On Juneteenth, Los Angeles launched its first and only “Unapologetically Progressive” talk radio station for the African American listening audience! KBLA Talk 1580 is the only Black-owned and operated talk station in Southern California!
During the week, Smiley is on the airwaves with his own show, “Tavis Smiley,” plus, he’s backed by a great weekday lineup and giving folks something to talk about!! With award-winning hosts like Dominique DiPrima and political commentator and comic D.L. Hughley, KBLA Talk 1580 boasts an all-star lineup of hosts who can speak candidly and passionately to the challenges people of color face daily trying to navigate life and realize their California hopes and dreams.
KBLA Talk 1580 serves an audience long ignored by talk radio in Los Angeles – that is, people of color and progressives. Interestingly, KBLA 1580 AM is a heritage station and the original home of the iconic Hip-Hop station KDAY.
With the addition of these new weekend shows , KBLA Talk 1580 will essentially offer its listeners two blocks of more engaging talk — empowerment in the morning and entertainment in the afternoon.
Below is a rundown down of the new weekend shows on KBLA Talk 1580:
KBLA Talk 1580 | Saturday-Sunday
· 6 a.m. | Before You Go with Nicole Franklin & Bryant Monteith – From Queen Latifah’s former piano teacher to a baseball star who skipped the Negro Leagues and made history with NASA, empowering stories from 100-year-old guests that are both entertaining and revealing. Join hosts Nicole Franklin and Bryant Monteith for first-person accounts to history.
· 7 a.m. | Urban Family Focus with Jerrold Smith – A spiritual and scientific evidence-based talk show focusing on issues that affect our community that are not always openly and honestly discussed amongst urban families hosted by Jerrold Smith.
· 8 a.m. | BLM’s This Is Not A Drill (See KBLA1580 app)
· 9 a.m. | BLM’s This Is Not A Drill
10 a.m. | Areva Martin Out Loud – Hosted by civil rights attorney, author and legal analyst, Areva Martin Out Loud delivers bold ideas, unfiltered opinions, and debate that inspires actions. Areva brings together the people and perspectives that matter in the moment; thought leaders, thinkers, disruptors and change-makers on issues of race, justice, gender, identity, disability and other pressing issues of the day.
· 11 a.m. | Legal Lens with Angela Reddock-Wright – Hosted by employment attorney, mediator and workplace legal analyst Angela Reddock-Wright, this weekly show features some of the nation’s top attorneys, legislators, policy and changemakers. Angela moderates a dialogue of hot-button political, economic, social, and cultural issues seen through a legal lens that can help fellow citizens better understand what’s at stake and how best to use their agency.
· 12 p.m. | Urban Wellness NOW! with Cynthia Brooks – Wellness is not just healthcare, although that is a big part. Wellness means safe outdoor spaces, more economic opportunities in indigenous neighborhoods, job training, better schools, accessible transportation, and access to healthy food.
Urban Wellness NOW! will feature a variety of people who are working to uplift the community – nonprofits, faith-based institutions, social and civic organizations, for profits and individuals. This show will shed light on all the resources the community has that enable it to become well.
· 1 p.m. | The Back Story with Mischa Duffie – Every story has a story….a back story. Why this book with this title? Why this movie with these characters? Why this song with these lyrics? What about this topic commanded an op-ed? The Back Story explores the creative reckoning of writers and celebrates the power of words and those who write them while elevating how stories cultivate connection and purpose.
· 2 p.m. | Café Mocha – Hosts YoYo, Loni Love and Angelique Perrin bring their own distinct points of view on contemporary issues, along with social commentary, celebrity interviews and inspirational self-help advice.
· 3 p.m. | Living in the Sweet Spot with Angelique Francis – True stories from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Stories of thriving, surviving and growing. From heartbreaks and failures to triumphs and leaps of faith, authentic stories told by unapologetically bold overcomers.
· 4 p.m. | KBLA’s Lyric Lounge with Tosha, Teal and Ural – Music makes the world go round, and we all love song lyrics. Each week Tosha, Teal and Ural dissect and debate the lyrics of the songs on the soundtrack of our lives. From R&B to Reggae, Hip-Hop to Jazz, Gospel to Country, Blues to Rock, Soul to Folk, they love lyrics and breaking them down.
· 5 p.m. | Kraig Facts with Kraig Smith – When a bunch of hilarious, quick-witted, blue-collar guys from various neighborhoods in Los Angeles come together to talk about life, the outcome is genuine comedic gold.
Kraig and his crew tackle topics ranging from sports, music, entertainment, politics, race, gender and more to leave you informed, and in stitches! With an impressive Rolodex of personalities at Kraig’s disposal, you never know who will stop by for an intriguing conversation.
· 6 p.m. | Best of State of the Black Union (SOBU) (See KBLA1580 app)
The studios of KBLA Talk 1580 are located in historic Leimert Park, directly adjacent to Destination Crenshaw’s “Sankofa Park,” a 1.3 mile open-air museum along the new Crenshaw/LAX Metro rail line, presently under construction.
