On this week's episode of The Limits, Jay speaks with comedian Amanda Seales. Formerly known as "Amanda Diva," she has worn many hats in entertainment: acting, singing, hosting, and stand-up.
In 2019, she became the second Black woman to ever have her own comedy special on HBO, I Be Knowin'. She has her own podcast, Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use. And now she's back on the road, touring with her wildly popular variety game show, Smart, Funny, and Black.
Amanda always tells it like it is, and this episode was no different. She talked to Jay about the realities of Black Hollywood, the downsides of "doing it all," and how she keeps a healthy mind in difficult times.
Follow Jay on Instagram and Twitter. Email us at thelimits@npr.org.
WHAT IS “THE LIMITS WITH JAY WILLIAMS”?
Today, the art of celebrity doesn't look like it used to. Now, it's all about betting on yourself and expanding your personal brand-sometimes even beyond your comfort zone. Few understand the art of rebounding your life better than Williams, now an author, entrepreneur and ESPN host. Each week, he'll go deep with heavy-hitters from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and pop culture to understand the principles of faith, vision, and grit they live by in order to see past doubt and build their empires. From rappers-to-moguls, to talk show hosts-turned-CEOs, you'll learn the ways that successful people define, push, and conquer their limits. Email us at thelimits@npr.org.
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VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
1:19 - “Smart Funny & Black” origin story
3:01 - Where Amanda finds inspiration for material
3:37 - How Amanda ended up as Tiffany on “Insecure”
5:17 - The romanticization of Black Hollywood
5:53 - Handling backlash from Alpha Kappa Alpha, AKA, a historically black sorority
7:14 - Amanda is a comedian before an actor
8:17 - Crying on command
9:07 - Who is “Amanda Diva”?
11:22 - Amanda Diva immersed in the music industry
13:33 - Obstacles throughout Amanda’s career
15:28 - Let’ talk about race
18:11 - Breaking new ground in conversation
19:17 - The era that prioritizes urgency over accuracy
20:50 - Does Amanda ever code-switch?
22:19 - Amanda’s experience in the education system
24:21 - Preserving our mental health
26:38 - Family, miscarriage & Roe v. Wade
28:31 - Affirming your strength
30:27 - Amanda’s cheat codes