Tavis Talks

Tavis Talks: Dr. David Satcher. Tavis Smiley has a conversation with former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher about one of this country's biggest health concerns: gun violence. Dr. Satcher is now the head of his own institute at Morehouse College.

Tavis Talks: Vincent Bugliosi.  Tavis Smiley interviews famed author Vincent Bugliosi about the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK. Bugliosi is the author of "Reclaiming History," the definitive 1600 page book on the assassination. Parts of the book are being republished under the title "Parkland," as a tie in to the movie by the same name.

Tavis Talks:  Stephanie Robinson.  Tavis Smiley talks with fellow TSN host Stephanie Robinson about her show, "Round Table." Ms. Robinson is a lecturer at Harvard Law School as well as being head of her think tank, 'The Jamestown Project." She was also chief counsel to the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

Tavis Talks:  Al Jarreau. Tavis Smiley in conversation with music superstar Al Jarreau, who discusses his busy touring schedule, and his latest album, "Al Jarreau and the Metropole Orkest- Live," on which he performs with a 53 piece orchestra in the Netherlands.

In this week's best of Tavis we hear from new Mayor of L.A. Eric Garcetti about his plans to keep movie production in the city. Plus Tavis talks to music legen Ron Isley about his tour plans, and composer Patrice Rushden about her work at the University of Southern California.

Tavis Talks: Alison Adair. Tavis Smiley talks with good friend and TSN host Alison Adair, whose show is called "Destinations" and deals with travel and adventure. Topics include solo travel and ways to reduce the stress of travel.

Tavis Talks:  Patrice Rushen. Tavis Smiley talks with accomplished musician, artist and composer Patrice Rushen, famous for her hit "Forget Me Nots." Currently, Ms. Rushen is a professor at USC as well as director of the school's Popular Music Program.   On being a professor and director of the Popular Music Program at USC: "They don't have Soul Train. They don't have American Bandstand. So we bring it to them holistically."

Tavis Talks: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Tavis Smiley talks with L.A.'s new mayor. Topics include why the L.A.P.D. does not have a "stop and frisk" problem, while the N.Y.P.D. does. Mayor Garcetti also discusses his plan to stop runaway TV and movie production from L.A.

Tavis Talks:  Ron Isley. Music legend Ron Isley talks about his new album, "This Song is For You," and what it's like to go on tour after all these years. Host Tavis Smiley also reveals his favorite Isley Brothers slow jams.

Tavis Talks:  Michael Fauntroy. Fauntroy, host of TSN's "The Forum," examines the political implications of the federal government shutdown with Tavis Smiley.

In this week's Best of Tavis Talks we hear how Baseball legend Jim "Mudcat" Grant had an unexpected breakfast with President Kennedy, and Michelle Katz simplifies Obamacare for us.

Tavis Talks:  Vivica A. Fox. Tavis Smiley talks with good friend Vivica about her new movie, "Power of Love," as well as her numerous other projects. They also reminisce about her hilarious role as Loretta Black on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." 

Tavis Talks: Michelle Katz. Ms. Katz is a health care and Obamacare expert who helps patients negotiate lower medical payments. She also helps people choose the right health insurance. Ms. Katz joins Tavis Smiley in the studio to help explain the stalemate in Washington as well as the many choices for coverage.

Tavis Talks: Jim "Mudcat" Grant Part Two. Grant tells Tavis Smiley about the time he was summoned to JFK's hotel suite to talk about baseball, as well as Grant's upbringing in a small Florida town.  

Tavis Talks: Jim "Mudcat" Grant Part One. Tavis Smiley discusses Grant's new book, "The Black Aces," which chronicles the lives of African American major league baseball pitchers who've won at least twenty games in a season.