyle WilliamsAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry starts the pod with a replay of a lovely conversation with his daughter, Lauren Wilmore, on the history and impact of the classic song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." He’s then joined by legendary director and producer Reginald Hudlin to discuss his new holiday film ‘Candy Cane Lane’, streaming on Amazon Prime, and give flowers to its star, Eddie Murphy (17:23). They then examine the process of casting a great movie, societies post-pandemic movie-going habits, and the state of the cinema industry (43:16). Finally, Larry and Reggie end the pod by talking about the challenges within storytelling for adults and the art of being a creative executive before sharing their lists of favorite Christmas specials (56:02).Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Reginald HudlinAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist Donie O’Sullivan to discuss his new CNN documentary—‘Waiting for JFK: Reporting From the Fringe’—that aired on ‘The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper.’ They begin their conversation talking about how Donie was inspired to create a one-hour special on the fringe conspiracy group that formed in Texas who believe JFK and JFK Jr. are alive and descend from Jesus Christ, and, additionally, that JFK Jr. is Donald Trump (4:50). They discuss similar conspiracy theories that have formed, such as QAnon and its connection to disenchantment and the exploitation of peoples’ losses (22:38). Finally, they end the pod by returning to the JFK conspiracy, discussing how Donie got kicked off of X, and breaking down Donie’s experiences at Trump rallies and with conspiracists in the field (60:57).Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Donie O’SullivanProducer: Olivia CrerieAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry pays tribute to friend and comedic legend Norman Lear by revisiting the very first ‘Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air’ episode, which features an in-depth interview with the iconic producer. Throughout the conversation they discuss Norman’s early days before his television career, the cultural impact of ‘All in the Family,’ and much more.Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Norman LearAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by writer David Brooks in front of a live audience at Live Talks L.A. to discuss his new book ‘How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.’ They begin their conversation by discussing his personal journey and the life lessons that inspired him to write the book. They then dive into the lack of social relationships in modern society and the importance of leading with trust and positivity in everyday interactions (8:54). This leads to discussions about the obstacles that keep people from understanding each other, the instinctively biological aspects of seeing others deeply, and their thoughts on antisemitism (29:14). They end the pod by taking questions from the audience (51:19).Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: David BrooksAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Denver Film’s Kevin Smith (CEO) and Matt Campbell (Artistic Director) in front of a live audience at the 2023 Denver Film Festival. They begin their conversation with a brief history of Denver Film, a look at the curation process for the festival, and their thoughts on the state of the movie industry after the pandemic. Next, Larry, Kevin, and Matt focus on the proliferation of amazing indie and international films on the DFF schedule, give advice to aspiring filmmakers, and highlight the films that have had the biggest impact on their lives (25:59). They end the pod by taking questions from some of the attendees (46:03).Host: Larry WilmoreGuests: Kevin Smith and Matt CampbellAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris to discuss his new Apple TV+ documentary ‘The Pigeon Tunnel’ based on the memoir of the same name by spy novelist John le Carré. They begin by talking about the origins of the project and how his current promotional tour is inspiring Morris to analyze his famous interview style. This leads to a discussion on the difference between interviewing and interrogating, the importance of active listening when engaging an audience, and how documentarians have to face the struggle between memory, truth, and reality when trying to tell their stories (4:17). Next, they dive into the personal philosophy of the movie’s subject, the meaning behind the film's title, and Morris’s favorite parts of le Carré's original book (30:25). They end the pod by shining a light on the historic lessons Errol learned while making the film, the moral compass of its subject, and modern society’s inability to accept the brutal truths of history (38:00).Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Errol MorrisAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen to discuss his new memoir ‘A Man of Two Faces’. They begin their conversation by talking about why he wrote the book, how it juxtaposes his family’s experiences as Vietnamese refugees in the 1970’s to his current views on American colonialism, and the tenuous relationship between memory and trauma. Next, they dissect the distinctions between the words “immigrant” and “refugee” while examining Viet’s connections to African-American culture and classic literature (19:34). After they break, they shine a light on the misinformation within Hollywood cinema about Southeast Asian culture and explore the factors that have minimized the general perception of France’s role in the conflict historically (31:52). Viet ends the pod by sharing his definition of the American dream and paying tribute to the personal influence and memory of his beloved mother (40:05).Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Viet Thanh NguyenAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by science journalist Wendy Zukerman to discuss her podcast ‘Science Vs.’. They begin their conversation by discussing the inspiration and motivations behind creating a science program that searches to use delight and humor to teach people about the world around them. Next, they dive into the ongoing debate about climate change in both Australia and the U.S, and how the global pandemic has shaped society's relationship with mental health (12:16). After the break, they pit science vs. spirituality and take a look at the obstacles that arise when attempting to combat conspiracy theories and myths with facts (38:25). Finally, Wendy and Larry go through the ‘Science Vs.’ catalog and discuss the important lessons that were learned from some of the show’s most intriguing episodes (52:22).Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Wendy ZukermanAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist Dave Weigel and they begin their conversation by discussing Weigel’s career, beginning with his time as an editor for the Washington Post on through to his current role as politics writer at Semafor. They then examine the power of Donald Trump’s cult of personality and all the ways it’s shaping the modern GOP (9:46). Next they tackle the confusing narratives coming out of the war in Ukraine and how America’s attitudes toward it are being shaped by hot button cultural issues (34:11). After the break, Larry and Dave break down the individual lanes Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert Kennedy Jr. have created for themselves in the current presidential race (52:40). They end the pod by breaking down the differences between common sense and conspiracy theories while offering tips on how to find reliable sources in today’s media landscape (1:03:56).Host: Larry WilmoreGuest: Dave WeigelAssociate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices