Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Alan Zweibel to discuss his time during the first few years of ‘Saturday Night Live’. Alan begins the conversation by sharing his feelings about the 50th anniversary of ‘SNL’ and detailing the anatomy of a good joke. Larry and Alan then talk about Lorne Michaels’ original concepts for the show and detail the inspiration for some of Zweibel’s favorite sketches (15:34). Next, they examine some of the iconic performers and hosts who made those first shows so special, including Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Andy Kaufman (24:36). After the break they talk about the lasting influence of ‘SNL’s early commercial parodies and pay tribute to the great Gilda Radner (38:11). Alan ends the show by remembering some of the lessons he learned as one of the original writers at ‘SNL’ and some of the projects he has lined up for the future (49:17). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Alan Zweibel Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by technology journalist Emily Chang to talk about her Bloomberg Originals limited series ‘Posthuman’, and her podcast ‘The Circuit’, which features interviews with influential figures in the tech industry. They begin their conversation by discussing the inspiration for ‘Posthuman’, which delves into humanity’s connection to artificial intelligence, and shine light on some of AI's latest innovations. Larry and Emily then touch on many hot-button topics regarding AI, including its uses for medicine, warfare, and mental health (15:57). They end the pod by sharing their predictions, hopes, and fears about the future of AI (37:33). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Emily Chang Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by writer and historian Timothy Shenk to discuss his newest book, ‘Left Adrift: What Happened to Liberal Politics’. They begin their conversation by talking about why they think the Democrats failed with their messaging in the 2024 election and what the rise of Trumpism means about American culture today. Next, Shenk shares the historic and societal reasons he was inspired to write his book, which tells the story of modern Democratic ideology through the lens of highly influential political thinkers like Stan Greenburg (19:23). They then look at historical figures like George Wallace and Eugene McCarthy to see how their vision of populism led to the rise of politicians like Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, and Barack Obama (24:50). After the break, Larry and Tim debate what the Democrats can do to reconnect to the working and lower classes and examine which major political party is best positioned for success going forward (52:05). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Timothy Shenk Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the results of the presidential election and the future of the Democratic Party. He’s then joined by political commentator and host of the new iHeartRadio podcast ‘Off the Cupp’, S.E. Cupp, and they begin their conversation by sharing their reactions to Donald Trump winning the presidential election (18:01). They then examine the apparent cultural shift in America to the idealistic right and the viability of Trumpism in the Republican Party (30:46). This leads to a discussion about the appointment of Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Elon Musk’s influence on Trump's developing administration (40:24). After the break, Larry and S.E. shine a light on what’s left of "wokeism" in politics and discuss their biggest fears about the impending Trump presidency (55:28). They end the pod by diving into the state of cable news and trying to make sense of the Tucker Carlson zeitgeist (1:07:16). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: S.E. Cupp Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by comedian Samantha Bee and chief content officer at The Daily Beast, Joanna Coles, to discuss their latest venture ‘The Daily Beast Podcast’. They begin their conversation by shining a light on how they started the podcast and the interesting way Joanna connects creative luminaries in her industry. They then quickly pivot to an examination of the divisive nature of the Republican Party, speculate on how either Trump or Harris will win the election, and dive into the government's flawed response to the COVID epidemic (15:41). After the break, Larry, Sam, and Joanna talk about how they consume news, Melania Trump’s book, and Kamala Harris’s biggest hurdles as we race closer to Election Day (38:32). Host: Larry Wilmore Guests: Samantha Bee and Joanna Coles Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist and writer Craig Unger to discuss his newest book ‘Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House’, which investigates the secret collusion between the U.S. government and Iran and how it affected the 1980 presidential election. They begin the pod by diving into the history of the C.I.A.’s involvement in the Middle East and how the events in the book led to future events like the Iran-Contra scandal. This leads to a conversation about the myriad of famous participants involved in these covert operations and how the media turned a blind eye to the truth while it was going on (23:30). After the break, Larry and Craig shine a light on the mysterious deaths that happened during those years before talking about the current state of the C.I.A. (34:05). They end the pod by examining Donald Trump’s compromising ties to both the Russian mob and government (48:58). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Craig Unger Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on his recent tour, the newest season of ‘Reasonable Doubt’, and the upcoming presidential election. He’s then joined by writer, statistician, and founder of the site FiveThirtyEight Nate Silver to discuss his newest book ‘On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything’ (15:27). They begin their conversation by talking about why certain types of people get into gambling and the importance of preparation when going into high stakes competitions (21:08). Nate then details how he got into politics before breaking down the process of his calculations and predictions (31:44). After the break they categorize different types of gamblers into ‘fox’ and ‘hedgehog’ categories and apply these descriptors to individuals operating in society (48:43). Larry and Nate end the pod by making election and sports predictions (1:07:28). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Nate Silver Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by historian and author Yuval Noah Harari in front of an audience at Live Talks L.A. to discuss his newest book, ‘Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks From the Stone Age to AI.’ They begin their conversation by talking about the nature of information and how it's been manipulated throughout human history, starting with the invention of the printing press and book distribution up to the complications of present-day media. Next, they break down the roles different bureaucracies play in controlling information from the public (33:49). This leads to a debate about what dangers and benefits AI technology poses for the future of humanity and whether AI can teach itself to have a moral compass (43:35). Finally, Larry and Yuval take questions from some of the attendees (1:04:12). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Yuval Noah Harari Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist and host of CNN’s ‘NewsNight’, Abby Phillip, and they begin their conversation by discussing Donald Trump and his influence on the news media and the Republican Party. They then pivot to Kamala Harris and shine a light on her meteoric rise to the top of the Democratic ticket and break down the effectiveness of her media strategy heading into the final stretch of the election (15:38). After the break, Abby talks about why civil disagreements are the essential fuel for her nightly show ‘NewsNight with Abby Phillip’ and shares her assessment on the state of TV journalism (28:39). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Abby Phillip Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. He’s then joined by producer Will Packer to discuss his new Peacock limited series ‘Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist’. They begin their conversation by discussing the premise and history behind the project, which leads to a discussion about the art of creating content in today’s entertainment industry (12:57). After the break, Larry and Will shine a light on the artistic way Don Cheadle, Kevin Hart, Terrence Howard, and Samuel L. Jackson embody their individual characters in ‘Fight Night,’ which tells the story of a heist that took place at a Muhammad Ali boxing match (37:52). Finally, Will talks about his journey to becoming one of Hollywood’s top producers and shares some sage advice for aspiring filmmakers (56:06). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Will Packer Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the state of the presidential race and shares some of dates of his upcoming tour. He’s then joined by Sophia Cai from Axios and they begin their conversation by talking about Kamala Harris’s historic rise to Democratic presidential nominee and the change in party dynamics after Joe Biden dropped out of the race. They then examine Kamala’s running mate Tim Walz before breaking down the differences between the Harris and Biden campaigns, and the contributions Barack Obama has made to the current movement (27:40). After the break Larry and Sophia take a look at the biggest issues motivating voters this election and speculate on how Kamala will do versus Trump in their upcoming date and how she'll deal with the press between now and November (44:26). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Sophia Cai Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by actor, writer, and comedian Langston Kerman to talk about his brand new Netflix stand-up comedy special ‘Bad Poetry’, streaming on Aug. 20th. They begin their conversation by breaking down different types of comedy writing and examining Langston’s process when coming up with themes for a special. This leads to discussions about dating apps, love relationships, and biraciality, and how each of those subjects contribute to Langston’s art (13:03). After the break, Larry and Langston share stories that reflect the obstacles and triumphs they faced during their respective comedy writing careers (34:14). They end the pod by debating the viability of some of their favorite conspiracy theories and shining a light on Langston’s podcast ‘My Momma Told Me’ which deals with those subjects from a black perspective (45:52). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Langston Kerman Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on his favorite moments from the 2024 Olympics so far, Tim Walz, Trump’s wild press conference, and the state of Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. He’s then joined by former world champion track-and-field athlete Marion Jones and they begin their conversation by discussing her journey from teenage phenom athlete to a star on the U.S. Olympic team (14:09). They then talk about the struggles Marion faced throughout her athletic career with the spectre of performance enhancing drugs and discuss the importance of relaying her tumultuous story to the youth for inspiration (21:29). After the break they shine a light on Marion’s partnership with Driven Inc., a program that seeks to motivate athletes and entrepreneurs to find balance in their careers and be open to reinvention to gain success (42:52). Larry and Marion end the pod by sharing their favorite athletes and moments from the Paris Olympics (52:34). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Marion Jones Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on this week’s attacks against Kamala Harris by the right-wing media. He’s then joined by Maryland Governor Wes Moore and they begin their conversation by discussing the many accomplishments Moore has achieved for his state, and the general mood of the Democratic Party after Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Kamala Harris stepped in as the presumptive presidential nominee (9:16). They end the pod by talking about what Vice President Harris needs to do to unite her party and win in November against Donald Trump (29:13). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Governor Wes Moore Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race. He’s then joined by professor, author, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway; they begin their conversation by discussing the art of doing interviews, the state of mainstream TV as a viable information source, and the schism between left and right political ideologies (16:47). They then shine a light on the importance of proper mentorships for young men in today’s culture, and how this lack of guardrails has negatively impacted our society in the last century (47:53). Larry and Scott end the pod by examining Galloway’s most recent book ‘The Algebra of Wealth,’ and break down the philosophy of finding what you're good at, rather than following your passion as means for stabilizing your finances for the future (58:23). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Scott Galloway Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on President Joe Biden. He’s then joined by director, playwright, and Emmy Award-winning actor Colman Domingo to discuss his latest film ‘Sing Sing’ (13:55). They begin their conversation by talking about the process of choosing roles for a project and describing the premise of ‘Sing Sing’, which centers around a group of prison inmates that organize and perform a play. This leads to a discussion about the real-life program Rehabilitation Through the Arts that helps people escape from the realities of incarceration through creativity, and the importance of the arts in our society, particularly impoverished communities (29:14). Colman ends the pod by sharing how he “downloads” characteristics into his creative process when fleshing out a role and shining a light on the emotional reactions he received from some of the pre-release screenings of ‘Sing Sing’ (40:35). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Colman Domingo Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by comedian Bill Maher in front of a live audience at Live Talks L.A. to discuss his new book 'What This Comedian Said Will Shock You'. They begin by shining a light on how Bill compiled his favorite editorials from ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ for the book and contrasting the focus of the hit HBO series with the celebrity-formatted vibes of his previous show, ‘Politically Incorrect’. This leads to a conversation about the difficulties of staying true to your artistic principles in modern culture and how to deal with the specter of white guilt in the internet age (9:01). They then pivot to the presidential race between Biden and Trump, and analyze the prevalence of self-imposed ignorance in the two major political parties and society at large (33:29). After the break, Larry and Bill answer hot-button questions from some of the event attendees (52:45). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Bill Maher Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by writer, producer, and showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois to discuss her latest venture ‘The Big Cigar’ currently streaming on Apple TV+. They begin their conversation by discussing the difficulties of making a genuine high-budget biopic that features such a polarizing cultural icon like Huey Newton. Janine then shares what she learned about the Black Panthers during the creation process, in particular the group’s deep awareness of their image in relation to the media (17:50). Larry and Janine end the pod by talking about the importance of gathering contemporary accounts when making period pieces, praising the amazing cast of ‘The Big Cigar’, and giving advice to upstart writers looking to get into show business (38:34). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Janine Sherman Barrois Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by actor and comedian Stephen Merchant and they begin their conversation by comparing the American and British versions of ‘The Office’, and sharing stories from making their respective iterations of the hit TV show. They then pivot to the Amazon Prime series ‘The Outlaws’ which recently premiered its third season and features Merchant as a writer, producer, and actor (17:31). During their breakdown of the show Larry and Stephen touch on subjects as wide-ranging as the viability of lonely characters in storylines, the sadness of Donald Trump, and the invigorating energy of doing stand-up comedy (21:13). They end the pod by talking about the amazing cast of ‘The Outlaws’, their love of heists, and the career lessons Merchant has learned from his many occupational hats (39:51). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Stephen Merchant Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by U.S. Representative from California’s 17th congressional district Ro Khanna and they begin their conversation by discussing the protest movement happening on college campuses around the U.S. and the principal factors contributing to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. They then pivot to the congressional misconceptions surrounding TikTok before examining the viability of progressive capitalism and the role of AI in modern industry (20:22). After the break, Larry and Ro try to make sense of Donald Trump’s popularity, break down the immigration issue, and talk about the most important qualities in leadership (36:46). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Rep. Ro Khanna Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices