Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell
Kamau Bell is known for embracing uncomfortable conversations that acknowledge differences, confront embarrassment, and change people’s…
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About Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell
Kamau Bell is known for embracing uncomfortable conversations that acknowledge differences, confront embarrassment, and change people’s perspectives. Throughout his career, Kamau has talked with everyone from KKK members to Oprah Winfrey to strangers on the streets. Each time, Kamau fills these…
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Episodes
New episodes usually drop on Wednesdays.26 episodes- Oct 28, 2026 · 1 hr 40 min
Joy Reid and Angie Nixon on Politics, Media, and Black Womanhood
Kamau opens his interview with Joy Reid by praising how well she’s done since moving on from corporate journalism, building out her own independent show, merchandise line, and even anti-Trump gear. Reid shares that she was actually let go from MSNBC on her day off, attributing the decision to friction over her coverage of Donald Trump and Israel-Palestine, which made it harder for the network to normalize a…
- Oct 21, 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Megan Rapinoe on Showing Up for Human Rights
W. Kamau Bell welcomes soccer legend Megan Rapinoe for a wide-ranging conversation reflecting on her storied career, personal growth, and ongoing activism. The discussion begins with Rapinoe explaining her characteristic approach to taking action first and navigating consequences later, noting that having "the right kind of people not in my corner and the right kind of people in my corner" validates her choices.…
- Oct 14, 2026 · 1 hr 19 min
Colin Kaepernick on Never Backing Down
This week’s episode with Colin Kaepernick was recorded live at Marcus Books in Oakland, California. Kamau opens by thanking Kaepernick for his book, The Perilous Fight, which reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. The conversation turns to Kaepernick's 2016 protest. Kamau reads Kaepernick's famous quote about refusing to stand for the flag of a country that oppresses Black people. Kaepernick…
- Oct 7, 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Rafael Casal on Building Something Real
The podcast opens with Kamau giving Rafael his flowers. Rafael, who has lived in LA for seven years, insists he still identifies Berkeley and Oakland as home, describing his time in LA as an extended work trip. The conversation moves into Rafael's background in the Bay Area youth poetry scene, where he competed in the National Poetry Slam and earned a reputation. Around season three of Def Poetry Jam,…
- Oct 2, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Kids can’t read anymore. Does it matter? | From No Such Thing
We’re sharing an episode of No Such Thing, a show where Manny Fidel, Devan Joseph and Noah Freidman—three best friends and journalists—argue about stuff, like friends do, but instead of just yelling at each other on the internet, they actually go find out the answer In this episode, they dive into the reading crisis in America. They speak with children’s author Jason Reynolds, professor Paul…
Earlier episodes (21)
- Sep 30, 2026 Don Lemon on Holding Power AccountableThe interview starts with Kamau giving Don Lemon his flowers. The two reflect on their shared history at CNN, with Bell recalling that Lemon consistently welcomed and supported newer talent at the network. Lemon pushes back on claims made after his departure that he was difficult to work with. The conversation shifts to Lemon's post-CNN career and his commitment to field reporting. Lemon explains that he has always…
- Sep 23, 2026 Bao Nguyen on Making Every Frame MatterThe interview opens with Kamau giving flowers to fellow documentary filmmaker Bao Nguyen and praising the breadth and quality of his work. Kamau recounts first meeting Bao through the Bruce Lee documentary "Be Water," then being surprised by the announcement of "The Greatest Night in Pop", which he attended with Tom Morello. Kamau was also excited and a bit jealous upon learning Bao was making a Jimi Hendrix…
- Sep 16, 2026 Guy Branum on Being UnapologeticKamau kicks off the episode by reconnecting with comedian and writer Guy Branum, noting they haven't seen each other in person in a while but keep up via social media. Kamau gives Branum his flowers and recalls their time working together on Totally Biased. Kamau praises Branum for refusing to be sidelined in the entertainment industry despite having a law degree and facing industry bias against gay and larger…
- Sep 9, 2026 Ken Jennings on Carrying the Jeopardy! LegacyThe interview opens with Kamau welcoming Ken Jennings and reflecting on how they first met at a Seattle Bumbershoot festival through comedian Doug Benson's podcast. They bond over the classic era of Twitter, agreeing that their generation of Gen Xers had one social media platform they tolerated before it deteriorated. Kamau shares his admiration for Jennings as a Jeopardy! host, recalling how smooth and natural…
- Sep 2, 2026 Mo Willems on The Necessity of ArtThe interview opens with W. Kamau Bell welcoming Mo Willems (and later his wife Cher) to the podcast. Kamau explains that he has never fallen out of love with children's books, even as an adult. The conversation quickly moves into a rich discussion about the nature of picture books. Willems describes them as songs rather than novels, meant to be experienced repeatedly, and argues that the reader supplies 51% of the…
- Aug 26, 2026 Shannon Lee on Legacy and WrathKamau’s interview with Shannon Lee opens with a discussion about her role as steward of her father Bruce Lee’s legacy, which she frames as “stewarding” and “nurturing” rather than “parenting” his legacy, focusing on protecting its energy and helping people understand it beyond kicks and punches. She emphasizes Bruce’s philosophy of self-actualization and his…
- Aug 19, 2026 Sara Sidner on Protecting Your HumanityW. Kamau Bell opens the interview with Sara Sidner by giving her flowers and praising her long record of reporting from conflict zones. Sidner explains her attraction to covering conflict despite disliking it, seeing it as a way to witness honesty and possibly help resolution, a dynamic she connects to her family background. She describes being mixed race, the “quintessential person to hate” for white…
- Aug 12, 2026 Margaret Cho on Choosing to MatterKamau chats with comedy legend Margaret Cho about her evolution from prodigy stand-up to comedy elder, activist, and craft‑obsessed lifer. They bond over their shared San Francisco roots and how he sees her as a “comedy mother.” Cho embraces that role, saying she loves taking ownership when younger comics build on what she did and “make it better.” They dig into her landmark solo show…
- Aug 5, 2026 Open Mike Eagle on Life Beyond the MainstreamThe interview opens, as always, with Kamau giving Open Mike Eagle his flowers. Open Mike Eagle is someone Kamau feels a lot of kinship with, both men being somewhat outsiders in their given crafts. After, they shift to recalling how they met during the production of Kamau’s TV show Totally Biased, and the chaotic period when the show expanded to five nights a week. Both describe their shared “over…
- Jul 29, 2026 Maria Bamford on Making Your Own RulesKamau chats with alternative comedy legend Maria Bamford, praising her artistry and creative fearlessness, recounting how fellow comedians have long considered her a genius. They bond over difficult, irritable fathers teaching practical skills like changing tires, and how the “vibe” made learning impossible. Maria and Kamau discuss their sometimes complicated love of standup: both cherish the…
- Jul 22, 2026 Leslie Jones on Knowing Your WorthKamau sits down with Leslie Jones for a raw, funny, and fiercely honest journey through becoming one of Saturday Night Live’s most unforgettable forces, and why she ultimately had to walk away. She explains the emotional grind of SNL, and the insane internet reaction to the announcement of an all-female Ghostbusters. Jones traces how Chris Rock helped propel her toward Saturday Night Live, including the…
- Jul 15, 2026 Eddie Huang on The Cost of Personal TruthKamau 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…
- Jul 8, 2026 Misty Copeland on Reinventing Ballet and HerselfKamau 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…
- Jul 1, 2026 Robert Reich on The Fight for a Fair AmericaW. 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…
- Jun 24, 2026 Nava Mau on the Visibility and Vulnerability of the Trans CommunityW. 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…
- Jun 17, 2026 Daveed Diggs on Creating with Energy Up, Expectations DownW. 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…
- Jun 10, 2026 Kristen Kish on Uplifting Community By Being YourselfKamau sits down with chef-turned-host Kristen Kish to talk about her stepping up as host of Top Chef after the departure of Padma Lakshmi, being kind, outrage over Netflix's Roast of Kevin Hart, and being a transracial adoptee. Kamau starts by giving Kristen her flowers for being a true natural on camera and the shoes she had to fill as a relative newcomer to television. They talk about the surprisingly big…
- Jun 3, 2026 Ted Danson on Comedy with a ConscienceKamau Bell and Ted Danson discuss Ted’s long, storied career, starting with his breakout role as Sam Malone in the legendary sitcom Cheers. They discuss activism, Jane Fonda, Ted’s podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, and dive deep on the 1993 Friars Club Roast of Whoopi Goldberg. Kamau opens by praising Cheers, a show that was a huge comedic influence on him. They talk about how Ted’s…
- May 27, 2026 Congresswoman Lateefah Simon on Doing the WorkW. Kamau Bell sits down with Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, a lifelong organizer and public servant representing California’s 12th District, which includes Oakland, Berkeley, and several neighboring cities. Lateefah traces her journey from growing up in the Bay Area and organizing as a teenager working with young women on the streets, and eventually winning a seat in Congress without ever abandoning the…
- May 27, 2026 Delroy Lindo on The Continuum of Black CreativityKamau Bell and Delroy Lindo discuss themes of clarity, grace, Black artistic lineage, community, parenting, and place (especially Oakland), framed by Lindo’s long career and his recent awards campaign for the film Sinners. Kamau opens by “giving flowers,” describing Lindo’s career through the words “clarity” and “grace.” Lindo accepts these as fitting, explaining…
- May 20, 2026 Who's With Me? with W. Kamau Bell | TrailerMale comedian-led podcasts need a savior, and W. Kamau Bell is the man for the job. Instead of hosting a podcast that turns young boys into assholes, fans the flames of fascism, plays footsie with war criminals, and lies more often than it tells the truth, Kamau is going to do something different with his new podcast Who’s With Me? Over his multifaceted career, W. Kamau Bell is known for having…
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Page updated October 30, 2026.