The Limits with Jay Williams

This season on The Limits, host Jay Williams has spoken to some incredibly successful people. But no matter how famous they've become or how high they've risen on the corporate ladder, they always circle back to the role of race in their lives and their industries. In this final episode of our Remix series, Jay shares two conversations from The Limits Plus about being Black in America that have really stuck with him: with actor Colman Domingo and football coach Brian Flores, who sued the NFL for racial discrimination. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Today, we're featuring an episode of a new podcast called In the Moment. Each week, an elite athlete talks about career defining moments in their lives and what it took to get there. During the 2007 NFL Season, Steelers safety Ryan Clark was pulled off a plane after a team loss in Denver Colorado and rushed to the hospital. Clark would later have his gallbladder and part of his spleen removed due to a medical condition caused by the sickle cell trait. "I laid on the floor," Clark told David Greene, "if I could just numb myself a little bit, the pain will stop." Just one year later, Ryan Clark and the 2008 Steelers defense were the best in the NFL. "We walked into every stadium saying people are gonna have trouble beating us, because they can't score," Clark said. Pittsburgh was the favorite going into their Super Bowl 43 matchup against Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. But the game was anything but easy for that Steelers defense. They let up a late fourth quarter comeback. "I had tears in my eyes because I was like: 'This is how we'll always be remembered,'" Clark said. After a miraculous touchdown from Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes, the Steelers beat the Cardinals 27-23. For Clark, it was so much more than a win. "It was the first time I had exhaled or relaxed in over a year," he said. Find out about upcoming guests and other news by following Religion of Sports on Twitter or Instagram. Subscribe to our newsletter for more sports news. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

This month on The Limits, we're pulling together some of our favorite conversations from The Limits Plus that were only available to subscribers – until now. In this week's Remix episode, host Jay Williams talks about love: not just romantic love or family love, but loving yourself. Jay hears inspiring stories from two guests who learned to accept themselves, and who they love, unapologetically: actress Niecy Nash and NFL player turned reality TV star Colton Underwood. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

For the next few weeks on The Limits, we're pulling together some of our favorite conversations from The Limits Plus that were only available to subscribers – until now. In this week's Remix episode: Every magic moment on the court or the field actually represents a lot of hard work and discipline. So what makes a player truly great? Host Jay Williams asks his mentor Coach Mike Krzyzewski (better known as Coach K), and legendary athletes Megan Rapinoe and Magic Johnson. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

For the next few weeks on The Limits, we're pulling together some of our favorite conversations from The Limits Plus that were only available to subscribers – until now. In this week's Remix episode, host Jay Williams – a star basketball player turned TV commentator – reflects on the downsides of hyper-visibility with two musical artists who have seen it all: Kelly Rowland, who became famous as a teenager as a member of Destiny's Child; and Denzel Curry, a pioneer of 'SoundCloud rap' and one of the brightest young talents in hip hop. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

For the next few weeks on The Limits, we're pulling together some of our favorite conversations from The Limits Plus that were only available to subscribers – until now. There may be no moment more defining in the last decade of sports than when Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the National Anthem. But Kap isn't the only athlete learning to speak out on important issues. In this week's Remix episode, host Jay Williams discusses the intersection of sports and politics with sports analysts Dave Zirin and Stephen A. Smith, and Michele Roberts, former head of the National Basketball Players Association. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

For the next few weeks on The Limits, we're pulling together some of our favorite conversations from The Limits Plus that were only available to subscribers – until now. In this week's Remix episode, host Jay Williams talks to some hugely successful people about the mentors who helped them along the way: fashion icon Dapper Dan, NFL legend Deion Sanders, and Jon Gray from the Ghetto Gastro collective. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

For the next few weeks on The Limits, we're pulling together some of our favorite conversations from The Limits Plus that were only available to subscribers – until now. In this week's Remix episode: host Jay Williams and his wife Nikki just welcomed their third child. Jay's kids are the joy of his life, but balancing multiple careers while raising a family is tough. He breaks down the parenthood struggle with streetwear mogul Bobby Hundreds, actress Gabrielle Union, and Larry Miller, chairman of the Michael Jordan brand for Nike. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

On the season finale of The Limits, host Jay Williams sits in the guest chair, interviewed by Gene Demby from NPR's Code Switch. Gene has been following Jay's career since his days playing college basketball for Duke, but their conversation starts even earlier: with Jay's childhood in Plainfield, New Jersey, a place with stark racial and economic divides. Jay digs deep into the challenges he faced at school and at home, and explains how he learned to take out his feelings on the court. He led Duke University to a national championship and was drafted to the Chicago Bulls, but after his rookie year in the NBA, his career came to an abrupt end with a shocking motorcycle accident. All season long, Jay has asked celebrities and moguls like Charlamagne Tha God, Magic Johnson, and Fat Joe to share how they rebounded from their lowest moments. In this episode, Jay tells his own story of rebuilding from personal tragedy. As Jay prepares to welcome his third child, he bonds with Gene over the joys of fatherhood. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

This week on The Limits, Jay chops it up with Fat Joe: the Grammy-nominated rapper, entrepreneur, and legendary storyteller. Growing up in the Bronx, Fat Joe witnessed the birth of hip hop, then made hip hop history himself. Over three decades in the game, he's put out 13 albums, started his own record label, and mentored other great MCs like the late Big Pun. He's also faced multiple bankruptcies and battled depression, which he's open about: he wants people to learn from his successes and his failures. Now, Fat Joe has reinvented himself as a media personality, hosting The Fat Joe Show and the BET Hip Hop Awards, and writing a memoir, The Book of Jose. In this funny and frank interview, Joe pays tribute to hip hop's Latino pioneers, shares his philosophy on family, and explains how he stays connected to the community that protected him as a troubled kid. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

On this week's episode of The Limits, Jay speaks with comedian Amanda Seales. Formerly known as "Amanda Diva," she has worn many hats in entertainment: acting, singing, hosting, and stand-up. She might be best known for starring as Tiffany DuBois on Issa Rae's Insecure. But in 2019, she became the second Black woman to ever have her own comedy special on HBO, I Be Knowin'. She has her own podcast, Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use. And now she's back on the road, touring with her wildly popular variety game show, Smart, Funny, and Black. Amanda always tells it like it is, and this episode was no different. She talked to Jay about the realities of Black Hollywood, the downsides of "doing it all," and how she keeps a healthy mind in difficult times. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

On this week's episode of The Limits, Jay speaks with the legendary Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Often called the greatest point guard in NBA history, Magic earned five titles over the course of 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers – and changed the nature of the game, too. But before he was "Magic," he was just Earvin: a kid from East Lansing, Michigan. As he carved out a name for himself on and off the court, he learned how to navigate his public and private personas. But Magic's private life became very public in 1991. That's when he was diagnosed with HIV. He immediately retired from the game he loved, but he didn't back down; he became an outspoken advocate and entrepreneur. Magic spoke with Jay about everything from his past rivalry with Larry Bird, how he turned his devastating HIV diagnosis into an opportunity to educate the public, and the importance of his investments in Black and brown communities. Ultimately, behind all his success is a man who loves to spend time with his family. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

On this week's episode of The Limits, Jay speaks with his old friend, Scott "Scooter" Braun. Scooter is an entrepreneur, investor, and one of the most well-known talent managers in Hollywood today. Scooter first got his start when he dropped out of college to pursue a professional career in marketing, after organizing a successful trail of parties for high-profile musicians. But today, he's probably best known for recognizing talent; after first seeing a video of young Justin Bieber on YouTube, he "saw clearly that [Justin] could be one of the biggest artists in the world." From there on, he continued to be a visionary – going on to manage stars like Ariana Grande, J Balvin, and Demi Lovato. Jay spoke with the man behind the curtain about everything from his biggest challenges in work and life to his relationship with his kids, and his constant quest for self-improvement. Having already achieved major success, the one thing Scooter wants now is to be present. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. For sponsor-free episodes, weekly bonus content, and more, subscribe to The Limits Plus. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

This week, we're in instant replay mode. Jay is revisiting his conversation with the one and only Kelly Rowland. In your mind, she might be the teenager of Destiny's Child fame, or the solo artist with dance floor anthems like "Commander." But these days, Kelly's much more than a pop star. She's an entrepreneur, philanthropist, writer, and mother of two beautiful children. She recently published a children's book called Always with You, Always with Me, her ode to working moms. She's also due to star in a new Halloween movie this fall called The Curse Of Bridge Hollow. In the episode, Jay and Kelly explore motherhood: how Kelly juggles being a good mom with her career, how she strives to be transparent with her children about fame and celebrity, and how she cared for her own late mother in her final days. For sponsor-free episodes, weekly bonus content, and more, subscribe to The Limits Plus. On this week's Plus episode, Kelly takes it back to her early days with Destiny's Child, and how her experience as a child star impacts her life today. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

On this week's episode of The Limits, Jay speaks with his longtime friend and former colleague, Cari Champion. Cari has hosted flagship ESPN shows like First Take and SportsCenter, and currently hosts her own podcasts, Naked with Cari Champion and The Brownprint. She's also shattered glass ceilings as a Black woman in sports journalism by staying committed to speaking her truth. She's done this from the start; when her on-air candor about a local news story got her fired early in her career, Cari doubled down and became even more committed to honest and impassioned journalism. She started reporting with the Tennis Channel and, in a parallel to her own career, covered extensively the white elitism–and sometimes blatant racism– Serena Williams faced on and off the court. Cari spoke with Jay about the retirement of both Serena and record-breaking track star Allyson Felix, highlighting the contributions both women have made to Black women's maternal health. She and Jay also got into it about mental health in sports, the double standards that female athletes face, and what she has been most proud of in her career thus far. For sponsor-free episodes, weekly bonus content, and more, subscribe to The Limits Plus. This week, Cari and Charlamagne tha God reflect on the importance of authenticity in your professional and personal life. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

This week on The Limits, Jay talks to author and editor Dave Zirin about the intersection of sports and politics. Dave has written 11 books on these topics, covering the many ways that activist athletes have unveiled larger systemic issues of racism and injustice in America. Dave gets into it with Jay on overlooked female athletes like Wyomia Tyus and Brittney Griner, on whether the NFL is better safeguarding players from longterm brain damage, and the hypocrisy of criticizing the business of sports while remaining a lifelong fan. Dave also talks to Jay about Colin Kaepernick, whose taking of the knee in 2016 sparked protests across America, and the framing of Dave's latest book, The Kaepernick Effect: Taking a Knee, Changing the World. Dave has a different take on Kap's NFL journey than last week's guest, Stephen A. Smith. He argues instead that the NFL was setting Colin Kaepernick up to participate in a media circus--and Kap has chosen not to be a clown. For sponsor-free episodes, weekly bonus content, and more, subscribe to The Limits Plus. This week, Dave talks more about how Colin Kaepernick's taking of the knee inspired his predecessors to speak out more about their own history of activism. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

On this week's episode of The Limits, Jay talks to his ESPN colleague and longtime friend, Stephen A. Smith. The First Take co-host and network star has reinvented how sports, politics, and candor can go together on the air. As one veteran executive told him shortly after his 2003 ESPN audition, "It was the greatest audition I have ever seen in the history of this business." When the studio lights come on, Stephen A. Smith is always ready. But he stumbled in his early career, letting his ego get the best of him after the cameras were off. He was temporarily let go from ESPN in 2009, and his mom made him literally look in the mirror and reevaluate what he was willing to put into--and get out of--his professional path. That wisdom has paid off, and Stephen A. is now one of the highest-paid sports analysts in history. He talks to Jay about how he remains fearless in linking sports and politics, the responsibility he feels as a Black man to use his platform and be heard, and his controversial opinions on Colin Kaepernick. Stephen A. Smith's memoir, Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes, is now available for pre-order and releases on January 17, 2023. For sponsor-free episodes, weekly bonus content, and more, subscribe to The Limits Plus. This week, Stephen A. continues to unpack the link between sports and politics in America. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Hollywood powerhouse Tracy Oliver sums up her career simply. "When people go right, I always tend to go left." She wrote the hit 2017 film Girls Trip, becoming the first Black woman to pen a movie that grossed over $100 million at the box office. On today's episode of The Limits, Tracy tells Jay how she has navigated her biggest Hollywood successes, from an eight-figure deal with Apple, to creating and executive producing the Amazon series, Harlem. Tracy credits a lot of her wins to her contrarian streak, which she's had from a young age. She tells Jay how she randomly started wearing a Stanford sweatshirt while growing up in South Carolina–then ended up attending. That's where Tracy met Issa Rae, and the two began collaborating. In the relatively early days of Youtube, they created the popular web series, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. The Internet was wowed by their presence, but multiple studio executives laughed them out of the room with blatant sexism and racism. Tracy stayed on track, steadily building her portfolio as a writer focused on the friendships of Black women, and the joy of the Black experience. Today, her career is a blueprint for so many aspiring creatives of color, and Tracy has shown time and time again that Black stories are anything but niche. For sponsor-free episodes, weekly bonus content, and more, subscribe to The Limits Plus. This week, Tracy talks about mentorship in Hollywood. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

This week, Jay is in mixtape mode, pulling together three of his favorite conversations on The Limits. With The Breakfast Club losing co-host Angela Yee to do her own show, Charlamagne tha God shows what it means to be proud of longtime colleagues as they move on to other things. He talked to Jay about his own journey of education and discipline, from jail to finding his voice on the mic as a now-legendary interviewer. Next, with the NFL pre-season underway, Jay revisits his conversation with Brian Flores. He's the former Miami Dolphins head coach who believes he was fired for refusing to lose games on purpose. Flores is suing three NFL franchises and the league itself, alleging racial bias and discrimination in hiring practices. He's committed to exposing the truth of what went down and underscoring the importance of how much representation matters, especially in leadership. And speaking of coaches who stand by their principles, Jay closes out the mixtape with his conversation with Mike Krzyzewski, legendary former head coach of Duke Men's Basketball. "Coach K" guided Jay to a national championship back in 2001 and would win five in total. He also coached the U.S. men's team to multiple Olympic gold medals. He discusses his toughest moments in his career, and what he's enjoying in his first year of retirement. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. For sponsor-free episodes, weekly bonus content, and more, subscribe to The Limits Plus. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

On this week's episode of The Limits, Jay looks back on his conversation with a recently split, beloved comedy duo. For years, Desus Nice and The Kid Mero lived the lives of many struggling New Yorkers: juggling multiple odd jobs, battling roaches, and just trying to make ends meet in the Bronx. But they also spent plenty of time online, where their constant back and forth on Twitter was so funny that followers demanded they make a podcast. Their eponymous show, Desus and Mero, has since exploded over the last decade from podcasting into television, culminating in a successful four-season Showtime run. Desus and Mero talk about that journey, and the kind of hustle and hard work it takes to make for good podcasting and longevity in show business. Plus, they don't hold back with Jay, getting into it on the NBA, the best rappers in the game...and the virtues of the Filet-O-Fish. This episode first aired in May 2022, before Desus and Mero announced their split. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains explicit language and material suited for mature audiences. Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org. For sponsor-free episodes, weekly bonus content, and more, subscribe to The Limits Plus. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy