Ep 191. Lou Diamond Phillips, Tracy Chapman

In season 9 episode 191 of Tavis Smiley, actor Lou Diamond Phillips and singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman take center stage to discuss their latest projects and what inspires their creative processes.

First up is Lou Diamond Phillips, who has a new film titled "The 33" coming out soon, which tells the story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for 69 days. Phillips plays one of the miners and describes the physically and emotionally demanding experience of filming in an actual mine. He also talks about his role as Henry Standing Bear in the popular television series "Longmire" and how it has allowed him to bring more visibility to Native American issues.

Tracy Chapman then joins Smiley on set to talk about her legendary music career and why she has chosen to remain relatively private throughout it. Chapman has just released a new album titled "Our Bright Future" and performs one of the tracks from it, as well as the classic hit "Fast Car". Chapman also discusses her activism work, particularly around social justice issues, and how it has influenced her music.

Throughout the episode, Smiley engages with both Phillips and Chapman on a variety of topics, from their early careers and influences to their thoughts on the current cultural and political landscape. As always, Smiley's thoughtful and insightful interview style allows both guests to shine and share their unique perspectives.

Fans of Lou Diamond Phillips and Tracy Chapman, as well as anyone interested in the creative process and social justice issues, will not want to miss this episode of Tavis Smiley.