The Breakfast Club BEST OF - Patti LaBelle, Kirk Franklin & Pastor Jamal Bryant Interview

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Airdate: December 24, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Special Guests: Patti LaBelle, Kirk Franklin, Pastor Jamal Bryant, Lauren LaRosa

Episode Overview

This "Best Of" episode revisits memorable segments with three luminaries: gospel legend Kirk Franklin, influential Pastor Jamal Bryant, and iconic singer and entrepreneur Patti LaBelle. The conversations span faith and activism, Black business empowerment, ownership, resilience, community, and legacy, all infused with signature Breakfast Club candidness and humor.

1. Uplifting the Community: Call-In Segment & Opening Banter

Key Segment: 03:07–13:35

Highlights:

• Hosts reflect on the spirit of Christmas Eve, their gratitude for the listeners, and the meaning of serving the community.
• DJ Envy shares excitement about being at Patti LaBelle's house for a home-cooked meal, calling it a privilege ("Ms. Patti LaBelle is not a person that you meet, she's a spirit you experience." – Charlamagne, 04:17).
• Callers open up about holiday stress, family, community jobs, and financial pressures, highlighting mutual support and celebrating small victories.

Notable Quotes:

• Charlamagne: “It’s beautiful when your kids know you’re broke—it means they understand.” (06:14)
• Jess Hilarious: “Money comes and goes, and you got life and good health—that’s most important.” (06:45)
• Caller (Eric): “The politics is so real, man, messing up the holiday season.” (05:18)
• Boiler Hero: “I’m out here just saving, 24/7, so if anybody needs heat, just hit the boy!” (07:53)
• Charlamagne: “I like people that take their job serious, man.” (07:47)

2. Pastor Jamal Bryant: Accountability, Black Businesses, and the Target Fast

Key Segment: 13:54–24:54, 27:53–31:25

Main Discussion Points:

• 40-Day Target Fast: Pastor Bryant reveals an organized economic protest urging Black communities to temporarily halt spending at Target.
• Strategic Targeting: He explains why Target was chosen—its failed $2B pledge post-George Floyd, significant Black consumer spending ($12M/day), and its role as a major Black employer without proportional advancement.
• Not a "Boycott": Framed as a spiritual "fast," called particularly to engage the Black Church in social activism and highlight the need for prayerful, organized, data-driven movements.
• Supporting Black Vendors: Addresses concerns about Black-owned brands in Target, suggesting alternative support via direct-to-consumer channels and proposing creative solutions like church-based retail.

Notable Quotes:

• Pastor Bryant:
  • "If you want to eat an elephant, do one piece at a time. So we picked Target first for several reasons..." (14:21)
  • “Negroes spend $12 million a day in Target.” (15:19)
  • “Target is the largest employer of Black people outside the federal government, with 400,000 on payroll, but don’t honor us.” (15:20)
  • “A movement comes with inconvenience… Companies take losses, but a principle is more important than a profit.” (19:41, 21:14)
  • "We always want a discount. Let's pay full price and support them." (20:10)
  • "This generation don't want symbolic wins. They want substantive strides." (23:18)
  • "Numbers is power... a hundred thousand people, I can press a button and send an email to say, hey, we outside in Target." (29:16)
• Charlamagne (re: the church now): "This is the largest demographic of Black people since we’ve been in America who don’t go to church at all." (16:11)

Action Steps:

• Website for the protest: targetfast.org – sign up to receive the list of demands and digital directory of 300,000 Black businesses, plus daily devotionals throughout the "fast." (29:56)

3. Patti LaBelle: Legacy, Entrepreneurship, and Joy in Cooking

Key Segment: 31:33–60:52

Main Discussion Points:

Home, Family, and Food

• Hospitality: The hosts are invited into LaBelle’s home for one of her famous meals, discussing comfort, family bonding, tradition, and passing down recipes.
  • “I'm just a professional cook who loves to cook... I’m no better than those ladies and gentlemen who cook also.” — Patti (33:54)
• Food Empire: LaBelle discusses her bestsellers, personal involvement, and the importance of representation in consumer brands ("You know me. Thank you so much for knowing me." – 37:27).

Ownership and Representation

• LaBelle underscores full ownership—she, her son Zuri, and their small team control all decisions, product quality, and expansion.
  • “It was so good... to be an owner of yourself, just like with your music.” (41:23)
  • "A lot of people won’t buy food from entertainers... I ain’t lying." (36:55)

Bridging Generations and Giving Back

• Intergenerational Success and Recognition: From musical legacy to entrepreneurship, she's embraced by both the elder generation and the youth.
  • “At 81, don’t stop a girl.” (37:44)
• Mentorship: Discusses supporting young women in music, receiving flowers from Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland, and seeing herself as a bridge (“If it wasn’t for people like Patti LaBelle, they wouldn’t be Destiny’s Child.” – 44:51).

Addressing Misinformation and AI

• Laughs off internet/A.I. rumors about her personal life, exposes the dangers of misinformation.
  • “All the AI stuff… is just disgusting. When people believe it, it’s worse than that.” (58:03)

On Legacy, Biopics & Moving Forward

• Patti confirms a biopic and documentary are underway (52:48).
• Talks about international touring (Australia/NZ), and her continued passion for singing and giving back (48:19–49:14).

4. Kirk Franklin: Faith, Authenticity, and Black Masculinity

Key Segment: 67:11–95:55

Main Discussion Points:

Humility in Success

• Franklin discusses nerves and humility, especially around high-profile performances (e.g., BET Awards).
  • “Every project, every album, every song... is my first.” (68:00)
  • "You're always chasing ghosts. You're always looking for that 'good job, baby' your mama didn't give you." (68:00)

Faith, Religion, and Realness

• Franklin reflects on what it means to practice faith publicly, breaking stereotypes of what “loving Jesus” looks like ("I want to be the lowliest, the most humble, the most realest person... so you can see that everybody's supposed to be on this bus." – 70:54).
• Addresses critique from "super religious" communities about being too relaxed, “not perfect,” and enjoying secular moments ("I love Jesus, but I'm not Him. I live in a body that ain't his yet until he cracks the sky and make me more like him." – 71:46).

Meeting People Where They Are

• Franklin defends Glorilla’s BET Gospel win, embracing blending of genres, and emphasizes openness:
  • “God uses everybody. He can use anybody, a bum on the street, anybody to lead, so you pay attention and come to God.” (80:00)
  • “Christianity has for so long been a country club and you had to look a certain way... now we’re just comfortable being who we are.” (81:39)

Black Men’s Mental Health & Vulnerability

• "Den of Kings": Franklin explains his new series fostering vulnerable conversations among Black men about life, fatherhood, and leadership (83:07–85:42).
  • “I try to lead with vulnerability and transparency myself. I create the environment that makes you feel safe and comfortable.” (85:28)

Family, Regret, and Redemption

• Speaks openly about struggles balancing career ambition and family, ongoing work toward reconciliation with his eldest son, and the pain of having his faith career intersect with parental guilt.
  • “People are blessed by your sacrifice, but then they’re also hurt by your sacrifice. I don’t know all the answers. I just try to show up and be honest.” (89:02)
• On criticism & social media: “Anybody be lying if [they said] it’s fine. We all try to do our social media fast… after the BET Awards, I was like, I’m not reading nothing.” (90:32)

Humanity, Judgment, and Kindness

• Franklin uses a metaphor about a sinking island and a tightrope to illustrate the importance of kindness and rooting for one another instead of criticizing each other's “walk,” ending with:
  • “We should be praying people make it instead of complaining how they’re walking… because you next!” (91:59)

Closing Blessing

• Franklin leaves with a heartfelt prayer for the hosts and listeners, focusing on forgiveness, kindness, and staying true amid a chaotic world (94:59–95:55).

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Patti LaBelle: "My face is better, period." (38:00)
• Pastor Jamal Bryant: "I need to talk to the CEO...If you all are being punked by JD Vance and Trump, tell me that and let's figure out how we can walk alongside each other." (24:06)
• Kirk Franklin: “I'm not on your calendar—I'm on His.” (74:03)
• Charlamagne Tha God: "Integrity is telling yourself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. Have a great day." (96:03)

6. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening/Community Calls: 03:07–13:35
• Pastor Jamal Bryant (Target Fast): 13:54–24:54, 27:53–31:25
• Patti LaBelle Interview: 31:33–60:52
• Kirk Franklin Interview: 67:11–95:55
• Final Reflection & Closing Notes: 96:03–end

Final Thoughts

A joyful, candid, and empowering episode exploring Black excellence, legacy, faith, and sharing wisdom across generations. The stories and advice from Patti LaBelle, Pastor Bryant, and Kirk Franklin provide both warmth and tools for faith, business, and everyday life.

For full episodes and behind-the-scenes, visit The Breakfast Club's YouTube channel.