Podcasts about tavis

Tavis pulls back the curtain on the California Voices Town Hall & Ballot Forum with major updates. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Attorney, investor, and restaurateur Kevin Kelley gives Tavis the scoop on his growing food and nightlife empire and what's next for the hospitality mogul.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Award-winning actress, model, director, and producer Meagan Good joins Tavis in studio to discuss her latest role as District Attorney Regina Harris in the upcoming fourth season of Hulu's hit legal drama Reasonable Doubt and her noteworthy career.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis has a special election conversation with South Carolina Democratic Congressman James Clyburn and California Democratic Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove about what's at stake for this year's midterms.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Last week, Hightower had the absolute pleasure of appearing on Tavis Smiley's live radio talk show—a lot of great laughs, and a lot of good ground covered! From the Texas races, to America at 250, to the idea that fundamental fairness is a sense all humans share, Tavis and Hightower went deep. Tavis and his team have given us permission to share it with you here, and we're so grateful—he's also just started his own Substack newsletter, and we encourage you to subscribe to one of the greats of American media at tavissmiley.substack.com. You can also listen live on KBLA 1580 daily, and subscribe to his podcast. —dzTranscriptEdited lightly for clarityPart 1Tavis Smiley: Tavis Smiley, glad you're with us in the second hour of our program here today.Yesterday, we stepped into what I call the Elders' Skybox to talk to Dr. Johnette Cole. She was absolutely amazing yesterday. If you missed that conversation with Johnnetta Cole yesterday, I encourage you to check out the podcast, now posted. She, of course, is the legendary, the iconic, first African American woman to be president of Spelman. But she's covered so much ground in her amazing career, and she joined us yesterday on the show. And Johnnetta Cole still got it. I mean, she was just blazing yesterday. So if you missed the conversation with Johnnetta Cole yesterday, I encourage you, you will not be disappointed. Check out the podcast, now up, of our dialogue with Dr. Cole yesterday.So we stepped into the Elders Skybox again today to talk to our friend and brother Jim Hightower, the legendary talk show host down in Texas. I quote him oftentimes. When you hear me say that the only thing you find in the middle of the road is a dead armadillo, that was Jim Hightower years ago, and I've never forgotten that line from all those years ago. You can't be middle of the road. We were just talking about that in our hour with Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead about Hakeem Jeffries and some of these Democrats who, on a number of issues, still want to occupy the center, the middle of the road. That is not where one needs to be, especially right about now. Pick a side. Pick a side is my point. And that was Jim Hightower's advice many, many years ago. I never forgot when he said it, and I've held on to it all these years.I invited him on today to talk about this hot Texas Senate race, but more broadly to get his take, as a longtime progressive, on the march that we are witnessing in real time by these progressives after decades of being in the wilderness. With all that said, I'm honored to welcome Jim Hightower to this program. Jim, how are you, sir?Jim Hightower: I'm doing great, Tavis, and all the greater because I get to visit with you.Tavis Smiley: It's my honor to have you on this program. Thank you for those kind words. I meant what I said earlier about having listened to you. I'm at that age now. I just turned 62 a couple of days ago, and I've been at this, what, 35 years. My mom teases me about it, but people come on the show all the time: “Mr. Smiley, I grew up listening to you, I grew up watching you.” So I'm at that age now where I'm getting that. And this is funny, because I can say that to Jim Hightower now. I grew up listening to him and watching him, and so I'm thrilled to have him on this program.Let me just start with this, broadly speaking. I've asked this question of other guests. I've got two minutes now, we've got the rest of the hour when we come forward, but in these first two minutes, I'm asking you the same question I've asked of others. We are inside that eight-week sprint from Labor Day to Election Day. How are you feeling?Jim Hightower: I am feeling more upbeat than I have been in years about Texas politics. Our party has finally come alive down here, as you just indicated. We've had too many corporate centrists trying to dominate our party, thinking we can fool the people if we just tiptoe around our progressivism, rather than recognizing that people themselves are progressive. And if we talk to them in that kind of language, they might respond to us in a more favorable way than they have in the past, or respond at all.I would point out, first of all, Tavis, that Texas is not a right-wing state. It is not a Republican state. It is a non-voting state. And it has not been voting because the Democratic Party, my party, has been over in the ditch somewhere, trying not to be discovered, rather than recognizing that most people are quite progressive. I think of it in terms of my own father, who kept up with politics, but he was not political, particularly. He didn't know he had a political philosophy, but he did, and it was expressed to me many times in these words. He said, “Jim, everybody does better when everybody does better.” And that is what the Democratic Party is supposed to represent.And so that spirit is coming back within the Democratic Party. We have it with James Talarico running for Senate, Gina Hinojosa running for governor, but also let us not forget those down-ballot candidates, who can make such a difference in a campaign. I've been one of those myself, so I can attest to it. And we have a terrific lineup this year, including Clayton Tucker running for agriculture commissioner, a position that most people wouldn't pay a whole lot of attention to until you realize, wait a minute, if you eat, you are involved in agriculture. And we need to make that political as well as edible.Tavis Smiley: Love it. He's already on a roll. That is the Jim Hightower that I grew up listening to. He's wise, he drops these one-liners; as we say these days, he's dropping bars. I love his father's edict that everybody does better when everybody does better. It's so simple. But I want to give him some time to unpack this. I want to interrogate this notion that people themselves are progressive. People themselves are progressive. That line resonated with me; I suspect it did with you as well. I'll let him unpack that and a great deal more. I'm glad to have Jim Hightower for the hour on Tavis Smiley.Tavis Smiley, and longtime progressive activist, legendary talk show host, bestselling author Jim Hightower. So we've stepped into the Elders Skybox to tap into his wisdom in this hour as we are hurtling inexorably toward Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd. Wanted to check in with him on some national issues, but certainly everybody's watching this Senate race in Texas. I talk to my friends down there all the time, and they are so excited about turning Texas blue. You heard Jim Hightower say a moment ago that Texas is not a Republican state, it's not a red state, it's a non-voting state. I'll let him unpack that as we move through this hour.But just some quick updates here. So you saw the Republican convention, that two-day farce they had down in Texas not long ago. Since that convention, a new poll has come out about the race in Texas. Interestingly, the survey happened on September 13th. That was Sunday, my birthday. And it's good news for James Talarico. The latest poll, this is the SoCal Strategies poll, shows Talarico leading Paxton 50 percent to 45 percent. It's a five-point margin. There had been a two-point lead by Paxton over Talarico. It's fascinating. So before the convention, Paxton was leading Talarico by two points in Texas. Post the convention, it flips. Talarico is now leading Paxton by five points. Not sure what Ken Paxton did or said at that convention that made these numbers flip. Obviously it's very, very tight, and these polls are snapshots in time. We still have weeks to go before Election Day. We'll let Jim Hightower unpack a bit more about the tightness of this race in Texas in this hour.But I want to start right now, Jim, where we left off moments ago, and that is with your suggestion that people are themselves a great deal more progressive than we acknowledge or give them credit for. We've got time. Unpack that for me.Jim Hightower: Well, just go back to your childhood. The very first political expression of a child, maybe at two years old, is “That's not fair.” That is a powerful political sentiment, and it's within all of us. And that's what we're seeing today. The unfairness of the billionaires with their data centers invading our communities. The unfairness of the destruction of voting rights, period. Not just the Voting Rights Act, but voting rights. The unfairness of economic plutocracy, really, and just a general unfairness that pervades our society, including the election itself.The idea that money can control. That happened to Texas, just as it did nationally, in the 1980s, when Tony Coelho, a member of Congress from California, decided that the Democrats didn't need to have all this grassroots stuff. We could just get money from rich people and throw it at television ads, and then we could compete with the Republicans. And the powers that be in the Democratic Party here in Texas agreed with that. So they began to shift away from what Ann Richards and myself and Jim Mattox and Garry Mauro and other good, solid Democrats were winning elections with: a focus on the grassroots people of our state. That got abandoned. Instead they turned to money.And when you turn to money, I can tell you, if you get a corporate check, written on the back of it is the corporate agenda. And they're going to cash that check, not you. That is what happened to Texas. The Democrats quit being Democrats because, well, we don't want to upset those money people, so we'll just tone down our message. And by toning down the message, we tone down our public support, our people's support. If we weren't standing for them, why would they stand for us? And so that's what happened. Our solid Democratic constituencies, which were farmers, working-class folks, teachers, environmentalists, didn't hear themselves in the Democratic message. So they quit voting. It's not that they turned Republican.We consistently had among the top one or two worst voting records in the country in the state of Texas. We have the lowest turnout in our country. Ken Paxton, you just mentioned, is now running for the U.S. Senate on the Republican ticket. Paxton got 68 percent of the Republican primary election that made him their nominee. Sixty-eight percent, boy, that sounds good. He must be very popular, until you realize that is 3.4 percent of the voters of Texas. That's who nominated him. That's his basic support: 3.4 percent. Can we not get 3.5 percent? Well, maybe if we began to organize and mobilize and strategize and do something a little stronger than we had been doing.And that's the good news in Texas. That's what has changed this election cycle over previous ones: our Democratic Party, with a new party chair, and a dynamic bunch of candidates running for statewide office and local office as well. We used to have 50 counties in our state that had no Democratic Party chair, much less a Democratic committee. We had state legislative district after district that had no Democratic contender in it. So we weren't even running. But this year we do. We have candidates, good candidates, in all of those districts. We have vibrant party building in every county in the state. You have to have the infrastructure. It's not just handsome candidates like myself, or smart and sassy people, that make the difference. It is grassroots, fundamentally. And if you abandon the grassroots, then there's no one to appeal to.Part 2Tavis Smiley: Let me ask you this. You said a few things, and I want to go back to them right quick. You're on a roll, and that's what he does every day, and I love it. I just have to keep up with him. Let me start with the money. No naiveté here, but my sense is, even though we've seen efforts, I think of McCain-Feingold, other efforts we've seen over the years, my sense is that at this point that horse has left the barn, and I can't imagine how we get money out of our politics. Citizens United, I can do this all day long, as you could, Jim Hightower. But that trade-off that Democrats made to get access to that money, there's no 180 on this. I mean, the Democratic Party is so broke now, as you know. The national Democratic Party is so broke, they've been borrowing money. So even though your indictment about the money in our politics is spot on, can you imagine any way to get money out of our politics at this point?Jim Hightower: Yes, I can, which is to go to the people with it. It is the most popular polling issue in America and has been for some time: getting corporate money out of politics. It's up at the 90 percent level, including something like 75 percent of Republicans who want to get this corporate money out of our system. So we have the base of support, but we have to have a politics that goes out there and collects that base. And that means running on it again. Our party nationally has quit running on that issue. So we've abandoned one of the very best issues we have, an issue of abject plutocracy over democracy, money over people.And that is what's beginning to change. That's why Talarico is up there, running as our Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. He has raised a ton of money, outraised Paxton himself, because he's getting small-dollar donations from people who are mad as hell about money in politics and how government serves money, not people. And again, Clayton Tucker, running for agriculture commissioner, has a theme that says to beat money power, you have to have people power. You have to organize people against organized money. That is a winning topic, and candidate after candidate around the country this time are beginning to grasp that and make hay with it.Tavis Smiley: Let me ask you this. The other thing you said, I want to come back to it. You're saying so much that's just jumping out at me. I want to come back to this notion of fundamental fairness. I find myself time and time again over the course of my career, Jim, on any number of issues, making the point that it's ultimately about fundamental fairness. Pick the issue, and my moral stance on so many of these issues is that it's ultimately about what I term fundamental fairness.And I loved your suggestion that one of the first things that comes out of our mouths as kids... I don't know where we get this, but when you said it, I smiled. I'm sure every parent listening to this program right now smiled. We've all heard kids say, “That's not fair. That's not fair.” I don't even know where that comes from, but we've all heard babies say that line. So I'm glad you used that.I'm wondering whether or not, in this moment, you believe that everyday people in this country care about fundamental fairness. And before you answer, here's my point. I think that we've become more nativist for a lot of reasons. People are turning inward, they're lashing outward. I'm not sure that we actually believe in meritocracy anymore. We see Donald Trump and the big grift. We see him not playing the game by any set of rules that speaks to any kind of fairness. We see the Supreme Court putting its thumb on the scale in favor of Donald Trump too often. We see a Congress that's doing nothing; they're letting Donald Trump run roughshod. In the legislative branch, the executive branch, or the judicial branch, I don't see any semblance of fairness. Tell me whether or not you believe that everyday people in this nation still believe in the notion. Never mind what we say as a two-year-old: as adults, do we believe in fundamental fairness?Jim Hightower: Yes, we do. And in every case that you mentioned there, Trump being a sleaze, Congress not taking any action, the Supreme Court being a corporate subsidiary, et cetera, their popularity has declined in direct proportion to their abandonment of those values of fairness. That still is within the people. We don't appeal to it. For the most part, we've not had a politics nationwide that appeals to that fairness issue. But again, I think it is so fundamental that it is the core of reestablishing a people's democracy in our country: just to focus on that fundamental issue of fairness.You know, again, back to my upbringing in the little town of Denison, Texas. My parents taught egalitarianism. They didn't know what that word was. Probably couldn't spell it, you know. But they understood it. What they said to me was, “Nobody is better than you, and you're not any better than anybody else.” Again, those are powerful moral sentiments that are deeply imbued, I think, in the human experience.And you see it as people rebel against the privatization of our schools, as people rebel against the monopolization of our food economy, our energy economy, any basic economy you want to talk about, controlled by a handful of billionaires. You see it in the public disgust with Elon Musk and Peter Thiel and Jeff Bezos and these sorts of billionaires who seem to think that because they've got money, they've got brains, and they can just run things. But you can't run over the American people. You know, Lincoln said it: you can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time. And I think those people are on the move.And again, if we have a politics that appeals to “we're going to be a unified country that believes in egalitarianism, that believes in fairness, that believes in economic justice, social justice,” then people will respond. They won't respond to those words, but they will respond to the reality that you put forward. Here's what we mean by that.Part 3Tavis Smiley: I hear it, I hear it. Jim Hightower, still on fire all these decades later. As I said earlier, in case you've just tuned in, people tell me all the time, “I grew up listening to you, I grew up watching you,” and I can say that about Jim Hightower, and now you see where I got it from. So much of the way I approach these issues I learned from Jim Hightower. He just speaks plain. I call it KISS MIP: keep it simple, make it plain. KISS MIP, keep it simple, make it plain. I love his parents' edict that everybody does better when everybody does better. There's a reason why he is the legendary Jim Hightower. You see why I want him on this program. I hope when I achieve his age, my mind is still as sharp as his and still on point the way his is. I am honored to have another half hour with Jim Hightower when we come forward on Tavis Smiley.I just saw the numbers. People are signing up by the hundreds to join us on Saturday, October 3rd. I'm inviting you once again, right now: mark your calendar. This is history in the making, the California Voices Town Hall and Ballot Forum, live from L.A., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All the candidates are showing up, and you should too. The event is free, but you must register. Go to KBLA1580.com right now and get your seat. California Voices, Saturday, October 3rd. Come be a part of history, brought to you by KBLA Talk 1580 and the Community Voter Education Project.And this is what I call wisdom speaking. Wisdom speaking. I am honored to be in conversation with the legendary, the iconic talk show host Jim Hightower, New York Times bestselling author, syndicated columnist, who has his own Substack called the Hightower Lowdown that I encourage you to sign up for: the Hightower Lowdown on Substack, by Jim Hightower. He's still dropping bars as often as he can. And again, I'm just thrilled to have him on this program for the hour. In case you missed the first half hour, you missed a good one. I love this homespun wisdom that he's sharing with us. There are thankfully a few more minutes to go in this dialogue, but check out the podcast of the entire conversation, posted later this evening, if you missed any of the brilliance of Jim Hightower in this first half hour.I want to play a clip for you. Jim and I were talking a little bit ago about the Republican convention, the midterm convention, the first time in 50-plus years that somebody did one of these in the midterms. And it was in Texas, of course, in Dallas. James Talarico is running for Senate in Texas as a Democrat against Ken Paxton. He didn't go to the convention, but post the convention, Talarico got a bump. Typically the guy featured at the convention gets a bump. Didn't work that way. Paxton did not get a bump. Post the convention, the poll indicates that Talarico is now leading Paxton in Texas by five points.If you were listening earlier, you heard Jim Hightower say that Texas is not a red state, not a Republican state, it's a non-voting state. And when you break down the numbers, as he did so brilliantly earlier, you'll see that Texas really is a non-voting state. I was thinking, when Jim was making that point, that if we did the data on every state, we may find out that most of these 50 states are not blue or red. They're all non-voting states. It ain't just Texas. I think Jim is on to something. We should stop this red and blue nonsense, even the purple nonsense, and just call them non-voting states. Jim Hightower once again is giving us something to think about.But Talarico gets a bump out of their convention. He goes up. He's up by five points right now. So all of my friends in Texas are excited about the chance for Texas to turn blue this time around. We will see if Talarico can pull that off.But back to that convention. I want you to listen very carefully. I'm just setting this up now. There was a heckler at this convention when Ted Cruz was speaking. And maybe heckler is the wrong word, because in the Black church we say you've got your amen corner. So I'm not sure he's a heckler as much as he is an amen corner for Ted Cruz, who did nothing to chin-check this guy, to stop this guy from what he was saying repeatedly while Ted Cruz was speaking. Cruz heard it loud and clear. You can hear it on the tape. And at no point did Ted Cruz stop to correct him. But listen to Ted Cruz, and just listen very carefully. You're going to hear it two or three times; see if you can't pick it out for yourself. Give it to me, Miles.Ted Cruz (audio clip): When Mamdani says he wants to seize the means of production, he means it. When Abdul El-Sayed says he has a quote “obligation to comply with Sharia law,” he means it. And when James Talarico says he wants to dismantle capitalism, he means it.Tavis Smiley: Have Miles play it one more time. I want you to hear it now. I'll tell you exactly what you should have heard. Every time he calls out the name of Mamdani, then Abdul El-Sayed, then James Talarico, there's a guy standing not too far from Ted Cruz who yells out, “He should be shot.” Mamdani: “He should be shot.” Abdul El-Sayed: “He should be shot.” James Talarico: “He should be shot.” Now listen again; see if you hear it.Ted Cruz (audio clip, replayed): When Mamdani says he wants to seize the means of production, he means it. When Abdul El-Sayed says he has a quote “obligation to comply with Sharia law,” he means it. And when James Talarico says he wants to dismantle capitalism, he means it.Tavis Smiley: Going back, Jim Hightower, to all of the pronouncements made after the death, the murder, of Charlie Kirk, and now on national television, at a Republican convention, you have someone yelling three times, no less, “He should be shot, he should be shot, he should be shot,” and ain't nobody said nothing about it, Jim Hightower.Jim Hightower: Yes, the silence is the evil. And that's all about Trump. You know, almost no Republican will stand up and say Trump is just full of it. He is espousing hatred, he is espousing misogyny, he is espousing racism, he's espousing xenophobia. He's espousing everything that America is against. Everything America stands for is being rejected by Ted Cruz and Ken Paxton and Donald Trump, et cetera. You know, I heard on TV recently, Tavis, some Republican saying about Ted Cruz, “Well, you know, sometimes Ted is his own worst enemy.” And I said, “Not while I'm alive, he's not.”We have to take on these people. We progressives can't just say, “Well, they're just talking.” No, they're not. They're spewing a doctrine of hatred and of violence, really, as you just portrayed in that amazing work of audio technology that you pulled off. It's very, very telling. And again, you know, I keep coming back to the positive side of it. That is not America. That's what gets portrayed most, but that is not who we are.Part 4Tavis Smiley: Not who we are. You see why I love Jim Hightower. I mean, he said Ted's his own worst enemy? Not as long as I'm living. I love, love, love Jim Hightower. All right, and that's why I invited him on this program for an hour. Let me circle back, Jim, to something else you said earlier, and actually I opined on it myself. I thought about what you said during the break. Based on your analysis and based on your framing, Texas ain't the only non-voting state. So why are we stuck on this red, blue, sometimes purple narrative when the truth is that all of these states are non-voting states?Jim Hightower: Yes. Well, the media, the political consultants, they're the ones who drew this red-blue color map on us. And it is not true. It has never been true. I've got a great story from my campaigning days of going into an area with people who are supposedly right-wing, and being able to talk to them. And we have candidates today doing that. Talarico is doing it, Clayton Tucker is doing it, Gina Hinojosa is doing it: going into areas where people have been told, “You're right-wing,” and they're saying, “Wait a minute, we like what this person is saying. Can't we talk about that?” And so we just have to keep saying it. But that requires, Tavis, that we go back to grassroots people politics again, to where we're talking to the people, not talking through consultants and PR people.You know, I'll tell you, today I'm sitting in my kitchen in Austin, Texas. But I live on the south side of Austin, and we're a little more irreverent over here. We're just a little more spunky. In fact, our slogan over here is “We're all here because we're not all there.”Tavis Smiley: I love Austin, and I'm glad to know that you are in that part of town. As a matter of fact, Austin's my favorite city in Texas. I didn't realize that until 25, 30 years ago, when I started going to the Texas Book Festival, one of the best book festivals in the country. I've been honored to be invited to speak there a number of times over the course of the 24 or 25 books I've written. I've been going to the Texas Book Festival for years. It's in Austin, the state capital. And I remember the first time I went there, I wanted to know where Barbara Jordan sat. That's what I wanted to know. In what seat did Barbara Jordan sit, before she went to Congress, of course? I wanted to find that out. But I've been to Austin a number of times over the years, and I like Austin. It's my favorite city in Texas. I didn't know that's where Jim was today, but I'm glad to know he's there.When we come forward... We've been talking about Texas, and of course a lot of national issues, and I don't want to color this any more than this. I want to give Jim all the canvas he needs to paint. I am curious, given all the years he's been out here espousing these progressive POVs, these progressive points of view, what he makes of the march that progressives are on right now across the country. Call them progressives, call them DSA. What does Jim Hightower think of this march by progressives right about now? And I'm also curious to get his take more broadly on how he sees America at 250. He's been on the front lines as a progressive fighter for a long time, but here we are, 250 years in. What does Jim Hightower make of this moment in this republic? You're listening to Tavis Smiley.Tavis Smiley, with Jim Hightower. Jim Hightower, you've been out here a long time on the front lines of this fight as an unapologetic progressive. What's your read of, as I would term it, this progressive march literally all across the country?Jim Hightower: Well, it is the most encouraging thing I've seen in a long, long time. And it is happening for real reasons, because the powers that be are running roughshod over the powers that ought to be. And people are catching on to that. So they're beginning to rebel, and not just liberals, and not just progressives or populists like me, but everyday working people are saying, as we started our conversation, Tavis, “That's not fair. This ain't right. This is not America.”And so we've been battling for years. We win fights. Again, you know, I was elected in the 1980s, two terms as Texas agriculture commissioner, elected with Ann Richards running for treasurer, Mattox running for attorney general, Garry Mauro running for land commissioner. We ran a unified campaign, because we could then go to people and say, “It's not just about electing poor old Hightower here. It's about electing a government. We can make change.” And that is what's missing in our politics: people believing that change can actually happen. Because, as you indicated so rightly early on, Congress doesn't do anything, the Supreme Court just follows the corporate agenda, and the White House, of course, is the mess that it's in.So we have to have results coming from our work. And that means a long-term view of politics. You know, I ran for office the first time and I lost. I came very close, but I lost. But I was able to turn it around, because even a losing campaign creates energy. It creates new people. It creates talent. And you can apply that to the next campaign, not just for one individual, but for many, many others. As Willie Nelson put it to me once, he said, “Hightower, the early bird might get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese.”Tavis Smiley: You can't fade Jim Hightower. You cannot fade Jim Hightower, coming with wisdom of his own, wisdom from his parents, wisdom from Willie Nelson. Love me some Jim Hightower. We'll close this conversation when we come forward with his thoughts on America at 250. You're listening to Tavis Smiley.I've got three minutes left in this hour, which I have enjoyed immensely, stepping into the Elders Skybox. Again, yesterday Johnnetta Cole was here, former president of Spelman. Check out the podcast if you missed that brilliant conversation. And if you missed any of this dialogue with Jim Hightower, there's so much richness in this thing, man. You'll want to hear it again if you heard it once. And if you didn't hear it, check out the podcast, posted tonight. You will not be disappointed in this conversation with Jim Hightower. As they say in Washington, I want to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas. I've got three minutes left. It's all yours, Jim Hightower. Three minutes. Talk to me about America at 250 as you see it, my friend.Jim Hightower: I think America is healthy in a fundamental way. It's very active right now. You know, there are all kinds of great groups out there making fundamental changes, groups that are progressive and inclusive. And all the bad words we're not supposed to say, again: diversity and equity. I mean, what's wrong with diversity? What's wrong with equity? What are they talking about? And I think more and more people are asking that. And we need to have a constant politics that asks that question. Why should we be afraid of diversity? Unless you're a Native American, you are an immigrant. Stop pretending.And I'm talking to our people now, our progressive people. Stop thinking that it's dangerous to say this stuff. It's not dangerous. People want to hear it, and they will be better for hearing it. You'll get called an agitator. Our wonderful friend and mentor Jesse Jackson spoke brilliantly about being an agitator. You know, after all, it was agitators that built America: Thomas Paine, Shays' Rebellion, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, the populists, right on through. And Jesse put it like this. He said the agitator is the center post in the washing machine that gets the dirt out. We need a lot more of that. We need a lot more of that. And people are ready for it.And I would add just another Jesse Jackson moment, which, again, he did brilliantly. He said, “We might not all have come over on the same boat, but we're in the same boat now.” And that is a powerful political reality. So he was able to rally farmers, and I was with him at some of those events in his presidential campaign, and in his Rainbow Coalition and the other coalitions related to the Rainbow Coalition. They all built together. Jesse Jackson had an intentional program to create a little-d democratic, diverse populist movement based on equality for all. Those are old-time American themes. And we have fought for them, and we have won again and again. Let us not forget that we have won this battle before. It's in front of us, but we've got to do it again.Tavis Smiley: There you go, Jim. We say around here all the time, when we fight, we win. When we fight, we win, and you can't win it if you ain't in it. America needs more of Jim Hightower. I declare it. I knew I hadn't talked to Jim in a long time. I knew it'd be a great hour. I didn't know how great it would actually be, but he still got it. And I am pleased that he put me on his schedule for a full hour today. How blessed are we to have heard the insights of this longtime, unapologetic progressive, Jim Hightower, who's feeling himself these days, and I ain't mad at him, about this march that progressives are on. And I close with what his parents said to him many, many years ago: everybody does better when everybody does better. Jim Hightower, thank you, thank you, thank you, my friend.Jim Hightower: Thank you, Tavis.Tavis Smiley: Good to have you on. More of Tavis Smiley when we come forward.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump talked to Tavis with a reaction to the verdict of the Nolan Wells case. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Our coworker Tavis has had his ear to the ground ever since the rumors began to swirl about a movie being filmed in Bellingham! He tells us what he knows about what sounds like a Tyler Perry project that may feature John Cena!

Grammy Award-winning contemporary jazz bassist Ben Williams joins Tavis in studio to discuss his new single 'Ballet (for the Elephant in the Room) about America at 250, his world tour and his celebrated career. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Soul musician, singer, and actor Martin Luther McCoy joins Tavis in studio to discuss his latest album, Welcome Back Love, following a 14-year hiatus, and why he believes in music's ability to heal, challenge, and reconnect.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Send us Fan MailWe talk with Tavis Hansen about going from a 300-person town and AA midget hockey to the WHL at 18 and the NHL shortly after, all because one scout saw something worth betting on. We dig into what actually separates players as they climb: pro habits, reliability, adapting to speed, and handling pressure when the stakes jump overnight.• growing up in Canwood with low pressure and big support from family• getting noticed late through provincial playoffs and earning a real WHL opportunity• adjusting to WHL speed and carving out a role as a rugged winger• learning the 90s reality of protecting teammates and building trust• hearing from NHL scouts midseason and getting drafted by Winnipeg• understanding the AHL jump and why pro pace humbles most players• modeling “ultimate pro” routines through veterans and mentorship• stacking controllables like habits and perception to earn more opportunity• dealing with shoulder surgeries and how injuries steal development time• taking the lockout leap to Japan and adapting to a different hockey culture• building a second career, then giving back through Star Hockey AcademyCheck out upmyhockey.com for the latest Peak Potential Hockey ProjectYou can check out the event dates at upmyhockey.com

Elegance Bratton, writer, photographer and director of the new film By Any Means starring Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, joins Tavis in studio to discuss this story of a morally ambiguous partnership between a Black FBI agent and a white mobster during the turbulent civil rights era of 1960s Mississippi.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis honors the life and musical legacy of Grammy Award-winning jazz legend Cassandra Wilson.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

National Ambassador for Braver Angels and talk radio show host John Wood Jr. joins Tavis in studio to discuss trending political topics.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Daytime Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, and three-time NAACP Image Award winner Kym Whitley joins Tavis in studio to talk about her reunion with Martin Lawrence and Tommy Davidson for the new Paramount+ program, The Varnell Hill Show, and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Vocalist, composer, educator, and visual artist Carmen Lundy joins Tavis in studio to discuss being named a 2026 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, her new album, Notes From The Wine Cellar, and her illustrious career.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Former Minnesota State Senator Matt Little joins Tavis to celebrate his primary victory for the 2nd Congressional District and what it means for the progressives on the march to Washington.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Former Mayor of Pasadena and current CEO of LA Fire Justice Chris Holden joins Tavis in studio to discuss what's next for residents after the L.A. County Fire Department concluded that California's Eaton Fire, in January 2025, was sparked by an out-of-service Southern California Edison transmission tower.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Social justice leader, host of the monthly digital series Freedom Table, and creator of the How We Win newsletter, Rashad Robinson joins Tavis in studio to discuss his new book, From Presence to Power: How to Take On the Fights That Matter—and Win, and offers a practical, strategic roadmap for creating structural change.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Actor, director, and producer Jocko Sims joins Tavis in studio to discuss his diverse career and his latest role portraying pioneering Black physician Dr. George A. Tann in Netflix's reimagined Little House on the Prairie.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Women's sports journalist, analyst, and author of Court Queens: Celebrate the Players, Teams, and History of Women's Basketball, Jordan Robinson joins Tavis in studio to preview this year's WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago and discuss how the league has become a focal point in today's political culture wars.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Five-time Grammy Award-winning gospel and R&B singer, songwriter, producer, and founding member of The Winans, Carvin Winans joins Tavis in studio to discuss his celebrated solo career, the enduring legacy of his family's musical dynasty, and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Acclaimed actor and director Mykelti Williamson and writer-director Sheldon Candis join Tavis in studio to discuss their highly anticipated coming-of-age sports drama, They Fight, premiering this week on Hulu and Disney+.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis Bryant is the host of the BBQ Therapy Podcast.  Through his podcast he strives to educate, inspire, and connect members of the barbecue community while promoting personal growth and a positive mindset.  Tavis discusses his journey in barbecue, competition cooking, and podcasting.  Through his podcast, he highlights the stories of pitmasters, chefs, competitors, and barbecue  personalities while exploring the mindset and community aspects of barbecue culture. Patrick Montgomery is an award-winning baseball author and historian.  His latest book is A Dynasty Interrupted:  The Rise and Fall of the 1980s Atlanta Braves.  The book examines how the Braves rose from the National League cellar to become contenders in the early 1980s, only to see their championship aspirations fade as the decade progressed. Patrick shares insights from his extensive research and interviews with many of the key figures who lived through this pivotal period in Braves history.  The book features original interviews with key figures including Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, Joe Torre, and others who experienced the era firsthand. We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan's website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves, Cutting Edge Firewood High Quality Kiln Dried Firewood - Cutting Edge Firewood in Atlanta for high quality firewood and cooking wood, Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. We truly appreciate our listeners and hope that all of you are staying safe. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Founding director of the Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism, Emmaia Gelman joins Tavis in studio to discuss her new book, The Anti-Defamation League and the Racial State, which examines the organization's history and its role in American politics and society.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Award-winning director, writer, and founder of Luminant Media, Brian Knappenberger joins Tavis in studio to discuss his latest project, The American Experiment, the new five-part Netflix docuseries executive produced by Tom Hanks exploring the origins and future of American democracy.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Congressman Jamie Raskin speaking to Tavis about breaking news, the war powers resolution, democracy summer and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Prominent psychiatrist, depression and bipolar disorder researcher, and author Dr. Nassir Ghaemi joins Tavis in studio to discuss his new book, Soul On Fire: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Psychology of Nonviolence.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist Chance The Rapper joins Tavis in studio to discuss his upcoming Juneteenth Hollywood Bowl concert, the 10-year anniversary of his classic mixtape Coloring Book, and his illustrious career.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Multiplatinum musician Kevin Olusola and international life coach Donovan Dee Donnell join Tavis in studio to discuss how they broke free from false identities and performance traps in their new book, Designed to Succeed: A Faith-Driven Blueprint to Building the Life You Were Created to Live.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis celebrates the 68th birthday of the icon Prince, taking place this weekend, and talks about his upcoming trip to The Met Museum to honor The Artist as part of their Musical Bodies exhibition.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Multidisciplinary astrophysicist, inventor, award-winning author, and journalist Hakeem Oluseyi joins Tavis in studio to discuss his newest book, “Why Do We Exist? The Nine Realms Of The Universe That Make You Possible,” and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis facilitates a post-election roundtable with KBLA Talk 1580 hosts Dominique DiPrima, Adrianne Shropshire, and Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey about the results of the California election and other trending political topics.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

White House correspondent, author, and host of A More Perfect Union on KBLA Talk 1580, Nii-Quartelai Quartey, reports exclusively from Cuba as part of an Emergency Fact-Finding Delegation at a moment of profound historical reckoning and citizen diplomacy. Tavis will also be joined by The Nation magazine's Special Correspondent, DD Guttenplan, with his assessment of the latest developments in Cuba.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis reprises his conversations with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal legal counsel and trusted advisor, Clarence B. Jones, who passed away earlier this week. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

After twenty-four years in law enforcement as a Captain, Tavis made a mid-career change into tech that translated his public sector experience into a $35K pay increase. The story of how he made the jump from a long-tenure law enforcement role into a Sales Engineer position is the kind of executive career change most people in his position assume isn't possible. He had to work through the fear that his background would be a strike against him, the doubt about whether his transferable skills would carry into the private sector, and the years of quietly considering the move before he actually did it. What he found on the other side was that the skills he'd spent two decades building were exactly what tech hiring managers were looking for, once he knew how to talk about them. In this episode: What Tavis was telling himself to stay in law enforcement, and when he stopped believing it The Clifton Strengths work that gave him clarity on what he actually wanted next The negotiation that landed a $35K pay increase on top of an already-strong offer   Our book, Happen To Your Career: An Unconventional Approach To Career Change and Meaningful Work, is now available on audiobook! Visit  happentoyourcareer.com/audible to order it now! Visit happentoyourcareer.com/book for more information or buy the print or ebook here! Want to chat with our team about your unique situation? Schedule a conversation   Free Resources What career fits you? Join our free 8 Day Mini Course to figure it out! Career Change Guide - Learn how high-performers discover their ideal career and find meaningful, well-paid work without starting over.   Related Episodes Designing Career Experiments and Testing New Careers (Spotify / Apple Podcasts) Executive Burnout: Making A Midlife Career Change (Spotify / Apple Podcasts)

In light of the recent passing of jazz master Sonny Rollins, Tavis reprises his special one-on-one conversations with the “Saxophone Colossus” about his life, music and enduring legacy.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Legendary percussionist and songwriter Ralph Johnson of the iconic R&B and funk band Earth, Wind & Fire joins Tavis in studio to talk about the grand legacy of The Elements, his new book “Rhythm & Fire: A Life In Harmony With Earth, Wind & Fire,” and the upcoming HBO documentary Earth, Wind & Fire: To Be Celestial vs. That's The Way Of The World, directed by Questlove. ** White House correspondent Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey reports exclusively from Cuba this week as part of an Emergency Fact-Finding Delegation. **Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis hosts a special celebration as we mark 100 years since the birth of Miles Davis, the visionary trumpeter who forever changed the sound of jazz and modern music.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Renowned relationship coach, author and host of The Voice Of Reason on KBLA Talk 1580, Zo Williams, and sought-after spiritual advisor Precious McGill join Tavis in studio to share how you can build healthy relationships without losing yourself in the process.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis talks to candidates, who won their primaries, about their vision and goals for their respective states.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

National ambassador for Braver Angels, leading figure in the American depolarization movement, and host of The Reconstruction Project on KBLA Talk 1580, John Wood joins Tavis in studio to talk about how neutral maps could empower Black voters, the future of the Black GOP, and other trending political topics.

National ambassador for Braver Angels, leading figure in the American depolarization movement, and host of The Reconstruction Project on KBLA Talk 1580, John Wood joins Tavis in studio to talk about how neutral maps could empower Black voters, the future of the Black GOP, and other trending political topics.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis has a one-on-one special midterm election year conversation with trailblazer and veteran lawmaker Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina about the future of voting rights, his reelection campaign, and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Tavis has a one-on-one with trailblazer and veteran lawmaker Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina for a special election-year conversation about the future of voting rights, his reelection campaign, and more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton joins Tavis in studio to discuss his platform for governor and why he thinks it's time for the Democratic stronghold to shift its allegiance.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

In this episode of the Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh is joined by Dr. Anna Tavis, Clinical Professor and Chair of the Human Capital Management Department at NYU. She is the Director of NYU Coaching Innovation Lab and the host of NYU Coaching & Tech Summit. Dr. Tavis is the co-author of Humans at Work and The Digital Coaching Revolution. A leading voice in the future of work, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her global career across business, consulting, and academia, bridging organizational science, human behavior, coaching, and the rapid evolution of technology. Together, Dr. Singh and Dr. Tavis explore what it means to be human at work in an era of rapid technological change. Dr. Tavis shares insights from her professional journey, the science behind human-centered organizations, and why efficiency-driven systems often overlook the human side of work. The conversation explores how traditional models of work, built on efficiency and standardization, are beginning to shift. There is a growing need to design organizations that are more responsive, more adaptive, and more aligned with the complexity of human experience. This includes rethinking how we define productivity, how we support employees, and how we create environments where people can thrive. The discussion also examines the growing role of coaching within organizations. Coaching is no longer limited to one-on-one engagements with senior leaders. With the rise of digital platforms and AI-supported tools, coaching is becoming more accessible and more scalable, creating opportunities to support individuals across entire organizations. This shift allows for a more personalized and human-centered approach to development, even within large systems. At the same time, this evolution brings important considerations. As coaching expands through technology, there is a responsibility to ensure that it remains grounded in ethics, presence, and genuine human connection. Dr. Tavis emphasizes that the future is not about choosing between human coaching and technology, but about learning how to integrate both in a way that enhances, rather than diminishes, the coaching experience. The episode also highlights the broader transformation taking place in the workplace. As organizations navigate this period of change, there is both uncertainty and possibility. While many may feel the impact of disruption, there is also an opportunity to reimagine how we work, how we connect, and how we support one another. For coaches and healthcare professionals, this conversation offers a meaningful perspective on the role they play in this evolving landscape. Coaching has the potential to act as a bridge between individuals and the systems they operate within, helping people navigate change while maintaining a sense of balance, purpose, and well-being. For detailed show notes, resources, and information to connect with Dr Anna Tavis, visit: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/blog/dr-anna-tavis-on-rethinking-humans-at-work-in-an-era-of-ai-and-digital-coaching To be notified of new episodes, subscribe here: https://www.centerforhealthandwellnesscoaches.com/stay-connected Timestamps: 0 - Introduction 2:26 - Dr. Anna Tavis' Professional Journey: Advancing the Science of Humans at Work 7:51 - Humans at Work: Reimagining Organizations in the Age of AI 10:38 - Reimagining Organizations Beyond Efficiency: The Human Side of Work 15:42 - Empathy in the Workplace and Coaching's Role in Strengthening Organizational Culture 21:32 - The Digital Coaching Revolution: Technology and the Rapid Evolution of Coaching 25:21 - Coaching Innovation, Technology, and the Future of Health & Wellbeing Coaching 33:29 - Takeaways

Emmy-nominated screen and stage actress Tracie Thoms joins Tavis in studio to talk about her career, the season finale of the Angela Bassett executive-produced show 9-1-1, and her recurring role in the hit Disney film The Devil Wears Prada 2.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Kishonna Gray, University of Michigan School of Information professor and author of Intersectional Tech: Black Users in Digital Gaming, joins Tavis in studio to talk about the links between video games, violence, and race, as we face more political violence and assassination attempts in America.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Butch Ware, Green Party candidate for California governor and UC Santa Barbara professor, joins Tavis in studio with an update about his fight to get on the ballots and how progressives can show up for the election of California's next governor.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Former wife of the transformative artist Prince and founder of Live4Love Charities, Mayte Garcia joins Tavis in studio to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the passing of the musical legend.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.