"Tavis Smiley" is the flagship program for KBLA, America's newest progressive radio network and LA's first Black-owned talk station. Broadcast live across southern California on 1580AM and around the world on KBLA1580.com and TuneIn, this podcast presents the best of Tavis Smiley's conversations with activists, influencers, thought leaders, and cultural vanguards.
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Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Shundra Harris joins Tavis Smiley
Shundra Harris, the Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors for the American Society of Interior Designers and owner of Shundra Harris Interiors, shares her story about her
Oct 20 11 min
Sports Marketing Executive Howard "H" White joins Tavis Smiley
Sports Marketing Executive Howard "H" White at Nike, Inc., author and patient advocate Howard “H” White shares his journey of living with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, an of
Oct 20 20 min
Jonathan Nez joins Tavis Smiley
Former President of the Navajo Nation and Democratic congressional candidate for Arizona, Jonathan Nez discusses his historic campaign to flip the state’s second congress
Oct 20 15 min
Philip Hackney joins Tavis Smiley
Former IRS attorney, professor and faculty editor of the Pittsburgh Tax Review, Philip Hackney discusses how revoking tax-exempt status for private colleges with DEI poli
Oct 20 20 min
Marcus Anthony Hunter joins Tavis Smiley
Professor, founding chair of the Department of African American Studies at UCLA and author of Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation, Marcus Anthony Hunter off
Oct 20 35 min
REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE STEVE HILTON joins Tavis Smiley
Republican Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton responds to his Democratic rival, Xavier Becerra, dismissing him about his immigrant story, while giving a quick update ab
Oct 19 10 min
Kevin Waite joins Tavis Smiley
Distinguished professor of history at the University of Texas at Dallas and award-winning author Kevin Waite joins Tavis in-studio to discuss his new book, The Boundless
Oct 19 27 min
Kristen Clarke joins Tavis Smiley
NAACP General Counsel Kristen Clarke discusses the organization’s lawsuit to block the Department of Justice from deploying federal prosecutors to polling sites across th
Oct 19 16 min
Dr. Cornel West joins Tavis Smiley
Scholar, distinguished professor, author, leading public intellectual and special contributor Dr. Cornel West shares his thoughts on politics, social justice, history and
Oct 19 20 min
Adrienne Adams joins Tavis Smiley
New York lieutenant governor Democratic candidate and former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams discusses being part of the first women-led ticket in the 2026 e
Oct 19 21 min
Michael K. Fauntroy joins Tavis Smiley
Associate Professor and Founding Director of The Race, Politics, and Policy Center at George Mason University, Michael K. Fauntroy offers his analysis of trending politic
Oct 19 20 min
Eriq La Salle joins Tavis Smiley
Award-winning actor, director, producer and author Eriq La Salle talks about his career and his latest gripping crime thriller, Laws of Solomon, the fourth installment in
Oct 16 14 min
Sec. Xavier Becerra joins Tavis Smiley
California Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra joins Tavis in-studio for a special conversation about
Oct 16 22 min
Harry Waters Jr., aka Marvin Berry joins Tavis Smiley
Harry Waters Jr., known for playing Marvin Berry, celebrates the 100th birthday of his fictional cousin Chuck and previews Back to the Future Day next week.
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Oct 16 5 min
Taylor Hackford joins Tavis Smiley
Famed director Taylor Hackford celebrates Chuck Berry’s 100th birthday and reflects on the making of his 1987 documentary, Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll.
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Oct 16 30 min
Shermichael Singleton joins Tavis Smiley
Shermichael Singleton, conservative CNN contributor and co-founder of the We The Free TV streaming network, shares his thoughts on President Trump’s alleged weaponization
Oct 16 37 min
Atonn Muhammad joins Tavis Smiley
CEO and Chairman of the Real Hip-Hop Network, Atonn Muhammad, discusses the comeback of broadcast media and digital platforms and why the culture needs them now more than
Oct 14 15 min
Mark Bednar joins Tavis Smiley
GOP strategist and former communications director for Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Mark Bednar, shares his thoughts on whether President Trump and Republicans can stay in powe
Oct 14 18 min
Dr. Funmi Olopade joins Tavis Smiley
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Dr. Funmi Olopade, Director of Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health at the University of Chicago Medicine, updates us
Oct 14 18 min
Joe Cruz joins Tavis Smiley
Joe Cruz, chair of the Philosophy Department and the Program on Cognitive Science at Williams College, sets the record straight on why he believes writing isn’t as import
Oct 14 20 min
Chart trend
Position in the News Commentary chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#101#200JulAugSepOct
#138
all-time peak
211
days in the top 200 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Tavis Smiley ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 21, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Hello Tavis and all his listeners,
I remember fondly Tavis from his PBS days and was one of many who has missed him beyond measure ever since. I didn’t know about this podcast or else I would’ve written this a long time ago. I always enjoyed his interview style and his energy, so I am thrilled to know he’s got a podcast! I already KNOW that his previous episodes I have yet to listen to are EXCELLENT, as I spent YEARS watching this man every single weekday listening and watching him in action. I am incredibly thrilled to know that I can once again enjoy his presence (watching or not) and his precision interviewing acumen tackle important issues. In this era of a trump 2.0 regime, we need important, experienced voices that can have relevant conversations that can pack a punch. Tavis delivers. Consistently.
Sagely Warrior ML · Jan 2025
Tavis Smiley is a great way to hear what the networks aren’t telling you. I used to listen to Ezra Klein; then I learned about Tavis when he interviewed my seminary’s president. Now Tavis has my ear. He does his work with dignity for all and an appreciation of the worth of each person, just because they are human. I can’t put it like Tavis does, but he does it superbly. Not that Ezra Klein doesn’t do that too, but I find Tavis’s perspective and his guests more helpful.
nick from nepal · Aug 2024
I’m so glad to be able to listen to Tavis’s insights and words of wisdom again through the podcasts. Tavis speaks with honesty and provokes thinking on political and cultural issues at a much deeper level.
His discussion on the LA City Council’s racist behavior is the only commentator who is not afraid to face the issue head on.
MuggsyDog · Oct 2022
I am so happy to have found Brother Smiley back in front of the mic, with the most relevent content; and right where he belongs. I'd been an advid listener of his PBS broadcast and so, so, disappointed in his swift departer from that platform. Will stay turned to KBLA Talk 1580...Welcome back TS!!
wjohnjr · Jul 2022
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Tavis Smiley, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
