We’re sharing an episode from our friends over at Broken Record. On Broken Record, acclaimed producer Rick Rubin , bestselling author Malcom Gladwell , and former New York Times editor Bruce Headlam talk with the musicians you love about their lives, inspiration, and craft. In honor of Black Music Month this June, we’re sharing Justin Richmond’s conversation with Sonny Rollins . The legendary saxophonist and composer talks about one of his first big gigs playing alongside other jazz icons like B...
Jun 22, 2022•39 min
We’re sharing an episode from our friends over at Broken Record featuring one of our past guest on The Tight Rope, Grammy-award winning artist and Maroon 5 keyboardist PJ Morton . On Broken Record, acclaimed producer Rick Rubin , bestselling author Malcom Gladwell , producer Justin Richmond , and former New York Times editor Bruce Headlam talk with the musicians you love about their lives, inspiration, and craft. In honor of Black Music Month this June, we’re sharing Bruce Headlam’s interview wi...
Jun 10, 2022•38 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content until December 31, 2021! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! In the final episode of The Tight Rope , Cornel West and Tricia Rose reminisce on all of the wonderful guests and poignant moments we’ve had this past year. Tune in to learn why the show is ending as we take a journey through our favorite moments. We are eternally gratefu...
Sep 09, 2021•52 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! As we prepare for our final episode of The Tight Rope next week, we wanted to take it back to where it all started. Please enjoy this re-release of our very first episode. In this profound episode, Cornel West and Tricia Rose use Prince's iconic "Purple Rain" to explore a spectrum of topics. Joi...
Sep 02, 2021•59 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! Marc Lamont Hill, award-winning journalist and host of Black News Tonight, walks The Tight Rope this week! Join us for a profound discussion on debating extreme conservatives, Bill Cosby’s recent release from prison, and being grounded by a deep love of Black people. Dr. Marc Lamont Hill is curr...
Aug 05, 2021•18 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! Why did 2x WNBA Champion Renee Montgomery opt out of the 2020 season? In this throwback episode, Renee sits down with the professors to discuss why she felt called to leave basketball to focus on social justice reform. Renee Montgomery, a native West Virginian, has completed her 11th season in t...
Jul 29, 2021•15 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Professor Teodros Kiros, leading authority on moral and African philosophy and dear colleague of Dr. Cornel West. Join us for a rich philosophical discussion between brilliant academics in an episode unlike any other. Teodros Kiros is considered a leading aut...
Jul 22, 2021•22 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! What is love? Is it the virtue we need the most right now? This week, the professors take on the most powerful virtue, love. Tune in to learn why learning how to love requires learning how to die and how this virtue can transform us all. Follow The Tight Rope on Social Media! Patreon | Twitter |...
Jul 15, 2021•11 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! Two-time Academy Award-winning actress, author, and activist Jane Fonda joins the professors for a fiery conversation on taking action against injustices. Tune in to learn about the calling that keeps her going and how she gives her life meaning. Plus, Fonda shares a deeply moving story she has ...
Jul 08, 2021•10 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! In this exciting collaboration with Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives and HITRECORD, Kenneth Morris, Jr. walks The Tight Rope . Kenneth Morris, Jr. descends from two of the most influential names in American history: he is the great-great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-gr...
Jul 01, 2021•15 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! In the second installment of our series of virtues, Cornel West and Tricia Rose dive into the true meaning of integrity. Tune in to learn why the professors consider integrity to be one of the most important virtues and why the lack of it could lead to the demise of the human race. Follow The Ti...
Jun 24, 2021•7 min
This week on The Tight Rope , the professors are joined by Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder of African Ancestry. African Ancestry is the world leader in tracing lineages of African descent with a database of over 30,000 indigenous African DNA samples. Join us for a rich discussion on why Black people are the original victims of identity theft and how African Ancestry is working to rectify this. In 2003, Dr. Gina Paige co-founded African Ancestry, Inc. ( AfricanAncestry.com ) and in doing so, pioneered...
Jun 17, 2021•11 min
This week on The Tight Rope , Stokley Williams opens up about founding Mint Condition, his new solo project Sankofa , and why he considers himself a sonic healer. Tune in to learn Stokley’s favorite songs of his career and the influences that helped him develop his signature style. Stokley is a GRAMMY-nominated vocalist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who is one of music’s best-kept secrets. He has worked with some of the biggest names in music including Prince, Whitney Houston,...
Jun 10, 2021•15 min
Killer Mike walks The Tight Rope this week for an unfiltered conversation on knowing your worth and giving back to your community. Mike shares personal stories about the people who shaped him as an artist and inspired his activism. Tune in to hear why Mike dedicated his career to uplifting others and inspiring the next generation of artists. Plus, Mike shares his favorite books of all time and why he believes 'education is emancipation.' Atlanta native, Michael Render, aka Killer Mike, is a Gram...
Jun 03, 2021•15 min
To listen to the full episode with Roxane Gay, please visit our Patreon ! This week, New York Times Bestselling author, professor, editor, and social commentator Roxane Gay walks The Tight Rope . Gay and the professors discuss the devastating attacks on Palestine and why so many public figures are afraid to speak out. Plus, learn why Gay felt called to be a writer and how she fell in love with the essay form. Roxane Gay’s writing appears in Best American Mystery Stories 2014, Best American Short...
May 27, 2021•17 min
Dr. West and Professor Rose push each other as they reflect on the murder of George Floyd and its sustained significance one year later. Become a member of our Patreon family for BTS access and more exclusive full episodes! You can sign up at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod. Please share our content with your friends & family by following us on social media. Thank you! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetightropepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetightrop... Twitter: http...
May 25, 2021•24 min
This week Professor and activist Dr. Maulana Karenga joins the professors to discuss his relationship with Malcolm X, his beliefs about what is necessary to develop a true sense of Black identity, and Kawaida -- his interpretation of ancient Egyptian ethical thought as a living tradition and a useful philosophical option for critical reflection on the urgent issues of our time. Dr. Maulana Karenga is professor and chair of the Department of Africana Studies at California State University—Long Be...
May 20, 2021•50 min
Recorded on December 17th, 2020, with the holiday spirit close at hand, Dr. West and Professor Rose welcome Father Michael Pfleger, long-time Senior Pastor of The Faith Community of Saint Sabina to reflect on the state of our democracy and his beliefs on the role of faith communities in the fight for social justice, especially at the community level. In addition to discussing his hopes for the Biden administration, Father Pfleger reflects on the course of his extensive and active ministry. Throu...
May 13, 2021•55 min
This week Professor Jeffrey Stout, longtime friend and colleague of Dr. West joins us on The Tight Rope to talk about virtues and the political significance of friendships. Tune in to hear Dr. Stout recount his experiences teaching with Dr. West and how their intellectual pursuits led to their bonds of brotherhood. Jeffrey Stout is a theorist of democratic culture, best known for his teaching and his scholarship on social movements, religion, ethics, pragmatism, and film. Early on, he was active...
May 06, 2021•1 hr 15 min
This week, former Mayor of New Orleans and self-proclaimed “white southerner,” Mitch Landrieu, sits down with the professors to discuss how his upbringing in the south was centered around building community with his Black neighbors, as opposed to building a sense of superiority. Landrieu describes his belief that we must truly fix America, not just ‘change the carpet,’ and talks about how America has been “divided by design.” Finally, hear Dr. West reflect on his times growing up returning to th...
Apr 29, 2021•41 min
In part 2 of their conversation, @HakiMadhubuti and the Professors continue their conversation answering the question “How can we best pass on the legacy of institution building?” Tune in for Professor Madhubuti’s answer as well as his reading of his poem “Liberation Narratives.” A leading poet and one of the architects of the Black Arts Movement, Haki R. Madhubuti (pronounced Mad-hu-boo-tee) —publisher, editor and educator—has been a pivotal figure in the development of a strong Black literary ...
Apr 22, 2021•32 min
Become a member of our Patreon family for full episodes, behind-the-scenes access and more exclusive content! You can sign up here at https://www.patreon.com/thetightropepod OR, Donate to the show here ! Follow The Tight Rope on Social Media! Patreon | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Become a member of our Patreon family for BTS access and more exclusive content! You can join us on our Patreon ! Previous video episodes on our Youtube ! Credits: Creator/EP: Jeremy Berry EP/Host: Cornel West EP/Hos...
Apr 20, 2021•4 min
This week, @HakiMadhubuti joins the Professors for a conversation about his body of work and how he was, as one of his books is entitled, Taught By Women . Describing Gwendolyn Brooks as his “cultural mother,” Professor Madhubuti talks about the importance of the mentorship he received through his relationship with her and how he came to believe that literature is essential to self-discovery. Finally, synergizing his love for the written word with his belief in the necessity of building Black-le...
Apr 15, 2021•36 min
This week, Bob the Drag Queen joins the professors for a conversation about love-- love of self, love of community, and love of one’s fellow humans-- and all of the obstacles that arise in the process of giving or receiving this love when a person doesn’t fit within certain “norms.” Together, they explore the power of being celebrated for who you are, the reluctance to acknowledge homosexuality and gender non-conformity in the Black community, and why systemic racism is like a pair of ill-fittin...
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr
As Women’s History Month comes to a close and Black Women’s History Month begins, we revisit some of our favorite moments with the powerful women we’ve had on The Tight Rope. With this compilation, we hope to celebrate the strength and wisdom of women across generations and identities, join us in our tribute to our honored guests and women everywhere. “When we focus on the oft ignored generosity, genius and greatness of women, it enriches us all.”-- Professor Tricia Rose Follow The Tight Rope on...
Apr 01, 2021•38 min
In a special edition of The Tight Rope , Dr. Cornel West provides closing thoughts on his “ridiculous situation at Harvard” with respect to his being denied tenure at the institution. Join Dr. West and Professor Tricia Rose as they discuss the finality of Dr. West’s decision to leave Harvard and return “home” to Union Theological Seminary. Follow The Tight Rope on Social Media! Patreon | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Become a member of our Patreon family for BTS access and more exclusive conten...
Mar 25, 2021•18 min
The professors invite Rapsody to discuss the legacy of the Black music tradition and how it continually reiterates itself within “new genres” creating a cultural archive. Additionally, Rapsody discusses her journey ‘making it’ in the business without compromising her vision for her artistry and the stories she wants to tell. As they discuss both the legacy and future of hip-hop, the Professors and Rapsody discuss the popular tropes in hip hop music and interrogate how gender stereotypes manifest...
Mar 18, 2021•48 min
On the 62nd anniversary of the Broadway premiere (March 11, 1959) of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun , Dr. West and Professor Rose reflect on the Black literary tradition as they focus on the legacy of both Lorraine Hansberry and Gwendolyn Brooks as revolutionaries and exemplars who are often misunderstood as the “Darlings of the White Liberal Establishment.” The professors discuss the tension between the relation of love and freedom (interpersonal justice) on the one hand and the strug...
Mar 11, 2021•54 min
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum joins Dr. West and Professor Rose on The Tight Rope to talk about the critical importance of having curriculums, educators, and school communities that are dedicated to affirming and embracing students of color in general and Black students in particular. She explains the fundamental tenets of this practice in terms of what she calls “ABC’s:” A ffirming Identity, B uilding Community, and C ultivating Leadership. Additionally, the Professors reflect on the resurgence of D...
Mar 09, 2021•54 min
In this episode of The Tight Rope, the Professors welcome acclaimed actor Mayim Bialik to join them in conversation. Together they engage in a nuanced discussion of Mayim’s positionality as both a female in Hollywood and as a devout, proud member of the Jewish faith. Delving into the long history of solidarity amongst the Jewish people and Black Americans, Mayim details her dismay at the state of racism in America, her upbringing as a staunch advocate for social justice, and her perspective on t...
Feb 25, 2021•58 min
