Tavis Smiley
News & Politics Podcasts
"Tavis Smiley" is the flagship program for KBLA, America's newest progressive radio network and LA's first Black-owned talk station. Broadcast live across southern California on 1580AM and around the world on KBLA1580.com and TuneIn, this podcast presents the best of Tavis Smiley's conversations with activists, influencers, thought leaders, and cultural vanguards.
Location:
United States
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
"Tavis Smiley" is the flagship program for KBLA, America's newest progressive radio network and LA's first Black-owned talk station. Broadcast live across southern California on 1580AM and around the world on KBLA1580.com and TuneIn, this podcast presents the best of Tavis Smiley's conversations with activists, influencers, thought leaders, and cultural vanguards.
Twitter:
@kbla1580
Language:
English
Contact:
323-290-4690
Website:
https://kbla1580.com/
Episodes
Radheyan Simonpillai Joins Tavis Smiley
5/2/2025
Canadian film and culture critic Radheyan Simonpillai lays out how the new season of the Star Wars series “Andor” is leaning hard into its anti-fascist and pro-DEI storytelling, just in time for Trump 2.0 and the war in Gaza. Plus, he dissects the record-breaking box office of Ryan Coogler’s juggernaut “Sinners.”
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:16:22
Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead Joins Tavis Smiley
5/2/2025
Professor of African American studies, award-winning talk show host and Founding Director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice at Loyola University Maryland, Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead talks about centering racial justice and preserving Black History in our fight for Democracy.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:22:45
Will Sommer Joins Tavis Smiley
5/2/2025
Senior reporter at The Bulwark and Author of “Trust The Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America” talks about the rise of the right and their many personalities, along with trending political topics.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:40:20
Freda Payne Joins Tavis Smiley
4/30/2025
Grammy-nominated singer Freda Payne reflects on her seminal anti-war song, “Bring The Boys Home,” and its impact on ending the war in Vietnam as we mark 50 years since the liberation of Ho Chi Minh City and the south from U.S. occupation.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:14:37
Thuy Williams Joins Tavis Smiley
4/30/2025
Thuy Williams was one of the babies brought to America during Operation Babylift 50 years ago this week. She shares the harrowing story of her journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Portland, Oregon, as the biological daughter of a Black GI and Vietnamese mother.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:22:36
Darrick Hamilton joins Tavis Smiley
4/30/2025
Darrick Hamilton, director of the Institute for the Study of Race, Stratification, and Political Economy at the New School talks about Trump’s Platinum Plan and whether it was a bait and switch move on Black America.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:37:57
Jesse Jackson Jr. Joins Tavis Smiley
4/30/2025
Former congressman and host of his signature radio program, Jesse Jackson Jr., offers his assessment about how Democrats can find their footing and navigate forward after Trump’s 100 days, and opines on the hotly contested race to fill the seat of the #2 Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:17:08
Ken Martin Joins Tavis Smiley
4/30/2025
DNC Chairman Ken Martin on how the party plans to move forward in spite of infighting within its ranks.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:23:31
John Dean joins Tavis Smiley
4/30/2025
Former White House Counsel John Dean shares his assessment of President Trump's second 100 days.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:33:07
Rev. Dr. William Barber Joins Tavis Smiley
4/30/2025
Founder of Repairers of the Breach and Moral Mondays, the Right Reverend Dr. William Barber, talks about his arrest Monday in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as he and other faith leaders protested the Republican-led budget bill.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:17:30
Dedrick Asante-Muhammad
4/30/2025
CEO of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, on the Reagan era versus the Trump years, the future of the Black middle class, and how Black America can elevate - in spite of Trump.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:23:07
Chris Whipple Joins Tavis Smiley
4/30/2025
Journalist, filmmaker, and author Chris Whipple takes us inside his New York Times bestseller, “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History.”
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:40:17
Marcus Collins joins Tavis Smiley
4/29/2025
Award-winning cultural translator, author, and University of Michigan professor Marcus Collins gives his assessment of the ongoing culture wars, who will win the next big battle in 2026, and the current status of “Brand America.”
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:14:32
Michael Fauntroy joins Tavis Smiley
4/29/2025
Associate Professor and Founding Director of The Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University, Dr. Michael K. Fauntroy, gives his take on the future of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and the court’s latest decision to block the President from withholding school funds over DEI programs.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:40:26
Ron Goodman Joins Tavis Smiley
4/29/2025
Ron Goodman talks about his experience doing clinical trials to mitigate his alzhiemers.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:16:03
Marcus Collins Joins Tavis Smiley
4/29/2025
Award-winning cultural translator, author, and University of Michigan professor Marcus Collins gives his assessment of the ongoing culture wars, who will win the next big battle in 2026, and the current status of “Brand America.”
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:23:15
Katrina vanden Heuvel Joins Tavis Smiley
4/29/2025
The Nation magazine publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel discusses trending political topics with Tavis.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:38:54
Michael Fauntroy Joins Tavis Smiley
4/29/2025
Associate Professor and Founding Director of The Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University, Dr. Michael K. Fauntroy, gives his take on the future of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the court's latest decision to block the President from withholding school funds over DEI programs.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:17:17
Jesse Jackson Jr. Joins Tavis Smiley
4/29/2025
Former congressman and host of his signature radio program, Jesse Jackson Jr., talks about the retirement announcement of the #2 Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, and the hotly contested race to fill that seat and offers his assessment of President Trump's second 100 days in office.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:23:08
Dr. Gina Paige Joins Tavis Smiley
4/25/2025
National DNA Day is Friday, April 25th, and Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder and President of African Ancestry, takes us inside the world of genetic discovery for Black people and the benefits of knowing our roots.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Duration:00:17:14