Shows October 2009
Looking for a past show? You'll find Tavis' previous guests and special features below, with links to transcripts and complete audio versions of each program.
Looking for other months or guests? Use the index of Past Shows to search for shows by month or guest name.
Thursday, October 1
CBS Sports' James Brown weighs in on the NFL season, including Michael Vick's return to the league, and explains the subtitle of his new book, Role of a Lifetime. Music duo Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero—Rodrigo y Gabriela—describe the challenge of getting getting people to appreciate music when it's not communicated to them in their language; they also perform the first single from their new CD.
Friday, October 2
Grammy Award-winning gospel duo BeBe and CeCe Winans discuss the challenge of appealing to religious, non-religious and a new generation of music lovers and describe their faith journey over the past 15 years; they also perform "Grace"—from their critically-acclaimed new CD, "Still."
Monday, October 5
Journalist Max Blumenthal, author of Republican Gomorrah, assesses whether there is hope for the GOP. Emmy-nominated actor Michael C. Hall compares his Dexter and Six Feet Under characters.
Tuesday, October 6
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. discusses the compounding factors that weigh on the violence in Chicago and says the Democrats' fate depends on job creation. Jazz guitarist-singer George Benson describes how the process of making music has changed over the span of his long and award-winning career.
Wednesday, October 7
Comedian-actor Richard Belzer, L&O: SVU co-star and author of I Am Not a Psychic!, explains what writing allows him to do that acting doesn't and shares his list of greatest comedians.
Thursday, October 8
Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West describes the role of the Black intellectual in the Obama era and shares stories from his new memoir, Brother West, including about his run-ins with the police at Harvard and later as an adult.
Friday, October 9
Best-selling novelist and screenwriter Nick Hornby explains what makes a literary work authentic and discusses whether his process changes when he knows his writing may be adapted for film. Religious scholar Karen Armstrong, author of The Case for God, says quarreling about religion is counterproductive.
Monday, October 12
Aaron S. Williams, the new director of the Peace Corps, recounts why he joined the organization as a volunteer and describes how the work has changed. Actor Michael Sheen explains how he looks at the critical success of his Frost/Nixon role and previews the storyline of his new film, Damned United.
Tuesday, October 13
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, a member of the Finance Committee—which passed the Baucus healthcare bill today—discusses the timeline for reform and when most Americans might feel the impact. Novelist James Ellroy explains how he chose his latest book's title—Blood's A Rover—and the influence of his personal narrative on his characters.
Wednesday, October 14
Tennis great Serena Williams explains the most difficult part of re-gaining the No. 1 ranking, talks about her relationship with her family and her ESPN magazine cover and discusses what she ultimately wants to accomplish beyond tennis.
Thursday, October 15
Father-daughter musicians Pete Escovedo and Sheila E. discuss playing together as a family, music in schools and the Elevate Hope foundation.
Friday, October 16
Dr. Terrence Roberts reflects on the therapeutic process of writing his memoir and whether the "Little Rock Nine" experience was worth it. Violin virtuoso Joshua Bell responds to purist critics and discusses the collaborations involved in his new CD, "At Home with Friends."
Monday, October 19
Israel's envoy to the U.S., Ambassador Michael Oren, discusses equity in U.S. actions in the Middle East and assesses Prime Minister Netanyahu's policies and the challenge to the peace process. Best-selling author Michael Chabon talks about fatherhood and his new book, Manhood for Amateurs.
Tuesday, October 20
Middle East scholar Vali Nasr analyzes what the U.S. needs to understand about the region and missed opportunities in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Actress Michelle Monaghan explains why she was drawn to her role in the new indie feature, Truckers.
Wednesday, October 21
Texas Rep. Ron Paul weighs in on the situation in Afghanistan and explains points made in his book, End the Fed, which argues that the Fed is both corrupt and unconstitutional. New York Times' Op-Ed columnist Bob Herbert talks about the growing backlash over Wall Street bonuses, pressure on the working class and the government's need to address poverty.
Thursday, October 22
Actor-director-activist Anthony Edwards describes his efforts to build the first public children's hospital in Kenya, through Shoe4Africa—a nonprofit that he chairs. Wu-Tang Clan founder The RZA explains the title of his new memoir, The Tao of Wu.
Friday, October 23
Legendary entertainer Andy Williams shares stories from his new memoir, including his feelings about being raised during the Depression and his friendship with Robert Kennedy, and reflects on highlights of his career.
Monday, October 26
Best-selling author and staff writer for The New Yorker, Malcolm Gladwell, explains his motivation for writing and assesses his body of work. Cultural historian Robin D. G. Kelley shares stories from his new biography of Thelonious Monk.
Tuesday, October 27
New York Times' columnist Nicholas D. Kristoff explains the title of his new book, Half the Sky, and shares a standout story on empowering women. Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, describes the circumstances around her imprisonment in Iran.
Wednesday, October 28
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright weighs in on the situations in Pakistan, Afhanistan and Iraq and explains the correlation between her pins and foreign policy. Country music superstar Tim McGraw explains the importance of lyrical content in country music and talks about whether he'll quit his day job for acting.
Thursday, October 29
Dr. Ruth Simmons, president of Brown University—and the first African American to helm an Ivy League school—shares her personal educational odyssey and discusses changing leadership for women and the relevance of HBCUs.
Friday, October 30
Oscar-nominated actor-producer-activist Edward Norton shares the backstory of his new documentary, By the People, and talks about training for the New York Marathon. Jazz pianist Marcus Roberts says he's trying to reintroduce people to the genre and reveals a secret of working with his trio; he also performs a track from his new CD.






















