Larry Wilmore: Black On The Air

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Jessica Gao to talk about her new Disney+ series 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law'. They begin their conversation by talking about how they became friends, why she wanted to develop a show around She-Hulk, and her personal connection to the character. Next, Jessica details her journey from comic book fan to comic book TV and movie writer via her experiences working at a comic book store at a young age and the subsequent opportunities that presented themselves after contributing to a writing fellowship at Nickelodeon.(11:08) This leads to a discussion about the importance of identifying career "indicators" that reveal the value of your work and consistently learning your craft when starting out.(27:45) Jessica then describes her struggle to avoid being pigeonholed as a Chinese-American woman in a white male-dominated Hollywood machine and maintain representation within her projects and throughout the industry.(32:54) After the break, Larry and Jessica break d

Larry is joined by writer, director, and stand-up comedian Mike Birbiglia to talk about his new one-man show ‘The Old Man and the Pool,’ and they start their conversation by examining Mike’s extremely honest storytelling style and how it’s applied in theatre vs. comedy club settings. Next, they dive deep into the magic of the “inevitable non sequitur” in comedic storytelling and dissect the building blocks of a great joke (6:35). Mike then shares the journey that led him into the world of stand-up and how he navigates the inclusion of real-life family anecdotes within his material (11:15). After the break, Mike details his struggles with both cancer and a rare sleep disorder and talks about the effect they’ve had on his life view and career (33:10). They end the pod by offering aspiring comics tips on relatability and break down the importance of the zen state of mind for a successful performance (45:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Mike Birbiglia Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Larry is joined by writer and former political operative Tim Miller to discuss his new book 'Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell’. They begin their conversation by examining the reasons why Miller decided to write such an unflinching memoir that details the moral conflicts that led him to leave his job as an opposition research "hitman" for GOP candidates and ultimately quit the Republican party. Next, they dissect the shift in political rhetoric that led to the rise of Donald Trump and Miller dives deep into the ideological paradox he faced being a gay man in an increasingly conservative and homophobic environment.(14:54) After the break they discuss the viability of the Trump cult and if he still has enough power to be re-elected for another term.(41:01) Finally, Larry and Tim share their predictions for the upcoming mid-terms and the future of gay marriage in the Supreme Court.(52:52) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Tim Miller Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Vis

Larry is joined by actor, writer, and director B.J. Novak to discuss his new film, 'Vengeance,' premiering on July 29. They begin their conversation by explaining the premise of the movie, the long journey to its completion ,and B.J.'s personal connection to the project. Next, they discuss the isolated feel of the movie's environment and how his experiences visiting with the people in West Texas differed from his political and ideological expectations.(13:23) Novak then discusses some of the challenges he faced directing "Vengeance' and Larry breaks down the difference between directing and producing. (26:19) They end the pod with an amazing talk about their shared experiences working on 'The Office' together and B.J. passes along some advice to writers and directors aspiring to be in the TV or movie industries.(34:25) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: B.J. Novak Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by executive producers Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi to talk about their critically acclaimed Apple TV + Series 'For All Mankind' and they start their conversation by discussing the alt-history concept of the show and how they use their writing to both contrast and illuminate real-world events. This leads to a discussion about how different the global society would be if certain geo-political eras, in this case the Russian-U.S. space race, were altered. (8:33) Next, they debate whether or not technology can be a conduit for social change and the challenges of long-term character and story development working within the alternative reality butterfly effect they've created. (15:21) They then theorize on the iconic moments in history that wouldn't be the same in the world of 'For All Mankind' and analyze the shows focus on the dangers of space travel. (28:20) After discussing the recent James Webb telescope and Mars images, (36:42) they end the pod by sharing their writing process, and their hopes

Larry is joined by comedian, writer, and cultural critic Baratunde Thurston to discuss his new PBS series 'America Outdoors.' They begin their conversation by discussing how the show was produced. They then pivot to Thurston's intentions for the program, including providing a conduit for inner-city kids to appreciate the diverse American topography in an appreciative way.(9:40) Next, they talk about how nature can play a part in unifying people using the history and restoration of the L.A. River as context.(25:00) Baratunde then breaks down the process of selecting the locations for the show and shares some of the profound experiences he had filming in the Great Dismal swamps outside of Chesapeake Bay, which profoundly connected him with the racial history of that region in a spiritual way.(32:18) Larry and Baratunde conclude their conversation by talking about the complex connection Black people have to the outdoors and complications of loving America despite the imperfections within its history, current pol

Larry weighs in on his promo-week appearances on 'The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon', New York Magazine, and the 'HypochondriActor' podcast while also looking forward to his many projects coming up later in the year. He's then joined by Emmy and Oscar-winning director David Frankel to talk about his new film 'Jerry and Marge Go Large.' They start their discussion by giving a synopsis of the movie and explaining the rules of the Winfall lottery game that lies at the heart of the plot.(13:00) They then examine David's filmmaking process, his relationship with his DP Maryse Alberti, and Bryan Cranston's involvement with the development of the film.(23:00) David then details how he got started in the film industry and his philosophy on directing TV shows versus feature films.(34:18). David and Larry end the pod by debating the future of movies on the big screen after the pandemic and projects they hope to create in the future.(41:30) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: David Frankel Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more abou

Larry weighs in on his acting role in the upcoming movie 'Jerry and Marge Go Large', guns, and the January 6th hearings. He's then joined by Emmy-award winning director James Burrows to talk about his new memoir 'Directed by James Burrows'. They begin their conversation by discussing James's early life growing up in show business, his legendary father, and how a stint in regional theatre prepared him for and open doors to directing in television.(16:51) Burrows then shares some amazing anecdotes from his time working on some of the most important shows in TV history, including 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show',(32:58) 'Taxi',(42:14) 'Cheers',(57:32) and 'Will & Grace'(1:09:31). After James and Larry praise the genius of the great Andy Kaufman (44:29) they end the podcast by examining the technical aspects of creating a sitcom pilot and giving advice to people who aspire to be television directors.(1:14:34) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: James Burrows Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod

Larry is joined by legendary director and producer Judd Apatow to discuss his new HBO documentary 'George Carlin's American Dream'. They start their discussion by talking about why Judd wanted to make the film and George's legacy as a social commentator.(2:53) They then explore Carlin's career parallels with Richard Pryor, follow his progression from entertainer to truth-teller, and go over George's famously meticulous stage preparation.(12:48) Next, Judd opines on some of his favorite comedic performers and shares some details from his newest book 'Sicker in the Head'.(32:01) Finally, Larry and Judd debate their favorite Carlin bits and chat about the responsibility of the modern comic.(44:15) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Judd Apatow Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the definition of an unborn child and his favorite Beatles album before being joined by president of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson. They start their conversation by sharing their reactions to the leaked Supreme Court document on Roe v. Wade and detailing the historic political mechanisms that led to this decision.(11:31) They then discuss the medical, racial, and economic fallout from overturning Roe and how to bridge the "believability gap" within the public's opinion on abortion rights heading into the midterm elections.(18:11) Alexis then talks about how she became involved with and eventually president of Planned Parenthood, and the organization's battle against the criminalization of women's health care in the U.S.(34:25) They end the podcast by detailing how ordinary citizens can help and contribute to the pro-choice movement.(46:57) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Alexis McGill Johnson Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on Dave Chappelle and Roe v. Wade. He's then joined by Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson to discuss his new HBO biopic 'The Survivor' and they begin by talking about how the film deals with and depicts the post-traumatic stress syndrome of a Holocaust survivor. (15:00) They then pivot to Ben Foster's preparation for the title role of Jewish boxer Harry Haft and the incredible mental and physical conditioning he undertook to get the most out of his performance. (22:06) Next, Barry explains the importance of maintaining credibility and authenticity as a filmmaker when making a movie of such a serious and historic nature.(27:12) They then discuss the importance of the theatre in today's streaming culture and why movies about the Holocaust still hold so much relevance.(45:43) Barry ends the pod with an amazing story about how a chance encounter with a soon-to-be infamous criminal and a small acting group in Los Angeles kick started his prolific career in show business.(1:01:24) Host: L

Larry Weighs in on Elon Musk, Twitter, Tesla, and the mechanism in which billionaires are made. He's then joined by MSNBC analyst and host of Showtime's 'The Circus' John Heilemann to talk about how the show is constructed and its ambitions within today's political discourse.(16:55) They then detail how the results of the 2016 election not only kickstarted the success of 'Late Night with Stephen Colbert' but also kept 'The Circus' in production.(30:49) Next, they debate a number of current hot button topics including Ron Desantis,(45:25) Trumps appeal to his followers,(53:31) and the Republican Party vs. Disney.(59:31) They end the pod by speculating on what the Democratic party and President Biden can do to compete in the upcoming elections.(1:14:49) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: John Heilemann Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistance: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the 'Fall of Civilizations' podcast, the decline of the American empire, and the current cultural shift in our society. He's then joined by author Chris Fabricant to discuss his new book, 'Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System,' and they begin by talking about the genesis of the term and how it connects to and affects the criminal justice system, particularly in the field of forensic dentistry.(18:28) They then examine different cases in which "expert" confirmation bias distorted overwhelming evidence and swayed their outcomes.(28:53) Next, Chris shares how his passions led to him becoming the director of strategic litigation for the Innocence Project and what the organization is doing to correct wrongful convictions and change some of the public misconceptions around forensic science. (41:03) They end the conversation by talking about the future of junk science and how to reform the damage it has done to the criminal justice system. (1:02:57) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Chri

Larry weighs in on Will Smith. He's then joined by sports journalist Bomani Jones to discuss his new HBO show 'Game Theory'. They begin by talking about how production came together for the series and its intelligent combination of humor and entertainment with insightful sports commentary.(21:09) Next, Bomani details how the early support he received from his highly academic parents influenced him in his journey to becoming a prolific sports journalist and TV host.(40:49) After the break Larry and Bomani examine some of the hot-button topics in the sports world, including Kyrie Irving's vaccination debacle (50:19), Brian Flores's case against the NFL (56:33), and Deshaun Watson's lucrative contract and accompanying controversies.(1:04:10). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Bomani Jones Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearing. He is then joined by Rodney Barnes to discuss his new HBO show 'Winning Time' about the rise of the '80s Los Angeles Lakers dynasty. They talk about how the production came together(14:14), give a brief history of the ABA and NBA leading up to the events in the series,(20:20) and examine the show's impeccable casting.(27:27) Rodney then details his inspirational journey from being a "hired gun" living in his car to being one of the more accomplished Black creatives working in film and TV.(39:00) They wrap things up by sharing insight into what it takes to find happiness as a working writer(45:58) and Rodney looks forward to some of the future projects he's excited about.(57:36) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Rodney Barnes Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Julia Ioffe from Puck to talk about every angle of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They begin by discussing the geopolitical and historical aspects of the conflict and how both sides are using Nazi analogies to meet their respective ethno-nationalistic goals.(3:13) Next, they dive into topics like Vladimir Putin's dissemination of misinformation about the invasion to his people, (12:45) how the conflict compares to the events of World Wars I and II,(25:15) racism in Russia,(32:47) and much more. After Julia shares her deeply personal connection to the tragedy(39:15) they wrap up their conversation by speculating on how the war will end and what Puck is doing to question the status quo and restore objectivity to modern journalism.(47:08) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Julia Ioffe Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Stanley Nelson to discuss his Oscar-nominated (Best Documentary Feature) film 'Attica'. They begin their conversation by talking about how the event is a microcosm of racial tension in the U.S. and why Nelson decided to make a movie about it. They then detail how the Attica riots started and analyze the major events and individuals that contributed to its outcome.(6:42) Stanley and Larry wrap things up by examining the emotional impact of the movie and what social issues are still reverberating from the tragedy 50 years later.(40:36) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Stanley Nelson Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the Lakers and Ukraine. He's then joined by Roy Wood Jr. and they begin their conversation by sharing their experiences from working on 'The Daily Show' and how they navigate writing racially based jokes in the current political and social climate. (14:33) They then discuss Roy's new stand-up special 'Imperfect Messenger' and discuss the process and tribulations he went through in preparation for it. (30:30) Next, they go over Roy's early years in Alabama and how his father's work as a radio commentator influences the work he does today. (43:05) They wrap things up by talking about how they each found their voice in the entertainment industry and the projects they are working on for the future. (54:17) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Roy Wood Jr. Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the Rams' Super Bowl win, Kyrie Irving, Tucker Carlson's comments on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the New York Times' recent statement on racial animosity during the 2016 presidential election. He's then joined by James Curtis, author of the book 'Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker's Life', and they start their conversation by talking about other biographies on Keaton and why James decided to write his. (24:56) They then touch on some of the major points in Buster Keaton's career, including his early days in show business during with vaudeville era, his rise to fame via acclaimed short films, and ultimately making major pictures for MGM. (30:20) Next they go over the production and budget issues that effectively ended Buster's ascension and relegated him to obscurity until his eventual return to the limelight through television appearances. (54:13) They wrap up the pod by discussing the rediscovery of his legacy and their favorite Buster Keaton films. (1:16:57) Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: James Cur

Larry weighs in on the L.A. Rams, Whoopi Goldberg, Joe Rogan, COVID-19 misinformation, election disinformation, and anti-Semitism. He's then joined by Reinaldo Marcus Green to discuss his movie 'King Richard.’ They start by talking about how the film came together (25:05) and what it like meeting and working with Will Smith. (31:18) They then pivot to the casting of Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as Venus and Serena Williams,(41:54) the process of getting the tennis scenes as authentic as possible, and the tribulations of raising child athletes in Black communities like Compton (55:05). Next they dissect Will Smith's physical and mental transformation into Richard Williams (58:31) and the message Green is hoping to convey with the movie.(103:34) Finally, Reinaldo details his journey from a young baseball prospect through stints on Wall Street and as a teacher to ultimately finding his calling as a filmmaker (106:43). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Reinaldo Marcus Green Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assist