Rephonic
Artwork for Tavis Smiley

Tavis Smiley

KBLA Talk 1580
Donald Trump
Democratic Party
Kamala Harris
Voting Rights Act
Democracy
Joe Biden
Voting Rights
Trump Administration
Israel
Martin Luther King Jr.
Republican Party
Supreme Court
Education
Healthcare
Black Lives Matter
California
Iran
Lindsey Graham
Birthright Citizenship
Immigration Policy

"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.Become a supporter of this podcast... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1008Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Tavis Smiley

Latest Episodes

Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy at University of Connecticut-Storrs, Dr. Lewis Gordon shares his insights about the political and social shifts of this moment, given the rise of progressive candidate... more

Rachel Leingang, Midwest political correspondent for The Guardian, shares her reporting on this week’s primaries and her expectations for voters heading into the final weeks before the midterm elections.

Become a supporter of this podcast: w... more

Former Democratic National Committee vice chair and gun violence prevention advocate David Hogg shares his thoughts on the state of the Democratic Party and what’s next for its leadership.

Become a supporter of this podcast: www.spreaker.com... more

Former Mayor of Pasadena and current CEO of LA Fire Justice Chris Holden joins Tavis in studio to discuss what’s next for residents after the L.A. County Fire Department concluded that California’s Eaton Fire, in January 2025, was sparked by an out-o... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Native Land Pod
Native Land PodiHeartPodcasts and Reasoned Choice
democracy-ish
democracy-ishMary Trump Media
Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams
Assembly Required with Stacey AbramsAssembly Required with Stacey Abrams
The Don Lemon Show
The Don Lemon ShowLemon Media Network

Recent Guests

Kshama Sawant
Socialist strategist, activist, former Seattle City Council member
Workers Strike Back / socialist movement
Episode: Kshama Sawant joins Tavis Smiley
Barbara Boxer
Former U.S. Senator (California)
U.S. Senate
Episode: Kshama Sawant joins Tavis Smiley
Rashad Robinson
Activist, CEO of Color of Change
Color of Change
Episode: Rashad Robinson Joins Tavis Smiley
Rashida Tlaib
Congresswoman, Michigan
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib Joins Tavis Smiley
Jamie Jackson
Former aide to Barack Obama and Joe Biden
Former White House/Congress advisor
Episode: Jamie Jackson Joins Tavis Smiley
William Lawrence
Progressive Congressional candidate for Michigan's 7th District
Independent political candidate in Michigan
Episode: William Lawrence joins Tavis Smiley
Ryan Burge
Washington University Professor and Pastor, Graphs About Religion Substack author
Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: Ryan Burge joins Tavis Smiley
Yaba Baker
Writer and fourth great-grandson of David Drake (Dave the Potter)
Descendant of Dave the Potter; involved in restitution campaign
Episode: George Fatheree III & Yaba Baker joins Tavis Smiley
Christina Greer
Political science professor at Fordham University
Fordham University
Episode: Christina Greer joins Tavis Smiley

Host

Tavis Smiley
Host of KBLA Talk 1580 show and long-form interviewer known for provocative political conversations

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 136 ratings
  • UK listener!

    A great show, thank you for bringing so many essential and intelligent voices to the airwaves.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sol na Laje
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Travis Smiley is GREAT!!!!!!

    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... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sagely Warrior ML
    United States2 years ago
  • Truth

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nick from nepal
    United States2 years ago
  • Truth

    Tavis Smiley is a great way to hear what the networks aren’t telling you. And done 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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nick from nepal
    United States2 years ago
  • Downloading Issues

    Haven’t been able to download an episode for over a week. It keeps saying the episode is temporarily unavailable.

    I am able to download all other podcasts I listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jeremiah Jahi
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, incisive interviews with informed guests
Consistently high-quality conversations with memorable guests
Long-form format with a credible host and guests
Strong commitment to civil rights and democracy
Audience experiences some download issues on older episodes

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ryan Burge joins Tavis Smiley
Q: What are practical steps to re-engage Gen Z with faith communities beyond political messaging?
Burges emphasizes community-building through social connections, friendship, and shared activities within congregations, rather than focusing solely on doctrinal or political messaging.
Ryan Burge joins Tavis Smiley
Q: How should we interpret the idea of religious liberty when a president uses it to advance a particular religious or political agenda?
They suggest distinguishing genuine religious liberty from political leverage, noting that true liberty protects all faiths and non-belief without endorsing or privileging any one tradition over others.
Ryan Burge joins Tavis Smiley
Q: What does it mean to frame religious freedom in the current political climate, especially regarding separation of church and state?
The host and guest discuss constitutional pluralism, arguing for a careful balance where government neutrality preserves religious liberty for all, while avoiding preferential treatment for any single faith or secular viewpoint.
Ryan Burge joins Tavis Smiley
Q: Why are these Christians so attracted to Donald Trump, and how does that relate to the broader faith-politics dynamic?
The guest explains that evangelical politics has often rewarded transactional relationships with politicians who deliver results or align with their priorities, leading to loyalty not necessarily rooted in moral or theological unity but in perceived political effectiveness.
Jamie Jackson Joins Tavis Smiley
Q: Jamie, good to have you on. How are you today?
I'm doing well, thank you for having me; I want to dive into the Blanch nomination and the broader politicization of the Department of Justice.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Tavis Smiley

What is Tavis Smiley about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program features deep-dive conversations with reform-minded politicians, journalists, lawyers, and cultural commentators who critique power structures and promote civil rights, voting rights, and healthcare equity. Episodes frequently center on democracy, racial justice, and policy impact, often exploring how laws, institutions, and political strategy shape everyday lives. A standout is the long-form interview style that blends historical context with current events, attracting listeners who value principled analysis, bold questions, and expert insights from insiders and trailblazers. The show is likely appealing to intellectually curious, policy-focused audiences seeking rigorous discussion from a Black-owned, progressive-leaning platf... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Tavis Smiley?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Tavis Smiley. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Tavis Smiley and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Tavis Smiley get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Tavis Smiley, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Tavis Smiley?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Tavis Smiley, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Tavis Smiley have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Tavis Smiley has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Tavis Smiley?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Tavis Smiley:

1. Native Land Pod
2. democracy-ish
3. Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams
4. The Don Lemon Show
5. Uncertain with DL Hughley

How many episodes of Tavis Smiley are there?

Tavis Smiley launched 4 years ago and published 1008 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Tavis Smiley?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Tavis Smiley?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Tavis Smiley from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Tavis Smiley?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Tavis Smiley. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Tavis Smiley?

Recent guests on Tavis Smiley include:

1. Kshama Sawant
2. Barbara Boxer
3. Rashad Robinson
4. Rashida Tlaib
5. Jamie Jackson
6. William Lawrence
7. Ryan Burge
8. Yaba Baker

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days