Eriq La Salle: From Coming to America and ER to Novelist and Master Storyteller

Hollywood Laughed in His Face and Told Him to Stay in His Lane

Big thanks to our partner, Dose. Try Dose today and get 35% off with code CARLOS. https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS ______ "They told me to my face: you can't play straight people." And then he played a heterosexual plantation owner in one of the most talked-about films of the decade. In this episode I sit down with actor and comedian Jason Stuart, who grew up in Los Angeles surrounded by the business, knew he was an actor before he was anything else, and spent years being told to stay in his lane. We get into his Jewish identity and what it meant to him to watch Barbra Streisand refuse to hide who she was, the weight he carries as the son of a Holocaust survivor like the man in "The Pianist," and how comedy became his way through it all, from a kid doing Lucille Ball impressions in a play to the Star Search stage. Jason opens up about the decision that changed everything: coming out as gay publicly in 1993 on Geraldo, in an episode called "Unconventional Comedians," what it cost him in an industry that wasn't ready, and the relentless work ethic his father taught him that kept him going when the doors stayed shut. We talk about the role that rewrote his career, playing a white heterosexual plantation owner in Nate Parker's "The Birth of a Nation," the meeting in a Savannah parking lot that he'll never forget, and how that experience moved him so deeply it inspired his own film, "Redlining," a story about generational wealth, segregation, and the communities America walled off from one another. This one is funny, it's raw, and it goes places I genuinely didn't expect. Thanks for being here, I think you're going to love him as much as I did. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations. Join the community: Shop Dose: https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS (code CARLOS for 35% off) Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast X: https://x.com/carlospodcast 00:00 The Wild Cold Open 00:54 Jason on Ann Coulter & Rage-Baiting 02:16 "I'm an Actor First": Streisand & Identity 03:06 Son of a Holocaust Survivor 04:06 Comedy Origins: Lucille Ball & a Parks Play 04:51 The Best Actors of All Time 05:35 Sponsor Break: Health Supplement 06:29 Growing Up in Hollywood's Fairfax District 07:33 Star Search & "You Can't Play Straight People" 08:11 Coming Out on Geraldo in 1993 09:50 The "Birth of a Nation" Breakthrough 13:27 Becoming a Plantation Owner On Screen 14:18 "Redlining": Generational Wealth & Segregation 16:49 Closing Reflections & Redlining's Festival Run

America Is More Divided Than Ever. This Pastor Knows How to Fix It. | Pastor Hurmon Hamilton

Big thanks to our partner, Dose. Give Dose a try today and get 35% off when you use code CARLOS. https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS America feels like it's coming apart, and my guest today refuses to believe that's the end of the story. In this episode I sit down with Pastor Hurmon Hamilton, who has spent his life doing something most of us have stopped believing is possible: building real relationships across our deepest divides, race, money, politics, belief. Not by winning arguments, but by listening to people's stories until he finds the thing they actually share. His thesis is simple and it stuck with me long after we stopped recording: "I'm not in it for me. I'm in it for we." Hurmon opens up about where that conviction was forged, surviving severe chemical burns as a kid, growing up as the "disfigured" one at school, and the unexpected people who refused to give up on him. We talk about how he came to lead communities that were radically diverse across every line that usually divides us, and how interfaith organizing in Boston actually helped win universal healthcare, proof that empathy can change outcomes, not just hearts. It's the same conviction behind his book, "America's Last Best Hope: Building Bridges Across Differences The Jesus Way," that we can disagree and still love one another. He doesn't dodge the hard parts either. We get into how he nearly sabotaged his own marriage, the hidden pain so many leaders carry in silence, and the simple practices that keep him grounded when the weight gets heavy. This one isn't a sermon. It's an invitation. Thanks for being here, I think you're going to feel this one. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations. Join the community: Shop Dose: https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS (code CARLOS for 35% off) Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast X: https://x.com/carlospodcast [https://x.com/carlospodcast] 00:00 Inside America's Most Radically Diverse Church 01:00 Three Breath Prayers That Can Change Your Life 01:38 How to Heal Fractured Families & Broken Relationships 03:05 The Miracle of Diversity Across Race, Money & Politics 04:13 Surviving Childhood Trauma: The Scars That Shaped Him 06:24 The Conversion Moment That Opened Every Door 08:48 From Honor Student to Community Organizer 11:24 Building Bridges the Jesus Way: His Book & His Mission 14:44 How He Almost Lost His Marriage 17:49 Who Hurmon Hamilton Is Beyond the Pulpit 20:15 The Hidden Pain Pastors Carry in Silence

Jack Barsky, KGB Spy Who Lived Undetected In The US For 20 Years

Big thanks to our partner, Dose. Give Dose a try today and get 35% off when you use code CARLOS. https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS What does it take to disappear into another country so completely that even your closest friends have no idea who you really are? In this episode, I sit down with former undercover KGB agent Jack Barsky, a man who spent nearly 20 years living in the United States under a false identity. Jack tells me how he taught himself to "be American," not through a manual, but by watching, listening, adapting, and learning the rhythms of everyday life. He talks about the early fear of being discovered, the social situations he avoided, and the moments when luck may have been the only thing standing between him and capture, including one unforgettable passport scare. We also get into the darker side of Cold War espionage, from KGB capture instructions to prisoner exchanges, kompromat tactics, and the brutal logic of "dirty intelligence," where morality often gets pushed out of the room. Jack breaks down why he believes the KGB was unmatched in reach and power, and how some of its biggest Cold War wins came not from glamorous spycraft, but from insiders like Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. He explains the classic MICE framework, money, ideology, coercion, and ego, while adding one more powerful motivator: love. Then there's the moment everything changed. Jack walks me through how smuggled archive notes helped identify him, how the FBI began watching him, and why he ultimately chose to cooperate, a decision that changed the course of his life and led him toward legal status in America. We also talk about sleeper agents, undercover operatives, why American culture had such a powerful pull, how AI could reshape intelligence work through artificial personas, and why Jack's favourite spy movie is still Spies Like Us. This is a conversation about identity, survival, loyalty, reinvention, and what happens when the life you built on a lie becomes the life you cannot easily walk away from. __________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations. Join the community: Shop Dose: https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS [https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS] (code CARLOS for 35% off) Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast] Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch [https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch] IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast] FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast] X: https://x.com/carlospodcast [https://x.com/carlospodcast] 00:00 Former KGB Spy Lived Undetected in America for 20 Years 01:39 How Jack Barsky Learned to Pass as American 03:34 The Passport Office Mistake That Nearly Exposed Him 06:01 What Would Happen If the FBI Caught a KGB Agent 07:29 How Cold War Prisoner Swaps Really Worked 08:59 Dirty Intelligence, Kompromat, and Spy Tactics Explained 10:20 Why Jack Barsky Says the KGB Was So Powerful 11:04 Sponsor Break - Dose 11:58 Aldrich Ames, Robert Hanssen, and the MICE Spy Motives 14:40 Why Love Made Jack Barsky Walk Away From the KGB 16:20 How the Mitrokhin Archive Helped Expose KGB Agents 18:57 Jack Barsky's FBI Approach, Cooperation, and Debrief 22:02 Sponsor Skit Break - Dose 24:08 From Communist Spy to American Tech Executive 26:49 Are Chinese Sleeper Agents Operating Today? 29:25 How AI Could Change Espionage and Spycraft 32:08 Jack Barsky's Favourite Spy Movies and Final Thoughts

Eriq La Salle: From Coming to America and ER to Novelist and Master Storyteller

Big thanks to our partner, Dose. Give Dose a try today and get 35% off when you use code CARLOS. https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS Ever wonder what it takes to go from growing up in a tough neighborhood to starring in one of Hollywood's most iconic films? Eriq La Salle's story is one of grit, perseverance, and overcoming rejection—again and again. In this interview, he takes us through his journey, from a childhood in Hartford, raised by a single mother, to auditioning for Juilliard with no roadmap. Eriq reveals how he fought through constant setbacks in Hollywood, why he believes "writing is fighting," and how his persistence led him to become a published author after countless rejections. Now publishing under Sourcebooks alongside bestselling author Freida McFadden, he's gearing up for the release of the fourth installment in his Martyr Maker series, Laws of Solomon, on September 8th — with a fifth set to close it all out. In this candid conversation, Eriq also shares unforgettable moments from Coming to America and ER, including a funny memory from filming ER in Spain. He opens up about the challenges of fame, comparing it to a "200-pound St. Bernard" that has to be trained, and reflects on the deeper meaning of love, success, and the mistakes he's learned from along the way. This episode is packed with wisdom, motivation, and the resilience to keep fighting for your dreams—no matter the obstacles in your path. __________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations. Join the community: Shop Dose: https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS [https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS] (code CARLOS for 35% off) Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast] Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch [https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch] IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast] FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast] X: https://x.com/carlospodcast [https://x.com/carlospodcast] 00:00 Overcoming Rejection: Eriq La Salle's Writing Journey 01:08 Growing Up in Hartford: The Importance of Hard Work and Discipline 03:08 Mentor Guidance: Eriq's Path to Juilliard 05:31 From Talent to Discipline: The Secret to Eriq's Success 07:17 Coming to America Breakthrough: Landing the Iconic Role 09:15 Sponsor: Dose, The Health Supplement for Better Living 10:09 Eriq La Salle's Journey to Becoming a Novelist 12:59 Book Series and Influences: How Eriq La Salle Found His Voice 13:36 The Craft of Writing: One Sentence at a Time 14:40 Being a Black Man in 2026: Eriq La Salle's Perspective 15:38 Rapid Fire Favorites: Eriq's Quick Responses 16:18 Behind the Scenes of ER in Spain: A Memorable Experience 17:27 Love, Fame, and Patience: Eriq La Salle's Life Lessons 19:48 Journey Over Destination: The Power of Perseverance

Malcolm Gladwell Gets Cheeky: Trump, AI, Epstein, Cadillac & Steph Curry

Big thanks to our partner, Dose. Use the code CARLOS for 35% off your next purchase. https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS What if the biggest conversations we're having right now… are missing the point? There is a reason I sat down with Malcolm Gladwell—author of Blink and The Tipping Point—for the seventh time. He is one of the most influential thinkers of our time and this conversation goes places most people aren't ready for. We talk about AI, but not the way you've heard it before. Malcolm argues the real revolution may not be happening in Silicon Valley at all—but in parts of the world most people overlook. If he's right, everything we think about the future of power, access, and opportunity could change. Then we go deeper. We unpack the political cycles that gave us Obama… and then Trump. We talk about whether America still works the way it used to—and who it actually works for now. And Malcolm doesn't hold back on housing. A champion of new urbanism, he calls zoning something most people don't have the courage to say out loud—and explains why owning a home feels further out of reach than ever. But this isn't just about systems. It's about what it means to make sense of a world that's shifting faster than we can process. This one will challenge how you see everything. (Plus why Steph Curry belongs in the top five greatest basketball players of all time.) ___________ At its core, The CARLOS Podcast is about resilience, fearlessness, and real truths we're not supposed to say out loud. If we've made you pause, rethink, or feel a little more connected, become part of what we're building. Here's what you can do: 👉 Join our membership community for early access, bonus episodes, and extra moments. 👉 Grab something from the online shop to represent the community wherever you are. 👉 If you're already a member, thank you, share this post with one person who loves real conversations. Join the community: Shop Dose: https://dosedaily.co/CARLOS (code CARLOS for 35% off) Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheCarlosPodcast Shop: https://thecarlospodcast.com/collections/the-carlos-podcast-merch IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarlospodcast/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlospodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecarlospodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarlospodcast X: https://x.com/carlospodcast