In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 23, Oscar-nominated actor Jeffrey Wright discusses his latest film, "American Fiction," how the movie further explores themes of race and identity, how to have "better discourse" regarding race and the landscape for Black storytellers in Hollywood.

Jeffrey Wright on ‘American Fiction,’ identity and ‘improving discourse’ regarding race in the U.S.

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 15, two-time WNBA champion A’ja Wilson discusses her new book, “Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You,” as well as how her grandmother made her a dreamer, what brought her to basketball and why Black women and girls need to have “the talk” that’s associated with Black men and boys since the death of Trayvon Martin.”

A’ja Wilson on inspiring the next generation with ‘Dear Black Girls’

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 14, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston talks about how the influx of migrants sent to his city has pushed it to “a breaking point,” what the impact of the bipartisan Senate immigration bill would have been and how former president Donald Trump is trying to keep the crisis going.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on the ‘catastrophe’ of U.S. immigration policy

Almost four months since Hamas’ barbaric attacks, Israel’s bloody operation in Gaza is still ongoing, with civilian casualties mounting by the day. The war has dominated our news feeds and dinner table conversations, and opened up rifts that cross traditional partisan lines. Three of our columnists — Jason Rezaian, Alyssa Rosenberg and Shadi Hamid — got together to discuss if the war is changing how they think about America, its moral standing in the world and what it means to be an American.

Keep listening for updates on more conversations coming from the Opinions team at The Post. Capehart will be back with a new episode next week.

Post Opinions: The Disorienting Feeling of Being American Amid the Israel-Gaza War

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 2, actor Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor digs into her new film “Origin," working with director Ava DuVernay, and how she prepared her portrayal of author Isabel Wilkerson writing the best-selling book, “Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents.” 

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor on the journey from ‘Caste’ to ‘Origin’

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Jan. 19, Post columnist Michele L. Norris discusses her new book, “Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity,” how she got people to open up about such a fraught topic, and the difference between “race” and “racism.”

Michele Norris shines light on ’Our Hidden Conversations’

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Jan. 10, actor David Oyewolo talks about his new series, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” in which he plays the eponymous Bass Reeves, the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. Oyelowo also discusses what it was like to work with his wife in a part weighted with personal and historic significance, and why it was important for him to bring Reeves’s story to the screen.

David Oyelowo on bringing the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River to life

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Jan. 11, Tennessee Rep. Justin J. Pearson discusses how the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has impacted the rising generation of political leaders and why he thinks U.S. institutions are being degraded through partisan politics.

Justin Pearson on continuing the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on July 20, Colson Whitehead discusses his new book, “Crook Manifesto,” how the novel fits into the Harlem trilogy, his process of grounding critiques of how we live into his writing, and what genres he plans to conquer next.

Best of: Colson Whitehead on ‘Crook Manifesto’ and his Harlem trilogy

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on June 22, two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter discusses her new book, “The Art of Ruth E. Carter: Costuming Black History and the Afrofuture, from Do the Right Thing to Black Panther,” dives deep on her creative process, and reflects on how her work has helped define Black style and culture.

Best of: How Ruth E. Carter brings Black style to the big screen

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Dec. 14, Michelle Ebanks, the president and CEO of the Apollo Theater, discusses the history of the legendary performing arts venue in the heart of Harlem, the building’s first expansion and renovation – and how two decades of leadership at Essence Communications have positioned her to lead the Apollo into its next chapter.

Michelle Ebanks is forging the Apollo Theater’s next act

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Dec. 6, actor Adrienne Warren and creator & showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar discuss their new series, “Black Cake,” and dig into the intergenerational, intersectional story of a Black American family learning the truth about their mother after her death. Warren and Cerar also touch on the importance of showing stories of Black and Brown people that are not about the civil rights movements, slavery or oppression, and why the story could only be adapted as a series, not a film.

Adrienne Warren and Marissa Jo Cerar dig into ‘Black Cake’

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Nov. 29, actor Lily Gladstone and writer-director Erica Tremblay discuss their new film, “Fancy Dance,” the importance of setting the story on a Seneca-Cayuga reservation, the themes of indifference and invisibility, and why, despite its great acclaim and reviews, no studio has bought the film.

Lily Gladstone and Erica Tremblay on their ‘love letter’ to Native communities

In this conversation first recorded for Washington Post Live on April 27, Yale University professor Ned Blackhawk discusses his book, “The Rediscovery of America: Natives Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History,” which recently won the National Book Award for nonfiction, and explores the foundational role Native Americans have played in U.S. history, including in the formulation of our country’s Constitution, and how their presence and contributions are frequently overlooked, or worse, erased.

Best of: Ned Blackhawk on ‘The Rediscovery of America’

Every 19th of October, Grenadians mark a somber anniversary: the 1983 execution of the country’s former prime minister and revolutionary leader, Maurice Bishop, and others who died alongside him. The people of this Caribbean nation still have no closure 40 years later. The remains of Bishop and his supporters were never returned to their family members and are missing to this day. In the first episode of “The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop,” The Washington Post’s Martine Powers takes us on the personal journey that led her to learn about Grenada’s history. Martine delves into why Bishop was such an influential figure, what made the United States nervous about him and why the mystery of his missing remains continues to haunt so many on the island.Listen to more episodes here – or on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music or Spotify. You can find photos and documents from the investigation in our special episode guide here. Subscribers to The Washington Post can get early access to episodes of the series on Apple Podcasts, as well as ad-free listening. Link your Post subscription now or sign up to become a new Post subscriber here.

The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop: ‘Somebody knows’

In these Washington Post Live conversations from Nov. 14, former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni and award-winning Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal discuss the Israel-Gaza war from their respective vantages, plus the next steps for the conflict.

Tzipi Livni and Rula Jebreal share their perspectives on the Israel-Gaza war

In this Washington Post Live conversation from Nov. 8, Rob Rubba — winner of the 2023 James Beard Award for outstanding chef — discusses his Michelin-starred restaurant Oyster Oyster, why he sees it as a “stepping-stone” for restaurants of the future and how sustainability is worked into everything from the food in the kitchen to the plate on the table.

Rob Rubba on charting Oyster Oyster’s sustainable path

In this Washington Post Live conversation from Oct. 31, Rep. Daniel S. Goldman (D-N.Y.) discusses how he and his family sheltered in a Tel Aviv hotel during Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel, his support for Israel’s right to defend itself and his thoughts on new House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Rep. Goldman on his first term in the House, and being in Israel on Oct. 7

In this Washington Post Live conversation from Oct. 16, actress and author Jada Pinkett Smith discusses her new memoir, “Worthy,” growing up in Baltimore, her misunderstood relationship with Tupac Shakur, and corrects the record about her marriage with Will Smith.

Jada Pinkett Smith corrects the record

In this Washington Post Live conversation from Oct. 4, filmmaker Raoul Peck discusses his new documentary, “Silver Dollar Road,” which explores the history of land dispossession of Black homeowners through the story of the Reels family, and explains what drew him to their fight to save their home.

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