Larry Wilmore: Black On The Air

This week, Larry weighs in on how the privilege of being from the United States has contributed to the country’s lack of interest in getting vaccinated (0:43). Larry is joined by Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt to discuss her latest work in the series ‘Blindspotting' (13:00). They also discuss a rejected ‘Twister’ reboot, her acting career, and much more. Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Helen Hunt Producers: Kaya McMullen and Bobby Wagner Production Assistant: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To open the show, Larry again weighs in on alien conspiracies, as well as Tucker Carlson’s quote on COVID-19 vaccinations being the “medical Jim Crow" (1:00) Then, Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning comedian Wanda Sykes to discuss working on her new Netflix show ‘The Upshaws’ during the pandemic (13:00). They also talk about Sykes transitioning from a NSA agent to stand-up comedian, and possible government cover ups (31:00). Later, they look back at their times performing at The White House Correspondents’ Dinner during the Obama years (44:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Wanda Sykes Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry briefly weighs in on the conservative attack on women’s reproductive right, as well as alien conspiracy theories to open the show (01:00). Later, he is joined by Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins to discuss adapting Colson Whitehead’s novel into the television series ‘The Underground Railroad’ on Amazon Prime (13:00). Later, they discuss the art of directing (34:00), and avoiding the creation of Black trauma porn when telling stories that are intertwined with Black history (1:10:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Barry Jenkins Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by actor and director David Oyelowo to talk about getting into acting and why he decided to create his own production company (17:47), making his directorial debut with ‘The Water Man' and what it was like to direct himself as an actor (35:37), and why he's drawn to making movies with fantastical elements (51:53). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: David Oyelowo Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ and the importance of gratitude to open the show. Later, he is joined by New York Times best selling author Malcolm Gladwell to discuss his new audio book ‘The Bomber Mafia,’ how advances in technology change warfare, and more (11:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Malcolm Gladwell Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by actor and comedian Robin Thede on this week’s weigh-in to discuss Season 2 of ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ (01:00). Later, Larry is joined by comedian W. Kamau Bell to discuss ‘United Shades of America,’ defunding the police, and much more (30:10). Host: Larry Wilmore Guests: Robin Thede and W. Kamau Bell Producer: Kaya McMullen Production Assistant: Jonathan Kermah (edited)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on a week filled with gun violence and police brutality, as well as the new Georgia voting law to open the show (02:00). Later, he is joined by Willie Geist, host of ‘Morning Joe’ and ‘Sunday Today with Willie Geist,’ to discuss what goes into the interview process, how President Biden is doing in office, and more (20:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Willie Geist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Oscar nominated director Travon Free to discuss filming ‘Two Distant Strangers’ amidst the pandemic, how he got his start in the entertainment industry, and more (01:00). Later, Larry is joined by Oscar nominee and singer Andra Day to discuss portraying Billie Holiday in her first ever acting role with ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ and more (37:00) Host: Larry Wilmore Guests: Travon Free and Andra Day Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien to discuss her tv series ‘Disrupt and Dismantle’ (08:00), environmental racism (10:00), the death of local journalism (17:00), and much more. Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Soledad O’Brien Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the Atlanta spa shooting and the recent rise of hate targeted toward Asian people (03:00). Later, Larry is joined by CNN’s Don Lemon to discuss his new book ‘This is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism’ (10:00), growing up down south in Baton Rouge as a gay black man (18:00), James Baldwin’s impact on his life (13:00) and more. Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Don Lemon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Walter Isaacson to talk about his new book, ‘The Code Breaker,’ a biography of the genetic scientist and a developer of CRISPR Jennifer Doudna. They talk about the history of genetic science (16:10), how the new mRNA vaccines work (33:43), and the ethical questions that arise when talking about the possibilities of gene editing (51:23). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Walter Isaacson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by director and producer Lee Daniels to talk about his new movie, 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday.' They talk about why Daniels was drawn to the story of Holiday (9:44), the decision to cast Andra Day, a relative unknown, as Holiday (24:01), and the difficulties that come with telling such a complex story (42:48). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Lee Daniels  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Charles Blow, New York Times op-ed columnist and author of ‘The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto,’ to discuss his vision for a new Great Migration of Black Americans back to the South (08:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Charles Blow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s weigh in, Larry takes a moment to remember his brother Marc Wilmore (01:00). Later, Larry is joined by twin comedians, actors, and producers Kenny and Keith Lucas to discuss writing ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ (05:30). They also talk about why the Black Lives Matter movement doesn’t have overarching leaders like Fred Hampton (31:00), and much more. Host: Larry Wilmore Guests: Kenny and Keith Lucas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and President Biden’s leadership. Later, Larry is joined by ESPN’s Stephen A Smith to discuss his new show ‘Stephen A’s World,’ Colin Kaepernick, Hank Aaron, women’s sports, and much more (14:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Stephen A Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on President Biden taking office, and remembers the lives of Larry King and Hank Aaron. Later, Larry is joined by writer Fran Lebowitz to discuss working on ‘Pretend It’s a City’ with Martin Scorsese, growing up in New York in the 50’s and 60’s, and much more (16:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Fran Lebowitz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry weighs in on the final days of Trump in office and the art of deception. Later, he is joined by film director Sam Pollard to discuss his latest documentary ‘MLK/FBI,’ the wire tapping of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by the the FBI, and how the tapes could affect King's legacy (22:00). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Sam Pollard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Fred Claire to discuss the book ‘Extra Innings: Fred Claire’s Journey to City of Hope and Finding a World Championship Team.’ They talk about Claire’s transition from sports journalist to Dodgers staff member (20:00), working in public relations when Al Campanis said controversial racist remarks on ‘Nightline’ (27:00), battling skin cancer with the help of City of Hope (49:00), and more. Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Fred Claire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a very special holiday weigh in, Larry is joined by his daughter, Lauren Wilmore, to share how the lyrics of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” have changed over time. Later, Larry is joined by sculptor and former US Air Force test pilot Ed Dwight to discuss his journey to nearly becoming the first black astronaut in the 1960s (16:00), the racism that stopped him from making it to Space, and more. Host: Larry Wilmore Guests: Lauren Wilmore and Ed Dwight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry is joined by Steve McQueen, director of ‘12 Years a Slave,’ to discuss his latest project, ‘Small Axe,’ the Black British experience, and more. Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Steve McQueen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices