Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe
Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe is an interview series hosted by Emmy-winning writer, actor, and producer Lena Waithe, celebrating Black storytellers in entertainment. Each episode features trailblazing guests such as Phylicia Rashad, Loretta Devine, and Ava DuVernay discussing their creative process and personal journeys. The show documents the experiences of artists who shifted narratives, broke barriers, and inspired a generation. It is produced by Hillman Grad and Lemonada Media and is also available in full video form on YouTube.
Episodes
Building a Legacy with Phylicia Rashad
In the season finale of Legacy Talk, Lena sits down with the incomparable Phylicia Rashad live from Tribeca X. From The Wiz to The Cosby Show, A Raisin in the Sun, Creed, and Purpose, Phylicia's career has embodied grace, depth, and quiet power. She reflects on freedom, family, and the generations of women who shaped her and showed love for their community, sharing how true artistry means explorin
Building a Legacy with Bill Duke
Lena sits down with visionary actor and director Bill Duke. From his first role in Car Wash to American Gigolo and Menace II Society, to directing Sister Act II and Dark Girls, Duke’s work has left an unforgettable mark on film and culture. He opens up about his journey from theater to Hollywood, paying it forward to mentor rising talent like Taraji P. Henson, and the power of telling our stories
Building a Legacy with Kym Whitley
This week on Legacy Talk, Lena sits down with comedy powerhouse Kym Whitley. From The Sinbad Show and Martin to Next Friday, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Master of None, Kym has built a career on fearless humor and unforgettable characters. She opens up about pushing past fear, embracing her softer side, and finding freedom in comedy—reminding us why she’s one of the culture’s most essential voices.
Building a Legacy with Lela Rochon
This week, Lena dives into the remarkable journey of Lela Rochon – the unforgettable actress who gave us range and beauty in culture's most memorable films. Lela shares how she was handpicked by Eddie Murphy to play “Sunshine” in Harlem Nights, breathed life into Robin in Waiting to Exhale, and showcased her depth in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday. Ambitious, hungry, and determined to be more tha
Building a Legacy with Cree Summer
This week, Lena talks to Cree Summer - the beautiful face behind film and TV roles like Freddie Brooks on A Different World, but also the golden voice behind hundreds of animated characters, from Penny on Inspector Gadget to Susie Carmichael on Rugrats. Cree tells Lena about how she overcame the stigma of voice acting to get cast in onscreen roles, the excitement of guest starring on iconic TV sho
Building a Legacy with Loretta Devine
Loretta Devine’s voice and performances are nothing short of iconic. From being one of the original Dreamgirls on Broadway to Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher’s Wife, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Carmichael Show, Loretta’s career has spanned stage, film, and television with a rare mix of power, humor, and grace. In this conversation, Lena shines a light on Loretta’s triumphs and heartbreaks – from the g
Building a Legacy with Vivica A. Fox
Vivica A. Fox has lit up the screen for decades, starring in some of the biggest blockbuster films of all time like Independence Day, Set It Off, and Kill Bill, to household-name TV shows like Days of Our Lives and Curb Your Enthusiasm. But in this conversation with Lena, she opens up about everything -- from an audition fashion misstep she'll never forget, working alongside some of Hollywood's bi
Building a Legacy with Robert Townsend
A milestone episode this week -- Lena welcomes her first male guest in the history of Legacy Talk! And it's a fitting one, as Robert Townsend has worked with just about everyone in Black Hollywood. As a comedian, actor, writer, and director, known for projects from The Parent 'Hood to The Five Heartbeats, his work is kind, hopeful, and even "fatherly," by Lena's description -- but also so signific
Building a Legacy with Ava DuVernay
In this supersized episode, Lena reunites with someone who has known her and watched her grow for a long time -- the incredible, inspirational director and filmmaker Ava DuVernay, known for films from Selma to Middle of Nowhere to 13th. The two old friends have a lot to catch up on, from how Ava learned to work magic on a shoestring budget, Lena's memories of seeing the world premiere of Selma (an
Building a Legacy with Yvette Lee Bowser
This week, Lena welcomes pioneering writer and producer Yvette Lee Bowser– the creative force behind Living Single, For Your Love, and Half and Half. Yvette shares how a bold phone call to an old acquaintance changed her career trajectory from aspiring lawyer to one of television’s most influential storytellers. They discuss her early days writing for A Different World, the real life inspiration b
Building a Legacy with Taraji P. Henson
This week, Lena sits down with one of culture's most beloved: Taraji P. Henson – the genuis behind classic roles such as Cookie Lyon, Katherine Johnson, or Yvette from Baby Boy. In this episode, Taraji reflects on a career defined by vulnerability, authenticity, and a refusal to let fear lead. Listen as the two of them discuss the lasting legacy of Hustle & Flow, the cultural impact of her roles i
Building a Legacy with Tisha Campbell
Legacy Talk is back for season 2, with an all-new lineup of Black Hollywood legends sitting down with Lena Waithe. Kicking it off is actress and singer Tisha Campbell, who is best known for her work on Martin, but has a full body of work that spans decades. Tisha and Lena delve into how Tisha almost quit acting before her first big break, her longtime friendship with Tichina Arnold, Lena's abiding
Building a Legacy with Debbie Allen
In the final episode of Season 1 of Legacy Talk, Lena speaks with the influence behind many of the women who have been on the show already: the inimitable Debbie Allen. Debbie says she's not a workaholic, but she certainly has amassed quite a list of credits and accolades, including Emmy awards, Tony nominations, and a trailblazing Golden Globe win. In this conversation, she shares with Lena some
Building a Legacy with Jenifer Lewis
This week, Lena is talking to the mother of Black Hollywood herself -- the one and only Jenifer Lewis, star of screen and stage. Of course the conversation has to start with the Broadway production of Dreamgirls, where Jenifer originated the role of Effie that was ultimately taken over by Jennifer Holliday, but the two hit all the highlights of Jenifer's incredible career, from A Different World t
Building a Legacy with Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith is a true multi-hyphenate: a prolific actress on TV and film, a business maven, a talented musician, and an Emmy-winning talk show host. But her star first started to rise when she was cast on A Different World, where her character, Lena James, was named for Lena Horne -- just like Lena Waithe was. These two Lenas catch up this week on the importance of physicality in acting, so
Building a Legacy with Mara Brock Akil
Lena welcomes Mara Brock Akil this week, the legendary TV producer and writer behind shows like Girlfriends, The Game, and Being Mary Jane, among many others. She tells Lena about the exploration of classism in her storytelling and the complexities of her most notable characters, the importance of living and working in beautiful places, and the crucial role of mentors throughout her career. They a
Building a Legacy with Gina Prince-Bythewood
This week, Lena is asking the hard questions of Gina Prince-Bythewood -- the incredible director whose name is synonymous with her first feature film, Love & Basketball. Fun fact -- Lena was also Gina's assistant back in the day! Neither Gina nor Lena ever gets sick of talking about Love & Basketball, but the two also touch on the importance of positive self-talk, the alchemy of a good soundtrack,
Building a Legacy with Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph grew up in the 1960s. She knows what it is like to have limits placed upon her because of the color of her skin. And yet -- she has pursued her life dream. From Dreamgirls to Moesha to Abbott Elementary, she has brought some of the most powerful Black women on stage and screen to life. On the first episode of Legacy Talk, Lena and Sheryl delve into where Sheryl takes inspiration f
Introducing Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe (Official Trailer)
Emmy-winning writer, actor and producer Lena Waithe (Master of None, The Chi) presents Legacy Talk, a series of conversations celebrating the brilliance and artistry of some of the most iconic Black women in entertainment. Join Lena as she sits down with powerhouses like Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debbie Allen, and more, as they explore how these legends shaped the industry and inspired
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