The Brilliant Idiots

On this episode of the Brilliant Idiots, Charlamagne tha God and Andrew Schulz sit down with Cenk Uygur, founder of The Young Turks, for a raw and unfiltered convo that covers everything from religion to radical politics, Trump to mental health, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to media trust. Cenk opens up about his personal journey from religion to atheism, questions the role of obedience in politics and media, and breaks down how mainstream narratives often miss the mark. The crew dives into what it really means to be “far left,” how moderates get radicalized, and why it’s so hard to denounce violence without backlash. They also unpack the never-ending cycle of conflict in the Middle East, especially the Israeli-Palestinian struggle—talking geopolitics, religion, forgiveness, and whether peace is even possible. It doesn’t stop there. They chop it up about civil rights, non-violent activism, mental health in politics, Trump’s business mindset, Elon Musk’s power plays, and the messy reality of American leadership. Oh—and Cenk teases his upcoming book too. ************************************ Sponsor Brilliant Idiots: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots [https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots] Uncommon Favor - Dawn Staley Order - https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3 [https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3] No Holes Barred -Mandi B & Weezy WTF https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB [https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB] Get Honest or Die Lying Why Small Talk Sucks By Charlamagne Tha God https://a.co/d/gpFlOol [https://a.co/d/gpFlOol] Check out Andrew Schulz www.theandrewschulz.com [https://cms.megaphone.fm/organizations/ae462a40-7f17-11ef-9987-67016684ddb3/podcasts/291050fc-8012-11ef-957a-d7adfaeff93d/episodes/7882d588-a781-11ef-9a94-e3833f965363/www.theandrewschulz.com] Check out all the podcast on Charlamagne's "Black Effect Network" https://blackeffect.com [https://blackeffect.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In this episode, we dive into everything from emotional baby showers and cultural traditions to NBA playoffs and rising stars like Tyrese Haliburton. We reflect on deep conversations with ChatGPT, the meaning of Pride Month, and Candace Parker’s journey to love. There’s also a real talk on young love, prom culture, and the public fallout of celebrity breakups—especially Cardi B and Offset. We touch on media accountability, the power of education programs like Job Corps, and how internet creators are navigating fame in a changing content landscape. Authentic, funny, and wide-ranging—this one covers it all. ************************************ Sponsor Brilliant Idiots: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots [https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots] Uncommon Favor - Dawn Staley Order - https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3 [https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3] No Holes Barred -Mandi B & Weezy WTF https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB [https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB] Get Honest or Die Lying Why Small Talk Sucks By Charlamagne Tha God https://a.co/d/gpFlOol [https://a.co/d/gpFlOol] Check out Andrew Schulz www.theandrewschulz.com [https://cms.megaphone.fm/organizations/ae462a40-7f17-11ef-9987-67016684ddb3/podcasts/291050fc-8012-11ef-957a-d7adfaeff93d/episodes/7882d588-a781-11ef-9a94-e3833f965363/www.theandrewschulz.com] Check out all the podcast on Charlamagne's "Black Effect Network" https://blackeffect.com [https://blackeffect.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In this weeks episode of Brilliant Idiots, Charlamagne The God and Andrew Schulz are all over the map—in the best way. We kick things off with a real talk about parenting and how society shapes the way we raise kids. Then we dive into the New York Knicks—what’s working, what’s not, and how coaching decisions are shaping the team. We also take a hard look at how off-court behavior affects an athlete’s image and the media’s role in all that. From there, we get into the bigger picture—how the NBA and NFL handle ethics (or don’t), and how winning sometimes comes at the cost of doing the right thing. Of course, we had to talk about LeBron James: his legacy, his future, and how he’s changed the game. We also give a big shoutout to Dawn Staley and her recent book success—major props there. Then it gets a little more serious as we break down the current political landscape: Biden’s presidency, the state of the Democratic Party, media accountability, and the real challenges of leading in a divided America. We talk trust, identity politics, and how politicians often use distraction instead of real solutions. And yeah—we’re not afraid to get into the tough stuff. From generational changes in how we talk about substance use, to the role of comedy in politics, and why honesty and courage matter more than ever in leadership. ************************************ Sponsor Brilliant Idiots: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots [https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots] Uncommon Favor - Dawn Staley Order - https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3 [https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3] No Holes Barred -Mandi B & Weezy WTF https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB [https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB] Get Honest or Die Lying Why Small Talk Sucks By Charlamagne Tha God https://a.co/d/gpFlOol [https://a.co/d/gpFlOol] Check out Andrew Schulz www.theandrewschulz.com [https://cms.megaphone.fm/organizations/ae462a40-7f17-11ef-9987-67016684ddb3/podcasts/291050fc-8012-11ef-957a-d7adfaeff93d/episodes/7882d588-a781-11ef-9a94-e3833f965363/www.theandrewschulz.com] Check out all the podcast on Charlamagne's "Black Effect Network" https://blackeffect.com [https://blackeffect.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

This week on the Brilliant Idiots Podcast, Charlamagne and Schulz recap their weekends, including Mel Robbins’ live show, and dive into everything from self-help culture and live podcasting to parenting struggles and the truth about making money in media. They get into the Diddy allegations, emotional abuse, and conspiracy talk around the Boule (aka the Black Illuminati), then pivot to sports—debating the face of the NBA, the Knicks, and the legacy of stars like Steph and MJ. Things wrap with a deep convo on politics, corruption, the housing crisis, and why so many people feel let down by the system. Real talk, wild takes, and plenty of laughs—don’t miss it. ************************************ Sponsor Brilliant Idiots: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots [https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots] Uncommon Favor - Dawn Staley Pre Order - https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3 [https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3] No Holes Barred -Mandi B & Weezy WTF https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB [https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB] The Wind on Her Tongue - Anita Kopacz https://a.co/d/fWDancH [https://a.co/d/fWDancH] I Lived to Tell the Story: A Memoir of Love, Legacy, and Resilience - Tamika D. Mallory https://a.co/d/7DoCtWX [https://a.co/d/7DoCtWX] Get Honest or Die Lying Why Small Talk Sucks By Charlamagne Tha God https://a.co/d/gpFlOol [https://a.co/d/gpFlOol] Check out Andrew Schulz www.theandrewschulz.com [https://cms.megaphone.fm/organizations/ae462a40-7f17-11ef-9987-67016684ddb3/podcasts/291050fc-8012-11ef-957a-d7adfaeff93d/episodes/7882d588-a781-11ef-9a94-e3833f965363/www.theandrewschulz.com] Check out all the podcast on Charlamagne's "Black Effect Network" https://blackeffect.com [https://blackeffect.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In this episode of Brilliant Idiots, Charlamagne The God and Andrew Schulz go all in on the wild court case surrounding Diddy and the explosive allegations made by Cassie. We unpack the twists and turns of trafficking laws, what consent really means, and how celebrity culture both fuels and complicates these stories.  From real talk on sharing trauma online, to celebrating Black love and Black-owned businesses, we cover it all. We also dive into how porn shapes society, the tough truths about healing after trauma, and why the Marvel Cinematic Universe might just be falling off. Then things get political: we question the shady moves of elected officials, the impact of presidential decisions on the Constitution, immigration drama, and how foreign money is creeping into U.S. education. We’re calling out bribery, fake unity, and the ridiculous theater that is American politics. It’s raw, it's real, it's ridiculous—and you're not gonna want to miss it. ************************************ Sponsor Brilliant Idiots: https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots [https://public.liveread.io/media-kit/brilliant-idiots] Uncommon Favor - Dawn Staley Pre Order - https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3 [https://a.co/d/4pLD1C3] No Holes Barred -Mandi B & Weezy WTF https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB [https://a.co/d/cGFDUoB] The Wind on Her Tongue - Anita Kopacz https://a.co/d/fWDancH [https://a.co/d/fWDancH] I Lived to Tell the Story: A Memoir of Love, Legacy, and Resilience - Tamika D. Mallory https://a.co/d/7DoCtWX [https://a.co/d/7DoCtWX] Get Honest or Die Lying Why Small Talk Sucks By Charlamagne Tha God https://a.co/d/gpFlOol [https://a.co/d/gpFlOol] Check out Andrew Schulz www.theandrewschulz.com [https://cms.megaphone.fm/organizations/ae462a40-7f17-11ef-9987-67016684ddb3/podcasts/291050fc-8012-11ef-957a-d7adfaeff93d/episodes/7882d588-a781-11ef-9a94-e3833f965363/www.theandrewschulz.com] Check out all the podcast on Charlamagne's "Black Effect Network" https://blackeffect.com [https://blackeffect.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]