Tavis Smiley-logo

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

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


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Jacquis Neal joins Tavis Smiley

9/26/2025
Actor and comedian Jacquis Neal, host of the new program “Crowd Control” on Dropout TV and the live experience “Comedian Clash”, gives us his take on the momentous week for comedy and free speech. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:17:21

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Tish Taylor joins Tavis Smiley

9/26/2025
Tish Taylor, program director for Concerned Citizens of St. John and resident of Cancer Alley in Louisiana, explains how the Trump administration is creating a toxic situation for more than 20 environmental justice projects. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:20:28

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Paul Osadebe and Palmer Heenan join Tavis Smiley

9/26/2025
Paul Osadebe and Palmer Heenan, two civil rights attorneys from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and members of AFGE local 476, reveal why they are blowing the whistle on the Trump administration’s attack on America’s fair housing laws. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:17:47

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Jesse Jackson Jr. Joins Tavis Smiley

9/26/2025
Jesse Jackson Jr. Joins Tavis Smiley. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:19:32

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Jim Wallis joins Tavis Smiley

9/26/2025
Jim Wallis, founding director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice and author of "The False White Gospel" now out in paperback, reflects on the legacy of Nazi Germany's Confessing Church in the context of MAGA's embrace of Christianity. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:38:27

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

TN State Rep. Justin J. Pearson joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-TN) is back with an update on if or when President Donald Trump will deploy National Guard troops to the streets of Memphis. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:14:49

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Abdul El-Sayed joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
Abdul El-Sayed, a U.S. Senate candidate dubbed “Michigan Mandami” and host of the podcast “America Dissected”, talks about his historic campaign and what it’s like to run as a progressive Democrat in this moment. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:20:27

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Marion Orr joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
Marion Orr, Brown University public policy professor, goes inside his new book, “House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Consequential Black Congressman”. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:16:54

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Michael L. Lomax joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, joins Tavis in studio with details on the $70 million gift by Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott and their $1 billion capital campaign. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:20:46

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Maya Wiley joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, is back to shed light on the new attack on America’s fair housing laws, the high price of criticizing hate in America and trending political topics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:38:57

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Tembi Locke joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
Actress and author Tembi Locke explains how her new audiobook, “Someday, Now: A Memoir of Family, Reclaiming Possibility, and One Sicilian Summer”, is trying to turn the trauma of "empty-nesting" into the joy of "re-nesting". Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:16:18

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Jeh Johnson joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
Jeh Johnson, former Homeland Security secretary, goes inside the American Bar Association taskforce he is leading, which just issued a new report on how to protect American democracy. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:22:29

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Keisha Blain joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
Keisha Blain, Africana Studies and History Professor at Brown University, lays out her latest text, “Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights”. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:38:56

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Karen Attiah joins Tavis Smiley

9/24/2025
Karen Attiah, award-winning former Washington Post columnist, explains why Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air tonight, but she is still on the outs with Jeff Bezos’ propaganda outlet. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:41:14

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Richard Rudolph and Robin Burgess join Tavis Smiley

9/22/2025
Richard Rudolph, widower of the late singer Minnie Riperton, and Robin Burgess, producer of an all-star tribute called "Perfect Angel: The Definitive Minnie Riperton Tribute" at the Hollywood Bowl this Wednesday, go inside her lasting legacy, 41 years after her untimely passing. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:33:51

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Amanda Litman joins Tavis Smiley

9/22/2025
Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run for Something, lays out why she’s focused on recruiting young, diverse progressives to run in down-ballot races - and gives an update on the New York City mayoral campaign. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:15:06

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Dr. Cornel West joins Tavis Smiley

9/22/2025
Scholar, leading public intellectual, author, and special contributor, Dr. Cornel West, shares his thoughts about the future of the Conservative Right movement without Kirk's firebrand advocacy and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:22:43

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Richard Wolff joins Tavis Smiley

9/22/2025
Richard Wolff, New School economics professor, co-founder of Democracy at Work, and host of their national program “Economic Update”, breaks down why the U.S. economy seems like it’s in a funk - and what the road to recovery looks like. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:39:24

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

John Mellencamp joins Tavis Smiley

9/18/2025
John Mellencamp talks to his Hoosier homeboy, Tavis Smiley, today about Farm Aid’s 40th Anniversary! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:13:14

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Dr. Cornel West joins Tavis Smiley

9/18/2025
Scholar, leading public intellectual, author, and special contributor, Dr. Cornel West, shares his thoughts about Trump’s efforts to silence dissenters, violent political extremism and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Duration:00:20:37