What Now? with Trevor Noah

Donald Trump will be president again. Trevor, Christiana, and Josh are joined once again by Tressie McMillan Cottom to puzzle through whether Trump won this election, or Harris lost it. Plus, they offer their picks for the best post-election playlist ever.

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Trevor and Christiana call on Tressie McMillan Cottom to help them make sense of the final week before the US presidential election. Together, they unpack Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, why certain groups are planning to vote against their own interests, and how Tucker Carlson’s web browser history may be impacting his politics. Fortunately we can all exhale next week. Or not.

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Lupita Nyong’o joins Trevor and Christiana to discuss her new podcast and its colorful stories of the African diaspora. The three also discuss their multifaceted identities, why Lupita refuses to expect rejection, and get into a debate for the ages–can they crown a “best” African country.

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With the release of Trevor’s new children’s book “Into the Uncut Grass”, Trevor sits down with some actual kids, plus Christiana and Josh, to discuss what being a kid is like from their perspective, what adults often get wrong about being a child, and whether it really takes a village to raise them right.

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Bestselling author Ta-Nehisi Coates joins Trevor and Christiana to discuss his new book about how the stories we tell, and the ones we don’t, shape our realities. They also unpack the jaw-dropping CBS interview that followed the book’s release, and our elusive search as a people to see the humanity in others.

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Trevor and Christiana speak with Yuval Noah Harari, whose latest book, Nexus, asks, if humans are so smart, why do we do so many stupid things? The three of them interrogate truth vs. fact, the threats and promises of AI, and how these questions connect to global issues like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

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Trevor enlists the help of journalist and author Michael Pollan (This is Your Mind on Plants, Omnivore’s Dilemma) as they try to convince Christiana of the positive impacts of therapeutic psychedelics and their current standing in society. Do they succeed? You be the judge.

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Trevor and Christiana are joined by travel journalist Rajan Datar to tackle the perennial summer question around the world: what’s with all these tourists, anyway? Governments, water gun-toting Spaniards, and 10,000 Elsas weigh in.

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Trevor, Christiana, Josh, and NY Times columnist (and friend of the show) Tressie McMillan Cottom break down last night’s presidential debate. Together they unpack whether Trump still has his finger on the pulse or has lost his touch, Christiana explains the real reason Trump was befuddled by Kamala, and the group ponders where we go from here.

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Elon Musk is officially beefing with the Brazilian government and of course Trevor, Christiana, and Josh have lots to say about it. In the wake of the X ban, they discuss how Elon’s past circumstances color his world view, the phenomena of powerful white men who feel powerless, and whether Elon deserves, dare they say it, some empathy.

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Trevor, Christiana, and noted writer and journalist Anne Helen Petersen discuss the growing #tradwife trend, the ideological conviction that a woman’s sole and highest purpose is to be her spouse’s modest, subservient helpmate, and that anything less is ungodly. Why do more women now seem to be taking on this mantle? Are cleaning, cooking, and total submission truly the path to godliness, or have we fallen so far off the societal cliff that women are simply exhausted?

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The gang’s back with another If I Ruled the World. Christiana’s advocating for subsidized (and mandatory) world travel, Trevor’s looking to nix required friendliness, and Josh thinks the world should be a little more petty. Everyone’s in top form.

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What do you do when your values are tested? Trevor and organizational psychologist Adam Grant discuss this very timely question, as well the importance of discourse in reducing prejudice, the science of keeping an open mind, and whether Trevor might have missed his true calling.

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Trevor, Christiana, and Josh talk all things Olympics: the wins, the viral moments, what in the world is 3 on 3 basketball, and how Trevor is in Paris but decided not to attend in person. One thing they can all agree on: this episode, per the GOAT Simone Biles, they aren’t asking “What Now”?

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When it comes to disinformation, our first instinct is often to ask is this real or fake? But disinformation expert Jiore Craig says that way of thinking misses a much bigger problem. Trevor, Christiana, and Jiore examine how political powers and corporations use information channels to push their agendas, and how we can start pushing back on the systems enabling lies.

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Sociologist and NYT columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom joins Trevor, Christiana, and Josh as they unpack Biden dropping out, Kamala’s nomination, and where we’re at in this ever evolving (some might say devolving) political landscape.

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Trevor and Christiana are joined by Jody Avirgan, one of What Now?’s Executive Producers. In the wake of the July 13th assassination attempt on Donald Trump, they discuss people’s fascination with how the event “moves the plot forward,” the impact of the media’s need to feed the 24-hour news cycle with “developing story” updates (both accurate and inaccurate), and whether the greater issue at stake is actually America’s self-image and a failure to learn from historic moments.

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DJ, drummer, author, and Roots frontman Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Trevor discuss “50 Years of Hip Hop” at the Grammys and his book Hip Hop is History. Questlove also divulges to Trevor the names of all 432 people who get his weekly playlist (no he doesn’t) and reveals all the celebrities who come to his legendary game nights (he doesn’t reveal that either but it’s still a fantastic conversation).

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Roger Federer and Trevor break down how moving on from major chapters in their lives has affected each of them and how Roger's desire to document the moment accidentally turned into the powerful documentary, Federer: Twelve Final Days. The two also discuss the future, their friendship, and their attendance record breaking tennis match for charity in South Africa which, surprisingly, Roger won.

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Trevor’s in Japan with his good friends, Anele Mdoda and Khaya Dlanga. Together they dissect cultural taboos, savor otherworldly grapes, and marvel at toilets. All the while trying to find the balance between society and self.

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There’s probably only one actress who can try to strangle, burn, and eat “Death,” and still manage to make us laugh. And that’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus in her new movie Tuesday. Trevor and Julia dissect their own experiences with grief, explain why all American politicians should be required to take drivers’ education, and share their hope for the future of comedy.

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Actor and entrepreneur Jessica Alba discusses the challenges and the misogyny she faced starting The Honest Company, how she slowly reclaimed her identity, and why ten years later she has stepped away from the company. She and Trevor also debate whether it’s better to be killed with a gun or with a knife (on a movie set, not in real life where both are bad).

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Yes it’s true, Jerrod Carmichael sucks another man’s toes on premium cable TV. In his new reality series Jerrod attempts to free himself – and others – of the shame that comes with the messiness of being human. Trevor and Jerrod analyze the show’s funny and poignant moments and why fighting for love is always worth it.

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It’s everyone’s favorite game: If I Ruled the World! Trevor makes a case to ban all social media, Christiana argues that Bill Gates should staff the PTA bake sale, and Ben declares a weekly day of rest for all – whether you want it or not!

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Trevor puts on a suit (no, he’s not returning to The Daily Show) and heads to Microsoft. This week Brad Smith, Vice Chairman and President of Microsoft talks AI, explains why he doesn’t believe it will be the end of humankind, and what we all have to do to keep it that way.

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Ozempic. It started with a lizard, and then transformed into a drug that, depending on who you ask, is either a miracle or the downfall of society. New Yorker writer and cultural critic Jia Tolentino joins Trevor and Christiana to give context on the media circus surrounding weight loss drugs, and how Ozempic is changing the conversation around fatness in America.

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If it wasn’t for Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, a trip to Footlocker could have ended Trevor’s career. Iglesias shares about his journey to become the headlining, stadium-filling comedian known to millions as Fluffy. The two pull the curtain back on the 2012 tour that introduced Trevor to stand-up in the United States, and Fluffy explains why mentorship comes naturally, as long as you surround yourself with the comedians who really make you laugh.

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Trevor is finally getting married! Just kidding. Rhaina Cohen, author of The Other Significant Others, helps Trevor, Christiana, and Josh envision a society where marriage isn’t the only committed relationship we rely on and makes the case for profound emotional friendships.

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This week on the podcast… Amazon’s Wizard of Oz moment. Plus, Trevor invents a new dating app, why Josh has the perfect name for big corporations, and Christiana announces she’s raising the first Nigerian president of the United States. But the big idea Trevor, Christiana, and Josh get into: masculinity, violence, and why young people, especially young men, are harming others out of a genuine sense of alienation. And Josh makes a case for compassion (let the record stand, he’s no incel!).

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Trevor chats with actor, adventurer, and producer Orlando Bloom, who takes Trevor behind the scenes of his thrill-seeking new documentary series, To the Edge. Orlando also talks about his early career, discusses why one terrifying fall from a balcony changed his life, and reveals why Katy Perry talks to him about “the sandcastle of life.”

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With Trevor back from a week in Bhutan where he just may have found inner peace (unless it was just something he ate), this week Trevor, Christiana Mbakwe Medina, and Josh Johnson discuss ROCKS—those on the ground, those in space, and the one who goes by Dwayne Johnson. They also debate whether pushups can cure a gambling addiction and why the sun will always be the greatest scapegoat.

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To celebrate the season’s halfway mark, Trevor and his friends Josh Johnson and Christiana Mbakwe Medina share some never-before-heard moments from Trevor’s favorite episodes and revisit some of the show’s most fun “thought experiments” to date. And they all still swear they’re not conspiracy theorists, but you be the judge.

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Trevor is joined by Josh Johnson and actor, writer, and host of the Soulboom podcast Rainn Wilson to talk all things modern spirituality, the suspicious similarities between cults and video games, and what to do when somebody starts describing their star chart at a party. Trevor also explains why his favorite Bible story proves that Jesus loved to party.

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What do IKEA executives and eight-year-olds have in common, and why do we care so much about Kate Middleton? Trevor dives in with Christiana Mbakwe Medina and Oscar-winning writer & comedian Travon Free. They all swear they’re not conspiracy theorists, but they wonder: Is MI5 behind Christiana’s sore throat? And, could an airline commit the perfect crime?

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Trevor and his friends Christiana Mbakwe Medina and Josh Johnson discuss why Congress is REALLY trying to ban TikTok, how Boeing’s troubles have been a boon for religion, and how the perception of public safety is the enemy of actual public safety. They also reveal the one thing Trump and Biden publicly agree on.

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Trevor catches up with Josh Johnson and Christiana Mbakwe Medina to hash out some of the biggest news stories of the week. They debate whether Margot Robbie deserves an acting Oscar for playing Barbie, if Bitcoin will always just be a scam, and what the new emerging sexual assault allegations against Diddy say about masculinity in hip-hop. And, Christiana won’t let one question go—is Trevor a CIA operative?

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Trevor sits down in Abu Dhabi with actor, director and DJ, Idris Elba. The two of them swap stories about taking the plunge and moving to America for work and Elba shares the secret he was told not to reveal when auditioning for The Wire. They also discuss why Africa may be the future of entertainment, the art of the accent, and debate who can best pull off a Nelson Mandela impression.

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To reflect on the moment of turning 40, Trevor sits down in South Africa with two of his closest friends, Anele Mdoda and Sizwe Dhlomo. They debate whether birthdays even matter, whether it’s possible to reinvent yourself, and whether Trevor’s age influenced him leaving The Daily Show. The three friends also dissect two of the biggest stories of reinvention happening in the news this week, Rachel Dolezal’s recent foray into OnlyFans and OpenAI’s Sora launch.

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Trevor is joined by Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur devoted to reversing his biological clock. Trevor and Bryan discuss the extreme lengths Bryan has gone to in his anti-aging regimen, Project Blueprint, using himself as “patient zero.” Bryan shares what changes we all could be making to live longer, how he achieved 8 months of “perfect sleep,” and why he’ll never crave a hamburger again.

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Trevor, Ben Winston, and friends discuss the Grammys. From how they handled Meryl Streep and Taylor Swift’s late arrivals on live television, to Jay-Z’s speech, to a golf cart traveling the wrong way on the 110 freeway in the pouring rain to get an A-list artist to the stage on time, Trevor and Ben give us a fascinating peek behind the curtain of navigating music’s biggest night.

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Trevor is joined by Emmy-winner Quinta Brunson, the star and creator of the hit series Abbott Elementary. Quinta describes her hometown Philly's influence on her comedy, why stand-up just wasn’t for her, and the visit to her mom’s school that was the creative catalyst for Abbott Elementary. She and Trevor discuss how Spike Lee’s Crooklyn’s and Apple’s Photo Booth helped foster her belief in the spiritual power of a stupid comedy.

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Trevor sits down with comedy superstar Kevin Hart. The two chop up life behind-the-scenes as professional comedians, their different preferences for theaters versus big arenas, and the benefits and downfalls of constantly working. Kevin also discusses rising up the ranks on the call sheet — one cameo at a time — and the single table read that changed everything. And the two friends also discuss whether Kevin really has the body of a swimmer.

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Trevor is joined by entrepreneur, Dallas Mavericks owner, and television personality Mark Cuban. Mark recently announced that he’s selling his majority stake in the team and that he’s leaving the long-standing show Shark Tank after 15 seasons. Mark and Trevor talk about why he’s making these life changes, his Twitter battle with Elon Musk, and how he’s planning to positively shake up the American healthcare system.

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Trevor is joined by tennis champion Nick Kyrgios, who is known both for his prodigious talent and his “bad boy” reputation. They discuss how Nick feels about that label, the challenges he's faced on the road, and finding a kindred spirit in Naomi Osaka. Trevor and Nick also nerd out on gaming, and talk about what Nick's girlfriend thinks of his new OnlyFans account.

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To start off the new year, Trevor and his friends chop up some of the biggest news stories of the week. Just hours before its release, they make predictions about Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous “list,” discuss the controversial resignation of Harvard’s president Claudine Gay, and share their hopes and worries for 2024.

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Trevor sits down with Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass on the anniversary of her first year in office. In 2022, Bass upset a well-financed opponent to win the election and return to the city where her activism began. Mayor Bass discusses her work as a high school student on Bobby Kennedy’s campaign, why she cut a London trip short because of Angela Davis, LA’s homeless crisis, and whether she’d ever run for President.

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Trevor is joined by Tristan Harris, a tech ethicist and entrepreneur who is probably best known as "the guy from 'The Social Dilemma' documentary” and who has dedicated himself and his company to aligning technology with humanity’s best interests. Tristan debunks the myth of his Burning Man epiphany and unpacks both the promises and the perils that lie ahead with AI.

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Trevor is joined by genre-defying artist and performer, Janelle Monáe, whose 2023 album, The Age of Pleasure, was recently nominated for two GRAMMYs, including Album of the Year. Janelle shares her reaction to that honor, her rebellious youth, and why she used to be scared of mentor Prince and Grace Jones. Trevor also shares an exclusive GRAMMY update of his own, and his theory on why Beyoncé was late to the last one.

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Trevor has a candid and revealing conversation with Sam Altman, who was ousted and then reinstated as CEO of OpenAI just 12 days ago. Sam recounts where he was when he received the brutal phone call, how it all really went down, and its emotional toll. Trevor and Sam also discuss ChatGPT’s explosive release last year, Sam's hopes for AI to better humankind, as well as its potential for evil if not governed properly.

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Trevor sits down with Grammy-nominated rapper DaBaby, who just a few years ago was the face of hip-hop with multiple hit singles to his name. Then a controversial moment at the Rolling Loud festival in 2021 changed everything. Trevor and DaBaby face that moment head-on, as well as DaBaby’s challenging upbringing in North Carolina, how he understands his own role as a father, and whether he has any regrets.

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Trevor is joined by Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s foremost philanthropists. The two talk about how he and Paul Allen schemed to get computer time as teens, the dangers AI may play in our future, what it’s like to be at the center of so many conspiracy theories, Bill’s love of pickleball, and more.

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Trevor is joined by actress/producer/author Kerry Washington. The good friends unpack the end of the Hollywood strikes, the shocking family secret Kerry shares in her newly published memoir, the responsibility of being first on the call sheet, why James Corden is concerned for Kerry, and the one feature Trevor inherited from his family. Trevor also catches up with friend Christiana Mbakwe Medina about their different life choices and the reason she wants Trevor to marry and have kids.

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In the series premiere episode, Trevor is joined by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — "The People's Champion" in the wrestling world, one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, and a bonafide Girl Dad. Trevor and Dwayne get real — discussing everything from Dwayne's troubled youth and his lifelong struggles with depression, to Dwayne listening, understanding and responding to public feedback surrounding the launch of his fund following the Maui fires and whether he'd ever consider running for President of the United States.

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What is Trevor Noah up to Now? Well, he’s back with a new podcast. Join Trevor and special guests for authentic, candid and necessarily messy conversations. This show is all about conversations without limits. Trevor and his guests will be real and vulnerable. They might even say the wrong thing. And once that happens there’s only one question left to ask: What Now?

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