Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell
W. Kamau Bell, known for his fearless and humorous approach to difficult conversations, hosts a weekly podcast inspired by his Substack newsletter. Each episode, he discusses current cultural and political topics, interviews a guest he admires, and challenges both his guest and listeners to take actionable steps toward positive change. The show aims to foster connection, understanding, and progress through open dialogue.
Episodes
Sara Sidner on Protecting Your Humanity
W. 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 t
Margaret Cho on Choosing to Matter
Kamau 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
Open Mike Eagle on Life Beyond the Mainstream
The 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 describ
Maria Bamford on Making Your Own Rules
Kamau 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: bot
Leslie Jones on Knowing Your Worth
Kamau 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, i
Eddie Huang on The Cost of Personal Truth
Kamau 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 percei
Misty Copeland on Reinventing Ballet and Herself
Kamau 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 a
Robert Reich on The Fight for a Fair America
W. 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 r
Nava Mau on the Visibility and Vulnerability of the Trans Community
W. 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 festiv
Daveed Diggs on Creating with Energy Up, Expectations Down
W. 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 ho
Kristen Kish on Uplifting Community By Being Yourself
Kamau 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 surpri
Ted Danson on Comedy with a Conscience
Kamau 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
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon on Doing the Work
W. 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 aba
Delroy Lindo on The Continuum of Black Creativity
Kamau 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 fi
Who's With Me? with W. Kamau Bell | Trailer
Male 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 f
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