W. Kamau Bell welcomes soccer legend Megan Rapinoe for a wide-ranging conversation reflecting on her storied career, personal growth, and ongoing activism. The discussion begins with Rapinoe explaining her characteristic approach to taking action first and navigating consequences later, noting that having "the right kind of people not in my corner and the right kind of people in my corner" validates her choices.

The topic turns to Rapinoe's passionate defense of transgender women in sports, where she directly confronts the "lack of basic humanity and empathy" in current discourse. She dismantles fairness arguments by pointing out that "sports is not fair in any sort of way ever" and emphasizes that athletic competition cannot supersede human rights.

Rapinoe traces her activism roots to her mother's early lessons about using one's platform responsibly, despite growing up in conservative Redding, California—a "predominantly white, really conservative" environment where her parents modeled egalitarian values.

The interview explores her public breakup with Sue Bird, which the couple chose to announce gracefully to provide "a good ending" rarely seen with celebrity couples.

She describes being good at sports as "a spiritual experience" involving profound "alignment of purpose", while acknowledging the difficult transition into retirement, including accepting that "there isn't another feeling" that can replicate championship performance.

Rapinoe expresses dismay at continued homophobia in men's sports and the "level of silence and cowardice" among powerful figures who could speak out without sacrifice. She closes by urging political engagement: "Politics is going to interact with you whether you interact with it or not", before confirming that she is, in fact, with Kamau. 

Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Distributed by Pushkin Industries.

W. Kamau Bell welcomes soccer legend Megan Rapinoe for a wide-ranging conversation reflecting on her storied career, personal growth, and ongoing activism. The discussion begins with Rapinoe explaining her characteristic approach to taking action first and navigating consequences later, noting that having "the right kind of people not in my corner and the right kind of people in my corner" validates her choices.
The topic turns to Rapinoe's passionate defense of transgender women in sports, where she directly confronts the "lack of basic humanity and empathy" in current discourse. She dismantles fairness arguments by pointing out that "sports is not fair in any sort of way ever" and emphasizes that athletic competition cannot supersede human rights.
Rapinoe traces her activism roots to her mother's early lessons about using one's platform responsibly, despite growing up in conservative Redding, California&mdash;a "predominantly white, really conservative" environment where her parents modeled egalitarian values.
The interview explores her public breakup with Sue Bird, which the couple chose to announce gracefully to provide "a good ending" rarely seen with celebrity couples.
She describes being good at sports as "a spiritual experience" involving profound "alignment of purpose", while acknowledging the difficult transition into retirement, including accepting that "there isn't another feeling" that can replicate championship performance.
Rapinoe expresses dismay at continued homophobia in men's sports and the "level of silence and cowardice" among powerful figures who could speak out without sacrifice. She closes by urging political engagement: "Politics is going to interact with you whether you interact with it or not", before confirming that she is, in fact, with Kamau.&nbsp;
Who's With Me is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Chris Dowd. Distributed by Pushkin Industries.

Kamau Bell is known for embracing uncomfortable conversations that acknowledge differences, confront embarrassment, and change people’s perspectives. Throughout his career, Kamau has talked with everyone from KKK members to Oprah Winfrey to strangers on the streets. Each time, Kamau fills these conversations with humor, heart, and intellect, showing that a simple conversation can lead to surprising revelations and spark change, one person at a time.

Kamau brings all that and more to his new weekly podcast, Who’s With Me? Inspired by Kamau’s popular Substack newsletter of the same name, Who’s With Me? is more than just a simple question. It is an invitation to connect, a call to action, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder in these increasingly hectic times. 

In every episode, Kamau addresses what has caught his attention in the current cultural or political landscape. He also sits down with someone he admires deeply—a time for Kamau to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him and his audience homework on how to make the world a better place. Kamau will talk to celebrities, his fellow comedians, his fellow Oaklanders, activists, and sometimes he will talk to someone like Daveed Diggs, who is all of that in one body. So… who’s with Kamau? New episodes every Wednesday. 

Kamau Bell is known for embracing uncomfortable conversations that acknowledge differences, confront embarrassment, and change people&rsquo;s perspectives. Throughout his career, Kamau has talked with everyone from KKK members to Oprah Winfrey to strangers on the streets. Each time, Kamau fills these conversations with humor, heart, and intellect, showing that a simple conversation can lead to surprising revelations and spark change, one person at a time.
Kamau brings all that and more to his new weekly podcast,&nbsp;Who&rsquo;s With Me? Inspired by Kamau&rsquo;s popular Substack newsletter of the same name, Who&rsquo;s With Me? is more than just a simple question. It is an invitation to connect, a call to action, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder in these increasingly hectic times.&nbsp;
In every episode, Kamau addresses what has caught his attention in the current cultural or political landscape. He also sits down with someone he admires deeply&mdash;a time for Kamau to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him and his audience homework on how to make the world a better place. Kamau will talk to celebrities, his fellow comedians, his fellow Oaklanders, activists, and sometimes he will talk to someone like Daveed Diggs, who is all of that in one body. So&hellip; who&rsquo;s with Kamau? New episodes every Wednesday.&nbsp;

Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell

Who’s With Me? is more than just a simple question. It is an invitation to connect, a call to action, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder in these increasingly hectic times. Every Wednesday, stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell sits down with someone he admires deeply to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him and his audience homework on how to make the world a better place.

W. Kamau Bell is a Peabody Award winner, 4X Emmy Award winner, documentary filmmaker, Celebrity Jeopardy! champion, Official Ambassador of the band Fishbone, self-proclaimed #1 Bruce Lee Expert (non-Asian division), part-time activist, and full-time family man. Kamau is also known for his CNN docuseries United Shades of America, his four-part docuseries We Need To Talk About Cosby, and for scrawling “HAHA!” over his enemies’ faces on his Instagram account.

Who&rsquo;s With Me? is more than just a simple question. It is an invitation to connect, a call to action, and a reassuring pat on the shoulder in these increasingly hectic times. Every Wednesday, stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell sits down with someone he admires deeply to give them their flowers, ask his most burning questions, and invite his guest to give him and his audience homework on how to make the world a better place.
W. Kamau Bell is a Peabody Award winner, 4X Emmy Award winner, documentary filmmaker, Celebrity Jeopardy! champion, Official Ambassador of the band Fishbone, self-proclaimed #1 Bruce Lee Expert (non-Asian division), part-time activist, and full-time family man. Kamau is also known for his CNN docuseries United Shades of America, his four-part docuseries We Need To Talk About Cosby, and for scrawling &ldquo;HAHA!&rdquo; over his enemies&rsquo; faces on his Instagram account.

Megan Rapinoe on Showing Up for Human Rights

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3b206681-1506-4155-a814-b4ea0033af43/transcript