Eddie Huang on The Cost of Personal Truth

Eddie Huang on The Cost of Personal Truth

Kamau sits down with the outspoken multihyphenate Eddie Huang to discuss his evolution as a chef and writer.   Kamau gives Huang flowers for his moral clarity and refusal to let Hollywood reshape his identity. Eddie describes himself as blunt, and is guided by a strong internal compass that his wife and close collaborators help refine.   They discuss code-switching and how Huang leverages being perceived as nonthreatening, while his “pen game” and willingness to speak truth can feel threatening in a different way.   The conversation shifts to Huang’s debut novel, Come Undone, an autofictional work about Hubie, a rough-edged TV chef and traveler clearly modeled on himself. The final draft was written in five intense days while juggling childcare and marriage, with a disciplined daily routine and tight domestic deadlines that he believes improve his work.   Huang embraces polarized reactions to his work. He prefers “five stars or zero stars” because, to him, that’s evidence that he has told a specific, truthful story.   Kamau and Huang discuss his fraught history with ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat, the sitcom based on his book of the same name.   They connect this to broader frustrations with Hollywood’s risk-averse, IP-driven system and contrast it with the relative artistic sanctity of publishing, where Huang works closely with publisher Chris Jackson, whom he calls the premier progressive editor championing writers like Ta-Nehisi Coates and others who push boundaries and speak truth to power.   They also touch on Eddie’s relationship with Anthony Bourdain, who he describes as a generous mentor who shared their disillusionment with travel TV’s demand for “happy endings” in a world where most people don’t get them.   The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788. Find the Anti Police-Terror Project at antipoliceterrorproject.org [http://antipoliceterrorproject.org] and Live Free at livefreeusa.org [http://livefreeusa.org] .   Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Part of the Pushkin Network. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Misty Copeland on Reinventing Ballet and Herself

Kamau opens the episode recalling Misty Copeland’s surprise appearance at the Oscars shortly after her hip replacement, marveling at her return to elite performance so soon after surgery and the physical demands of ballet. Copeland explains she had her farewell performance at American Ballet Theatre (ABT) after a 25‑year career, then learned she needed a hip replacement, which she welcomed as a solution to debilitating pain. Misty and Kamau discuss the importance of accessibility to ballet and how her foundation brings free, culturally responsive ballet classes with live musicians into Black and brown communities. They talk about Misty’s work with the legendary Prince, who pushed her to improvise on tour, boosting her confidence and drawing new audiences to ballet. The conversation closes with advice to young Black and brown girls to stay rooted in joy, seek mentors, and remain open to support, and with a call for audiences to invest in the arts by attending performances and supporting organizations like the Misty Copeland Foundation. You can support the Misty Copeland Foundation at mistycopelandfoundation.org [http://mistycopelandfoundation.org] Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Part of the Pushkin Network. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Robert Reich on The Fight for a Fair America

W. Kamau Bell talks with economist, author, and former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich about his lifelong fight against inequality, his journey through four presidential administrations, the capture of American democracy by big money, and why he refuses to give up on social justice. Kamau opens the show by “giving Robert his flowers” for being one of the few public figures who have remained focused on social justice and inequality throughout their lives without wavering. Reich reflects on how widening inequality, corporate money in politics, and a Democratic “Faustian bargain” with the wealthy long predated Donald Trump. Reich traces his politics back to being bullied as a very short child and protected by an older boy, Mickey Schwerner, who was later murdered by the Ku Klux Klan as a civil rights worker. Reich recounts how this commitment led him into the anti-Vietnam War movement, organizing students for Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 presidential campaign, then into a Rhodes Scholarship, where he met Bill Clinton, and later to serving in the Carter-era Federal Trade Commission and eventually to becoming Clinton’s Secretary of Labor. Kamau and Reich also discuss Reich’s evolution into a pop culture figure, generational identity, and staying connected with younger people. Turning to the present, Reich warns against despair in the face of authoritarianism, neo-fascism, and bigotry, arguing that hopelessness is exactly what those forces want so people will give up and cede everything. The conversation also turns to war and foreign policy: Reich strongly supports Ukraine’s defense, condemns the war in Iran as “really, really stupid,” and calls Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a dangerous war criminal whose actions have turned Israel into a pariah, while stressing that opposing Netanyahu is not antisemitic. Donate to the ACLU at action.aclu.org and support Common Cause at commoncause.org. Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Part of the Pushkin Network. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nava Mau on the Visibility and Vulnerability of the Trans Community

W. Kamau Bell talks with actress and filmmaker Nava Mau about Baby Reindeer, her short films, being a trans woman in Hollywood, and the pull of Oakland. Kamau opens up the show by giving Nava her flowers, praising her performance in Baby Reindeer, her advocacy, and her public presence. He warmly reviews All The Words But The One, a short film she wrote, directed, and acted in, which hit the festival circuit right when she broke out in Baby Reindeer. It's a work that delves deep into past traumas and relationships. Nava discusses growing up in Mexico City and San Antonio, her struggle with body image, and the importance of seeing trans actors of all shapes and sizes on screen. She also reveals her childhood alter ego, the fabulous "Christina Escalante". Kamau and Nava talk about the current state of the entertainment industry and the brief period of time when Hollywood seemed open to trans, queer, and brown representation. They vent about the confusion and cost of streaming consolidations, including convoluted app structures, free‑trial cancellations, and sports fans needing multiple services. They also touch on Dave Chappelle's insistence on writing jokes about trans people. The topic turns to Oakland, a place where Nava feels at home and has experienced some of the best years of her life. Support Level Ground, an artist incubator supporting black, brown, queer, and trans voices at levelground.co, and support the TransLatin@ Coalition at translatinacoalition.org [http://translatinacoalition.org]  Chapters: (00:00) Flowers for Nava (09:44) All the Words But the One (21:23) Representation, Identity, and Visibility (30:18) Post-Baby Reindeer Entertainment Industry (45:42) Dave Chappelle and Accountability (01:00:31) Oakland and Finding Home (01:05:55) Charity Shout Outs Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Part of the Pushkin Network. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Daveed Diggs on Creating with Energy Up, Expectations Down

W. Kamau Bell and Daveed Diggs sit down to discuss Daveed's hip-hop career, parenthood, Hamilton, acting, and pursuing creative projects with friends. Kamau gives Daveed his flowers for being intentional with the work he selects. From his rap group 'clipping.' to his role in the final season of The Boys, to his new film Magic Hour, Daveed busts his ass with projects he believes in. They discuss how the Bay Area fosters the arts and his need and love of the creative process and collaboration. The conversation turns to Daveed’s mainstream breakout in the smash hit musical Hamilton, how he got the opportunity that changed his life, and the epic jump Daveed executed during a performance at the Tonys, which prompted many friends to check on his physical well-being. They discuss Daveed’s relationship with his best friend and collaborator, Rafael Casal, and how fame has changed things over the years. Daveed loves being the father of a young son and laments the things that pull him away from spending time with his child, as well as the anxiety that comes with being a new father. Donate to Cool Hand Series at coolhandseries.org [http://coolhandseries.org] to support bringing the arts into the prison systems. Chapters: 00:00:00 Daveed Gets His Flowers 00:05:16:00 The Bay Area and The Creative Pursuit 00:11:32 Hamilton and Its Impact 00:23:04 Daveed’s Friendship with Rafa 00:33:03 Being a Dad 00:44:01 Oakland and the Bay Area 01:00:11 Shouting Out Causes Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Part of the Pushkin Network. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.