Episodios

  • Ep 5: Courtney B. Vance on Acting With Faith

    Ep 5: Courtney B. Vance on Acting With Faith
    Jul 10 2024
    In this episode, A.R. Bernard peels back the layers of his intimate friendship with Hollywood heavy hitter and Tony and Emmy winning, actor Courtney B. Vance. The two discuss what it means to be Black in Hollywood and explore Vance’s fascinating lifelong faith journey. Vance, married to Academy Award-winning actress Angela Bassett, shares his experience being in a power couple and how they maintain balance between celebrity life and real life as they navigate parenthood with their teenage twins. Together, they delve into some of the darkest, toughest times Vance experienced, including the aftermath of his father’s suicide and how it has inspired him to help others. Vance talks about the great responsibility he feels to foster conversations within the Black male community about the stigmas surrounding mental illness and therapy. He discusses his efforts to break these barriers through his new book, "The Invisible Ache," co-written with Dr. Robin Smith.
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    42 m
  • Ep 4: LaTanya Richardson Jackson on Samuel L. Jackson, Addiction, Making the Right Decisions

    Ep 4: LaTanya Richardson Jackson on Samuel L. Jackson, Addiction, Making the Right Decisions
    Jul 3 2024
    In this episode of the podcast, A.R. Bernard welcomes his long-time friend, Hollywood actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson. The two delve into the details of her marriage to actor Samuel L. Jackson, her exciting Broadway directorial debut of “The Piano Lesson,” and the importance of her faith-driven life. LaTanya shares her spiritual journey through mega churches. She candidly reveals how faith helped her save Samuel from his battle with addiction and navigate his over three decades of sobriety. LaTanya also discusses how acting has allowed her to explore her own changeability and how faith has provided her with guardrails when choosing the right characters to play. Both A.R. Bernard and LaTanya Jackson break down parenting, having raised high-profile children in a diverse world, and how to combat certain mental health stigmas in the Black community. Additionally, LaTanya details what it was like to direct her veteran actor husband and how much she looks forward to directing the legendary Patti LaBelle in an upcoming project. The episode is filled with mutual admiration as they identify one another’s God-given gifts and explore their meaning and purpose.
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    59 m
  • Ep 3: Rabbi Joseph Potasnik on Connecting Through Differences

    Ep 3: Rabbi Joseph Potasnik on Connecting Through Differences
    Jun 26 2024
    Rabbi Joseph Potasnik is the son of Holocaust survivors, the Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis and he was one of the first religious leaders on the scene at Ground Zero on 9/11. A thought leader and author, he is a tireless advocate for civil discourse and as he puts it finding “Unity in the midst of diversity.” There is no denying that this has been a trying time for Jewish people all over the world. Earlier this year, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt stated "The American Jewish community is facing a threat level that's now unprecedented in modern history." As one of the leaders of the largest Jewish population of any city in the world, Rabbi Potasnik is acutely aware of the challenges. In this episode, Rabbi Potasnik sits down with Pastor AR Bernard to talk about the deeply rooted pain Jewish Americans are experiencing in the wake of October 7th. The two friends discuss the safety crisis on college campuses nationwide as students search for peace and support from their surrounding communities. Potasnik discusses the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the desire for peace with Palestinians. Potasnik speaks about what it was like growing up as a child of Holocaust survivors and how he has navigated “survivor’s guilt.”
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    57 m
  • Ep 2: David C. Banks on Running the Largest School System in the U.S.

    Ep 2: David C. Banks on Running the Largest School System in the U.S.
    Jun 19 2024
    David C. Banks is the 31st Chancellor of New York City Schools, overseeing the nation’s largest and most diverse school system, which educates over one million students each year. He helped establish The Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice. As a product of the New York public school system himself, Banks discusses his personal calling to lead the system and how he responds to the needs of the community. In this episode, Chancellor Banks and A.R. Bernard examine the challenges and triumphs within the New York City public school system. They also address national issues such as safety, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and fostering deeper connections between schools and their communities. Banks highlights the national reading crisis and his NYC Reads initiative. The two delve into Banks' focus on discouraging and combating hate. Additionally, they explore the historic significance of immigration and the "browning of America."
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    1 h y 2 m
  • Ep 1: Rev. Al Sharpton and the Next Generation of Social Justice

    Ep 1: Rev. Al Sharpton and the Next Generation of Social Justice
    Jun 10 2024
    Reverend Al Sharpton has been at the forefront of social justice issues for half a century. At 13, he became the youth ambassador of Jesse Jackson’s Operation Breadbasket, and in 1991, he founded the National Action Network. Today, his influence continues to grow. He is the host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation and the popular radio show Keeping it Real, and he has been both a critic and confidant of Presidents, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden. In this episode, Sharpton and A.R. Bernard explore the future of the social justice and civil rights movements in America. They discuss what it has been like to outlive legendary leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers. The two also address the challenges of bringing communities together in the face of violence and racial divides. This includes their shared experience at the funeral of Ajike "AJ" Shantrell Owens, a mother of four who was shot and killed in Florida. Additionally, they detail how they counsel each other, the baptism of NYC Mayor Eric Adams at Rikers Island, and the role of faith in memorializing those whose lives have been tragically cut short, including George Floyd.
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    56 m