Franklin Leonard is one of people who are aiding the Black film revolution from behind the scenes. He’s a veteran film exec who knows the game inside and out. He created The Black List, an annual survey of un-produced screenplays that spotlights the best of them, creating opportunities for young screenwriters. 37 films have leapt from The Black List to win Oscars. Leonard has worked for Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sydney Pollack and more. He’s one of the people who have helped perpetuate an a...
Jan 22, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 108
Harriet Tubman is one of the inspiring figures in American history. For years she did the hard, dangerous, crucial work of running into the South and grabbing enslaved people off of plantations and bringing them to freedom through the Underground Railroad to the North—sometimes taking them as far as Canada. She risked her life and changed the lives of many, many families by rescuing people from slavery. In the recent movie about her, Harriet, I felt like crying during the montage where she walks...
Jan 15, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 108
Nikole Hannah Jones is the creator of the amazing 1619 project for The NY Times which has made people smarter, made people cry and made some conservatives lose their minds. It seeks to explain how America is still impacted by the legacy of slavery. It is not past, we are, today, in a slaveocracy. The 1619 project is a podcast, an ongoing series of articles and essays that are being taught in schools, and will soon be a series of books. This builds on Nikole’s extraordinary work for the Times and...
Jan 08, 2020•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 107
Sandra St. Victor is a legendary singer who led a group called the Family Stand and sang the 90s classic "Ghetto Heaven.” She worked with Prince, Chaka Khan, Roy Ayers, and many more. This is almost a master class in how to sing because she goes deep into the physical and spiritual things you need to think about if you want to be a singer or if you just want to understand singing a little better. Toure Show Ep 106 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Associate Producer: Adel...
Dec 30, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 106
Phillip Youmans is 19 years young and he’s already written and directed a powerful film starring Wendell Pierce called Burning Cane that’s on Netflix right now. Ava Duvernay has called it a must see film. It’s a mature drama that does not seem like it was made by a teenage newbie. This conversation is about filmmaking in general, meant to help anyone who wants to direct, write, or make film, and it’s led by a filmmaking prodigy who seems destined to become a major filmmaker. Toure Show Ep 105 Ho...
Dec 24, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 105
Yvette Nicole Brown makes me happy every time I see her onscreen. She’s a ray of sunshine. That’s probably why she made it from growing up with nothing in Cleveland to having a long, steady career acting in Hollywood. She was on Community, she was in Avengers: Endgame, she’s done movies, sitcoms, kids shows, all kinds of things. We had an amazing talk about life and acting and walking away from her career to care for her Dad and much more. She’s an incredible person. Let me know what you think! ...
Dec 18, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 104
Kim Fields has had an amazing acting career—she started as a kid on The Facts of Life, in her 20s she was a part of the iconic Living Single, she’s done the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and now she’s a director as well as an actor starring in Lifetime’s You Light Up My Christmas. I grew up watching her play Tootie on on The Facts of Life so it was a thrill to meet her. That said, I did not expect this conversation to get so deep! Let me know what you think: Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure. ...
Dec 11, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 103
The intellectual heavyweight champion is back with a book breaking down the genius of Jay-Z called Jay-Z: Made In America. Dyson is an old friend of mine, he wrote the introduction for my book Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness, so we get into a deep conversation here. We talk about Jay-Z and the next MC he could write a whole book about and Kaepernick and his struggle to bury two brothers in the last few years. This is powerful and personal and brilliant and fun. Let me know what you think: Instagr...
Dec 04, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 102
Malcolm Nance is the author of a powerful new book about how Russia lured in and controlled Trump called The Plot To Destroy America. He knows Trump isn’t gripped by a fear of kompromat but a love of money. He was also in the Navy for over 35 years, reaching the highest levels and fighting in combat on multiple continents. He talks about Trump, combat, guns, crazy war stories, and how to survive being taken as a hostage. He’s an amazing American. Great conversation. Let me know what you think. T...
Nov 27, 2019•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 101
The Lucas Brothers are a pair of twins, Keith and Kenny, who are amazing stand-up comedians and comedy writers. They’re hysterical, they’re highly intellectual philosophers, they’re stoners, they’re everything. They’ve got a sitcom coming out and they’re working on another standup special and they’re part of Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show and they’re two of my favorite comics—well, they’re one act, so actually they’re one of my favorite comics—so for the 100th episode of this show it’s something sp...
Nov 20, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 100
I Am Black In the Trump Era Politicon is an annual multi-day political festival that now takes place in Nashville. I conceived and moderated a panel where I wanted to get some of my smartest Black friends onstage to talk about how they feel about being Black in the Trump era. I feel under siege, I feel rejected, and I feel like the country is in an era that’s painful and frightening to me and people who like me. I feel like the MAGA hat is the new Klan hood and it scares me to see it worn so bra...
Nov 13, 2019•55 min•Ep. 99
Lawrence O’Donnell is one of the best TV hosts in cable news. He’s a man of passion and intelligence who prosecutes his subjects and sometimes his guests in a way that recalls a lawyer doing a cross examination. He’s had a fascinating life—he's hosted The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC for almost ten years, he wrote for the legendary TV show the West Wing, he was an advisor for New York Senator Daniel Moynihan in the 90s. We get into all of that and disdain for Donald Trump in this f...
Nov 06, 2019•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 98
Michael Smith was at ESPN for 15 years, he grew up there and became the co-anchor (along with Jemele Hill) of one of the net’s marquee shows, the 6pm SportsCenter. But as soon as they started, things started going downhill. It was a very rough end to his time at ESPN but he’s grateful for every moment and now that he’s out he feels liberated! Here he details the what happened when they got the show and how everything fell apart. This will take you inside the world of TV and ESPN like nothing you...
Oct 30, 2019•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 97
Cyntoia Brown got out of prison just a few months ago. She did 15 years of a life sentence in prison for murder and she admits to having shot and killed a man but she was 15 years old and she had been forced into prostitution by a much older man after years of being raped, abused, and led astray. When the world learned about her case there was an outcry—the system had failed her, everyone failed her. Her story is amazing and it’s chronicled in a heartbreaking book called Free Cyntoia. We talk th...
Oct 23, 2019•59 min•Ep. 96
Dr. Ibram Kendi is the author of an important book How To Be An Anti-Racist that says you’re either racist or anti-racist. There is no neutral ground. He’s also a recent cancer survivor. He’s an incredible guy and this convo is really inspiring. Let me know what you think! Twitter @toure. Instagram @toureshow. Toure Show Ep 95 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Associate Producer: Adell Coleman Editor: Ryan Woodhall Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covington The Hous...
Oct 16, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 95
Ambassador Susan Rice was President Obama’s National Security Advisor for four years. She was the first one from the administration to go on TV and talk about the Benghazi attacks and the Republicans made her pay for that with an unending series of attacks that cost her a chance to become Secretary of State and ended up making her 9 year old daughter have frightening hallucinations. The Republicans’ attack on Rice was political, and personal, and had nothing to do with the actual tragedy that to...
Oct 09, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 94
Brittany Howard is the leader of the Alabama Shakes, an amazing blues band, and she’s just released her first solo album Jaime, named for her older sister who died when they were children. The album is deep and so is Brittany. I love this conversation with her about music and life and family and race and so much more…For more follow me, twitter @toure, Instagram @toureshow. Toure Show Ep 93 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Associate Producer: Ryan Woodhall Photographers:...
Oct 02, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 93
Tamika Mallory—I’m Not Afraid She’s an activist and a warrior who helped build the Women’s March. She’s a leader trying to make America better. This puts her life at risk constantly but she cannot stop. She grew up in activism and she knows no other way to be. She’s inspiring and powerful. Let me know what you think! Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Toure Show Ep 92 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Associate Producer: Adell Coleman Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Sh...
Sep 25, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 92
Gbenga Akinnagbe played the evil henchman Chris on The Wire and is now on Broadway playing the wrongfully-arrested doomed defendant Tom Robinson in To Kill A Mockingbird. He’s a powerful actor and a really smart guy. We had an amazing conversation. Let me know what you think! Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Toure Show Ep 91 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Associate Producer: Adell Coleman Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covington The House: DCP Entertainmen...
Sep 18, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 91
Touré Show Episode 90 DMC is one third of Run-DMC the most important group in hiphop history. Run-DMC were rap’s first superstars and their success helped the genre become a global phenomenon. But through all the triumphs, DMC was unhappy. He was an alcoholic who became depressed and then suicidal. He thought about how to kill himself all the time. Then he found out he was adopted. This is an amazingly honest life story. Let me know what you think! Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Host &...
Sep 11, 2019•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 90
Touré Show Episode 89 Rushdie is a legendary novelist and writer who is one of my literary idols. I’m proud to also call him a friend. His new novel Quichotte is awesome. Here we talk about writing, Toni Morrison, and living in crazy modern America. Let me know what you think! Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Assistant Producer: Ryan Woodhall Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covington The House: DCP Entertainment For informatio...
Sep 04, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 89
A$AP Ferg—I Am The Streets Ferg is one of my favorite modern MCs because he’s versatile, raw, smart, and his flows are ill. Plus he’s a designer with all kinds of dreams to make clothes and furniture and everything. This conversation goes far away from what I’d planned because he’s brilliant and I love that. Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Toure Show Ep 88 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Associate Producer: Ryan Woodhall Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covi...
Aug 28, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 88
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms—I Love Atlanta Mayor Keisha is an extremely inspiring woman who’s making big changes to criminal justice systems in the city and re-opening the investigation into the infamous Atlanta Child Murders of 1979-1981. Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Toure Show Episode 87 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Associate Producer: Ryan Woodhall Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covington The House: DCP Entertainment For information regardi...
Aug 21, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 87
Sandra Bernhard is one of my favorite actress/comic/singers of all time. Long before she was Nurse Judy on Pose, she was on the Richard Pryor Show and in Martin Scorsese’s the King of Comedy and so much more. I interviewed her at the very beginning of my career and made a total mess out of it, one of the most embarrassing professional moments ever so I’m thrilled I had a chance to re-interview her and show her I can be an actual professional. Sandra’s a treasure who can do anything onstage. I ho...
Aug 14, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 86
How We Fight White Supremacy is a new book by Akiba Solomon and Kenrya Rankin that talks about how to deal with the insidious monster controlling life in America. What is it exactly and what does real resistance look like and what is freedom dreaming? They’ll break it all down. Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Toure Show Episode 85 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Assistant Producer: Ryan Woodhall Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covington The House: DCP Enter...
Aug 13, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 85
Dapper Dan is a fashion legend, a hiphop legend, and a Harlem legend. He’s the man who made the clothes that define the height of early hiphop style by chopping up clothes made by the high fashion houses and turning the fabric into something new, bold, and fresh. He went to prison for that and hit bottom but he’s rebounded and now he’s got a partnership with Gucci. His story is amazing. Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Toure Show Episode 84 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie G...
Aug 07, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 84
Ronson is a music producer who’s made massive hits with Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse, and Miley Cyrus. How does he make music? We dig into his musical philosophies and his stories about making music. Let me know what you think! Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Toure Show Episode 83 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Assistant Producer: Brandon Tagoe Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covington The House: DCP Entertainment See acast.com/privacy for privacy ...
Jul 31, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 83
He’s running for President, he’s a superstar Senator, he was a superstar Mayor—Cory Booker can do anything. What’s his superpower? How have his parents shaped his life? Why is he out here shoveling driveways and rescuing people from fires? And what does he think when people say he seems white? We cover everything in this no holds barred interview. Let me know what you think! Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Toure Show Episode 82 Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Assi...
Jul 24, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 82
Margot played Clorinda on the recently cancelled Netflix show She’s Gotta Have It. I watched every episode. I wanted to know what she’ll recall about the show and what it was like working on it and how she feels about getting cancelled and what she thinks some of the issues were. Let me know what you think! Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Assistant Producer: Brandon Tagoe Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covington The House: D...
Jul 23, 2019•48 min•Ep. 81
Ice Cube is a hiphop legend who started in N.W.A and became a solo star. He’s one of the greatest MCs ever. He’s also an actor and a screenwriter and now a mogul as the founder of a 3 on 3 basketball league. Let me know what you think! Instagram @toureshow. Twitter: @toure Host & Writer: Toure Senior Producer: Jackie Garofano Assistant Producer: Brandon Tagoe Photographers: Chuck Marcus and Shanta Covington The House: DCP Entertainment See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informatio...
Jul 17, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 80
