INTERVIEW: Lynn Whitfield Talks 'The Chi,' Black Stories & Women In Hollywood, Evolution Of 'Big Screen' + More

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club Episode: INTERVIEW: Lynn Whitfield Talks 'The Chi,' Black Stories & Women In Hollywood, Evolution Of 'Big Screen' + More
Release Date: May 19, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Guests: DJ Envy, Ms. Lynn Whitfield
Duration: Approx. 54 minutes

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Introduction

The Breakfast Club begins with its usual vibrant energy, featuring hosts DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God. They introduce the episode's special guest, the legendary actress Ms. Lynn Whitfield, setting the stage for an in-depth conversation about her career, the portrayal of Black stories in Hollywood, and the evolution of the big screen.

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Guest Introduction and Background

[00:56 - 02:04]
Charlamagne Tha God welcomes Ms. Lynn Whitfield, highlighting her iconic status and contributions to the entertainment industry. The hosts express their excitement in having her on the show.

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Lynn Whitfield’s Acting Journey

[02:04 - 09:10]
Lynn delves into her recent projects, particularly her role in the Showtime series The Chi. She shares her experiences filming in South Africa, discussing the cultural and spiritual impact the country had on her. Lynn reflects on how the rich history and vibrant energy of places like Cape Town influenced her acting approach.

Notable Quote:
"Spiritually, there's a magnetic energy in Cape Town that really energized me, but it was also saddening to confront its complex history."
— Lynn Whitfield [03:25]

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Portraying Complex Characters

[09:07 - 13:29]
Lynn discusses the challenges of embodying multifaceted characters, emphasizing the importance of adding depth and nuance beyond what's written in scripts. She shares her personal struggles with emotionally taxing roles, such as portraying a character who experiences sexual assault, highlighting the need for actors to process and heal from intense scenes.

Notable Quote:
"When you play a role that's so aggressive and invasive, it takes time to process and release that energy. It's a journey of understanding the psyche behind such actions."
— Lynn Whitfield [08:50]

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Black Stories and Representation in Hollywood

[21:53 - 27:58]
The conversation shifts to the representation of Black stories in Hollywood. Lynn critiques the industry's tendency to underplay the cultural richness and creativity of Black communities. She underscores the importance of authentic storytelling and the need for more Black voices in various genres to ensure diverse narratives are portrayed accurately.

Notable Quote:
"The magic of who we are is always being downplayed. We need more stories that truly reflect our creativity and cultural depth."
— Lynn Whitfield [22:14]

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Evolution of the Big Screen and Modern Viewing Habits

[13:30 - 21:00]
Lynn reflects on how technological advancements have transformed movie-watching experiences. She compares the communal excitement of traditional theater releases to the fragmented access through streaming platforms. Lynn expresses a sense of nostalgia for the big-screen experience, where storytelling was immersive and communal.

Notable Quote:
"I fell in love with storytelling on the big screen, watching movies with my grandmother. It's sad to see that experience diluted into small screens and on-demand streaming."
— Lynn Whitfield [15:18]

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Advice for Aspiring Actors and Industry Insights

[44:45 - 47:32]
Lynn offers valuable advice to young actors entering the industry. She emphasizes the importance of honing one's craft, understanding the business aspects of acting, and leveraging social media for visibility. Lynn also touches on the challenges actors face with virtual auditions and the competitive nature of securing roles in Hollywood.

Notable Quote:
"Be exceptionally good at what you do and understand the business side of acting. Social media is now crucial for visibility and getting those opportunities."
— Lynn Whitfield [46:17]

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Reflections on Aging in Hollywood

[47:32 - 51:27]
Lynn candidly discusses the misconceptions surrounding women aging in Hollywood. She criticizes the industry's tendency to typecast older women into stereotypical roles, stripping them of their sensuality and complexity. Lynn advocates for more diverse and authentic portrayals that honor the multifaceted lives of Black women.

Notable Quote:
"It's incredibly boring how they limit older women to comfortable, one-dimensional roles. We deserve stories that reflect our true lives and complexities."
— Lynn Whitfield [49:01]

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Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

[53:05 - 54:09]
As the interview wraps up, Lynn Whitfield shares her hope for the future of Black storytelling in Hollywood. She praises emerging filmmakers like Ryan Coogler and Jordan Peele for their authentic and innovative contributions. The hosts express their gratitude for her insights and contributions to the show.

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Conclusion

This episode of The Breakfast Club offers a profound exploration of Lynn Whitfield's perspectives on acting, representation, and the evolving landscape of Hollywood. Her candid discussions provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by Black actors and storytellers in the industry today.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

1. "Spiritually, there's a magnetic energy in Cape Town that really energized me, but it was also saddening to confront its complex history."
   — Lynn Whitfield [03:25]

2. "When you play a role that's so aggressive and invasive, it takes time to process and release that energy. It's a journey of understanding the psyche behind such actions."
   — Lynn Whitfield [08:50]

3. "The magic of who we are is always being downplayed. We need more stories that truly reflect our creativity and cultural depth."
   — Lynn Whitfield [22:14]

4. "I fell in love with storytelling on the big screen, watching movies with my grandmother. It's sad to see that experience diluted into small screens and on-demand streaming."
   — Lynn Whitfield [15:18]

5. "Be exceptionally good at what you do and understand the business side of acting. Social media is now crucial for visibility and getting those opportunities."
   — Lynn Whitfield [46:17]

6. "It's incredibly boring how they limit older women to comfortable, one-dimensional roles. We deserve stories that reflect our true lives and complexities."
   — Lynn Whitfield [49:01]

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Note: This summary focuses solely on the interview content, excluding advertisements, intros, outros, and non-relevant segments to provide a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and insights shared during the episode.

Transcript

[DJ Envy]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

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[Jess Hilarious]

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[DJ Envy]

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[Carlos Miller]

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[Jess Hilarious]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wake that ass up early in the morning.

[Jess Hilarious]

The Breakfast Club Morning everybody. It's DJ Envy Jess Hilarious Charlamagne Tha God we are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building. The legendary the icon Ms. Lynn Whitfield welcome.

[DJ Envy]

Good morning.

[Jess Hilarious]

How you feeling?

[DJ Envy]

Thank you. I feel great.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Glad to hear that.

[DJ Envy]

I'm happy to be back.

[Jess Hilarious]

Look amazing.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, thank you. Thank you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You just came back from South Africa in Zimbabwe, right?

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, I came back from South Africa. I was doing a film in Cape Town. I was there like two and a.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Half months, like, for you, spiritually and culturally.

[DJ Envy]

Okay. So spiritually, there's a lot of mag. There's a magnetic forest there, you know, with Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope out there. It's so powerful. So I feel very energized by the energy of the place and often saddened by the history of the place, you know, so I have to kind of balance that out and maybe not go to the slave lodge museum right away and maybe not go to District 6 and, you know, remember Robben island and all that, you know, and just feel the energy of the place. Why it was so attractive in the first place that people wanted it so badly and still do.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah. I'm going to Cape Town for the holidays. I've been to Joburg. I've never been to Cape Town.

[DJ Envy]

It's beautiful.

[Jess Hilarious]

It's very beautiful.

[DJ Envy]

It's like a cross in topography between, say, a San Francisco and a Miami.

[Jess Hilarious]

I think it's like Miami. I always say Cape Town reminds me of Miami a lot. Durban is kind of like D.C. yeah.

[DJ Envy]

And, you know, I haven't been to, like, Chicago. Atlanta.

[Jess Hilarious]

Yep.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah. That's how I feel. But I love it there. It's my fourth time in South Africa.

[Jess Hilarious]

Now you're on season seven of the shy?

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Jess Hilarious]

How are you enjoying the Shy?

[DJ Envy]

Oh, well, I really enjoyed season seven. It was great. I mean, I went in for three episodes at the end of season six, and then I was invited back for all of season seven. And it was great. So many young, talented actors and an interesting storyline for me. So. Yeah.

[Jess Hilarious]

How do you decide what you want to do now? Right. Because you've done so many things and so many things have been impactful for our community. How do you say, you know what? I want to do it. I want to work with the young bucks on this one or I'd rather do this one. How do you decide what Ms. Linfield would be?

[DJ Envy]

I don't know. When I read it. When I read something and my imagination gets to cooking and I can see where I can add something to it. My southern mother in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who's now 94. Yay, Mom. She says. She says, well, she'll put something on or put a throw pillow on the couch or do something, and she'll stand back and she'll say, I don't know. Does it add? So if I feel like I can add something, add dimension, add deeper meaning, you know, thread something through a story that makes it better, I usually want to do it. Also, you know, I like roles that are a little bit showy, that I get to do something exciting. And.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I heard you did that with Alicia. I heard that you said you were drew to the role, not because of what was on the paper, and that you needed to fill that role out a little bit.

[DJ Envy]

Right, okay. Right. The possibility of it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[DJ Envy]

Okay. Because it was only for three. It was supposed to be for three episodes. So we have the first. The first information was she wanted her son to go and revenge the death of her brother. Okay. Which is, you know, street culture, street law, like revenge. Right. So I found that very interesting to me, because I don't understand people. I don't really understand the visceral energy of people who actually are hurt, disappointed, feel lost, and then turn that out into, I'm going to make somebody pay, because it still doesn't make the pain go away, you know? So it was very interesting to me to take that journey and kind of figure out and fill in the gaps of how a human being can decide that. Because I'm hurting. I'm gonna hurt you. I'm gonna kill you.

[Jess Hilarious]

And hopefully it makes me feel better.

[DJ Envy]

And hopefully that makes me feel better, you know, because I watch True Crime sometime and, you know, I love our country. I love. But there's a lot of gun violence going on. People are acting out in some ways that more violence will make me whole. That's crazy. That's a crazy concept to me. And so I wanted to explore that kind of psyche.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, people are just hurt and hurt people hurt people. It's pretty sick.

[DJ Envy]

Well, that's it. Well, that's exactly right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah. When you don't. When you have all that unhealed trauma that you haven't dealt with, you just go around other people.

[DJ Envy]

Exactly. So. But the journey. So we understand intellectually how that works. Right. But do we actually. If we were fly on the wall and saw people move in that direction and move to that and go and purchase a gun and go and do and all of that. So it's the nuances of it that are interesting to me, not just the, you know, the sweeping bullet point concept.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Have you ever had to emotionally recover from a role you played and which one took you out the most personally?

[Jess Hilarious]

Mmm.

[DJ Envy]

It's. It's. It's one that. It's one that nobody ever. That people didn't really see. It was a part of a trilogy of short stories that was on Showtime years and years and years ago. And with Andrew. Andrew. I can't even remember all the people who were in it, but the character was raped. And when we shot it, it was a rainy day in Toronto. And, you know, the whole thing, the being thrown down, the invasion of it. Of course, there was no sexual act, but it really took me a little while to process all that and release it because that aggressive act was so harsh to my spirit. Even though we were acting, I had to just kind of heal from it. And that was an unpleasant one. And it took a while, and I cried myself to sleep that night. So my heart goes out to, you know, women or any human beings who've been, you know, sexually assaulted. Sexually assaulted.

[Jess Hilarious]

When you hear that in the news, did that bring you back there?

[DJ Envy]

When I hear acting role, when I hear it in the news, you know, again, it's the nuances of something. So we hear, oh, somebody was raped, Somebody was sexually assaulted. But the nuances of actually that happening to you, your body being invaded, you being overpowered, you being overthrown, it's frightening, and it's painful and it's helpless.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And you've also portrayed, like, a lot of powerful matriarchs. Right. And I always wonder, like, what did?

[DJ Envy]

Well, powerful women, they're not all matriarchs, and sometimes they don't. You know, there are powerful women who don't have children. Can't have children.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's true.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I always wonder, like, what did your mother or even grandmother teach you about that, like, commanding presence that you bought to those roles?

[DJ Envy]

Oh, no, I think that's an energy that somebody's kind of born with. And my mother has it. And it's funny because my mother has this commanding presence, and she's, you know, in her youth, was really beautiful and well groomed and all of that. Yet as her daughter, I know the nuances. So this. That's why I texture all of the women, because I was raised by women who have a lot of dimensions to them, you know, who have a lot of insecurities. And sometimes insecurities are all wrapped up and dressed up, you know, in fancy clothes or, you know, jewelry and perfume and, you know, hair and all of that. But that doesn't have a lot to do with the evolution of a soul. So I find it very interesting to always go a little bit past the power and into the other nuances of who people are. So they're never just always powerful with no problems with. Without character flaws. They're not perfect. They're always some little missing link that they could make better that makes them not quite the person they want to be.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Is it even possible to capture the complexities of a human in one role? Because it feels like you can only focus on, like, one or two layers of a person.

[DJ Envy]

Well, that all. That all has to do. Well, of course, it depends on script. It depends on the way a writer allows you to develop a character. Yeah. So you can't tell the whole story. I mean, when I did Josephine Baker, we couldn't tell the host. How can you tell the host? How can I tell your entire story? You know, I mean, I could read your book, and you probably didn't tell your whole entire story. You know, that's a very specific. You can only make some decisions and take an angle and make some creative decisions and go with that. You know?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's right.

[Jess Hilarious]

You know, when you.

[DJ Envy]

Because there are. There are. If you look at a human being, there are, like, central events in people's lives that make a big difference in who they turn out to be. So you can make a choice. And that's not just the actor. That's the writer, the director. I can decide in my mind. These are events that I know that occurred in this human being's life. So that will affect how I respond. Right. Even if the audience doesn't see it. The audience seeing those. Those important events that happen to you help them have more compassion for your mistakes. I think, understand. I mean, there's so many people that we love in the world who are cultural icons, you know, big mistakes. You make mistakes. Well, something happened when you. Something had to happen long before you made these mistakes that skewed your judgment, you know, so it. I believe that human beings were born good. No baby is born a villain. No baby is born a murderer. And it's up to, you know, how they're parented, what they're surrounded by, what they're exposed to, who they turn out to be.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's right.

[Jess Hilarious]

I was gonna ask about the evolution of Hollywood. Right. Meaning I don't think people look at movies as they did back then. I wanted to get your thoughts on it. Right. Cause, you know, when a movie came out, everybody wanted to go see that movie. But now I feel like we don't have that same. That same feeling towards movies. A lot of the times, like, I was just talking to Charlamagne about the Clarissa Shields movie. And I was like, it was an amazing movie but I forgot it came out. It came out on Christmas and I happened to see it on a plane and I'm like, damn, this was good.

[DJ Envy]

Movie movie. And you didn't. Yeah, well, technology has sort of changed everything I think, you know, because everything is accessible. When, when movie culture was a family event, when people waited with baited breath to go and see a movie, the opening of a movie, it was because they weren't going to see it. If you miss it in the movie theater, you might not see it until.

[Jess Hilarious]

It went to Blockbuster. I know I'm telling my age, but yes, when we went to Blockbuster until.

[DJ Envy]

You could get it at block. Damn Blockbuster, Blockbuster in a long time. But it was so like great because it's a family event. You know, everybody gets together, you go in. People even used to like want to look cute. They have dinner before and the family goes to the movies and shares this idea even. I mean I loved drive ins. Drive ins were great because we go in our pajamas. But no, it's not like that anymore because people have access. Sometimes they have access to the movie before it's in a movie theater. So technology has kind of changed all that.

[Jess Hilarious]

But does that kill the experience? Like we were talking about even sinners. Like he said, you want to see it on IMAX because the sounds and the quality and seeing it on airplane TV is not doing anything for.

[DJ Envy]

Well, can I tell you it's still.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Going to be good when it comes out?

[DJ Envy]

No, no, of course it's going to be good. But when I trained to be an actress, you know, when I was at Howard, when I trained, you know, privately after college and all that I was training to be On a big 30 foot screen, it was not occurring to me that people would be watching my image on a 3 inch screen on a phone. It really, that part makes me a little sad sometimes. Yeah. Because I fell in love with movies and storytelling, watching things on a big screen, or at least the million dollar movie with my grandmother when you could, you know, but this had been a movie and you couldn't see it anywhere else unless you caught them. You know, you caught the late night movie and it was playing again. You couldn't just on demand it somewhere. Well, what's the difference?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like how do you approach it differently as opposed to okay, I know this is going to be on a film big screen, this is going to be on tv. Like how do you do you approach it differently when you act a little bit wow. Okay.

[DJ Envy]

Okay. When you know something is going to be on a big screen and you trust the director. I'm so excited because I just did a thriller with Malcolm D. Lee. That's what I was doing in South Africa. So I'm excited. And we know that it is made for the movie theater. Okay. So when a screen is 30ft tall, you really can think a thought and it will transmit. You know, you don't have to show people what you're feeling. You can simply feel what you're feeling, you know, and that's so beautiful. But if you know it's on a tiny, a small screen, it kind of gives you freedom to be more animated, you know, I mean, you know, on a 30 foot screen, I mean, I don't, I don't want to see people's lips trembling and all that, but you know what I mean? I don't want to see somebody, you know, if they're surprised, like eyes, but because that, that means your eyes are like 15ft. It's big, you know, and invasive. And I think is film just pulls you into the experience, you know, and the smaller the screen, the. You don't have to think about it quite as much. So it can be different. But good acting is good acting. Believable. Acting is believable anywhere. It could be on the stage, a big screen, television.

[Jess Hilarious]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

But there are little nuances that can change when you're doing it for big screen. How do you like seeing stories? How do you like to take it?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's an interesting question. I mean, I'm hearing you say it now. And then I heard like one of my production partners, we was talking earlier this week and he was like, you shoot it, then after you shoot it, you determine where it's going to where it's going to live, or you can tell where it's going to live. And I had me just thinking, I personally think I like the theater, even though I like the comfort of home. But certain things I want to go see in theater. Like I enjoyed watching Cinez and theaters I went to go see.

[DJ Envy]

I can't wait for that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I enjoyed it. Theater. I still enjoy the theater.

[DJ Envy]

Well, too bad I'm leaving. We could go.

[Jess Hilarious]

You could have went. But I like home too, because I like the comfort of my home and the safety of my home. Now with everything going on, I like being home.

[DJ Envy]

I know every now and then. I remember last year I was in Chicago. I went to see pretty things. I forgot the name of it, but it was, it won the Oscar and I was leaning back on the seat, and the seat was kind of tweedy, and all of a sudden I got into my mind, like, oh, my God. What if somebody, like, had some kind of something that I could catch from being.

[Jess Hilarious]

Now you scratching the whole time. I know you're not enjoying.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Now. I'd be like that when I go to the matinees. Because I go to matinees and so nobody's in there, and so I'll be all the way to the top. So if somebody comes up there and sits by me, I'm like, why would you come all the way.

[DJ Envy]

All the way up there to sit?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's a whole.

[DJ Envy]

What in the world?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Y.

[DJ Envy]

That's like being at a gym.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes.

[DJ Envy]

And the gym is completely empty.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes.

[DJ Envy]

Why in the world are you going to choose the treadmill right next to me? I don't want to hear you grunting and breathing, you know?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And I like the theater experience now because I'm learning, like, how the IMAX experience enhances it.

[DJ Envy]

All right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The other day I went to go see Thunderbolts. I want to go see Thunderbolts last week, and I want to go see it in. Was it RPK or RPX or something like that? And you can. You can.

[DJ Envy]

You felt it?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

All the rumbling, all this more experiential kind of. Well, we certainly need really quality escapism right now. I would say so, yeah. It's great to be enveloped in an experience and lose oneself to just being. Taking in. Taking in another story, taking in humanity from another point of view, whether it's action or whatever it is. Romance, sensual, whatever. It's just great to leave our problems behind and step into somebody else's reality. I think.

[Jess Hilarious]

Now you talking about. Okay, you were talking about black stories.

[DJ Envy]

I know. You going to call me Lynn?

[Jess Hilarious]

No, he said Ms. Lynch.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You used to say Ms. Lynn.

[DJ Envy]

No, just Lyn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I never called you no, Lynn. I said hey.

[DJ Envy]

No, but would you please call me Lynn?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I can say Ms. Lynn.

[Jess Hilarious]

Oh, this is respectful.

[DJ Envy]

It is respectful. Okay, miss. All right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Ms. Lynn ain't cool, right?

[DJ Envy]

Well, I. Then if you're going to do that, I probably like Ms. Whitfield better.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Ms. Whitfield.

[DJ Envy]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I was.

[Jess Hilarious]

You know, when we talk about Ms. Lynn.

[DJ Envy]

Sounds too Southern for you?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Born and raised.

[Jess Hilarious]

I'm from New York. He's from South Carolina.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Raised in Mon. Corn.

[Jess Hilarious]

Really?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, ma' am.

[DJ Envy]

I never would have thought so.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Absolutely. Born and raised. All my family there right now.

[DJ Envy]

Really?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Mother, dad, in laws, brothers, sisters, everybody cousins.

[DJ Envy]

I didn't know who. Okay. We country kin now. That's right, that's right. But my Baton Rouge self.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah. Okay.

[Jess Hilarious]

I was asking about, you know, you talked earlier about our stories, black stories. Why do you think it's still so hard for black stories to be told and sold in Hollywood when, you know, obviously we're supporting. People are going to see, but they just don't want to produce them.

[DJ Envy]

Now. You know, we could just go on and on.

[Jess Hilarious]

We got a little time.

[DJ Envy]

Well, the relevancy of, of, of who we are as a people, the entertaining nature of who we are as a people, the magic of who we are.

[Jess Hilarious]

Course.

[DJ Envy]

Is always being downplayed, is always being made less important than it is in every, in, in every aspect of our culture. I mean, in fashion, nobody is going to say, wow, this is really something that was very much influenced by the wraps that were worn by men in some, you know, western African tribe.

[Jess Hilarious]

Even The Met galamy 31 million. How much went to organizations that benefit black and brown people.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is zero.

[DJ Envy]

So, you know, I just came back from South Africa, a country that I love, I love this country, but that the supremacy of others and the self importance of others. And I feel the insecurity of our wonder, you know, being threatened by our majesty, our creativity. So it's constantly a threat to people. It's constantly being belittled and made less important. That's just the nature of it because, you know, I thought I would be, you know, just getting away from some things, being in another country for two and a half months. But it is so the through. I mean, I go to Victoria Falls, which is called Mosa Tuna, you know, and that's the storm, the storm that thunders. I think that's the tribal, you know, Xhosa. I think it's close to the language and that was the name of it. So this English explorer comes the tribes show him this seventh one of the seven wonders of the world. And he says that Livingston, you know, oh, this is marvelous. Yes, I discovered this. I think I should gift it to the Queen and name it after Crazy. So that's Victoria Falls, you know. So it's a constant kind of wanting something that doesn't belong to you or wanting to quiet things that are threatening to you or makes you seem less interesting or is has commercial value but you want to own it. So that, I mean, it's the same story over and over and over and over again. So sometimes I feel like if we just keep just talking about it, we're just romancing, you know, like, oh, dead mess. Because I can't see, I can't see white supremacy disappearing. I can't see the need to, to make others small, to feel strong. I don't see it leaving. Right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And the hilarious thing about white supremacy is that we're not the threat to your existence. White supremacists are the threat to white supremacist existence.

[DJ Envy]

Well, of course. But when you get to the point when we're just even hitting the tip of an iceberg, talking about cultural things, artistic things, and why, you know, soldiers story, which was so just play could be done and do all that box office back 30 years ago with Adolph, Caesar and Denzel, you know, and then after that there's still a dearth or how you could have Lady Sings the Blues and it'd be so incredible. But you know, thank God HBO said what, 20 years later, let's do Josephine Baker. I mean, how many stories? So it doesn't matter often like what the box office is, that it actually made money. They just don't see the relevance of filling our theaters with more.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

And sometimes we maybe don't even. We maybe don't, you know, put forth the stories that move us forward. I mean, this, there's so much complexity in race in every corner of it. What do you think?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I think everything you just said is absolutely correct, you know, but I.

[DJ Envy]

But does it make you tired? You have these conversations.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Does it make you, you know, you know why?

[DJ Envy]

Because you have so many of these conversations.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It makes me tired when we're not doing anything about it. But I think that there's a lot of people that's doing things about it. And I'm not looking for.

[DJ Envy]

Ryan Coogler's definitely doing stuff.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Exactly.

[DJ Envy]

I am just. Ryan, I want to work with you. You are brilliant. He is just so brilliant and courageous and just an authentic, you know, just so multi layered in his message. So there's always, always something that moves us forward. You know, we got all the leaders. We got and now, and now maybe we have a Pope who will be some voice in something to speak up. You know, it's. There's always. I have faith, I hope, but I have faith that there'll always be something that will bring a balance to, to it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, that's something. That's always God, I think.

[DJ Envy]

Well, yeah, God is always it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

But God will always provide.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

Some new voice, some new leader, groom somebody that we don't know. That'll come out of nowhere and help us to get through this.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I. I love you.

[Jess Hilarious]

They said you have to leave at 9:45.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, I do.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Exactly. Relax.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, you're just tired of me.

[Jess Hilarious]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[DJ Envy]

Perfect.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, I love your longevity in the game. I don't think we applaud that enough in people. Just the fact that somebody can be around for so long and be so consistent. Right. Was there ever a time in your career when you felt.

[Jess Hilarious]

Hey, what up, y' all? It's DJ Envy. The first few months of 2025 have been quite a year. Work deadlines, group chats you can't escape, and your weird cousin's latest overshare. It's a lot. But here's some good news.

[DJ Envy]

You.

[Jess Hilarious]

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[DJ Envy]

Panoramic moonroof, ambient lighting, bows and massaging leather. Appointed seats are optional features.

[Carlos Miller]

Hey fam, if you're like me, you're thinking about how to level up in your career. Maybe you're fresh out of college, just started in your field, or even looking to switch things up and find your true calling. Whatever stage you're in, remember that this is your time to grow, to learn, and to build something that lasts. State Farm understands that early career development is key to long term success. They've been a steady presence in our communities and they know that having the right support early on can make all the difference. State Farm is there to help you make smart moves and to help you get the coverage you need. We all know the journey to success is a marathon, not a sprint. It's about staying focused, staying grounded, and making sure you're protected every step of the way. Let's build our careers with confidence, knowing that State Farm is there to support us. Just like they've always been. Because like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Find out [e-mail] these days I can.

[Lynn Whitfield]

Do anything from my phone book. A vacation, order a meal from a five star restaurant, buy and trade stocks. But maybe the most amazing thing I can do is make my dirty laundry disappear and then reappear perfectly washed and folded. I have rinse to thank for that. I just schedule a pickup in the Rinse app [e-mail] a rince valet comes to get my clothes and before I know it they're back, crisply folded and ready to wear. They even do dry cleaning which is returned hanging in a nice rinse garment bag. And with rinse my satisfaction is guaranteed. If for any reason I'm not happy, they'll reclean my clothes for free. Best of all, Rinse saves me tons of time each week. That's time I get to do something I love versus something I have to do. So if you want to save loads of time by not doing loads of laundry, remember there's an app for that Rinse. Sign up now and get $20 off your first order at rinse.com that's R I N S E dot com at.

[DJ Envy]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

And how did you push through that season?

[DJ Envy]

Well, you were just talking about God, right? So those times when, say, God, I've contributed, I've done, you know, I've tried to do good work all this time. Why is nobody seeing it? Why is the continuum right? So yeah, that happens. And then I have to have faith that this gift that was deposited in me, this purpose that was put in to me, what is not there for nothing. And that the right vehicle will come. Or perhaps maybe what God is saying, well, you need to do the right thing for your damn self, right? Because I've given you all kinds of talent to do so. So, you know, whether or not I'm obedient to that, you know, we'll know maybe in our next conversation. But of course. And I get through it with God. I get through it with my love of storytelling, my love of acting, of being a part of this phenomenon.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why wouldn't you be obedient to God telling you to make your own? Like, what would even be the hesitation?

[DJ Envy]

I don't. I don't think it's a hesitation of. I don't know if I should do it. It's the energetic. The energetic activity of what it takes to do it and to sell it, you know, to see it all the way through. That's why I'm saying Ryan Coogler is just so inspiring, you know, because he went all around Africa, to many, many countries before he did Black Panther, you know, researching. He researched the blues and all those. So it. I mean, so it takes. It's me wanting to put forth all the energy, effort, layers that it takes in a craft that. That I haven't spent my life developing, like, acting, telling the story, but creating the story, like taking a pen and putting it on paper. And I kind of always want to be good at what I do. So the sloppy copy, I just feel like, yeah, the sloppy copy might scare the shit out of me. You know what I mean? Like, oh, my God, I can't do this. You know, like a blank page. So that's why it's not a brazen disobedience. It's more maybe a lack of confidence in that area.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I love when I hear the OGs talk about people like Ryan. Cause I wonder, what is Ryan doing that you haven't seen before? Because the Gordon Parks and the Melvin Van Peebles and the Kathleen Collins, the Spike Lees, all of these people have created great black work as well.

[DJ Envy]

What Ryan is doing is taking that same kind of authority, creativity, authenticity, into genres that we're not usually.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Got you.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah. You know, so that. So that's wonderful. You know, so we have voices and being told in all those areas, you know, sinners is, you know, well, there's. But, yeah, it's vampires, right? And the blues. And, you know, so authentically moving us into. Not camp, not, you know, just authentically like this is a real story. Not like a shiny costume, but a tweed suit. And it's been around a long time.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It has character and it still feels black.

[DJ Envy]

And it's. Yeah, that's exactly right. So. So that's why I applaud him. So. Because we need the new voices, right? We're talking about new voices. We need new creative leadership. We need. We need fresh energy all the time.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I think Jordan Peele does a good job, too.

[DJ Envy]

Yes. Yes, he does. He really really, really does a really great job. He's. And I think there's so much more to come.

[Jess Hilarious]

Is there a movie role that you turned down that after seeing the movie you was like, damn, I shouldn't have turned that one down. I like that movie. Or a part or a character.

[DJ Envy]

No, there. There were one or two that they didn't choose me for that I thought I should have done. But then, you know, you can never name those. Y' all are not.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I would have did a way better job than that.

[DJ Envy]

You're not gonna rip me a new asshole over there. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, we're not. We're gonna leave here with this. It's gonna be smooth sailing.

[Jess Hilarious]

Right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I've seen a lot of people online comparing the role of Alicia to your Lady Mae role. Have you seen that? And how do you feel about those comparisons?

[DJ Envy]

I mean, they can do what they want.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

I think, you know, Alicia, Lady Mae, they have a kingdom and they're not going to lose it. You know, they have, you know what they have, they're not going to lose. Lady Mae would not pick up a gun and go kill somebody. She might pray you out of the church, but she wouldn't take someone's life. Lady Mae is a God fearing woman who feels that putting her faith in God will help her do what she needs to do. Lady Mae had a long standing love affair with her actual real husband, even though they had problems. So it was a much more organized family structure. Alicia's out there on her own, you know, divorced by herself, trying to make something of her son, not having much faith in anything. So therefore feeling like she's got to take care of it all. They have in common that they're well groomed women, but I really pay more attention to the diversity in these women's emotional experiences. So for me, they're very different.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I think they're looking at the. The on screen diva.

[DJ Envy]

Well, that. Well, this is it. And yeah, yeah. Not. Not like who they are. And it's not always my fault. I am not somebody who says it's in my contract that I have to have fabulous clothes and I take them home with me when I go. They must be gorgeous. They must be designer. People see that in me and they. It always just. Even if I'm trying to be less. But did you see my film Albany Road? You didn't see that. You didn't see Albany Road because it was an independent film that didn't have great distribution. But there's absolutely no glamour. It was Last year we won several film awards and it's me and Renee, at least Goldsberry and a lot of great actors. But you see that stuff. They don't. It doesn't say I was funny, I was not glamorous.

[Jess Hilarious]

I wasn't your typical part, as you would say.

[DJ Envy]

No, no, no. So there are. I've played my maid and you know, and this and. But they don't see them. They don't seem to stick. They like people like what they like. They like.

[Jess Hilarious]

Yeah, they like seeing. But do you still. You don't still audition or do you still audition? Do you enjoy the audition process or is it one of those things now you're like, give me what I want.

[DJ Envy]

We just talked about Hollywood now. Why are you asking me so? Because you're OG and a legend and.

[Jess Hilarious]

You got the hits on the board.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, I do. I do. I've made classics. I mean, you know, I'm a horse that you can bet on, you know, absolutely bet on me. I'm not going. I will not. I will not break a leg or lose the race for you. I will take it to the end and people will feel something. That's the truth. But that is not always rewarded. And there's, you know, so, yeah, many times I'm invited to do things. I was invited to do the shy. I was invited to do Albany Road. I was invited to do the film I just did with Malcolm D. Lee, which I have great expectation that it'll be good. But then sometimes it's like, oh, really? Well, we just need to see her. We need to see her do it, prove it. And many, many, many, many, many people. Yeah.

[Jess Hilarious]

After the.

[DJ Envy]

And now you're not even.

[Jess Hilarious]

All of that.

[DJ Envy]

What, what would the Golden Globe nomination. And after the. Absolutely, absolutely. It's because here's the thing. So much of casting in Hollywood and Hollywood is based upon fear. So, like, you don't want to make a mistake. A director wants to be sure, maybe that you can deliver their vision of something. And nobody wants to take the blame. Nobody wants to take a fall. So show me. Prove it to me. I don't know if every, every, everybody goes through, but I think if you asked many actors, probably not Denzel or Sam or, you know, this, it tends to be a little bit easier for our male stars than women.

[Jess Hilarious]

Do you feel you get the flowers you deserve for all the roles and the hits and the big movies and the big shows? Do you feel like you get the flowers that you deserve?

[DJ Envy]

Honestly, look. Well, let me say, I think I'M more in the market for, like. Cause, you know, flowers wilt and die. So I'm good with. I mean, I understand when they say, I want to give you your flowers while you. I know, but, you know, give me some diamonds. Give me some things that stick, that continue to. To gain value. And so classics. So an opportunity to do more films or stories that will be classics, that will stick around after I'm long gone is what I want. I don't need so much people sitting around saying, oh, you did so good, and you're an icon, and, you know, on your shoulders, you open doors for me. I'm like, I'm opening doors for myself still. I, you know, I still have stuff I want to do, you know. So the Black Critics association honored me this year at their luncheon. Not at their evening, big gala, but it was beautiful at the luncheon because it's more intimate and people.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why y' all ain't honor Ms. Whitfield at that goddamn.

[DJ Envy]

Gil, Gil, don't. Don't listen to that. No, Gil. You know. Gil, no. Cause people really talk real smack at the luncheon. They really. It's not so formal. I really, really enjoyed it. And I said something there that I really would not say probably at the gala, which is, thank you so much for the respect. Thank you for giving me flowers.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That.

[DJ Envy]

I open doors for you, and you're inspired and all that. But, I mean, I really don't feel comfortable when people say, you know, on your shoulders I stand. And please don't stand on my shoulders because I need to be laying on my feet. I'm not going to be put in some corner. And as long as I can just keep this faith. I heard that ULT therapy and red light therapy really, you know, tightens skin. So as long as I can keep it, then I have so much I want to do.

[Jess Hilarious]

What do you tell the young actress in college right now, Hampton University that is looking to be in this game? What do you tell that individual?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You heard that little shot he tried to throw him? He just trying to.

[DJ Envy]

Is that your child or your girlfriend or who you talking to?

[Jess Hilarious]

I went to the real agent.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, you. I'm trying to. I just want to know who you talking to.

[Jess Hilarious]

Just talking about the young. Just the young age right now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She would tell her transfer to Howard.

[DJ Envy]

That's what she was telling. No, that is so mean. That is so mean. I would say, you know, that it's really important to really be good at what you do, to work on the techniques that will give you the upper hand when all that stuff is going on. You know, auditioning nerves, you know, action, you know, everything's going people if you have to have your game plan. So that's called technique. So I would say, you know, real study so that you have command of your own talent is really important. And then after that to understand the shifts in this business that would give you visibility to even be considered, you know, that is important. Social media is important. Now where, where are people finding talent? You know, so figuring out the business part of it and how you can attain it because agents don't even want to represent people who don't already have credits.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

And then out in Hollywood, you know, everything's behind the gate, but every audition is like virtual. So you don't even get to there. There is no couch thing even that you have to worry about because there's. They just virtual. It's all virtual. You don't even have to be worried about that. It's like, oh, can you send a tape? It has to be in by 5 o' clock. And you know, they get 100 tapes and then a casting director goes through that. So you don't even have the opportunity for your personality to stand out or whatever you're trying to.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I thought everybody said you don't even have the opportunity to sweep your way to the top.

[DJ Envy]

No, I didn't want to say it because I have to be careful. Like Lynn Whitfield was talking about. What is she doing for young? I'm just like, I don't know. People take things out of front of you. I got you. Yeah, yeah. So you don't even get to get in the room. So learn the business and how you can amplify your talent. But first, please be good, be good. Mediocrity, it's just the most boring thing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I just got two more questions because I know you gotta go. What does success look like to you at 25 and how's that definition changed now?

[DJ Envy]

Oh, at 25 I wanted an Oscar. I still don't have one. I haven't even been in anything that would give me a consideration for an Oscar. I haven't even been in that conversation. I would, I don't know. That was just a childhood. It's superficial. I know it is, but oh my goodness. I just, it was just something I romanced in my life. Right. So I still have the 25 year old version of that, but now I just am more comfortable with myself and I trust myself more. And what was different about my 25 year old self? Than now. I think I was much more of a romantic. And. And. And now I'm not so much of a romantic, really. I don't think so. I. Okay, here's the thing. I am a romantic, but I thought that being a romantic about life meant that you would find the best of romance, that life would be so romantic. And I don't think that life is as romantic as I thought.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Got you. You are aging like fine wine. Right. So what's the most misunderstood thing about being a woman who ages publicly in Hollywood?

[DJ Envy]

That they. That there's some kind of neutering thing that goes on, you know, where you don't think of women as sensual or sexual beings or real, you know, real women. It's stereotypical things that begin to happen in terms of roles and casting and writing. And that's what our black writers do it as well. It's not. It's not a white Hollywood thing where this happens. It just happen it. And it's boring as shit. It's really a boring.

[Jess Hilarious]

Sexy. You can still be romantic. You don't have to grandma me. You don't have to auntie me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's why I call you Ms. Whitfield, because if I call you Lynn.

[DJ Envy]

But that's boring, though.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, but.

[DJ Envy]

But that's boring to call me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But you still got that everything. You still got the sexiness.

[DJ Envy]

Well, it's fun. That's why I said if I get this old therapy, just keeping everything. The old. The red light.

[Jess Hilarious]

And now you put the mask on and the red light mask.

[DJ Envy]

I have it. I don't do it as often as I should, but I'm going to because that would be the only thing. Just keeping everything tight.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's the energy about you? It's the energy that you have. It's the energy Stephanie Mills has. It's an energy. It's an energy.

[Jess Hilarious]

Phylicia Rashad.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Felicia Rashad. Oh, my God. Lord.

[DJ Envy]

Yes. So. So that's it. I just. I just think they do that. And that's boring. It is so, so boring how they. The stories that they write, how you. How you're perceived.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I get what you're saying. They want to write you into parts that they think an older woman should be playing. Basically.

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Yes. They want to write that in, you know, comfortable role. Everybody ain't got children. There are barren women. There are women who've never had children, who are really interesting, who have a life. And even if you do have children, people have lives separate from their kids and their husbands and their, like, Appendage Rose. I. I don't know. I'm very. Just fascinated by interesting women who continue to be productive and have. Have a life. And they do, and we do. So I don't like that.

[Jess Hilarious]

Well, we appreciate you for joining us, always.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, I don't want to end on something I said I don't like. That's so boring.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[DJ Envy]

Does that sound fussy? No, no, no. But I mean, no, I know we have to go, but you all always get me talking, and I always leave here saying, did I say anything? That's going to be.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You've earned the right to say whatever the fuck you want.

[Jess Hilarious]

That's okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right, Right.

[DJ Envy]

But did he tell you that I was one of the early people to make him take his hat out? And I don't know how many people have felt his head. He starts coming here and how. It just is amazing. I'm just so happy. And I've seen you without. And you're very handsome without it.

[Jess Hilarious]

I like it when you come up here. He starts to blushing and. And pace back in the field.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, I saw y' all sitting up in here looking bored as shit. Before I got in here, she was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

In the back looking up.

[DJ Envy]

But thank you so much for the gist.

[Jess Hilarious]

No, he does.

[DJ Envy]

But thank you so much. And thank you for supporting the shy and all my cast mates and mainly for supporting me always. And always being kind and never making me too controversial. But I was saying maybe I need more controversy because then I. You don't think so?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You don't want it to be contrived. That's why I'm glad. What you. I don't know if he was trying to do that, but contrived. Contrivancy, like contrived controversy.

[DJ Envy]

You don't need that. I don't. Right. I can't even do it. I know I can't. But, you know, the people who do, they find them more, you know. Come on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

See, I don't agree with that.

[DJ Envy]

I'm so.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't agree with that. I feel like the people who are actually good. Because you said that earlier. Make sure you're good. You're actually good. Everybody knows that you're great.

[Jess Hilarious]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I think that's this. It hurts to say, but it's a lost art of being great. But anytime you're doing art, you should be being great. Yeah, I have a lot of great people out here.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah. Or at least trying. You know, we can make mistakes and do a sloppy copy and maybe it didn't work. But keep working at it and getting down to the right. Do you want to act?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, I'm actually going to be. I'm producing.

[DJ Envy]

You're producing? Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I like producing.

[DJ Envy]

Okay, that's good. I could see that. What about you?

[Jess Hilarious]

I did before, but I'm. I'm good.

[DJ Envy]

You good?

[Jess Hilarious]

I'm good.

[DJ Envy]

I know it's a lot of work. It's harder work than.

[Jess Hilarious]

It's a lot of work. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Well, you all, thank you so much.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Thank you.

[Jess Hilarious]

Season seven of the Shot is streaming now. Ms. Lynn Whitfield, thank you so much.

[DJ Envy]

You're quite welcome. Thank you for having me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wake that ass up in the morning.

[DJ Envy]

The Breakfast Club.

[Jess Hilarious]

Did you know using your browser in incognito mode doesn't actually protect your privacy? Take back your Privacy with IPVanish VPN. Just one tap and all your data, passwords, communications, browsing history and more will be instantly protected. Ipvanish makes you virtually invisible online. Use Ipvanish on all your devices, anytime you go online, at home, and especially on Public Wi Fi. Get IPVanish now for 70% off a yearly plan with this exclusive [e-mail] audio I'm Clayton English.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm Greg Lod.

[Carlos Miller]

And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Last year, a lot of the problems.

[DJ Envy]

Of the drug war. This year, a lot of the biggest.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Names in music and sports.

[Carlos Miller]

This kind of star studded a little bit, man.

[DJ Envy]

We met them at their homes, we met them at the recording studios. Stories matter, and it brings a face to it.

[Carlos Miller]

It makes it real.

[DJ Envy]

It really does. It makes it real.

[Carlos Miller]

Listen to new episodes of the Warren Trip Drugs Podcast Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Jess Hilarious]

Hi, I'm Sam Mullins and I've got a new podcast coming out called Go Boy. The gritty true story of how one man fought his way out of some of the darkest places imaginable.

[DJ Envy]

Roger Caron was 16 when first convicted.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Had spent 24 of those years in jail.

[Jess Hilarious]

But when Roger Caron picked up a pen and paper, he went from an ex con to. To a literary darling from Campside Media and iHeart Podcasts. Listen to GoBoy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[DJ Envy]

You feelin this too is a horror anthology podcast.

[Carlos Miller]

It brings different creators to tell ten vile.

[Jess Hilarious]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[DJ Envy]

Grotesque. Oh, my God. Horrific stories on what scares them the most. You feeling this too? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to an iHeart podcast.