Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

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 Wilmore Guest: Wendy Zukerman Producers: Brandy LaPlante and 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 Wilmore Guest: Dave Weigel Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by author, journalist, and cultural critic Michael Harriot to discuss his new book ‘Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America’. They begin their conversation by exploring Michael’s incredibly thorough research style and educational roots. They then dive into how historical facts get replaced by false narratives over time and the motivations behind the Western imperialists’ contributions to some of these myths (9:09). Larry and Michael then examine the factors that allow certain civilizations to dominate others and talk about the unique aspects of early American slave trade versus similar human trafficking scenarios in other parts of the world (16:33). After the break, they shine a light on Christianity’s role in white supremacy, slavery, and the colonization of America (34:15). Michael ends the pod by revealing his thoughts on the biggest obstacles facing truthful historical storytelling and the state of modern white supremacy (53:23). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Michael Harriot Producers: Chris Sutton, Mike Wargon, and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by actress, comedienne, and author Yvonne Orji to talk about her memoir, ‘Bamboozled by Jesus: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams,’ which was recently released in paperback. They begin their conversation by reminiscing about their time together working in television. Next, Yvonne shares how she maintained her devout Christian faith within the chaotic world of show business, and the inspiration that drove her to write her book (19:09). She then discusses her experiences growing up as a Nigerian-born immigrant, the support she received from her father, and the challenges she faced during the pandemic (43:31). They end the pod with Yvonne’s best advice from the book and some life lessons from Larry on making distinctions rather than definitions when applying creativity to your craft (55:17). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Yvonne Orji Producers: Brandy LaPlante and Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Journalist and co-host of ‘Today, Explained’ podcast, Noel King, joins Larry to discuss their new special series on capitalism. They explore political divisions in economic philosophy, America's changing views on democracy and capitalism, the shareholder mentality, rise in property and education costs, and the future of capitalism.

Larry is joined by journalist Kara Swisher to discuss her podcasts ‘Pivot’ and ‘On With Kara Swisher’. They begin their conversation by talking about the importance of betting on yourself when making career choices. Next, they examine the relationship between Elon Musk’s mental health and his tech empire while also shining light on the current state of tech giants Meta and Google (10:24). After the break, Larry and Kara dive into how the iPhone has changed society and debate the effects of AI on public transportation and the entertainment industry (31:12). Kara ends the pod by sharing what types of tech she thinks will still be around in a decade (55:40). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Kara Swisher Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist and author Brian Raftery to discuss his new podcast at The Ringer called ‘Do We Get to Win This Time?’ which focuses on Hollywood’s depiction of the Vietnam War during the ’70s and ’80s. They begin by talking about the importance of a great trailer, the excitement of seeing a classic movie on opening night, and how the podcast came together. Next, Brian and Larry share their personal connections to the war in Vietnam before diving into some of the pioneering movies that exposed society to its visceral realities, notably ‘The Deer Hunter’, ‘Apocalypse Now’, ‘Rambo’, and ‘Platoon’ (9:51). After the break, they dissect the mastery of Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Full Metal Jacket’, ponder if there are any stories left to tell from the Vietnam conflict, and shine a light on John Wayne’s influence on cinematic depictions of the war (32:27). They end the pod by shining a light on their favorite war movies and the way different generations influence each other (1:05:22). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Brian Raftery Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist, author, and CNN anchor Jake Tapper to discuss his new novel ‘All the Demons Are Here: A Thriller’’. They begin their conversation discussing how the book combines fiction with contemporaneous real-life historical moments, particularly the rise of Rupert Murdoch's media empire and tabloid culture in the late 1970s. They then dive into the current indictments facing former president Donald Trump, beginning with the most recent one that focuses on the events of January 6th, and take a look at how close Trump came to pulling off the fake elector scheme he’s being charged for (13:59). This leads to a robust conversation about the prevalence of conspiracy theories and modern society’s reverence for them (23:05). After the break, Jake and Larry dissect the classified documents and Stormy Daniels's indictments while shining a light on Trump's mindset when he was committing the alleged infractions (35:37). They end the pod by talking about the likelihood of Trump serving time in prison, his political charisma, and his chances of winning re-election (45:37). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Jake Tapper Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by environmental strategist, educator, and author Kylie Flanagan to discuss her book ‘Climate Resilience: How We Keep Each Other Safe, Care for Our Communities, and Fight Back Against Climate Change’ publishing on August 1. They begin their conversation by talking about the uniquely personal method Kylie utilized to convey the impact of the global climate crisis in her book and breaking down the definition of “climate resilience”. Next, they dive deep into the obstacles surrounding the global warming dialog, the tangible metrics that can be referenced by folks to tamper their existential anxieties about the planet, and the ways to connect to the burgeoning youth activist movement (14:11). After the break, Larry asks Kylie if the negative effects of climate change can be reversed, how she got involved in environmental justice, and what type of responses she’s already received from the book (24:41). They end the pod by shining a light on how simple action items and powerful storytelling can inspire everyday people to consider climate activism (31:07). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Kylie Flanagan Producers: Chris Sutton and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by astronomer and actress Aomawa Shields to discuss her new book ‘Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe.' They begin their conversation by examining the myriad of intersecting issues and topics presented within the book and the personal journey Aomawa went through that led to its creation. Dr. Shields then details the mental obstacles she overcame to reach her professional goals and talks about the importance of being your own role model (9:14). Next, she shares the important lessons that were learned during her acting class at MIT and the support network she discovered while pursuing her Astronomy and Astrobiology PhD that fostered the discovery of her inner superpower (25:42). After the break Larry and Aomawa tackle the big questions about life on other planets and the vastness of the universe (45:24). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Dr. Aomawa Shields Producers: Brandy LaPlante and Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices