Rich and Kevin head to New York and take a detour from their usual political breakdowns to embrace a more cultural moment—catching Denzel Washington live in Othello. From stage brilliance to campaign basics, they unpack the power of storytelling, the decline of true organizing, and how the Democratic Party needs to stop depending on data and start depending on people. Oh, and they definitely got smoke for modern organizers and media consultants. This one’s for the political junkies and the cinephiles.

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📍 01:00 – Denzel in Othello & What Makes a Real Actor
The gentlemen break down their live theater experience and Denzel’s stage presence. Spoiler: it’s different when you’re breathing the same air as greatness.

📍 06:14 – Top 5 Denzel Performances & Oscar Robberies
Favorite Denzel flicks—Malcolm X, Training Day, The Hurricane—and wonder how the Academy keeps getting it wrong.

📍 11:06 – Movie Star vs. Actor
Rich and Kevin debate who’s acting and who’s just cashing checks. Is Whoopi underrated? Is The Rock even acting?

📍 21:53 – Rallies Ain’t Organizing & Digital Ain’t Strategy
They challenge the lazy campaign tactics of today. Spoiler alert: a viral post isn’t a voter contact.

📍 30:06 – When Data Becomes a Crutch Instead of a Tool
The duo explains how over-reliance on data and underinvestment in community organizing leads to political failure. our turn.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🐍 Denzel Washington – For his unmatched consistency, craft, and commitment to excellence. From stage to screen, he’s still setting the bar.
🐍 Whoopi Goldberg – A true EGOT and trailblazer whose impact transcends entertainment.
🐍 The OG Organizers – Those who knocked doors with clipboards, phone books, and heart. Respect.
Black Broadway Excellence – From Denzel to Viola to Samuel L., they continue to carry the torch of unapologetic storytelling.

Rich and Kevin go deep on the cost of courage in politics. From Congressman Al Green’s unapologetic stand against Trump to Rich’s powerful testimony at the Georgia State Capitol about his personal battle with kidney failure, this one’s a gut punch. They expose how weak party leadership, bad strategy, and cowardice are failing the people—especially in the South. The duo pulls no punches talking about Medicaid, healthcare hypocrisy, and why the Democratic Party needs new blood, new tactics, and a serious backbone.

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📍 02:35 – Al Green Stands Alone when courage looks like shaking your cane. Congressman Al Green becomes the only member of Congress to call out Trump during his address—and gets censured while 10 Democrats side with the GOP.

📍 10:56 – Losing the Narrative: How Democrats Keep Fumbling the Bag
Town halls > bingo cards. Kevin and Rich explain how the Democratic Party missed a huge opportunity to connect with real voters during Trump’s speech.

📍 15:05 – Personal Becomes Political: Rich’s Kidney Journey
Testimony from the trenches. Rich shares how his personal battle with kidney failure turned him into an unexpected advocate for Medigap insurance coverage in Georgia.

📍 23:27 – Health Care Hypocrisy: Pro-Life but Not Pro-Care
They fight to birth them, then cut the funding. The hosts expose the contradiction of right-wing politics when it comes to healthcare, Medicaid, and kids.

📍 34:09 – Time for New Blood: The Party Needs a Trade
Where’s the coach? Who’s the LeBron? A fiery conversation about stale leadership in the South, rising stars like Jasmine Crockett, and why it's time to stop waiting our turn.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…

🐍 Congressman Al Green – For standing 10 toes down, refusing to be silenced, and carrying the torch of Southern Black resistance.
🐍 Rich McDaniel – For turning pain into purpose and testifying on behalf of 45,000+ dialysis patients who need real healthcare solutions.
🐍 American Kidney Fund – For stepping up where the government hasn’t, helping people cover lifesaving treatments without red tape.
🐍 All HBCUs – For shaping underdogs into leaders, holding students accountable with love, and building generational excellence.
🐍 The Southern Black Political Tradition – For being the last line of defense and the loudest voice of truth, even when the party stays quiet.

In this episode of Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast, Rich and Kevin break down the intersection of culture, politics, and influence—who’s using their platform for change and who’s just collecting checks. From Outkast’s long-overdue Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination to the legacy of Barack Obama, the duo explores the power of entertainers, athletes, and institutions like HBCUs in shaping Black political engagement. Plus, Rich shares a deeply personal story about how a chance encounter and a little tough love got him into Morehouse.

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📍 03:12 – Outkast & The Politics of Celebrity Influence:
Does every Black artist have to be an activist, or is it enough just to make great art?

📍 09:52 – Do Celebrity Endorsements Still Move the Needle?
John Legend, Dave Chappelle, and why some artists actually show up for the people.

📍 19:55 – Michael, Kobe, LeBron: The Evolution of Athlete Activism
From "Republicans buy sneakers too" to More Than A Vote—how sports stars got political.

📍 26:39 – Malcolm vs. Martin, Obama vs. The System:
Good cop, bad cop, or just two necessary sides of the same fight for justice?

📍 46:34 – How a Random Conversation Got Rich Into Morehouse:
A lesson in faith, fate, and the power of just showing up.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Awards Go To…

🐍 Barack & Michelle Obama (and the whole damn family, including Bo & Sunny) – For redefining Black excellence on the world stage with intelligence, class, and an unshakable sense of purpose.

🐍 HBCUs Everywhere – For taking in kids the world overlooked and molding them into leaders who change the game.

🐍 The Educators Who See Potential Before You See It in Yourself – Special shoutout to Ms. Portia Potts, William Murray, Michael Hodge, Andre Patillo, and the countless Black teachers shaping futures every day.

🐍 Outkast – For showing the world that being unapologetically Southern, weird, and Black is a damn superpower.

🐍 Dave Chappelle & John Legend – For understanding that showing up for the people matters more than just saying the right things.