Skip to main content
Appalachian Today
News and events at Appalachian State University
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

Podcast Preview: W. Kamau Bell on humor and serious issues

Posted Feb. 7, 2017 at 4:49 p.m.

Critically-acclaimed comedian, sociopolitical explorer and host of the Emmy Award-nominated CNN docuseries “United Shades of America” W. Kamau Bell has been lauded by the New York Times for his talent and political comedy. He shares his perspective on how humor is useful in taking on serious issues, and why taking them on is important for all of us.

W. Kamau Bell on humor and serious issues
W. Kamau Bell on humor and serious issues
Feb. 8, 2017

Critically-acclaimed comedian and sociopolitical explorer, W. Kamau Bell gets real about humor and social change, and why both are important.

Listen to this episode

Transcript

Megan: Critically-acclaimed comedian and sociopolitical explorer, W. Kamau Bell, who has been lauded by the New York Times for his talent and political comedy, is the host of several podcasts including “Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of All Time Period” and “Politically Reactive.” He also hosts the public radio show “Kamau Right Now” which airs on KALW in San Francisco. His television projects include the FX comedy series “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell” and his most buzzed about project of late, the Emmy Award nominated CNN docuseries “United Shades of America”, in which he selects and visits locations in the United States to examine their racially defined subcultures. W. Kamau Bell welcome to Boone, North Carolina and welcome to SoundAffect.

Kamau Bell: Thanks for having me.

M: I’m so glad you’re here.

KB: Yeah.

M: So I would like to begin by asking you about humor and why humor in the context of the incredibly complex and emotionally charged topics that you address?

KB: How not humor in the middle of these complex topics? (chuckles) I don’t know how you would get through all of this without humor and sugar. You need something to sort of make things feel a little bit better. Some of the best humor that has been ever produced, definitely in the country but I’ll say the world-even though I don’t know for sure, comes out of painful situations. Usually the most oppressed group of this country is the funniest group of this country. I don’t know how you would get through life without laughing through difficult situations. The thing about humor is that if somebody is laughing at something you say, that means they’re paying attention. People don’t generally laugh if they’re not paying attention, and if they do you can tell that they are fake laughing. So I can tell a very sad story and if it’s not funny, you can sit there and go “Mmm hmm, mmm hmm,” and be thinking about a lot of other things. But if I make the sad story funny and you laugh, then I know that you’re paying attention.

[GFX: W. KAMAU BELL on the next SoundAffect podcast, from Appalachian State University]

[GFX: appalachianmagazine.org]

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

Share

Topics

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Diversity

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

Share

Topics

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Diversity

Other Recent Posts

  • Appalachian Journal marks 50 years of spotlighting Appalachia
    Appalachian Journal marks 50 years of spotlighting Appalachia
  • Honoring women’s leadership and history at App State
    Honoring women’s leadership and history at App State
  • Lumbee tribal flag now hangs in App State’s student union, honoring the Lumbee people and their history
    Lumbee tribal flag now hangs in App State’s student union, honoring the Lumbee people and their history
  • Since 1958, App State's Southern Appalachian plant collection has aided research, teaching and conservation
    Since 1958, App State's Southern Appalachian plant collection has aided research, teaching and conservation
  • <span style="color: #bc8801;">SoundAffect:</span> Daniel E. Dawes, JD on how to overcome deep-rooted challenges in the American health care system
    SoundAffect: Daniel E. Dawes, JD on how to overcome deep-rooted challenges in the American health care system
  • App State Office of Diversity brings monthly read-alouds to lab schools
    App State Office of Diversity brings monthly read-alouds to lab schools
  • 6 award-winning authors to visit App State for spring 2023 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
    6 award-winning authors to visit App State for spring 2023 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series
  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted <span style="white-space: nowrap;">March 1</span>
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted March 1
  • App State’s Day of Service honors legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
    App State’s Day of Service honors legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Mountain hares are built for snow. That may become a problem. [faculty featured]
    Mountain hares are built for snow. That may become a problem. [faculty featured]
    National Geographic
  • App State honored as a Top Producer of Fulbright scholars, students for 2022–23
    App State honored as a Top Producer of Fulbright scholars, students for 2022–23
  • These Colleges Produce a Lot of Fulbright Scholars. Here’s How.
    These Colleges Produce a Lot of Fulbright Scholars. Here’s How.
    The Chronicle of Higher Education

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

App State

Copyright 2023 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
ucomm@appstate.edu

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Accessibility | Website manager: montaldipa (beltmr) .. | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat