Politically Re-Active with W. Kamau Bell & Hari Kondabolu

Latest Episodes:

Writing for very smart brothas (including President Obama) Sep 28, 2017

Show notes

Season 2 is almost over! This week Kamau and Hari are joined by Damon Young (Co-founder of VerySmartBrothas.theroot.com) and David Litt (author of "Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years") to discuss the power of the pen. Young explains Pittsburgh culture and headline structure. Litt lets us in on the challenges and triumphs of writing for President Barack Hussein Obama. If you’ve enjoyed the podcast, call in and tell us what YOU'VE learned this season by dialing 646-389-3721. Your voice may appear in next week’s finale episode.

Follow our guests!

Damon Young (@VerySmartBros)

David Litt (https://www.thanksobamabook.com)

Resource:

Hurricane Maria Community Recovery Fund (www.mariafund.org)

Send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks! Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.com and for all Kamau’s projects check out wkamaubell.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Neil deGrasse Tyson brings the universe down to Earth Sep 21, 2017

Show notes

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu to discuss the politics of space exploration, people's fear of artificial intelligence, and even tell some jokes. Tyson is Director of the Hayden Planetarium. In his latest book, “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry,” he breaks down the basics of the Big Bang theory and quantum mechanics, among other essentials we should understand about the universe.

Follow Neil deGrasse Tyson! (@neiltyson) http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/

Send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks! Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.com and for all Kamau’s projects check out wkamaubell.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Speaking with bell hooks & Talking DACA Sep 14, 2017

Show notes

W. Kamau Bell won an Emmy!!! And while he was on the red carpet, Hari was able to interview legendary feminist and author bell hooks about love, labels, and her views on the current administration. Kamau and Hari also gain understanding on DACA from Luis Fernando Macías (assistant professor in Chicano and Latin American Studies at Fresno State) and Elizabeth Perez (the first DREAMer to work for the City of Phoenix).

Follow our guests!

bell hooks (@bellhooks): http://www.bellhooksinstitute.com

Luis Fernando Macías (@macias_lf)

Elizabeth Perez aka Elle ( @EllePerezPerez)

For updates on us, follow Politically Re-Active on Facebook and Twitter (@PoliticReActive). Send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks! Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.comand for all Kamau’s projects check out wkamaubell.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Disaster Capitalism and How To Fight It, with Dr. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Mustafa Santiago Ali Sep 07, 2017

Show notes

Kamau and Hari dive into the impact of structural and environmental racism with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor (professor of African American Studies at Princeton University) and Mustafa Santiago Ali (environmental justice leader with Hip Hop Caucus). Taylor advocates for building a unified movement against racism and economic inequality. Ali explains how disasters such as Hurricane Harvey amplify injustices evident in our society. They both share what can be done about it. Listeners also tell us how they are staying politically active.

Follow our guests!

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor (@KeeangaYamahtta) http://aas.princeton.edu/blog/author/kytaylor/
Mustafa Santiago Ali (@EJinAction) HipHopCaucus.Org

For updates on us, follow Politically Re-Active on Facebook and Twitter (@PoliticReActive). Send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks! Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.com and for all Kamau’s projects check out wkamaubell.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Roy Wood Jr. and Franchesca Ramsey fighting trolls with truth and satire Aug 31, 2017

Show notes

How do social commentary and comedy mix? W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu are joined with guests Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah) and Franchesca Ramsey (MTV’s Decoded) to explore the power of humor in today’s polarizing political era. Roy talks about the new sense of diversity on 'The Daily Show' and dissects a rising style of comedy where comedians get audiences to clap in agreement rather than laugh at jokes. Franchesca describes her balancing act with social media and how she avoids sexist and racist trolls online while maintaining her popular presence and personal life.

Follow our guests!

Roy Wood Jr. (@RoyWoodJr) www.roywoodjr.com

Franchesca Ramsey (@Chescaleigh) www.franchesca.net

For updates on us, follow Politically Re-Active on Facebook and Twitter (@PoliticReActive.) Send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks! Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.com and for all Kamau’s projects check out wkamaubell.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Smashing the Confederacy in the streets and on the screen Aug 24, 2017

Show notes

The ACLU got a lot of heat last week when their neutral free speech stance had them defending the alt right in Charlottesville. We talk to ACLU Senior Staff Attorney Lee Rowland about the organization’s decision to change course and not defend groups that protest with firearms and the effect that will have on their methods going forward. Historian Mark Bray teaches Kamau and Hari how to pronounce Antifa and what the group is all about. And April Reign, a co-creator of trending hashtag #NoConfederate, talks about why the 'Game of Thrones' producers should think twice about creating a TV show where black people are enslaved again.

Follow our guests!

Lee Rowland: https://www.aclu.org/bio/lee-rowland
Mark Bray (@Mark__Bray): https://markmbray.wordpress.com
April Reign (@ReignOfApril): http://www.reignofapril.com

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Bonus! Listeners respond to Charlottesville Aug 19, 2017

Show notes

This week on Politically Re-Active we dedicated a full episode to the events that stirred the nation last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. We asked our listeners to call in and share their thoughts. And they sure did show up! We received more than 50 powerful messages centering on love, education, and perseverance. Thank you for inspiring us.

For updates on us, follow Politically Re-Active on Facebook (@politicallyreactive) and Twitter (@PoliticReActive.) Send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks! Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.com and for all Kamau’s projects check out wkamaubell.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Charlottesville: Why did this happen and how do we move forward? Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

Kamau and Hari dive deep into the events that stirred the nation this past weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. One of the largest white supremacist demonstrations in recent US history led to the death of anti-racist protester Heather Heyer and injured many others. Journalist/activist Spencer Sunshine explains the historical background of white supremacy groups in America and how they organize themselves today. We also hear from Media Matters senior fellow Matthew Gertz, community organizer Rosa Clemente, Pastor Michael McBride, and OUR LISTENERS. They all share how they’re processing this moment and taking action.

Follow our guests:

Spencer Sunshine (@transform6789) https://spencersunshine.com/publications/
Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) https://www.mediamatters.org/authors/matt-gertz/51
Rosa Clemente (@rosaclemente) http://rosaclemente.net
Pastor Michael McBride (@pastormykmac) http://www.livefreeusa.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Is this what democracy looks like? Jake Tapper & Jessica Byrd give their take Aug 10, 2017

Show notes

This week, Kamau and Hari cope with possible nuclear threat, learn how Jessica Byrd helps underrepresented communities engage in the political process, and “bravely” release the interview with Jake Tapper. How has the Trump administration affected Tapper’s reporting style? Why hasn’t Byrd given up all hope on the Democratic party? ALL OF THIS IS ANSWERED HERE.

Find Jessica Byrd on Twitter at @JessicaLBYRD and at http://threepointstrategies.org
Follow Jake Tapper on Twitter at @jaketapper and on CNN as host of 'The Lead’ (4pm ET) and ‘State of the Union’ (9am and 12pm ET)
For updates about us, follow Politically Re-Active on Facebook and Twitter (@PoliticReActive) and send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks! Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.com and for all Kamau’s projects check out wkamaubell.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Lewis Black, legendary political comedian is so angry, he won’t even talk about ‘you know who’. Now THAT’S angry! Aug 03, 2017

Show notes

This week’s Politically Re-Active finds our hosts meeting up with legendary political comedian Lewis Black, and getting some important questions answered. How did he become “The King of Rant”? What’s making him rant right now? From his early days yelling at walls, to his current “fan rant” driven tour, Black let’s us in on his creative process.

Black has been making regular appearances on The Daily Show since the show began over two decades ago, and he weighs in with a unique perspective on each host.

Of course, with three political comedians in the kitchen, the conversation simmers around the many recent blunders from the current administration, and one lost opportunity for Mario Cantone. The icing on this conversational cake? Lewis Black is a socialist. This episode has lots to unpack, but again, we not only have two, but three political comedians to doing the unpacking.

If you’re feeling the love (or even if you’re angry) then catch Lewis on his fall Rant, White and Blue tour. Grab your tickets at www.lewisblack.com. You can also follow Lewis on Twitter at @TheLewisBlack

And don’t forget we have new t-shirts! Visit podswag.com/pr or podswag.com/politicallyreactive. Both work! To get the latest updates on us follow us on Facebook at Politically Re-Active and Twitter @PoliticReActive and send us your comments using the #politicallyreactive. Thanks!

Check out Hari’s tour dates and albums at Harikondabolu.com and for all Kamau’s project check out wkamaubell.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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