The Herd with Colin Cowherd: Joe and Jada – Jesse Williams on BLM & BET Speech, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, and ‘Hotel Costiera’

Date: October 2, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host/Guests: Joe Crack the Dawn, Jada, Jesse Williams

Episode Overview

This lively and candid episode features actor and activist Jesse Williams in conversation with hosts Joe Crack the Dawn and Jada. The trio dives into Williams’ roots, his teaching career, the experience of being biracial in America, confronting Black history erasure, cultural responsibility in music and art, behind-the-scenes TV moments, and his latest show ‘Hotel Costiera’. Williams also reflects on his pivotal BET Awards speech and the aftermath, while sharing wisdom for young, mixed-race Americans searching for identity and belonging.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jesse Williams’ Background: Chicago to Hollywood (04:17–06:34)

• Growing up in Chicago: Williams describes his challenging childhood during the crack era, his family’s move to Massachusetts, and the multicultural environments that shaped his worldview.
  • “That shit was rough. I mean, that was the 80s crack era Chicago. I left in junior high because...my mom wanted me to survive it, but...I had an incredible childhood.” — Jesse Williams (04:26)
• Temple University Era: Williams recalls arriving at Temple during a musical renaissance with The Roots, Jill Scott, and the Soulquarians, alongside strong athletic energy.
  • “It was...right when like, the Roots were taking off...There was just like this renaissance. Free shows everywhere, every night...” — Jesse Williams (05:34)

2. Teaching in Philly: Purpose and Challenges (06:27–07:33)

• Teaching in Urban Philadelphia: Williams shares how teaching high school was his most fulfilling job, despite dangers like students bringing guns and the reality of teen pregnancy.
  • “That was the best job I ever had. You know, I taught high school in the hood...I had two kids with a loaded gun in my class.” — Jesse Williams (06:33)
• He turned every class into African history, aiming to repair the confidence and self-image in Black and brown youth by pointing to their global inheritance.

3. Erased Black History & Cultural Legacy (07:33–12:08)

• Importance of African-American history: Williams, Joe, and Jada stress the need to teach unfiltered Black history to combat systemic ignorance, citing inventions, ancient African sciences, and how erasure perpetuates white supremacy.
  • “If you actually understand the role, the contributions that black folks [made]...this don’t start with slavery...the actual history is the foundational of all this.” — Jesse Williams (08:22)
  • The group lists essential Black inventors and the impact on technology, medicine, and daily American life (12:13).
• Memorable Moment: The hosts riff on the pyramids’ engineering, AC systems in ancient Egypt, and teachers changing postures when kids see themselves in history.

4. Responsibility in Music, Culture, and Art (13:51–17:18)

• They debate the loss of consciousness in modern hip-hop, the commercialization of the genre, and the need for artist collectives to prioritize cultural uplift over money.
  • “This conscious movement...can’t be currency-based because...they’re not preserving the culture.” — Joe (15:32)
• Williams points to Vince Staples’ commentary about music shifting from “surviving the hustle” to “glorifying addiction and destruction,” and praises young artists like Philly’s Positive Movement, but bemoans that they’re often outshadowed.

5. Acting Career: Stereotypes, Choices, and Shonda Rhimes (18:13–25:54)

• Breaking in Through Stereotypes: Williams details his early auditions, often for criminal roles, and the industry’s tendency to pigeonhole Black actors.
  • “My first seven auditions were like robbing white people in like, New York shows.” — Jesse Williams (19:49)
• Boundaries in Acting: Williams describes passing on roles detrimental to Black people and standing up to producers.
  • “I’m not doing anything that’s detrimental to my people...I’ve had to tell agents...that’s just racist. Not only am I not doing it, but take it out.” — Jesse Williams (21:44)
• On Shonda Rhimes & Grey’s Anatomy: Williams credits Rhimes as a mentor and protector, especially after the controversial BET Awards speech.
  • “They were trying to get her to fire me...she posted like, hell no. That’s not happening. Having a black boss is very valuable...” — Jesse Williams (24:58–25:19)

6. The BET Awards Speech & Activism Fallout (27:51–32:13)

• Courage and Risk: Williams discusses the public reaction and professional risks he faced after his famous BET Awards address.
  • “When I gave that BET speech, everybody was trying to take my job, sign petitions...threatening to kill me...She [Rhimes] was...like, hell no.” — Jesse Williams (24:54)
  • “So many of us are terrified of white folks...It’s a scary, powerful hammer that can flatten you...and then blame you.” — Jesse Williams (29:01)
• The necessity of remaining uncompromising even in high-profile mainstream environments.

7. 'Hotel Costiera' and International Travel (40:41–44:57)

• New Project: Williams introduces his lighthearted international series ‘Hotel Costiera’, set on the Italian Amalfi Coast, playing a multiethnic ex-Marine turned fixer in a luxury hotel.
  • “So much of my shit is...urgent, important...but I wanted to make something that was...light...action movies, running around, kicking some ass, beautiful places.” — Jesse Williams (41:07)
• Travel anecdotes: Joe recounts travel anxieties, missing the beauty of global cities during incarceration, and discovering “Mongolian beef” is an American invention.
  • “In that four months [in jail], I just would think about just walking down the street in Italy or Rome...that shit was so fly.” — Joe Crack the Dawn (44:42)

8. Biracial Identity and Advice for the Next Generation (51:49–54:27)

• Advice for Young Biracial Americans: Williams stresses connecting with Black community to find grounding, while also dispelling the “us vs them” framing stoked by sensational media.
  • “Spend time with black folks...Just get with your people.” — Jesse Williams (51:59)
  • “It ain’t us versus them...People…try to make it. Us versus them, bad versus good, white versus black...but people trying to demonstrate that they might matter is because they love themselves.” — Jesse Williams (52:47, 53:09)
• On universal identity struggles and resisting the false narrative that fighting for one’s own rights takes anything away from others.

9. Pop Culture Rapid-Fire (54:38–57:11)

• Closing out, the hosts and Jesse playfully debate classic Black sitcoms, from Cosby Show to Sanford and Son to Fresh Prince.
  • “Cosby is one of the greatest sitcoms ever.” — Jesse Williams (54:42)
  • They riff on generational differences and TV legends like Red Foxx and Sherman Helmsley.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Teaching & Representation:

  “I was that badass kid...And I was trying to do that. Like, it was...beautiful work. It was important...I turned every class...into African history.” — Jesse Williams (07:06)

• On erasure of Black history:

  “If you learn where Greece actually studied, where Rome actually studied...where they...learned in Africa, where institutions and mathematics...came from...It's the actual history is the foundational of all this.” — Jesse Williams (08:24)

• On courage and activism:

  “I’m not scared of white people. So many of us are terrified of white folks at the real core of it, because it’s a scary, powerful hammer that can flatten you and make you disappear...” — Jesse Williams (29:01)

• On identity and belonging:

  “Everybody struggles with identity. I don't care what race you are...We're trying to figure it out. So just don't let...the media try to convince you that...freedom ain't pie. If I get a piece, I'm taking a piece from you...” — Jesse Williams (53:09)

• On giving back to culture:

  “What I believe is...this conscious movement...can't be currency-based...They're not preserving the culture.” — Joe Crack the Dawn (15:32)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Jesse’s upbringing in Chicago & Massachusetts: 04:17–05:12
• Temple University & Philly’s creative scene: 05:32–06:16
• Teaching inner-city youth & African history: 06:27–07:33
• Why Black history matters & withheld contributions: 07:33–12:08
• Discussion on hip hop’s evolution & commercialism: 13:51–17:18
• Breaking into acting, stereotypes, and diversity showcases: 18:13–19:49
• Role selection and refusing harmful stereotypes: 21:40–22:09
• Working with Shonda Rhimes, BET Speech fallout: 24:54–25:19, 27:51–32:13
• Debuting ‘Hotel Costiera’ and its inspiration: 40:41–44:57
• Advice for biracial youth & thoughts on identity: 51:49–54:27

Episode Tone

The tone is irreverent, humorous, and deeply honest—a blend of streetwise camaraderie, cultural consciousness, and personal vulnerability. Williams shares with humility, the hosts tease and cheer him on, and all involved provide direct, unfiltered observations on society, race, media, and legacy.

Takeaway

This episode is a spirited, often hilarious, but always thought-provoking journey through Jesse Williams’ life, his activism, and his enduring dedication to cultural integrity, both on and off the screen.
From Chicago’s streets to the sun-drenched Amalfi Coast, Williams models how unapologetic Blackness, thoughtful activism, and international ambition can coexist—and how telling the whole story shapes the generation coming up next.

Listen for: Insight on Black history, the responsibility of representation, the courage to speak truth in mainstream spaces, and the power of staying connected to your roots—plus a few classic sitcom debates.