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Only One Mic Podcast
Carl Jerard, Brooklyn Dre, and JRob welcome you to The Only One Mic Podcast. We are joined each week by authors, activists, advocates, community leaders, and professionals from several walks of life who would like to offer their experience, expertise, or commentary on the various topics you will be interested in learning.
Only One Mic Podcast
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Untold Cultural Influence
Heartbreaking news has struck the entertainment world as we say farewell to Malcolm Jamal Warner, who tragically drowned while vacationing with family in Costa Rica at age 54. Most of us first welcomed him into our homes as Theo Huxtable, but Warner's legacy extends far beyond that beloved character. He masterfully evolved from child star to respected actor, director, musician, poet, and ultimately, an influential cultural voice who constantly redefined Black masculinity and excellence.
Good, yes, I got the flower in my hair. Today's my daughter's birthday. She put the flower there, so I'm rocking it. What? Um? It's a beautiful day here in Atlanta. I just wanted to shout out and just spread some love and some good cheer. And you know, life, life is out here, life it right for me and for everybody else. But just wanted to remind you, as I remind myself, that no matter what's going on, there's always a reason to smile. Like if you just take a minute to stop and take stock, I guarantee you can find at least one reason to smile. And if, for some reason, you can't find the reason to smile, then that's probably the best time to be the reason to smile, then that's probably the best time to be the reason for somebody else to smile. So buy a smile for yourself and be your reason for somebody else to smile. That's all I got. This has been. Love has Been a Myth. Peace and love and peace.
Speaker 2:Alright, peace, family. I hope that you're feeling well and blessed. Today You're tuned into the sound of the only one mic podcast, mic Drop Show, where we break down today's biggest moves in culture and community through conversations that matter. I'm your host, carl Gerard, and I appreciate you locking in with me, whether you've been following every episode or this is your first time, tuning in this space is all about truth, clarity and conversations that truly matter. I'm not here to tell you what to think, folks, I'm just here to lay it out for you. All right, let's get into this. Family, family, family family. This is a tough one. We lost someone who wasn't just a familiar face on our screens, but a true cultural icon right, if I can use the term, but I could say true cultural voice.
Speaker 2:Malcolm Jamal Warner passed away on Saturday at the age of 54 after a tragic drowning while on vacation with his family in Costa Rica. Now, most of us grew up with him as Theo Huxtable on the Cosby Show, the charming, sometimes goofy but always lovable younger brother. But his journey didn't stop there. The man was an actor, a director, a musician, a poet and a storyteller in every sense of the word. Over the years, he kept evolving, taking on roles that challenged him and that showed us different sides of black masculinity. Now you might have seen him on the Resident Sons of Anarchy, pink Leaves like Rescue 911, sneaky Pete, or even, back in the day, on Malcolm and Eddie. This man stayed working, but not for the spotlight but for the craft. He also directed episodes of shows like All that, kenan and Kel the Fresh Prince, an episode of the Cosby Show as well, and he was behind the scenes shaping how we saw ourselves on TV. He knew the power of black stories and he honored that. And lately he was using his voice in a whole new way.
Speaker 2:Just last year I believe it was, malcolm launched a podcast called Not All Hood, alongside Candace Kelly and Wasu Baraka, and I'm telling you guys, I was locking in on it. When he first dropped it, the brother was speaking a lot of good stuff with his crew in terms of, like you know, the black community, the ills in it and how we can cure it. It wasn't just attack the problem, it was what can we do to fix it. And you know, it wasn't just another celebrity project. This was a deep podcast and honest and vulnerable, and he talked about you know openly about mental health and the struggles of black men face but rarely say out loud. He brought in voices we needed to hear and conversations that hit home. In the very last episode, released just two days before he passed, he said something that really, you know, that really hit. He said black excellence, and I'm quoting here black excellence isn't about exceptionalism, it's about survival in an uneven system. I'm telling you that that was kind of that was deep. So he reminded us really that the hood isn't something to run from. It's part of the foundation of American culture. There's beauty and brilliance in it and he helped reframe the whole narrative.
Speaker 2:And, on a a personal note, he spoke often about how becoming a father changed him. And you know, as a, you know me having a daughter who you know, just you know, got a little bit older. So that kind of hit too, because my daughter's birthday just passed as well. So hearing this just like wow, you know, can only send prayers to his family and all um. In his passing he talked about his wife and how his wife and daughter was the center of his world and even though he kept them private, you could feel a love when he spoke about them. So I understand that, as a father, when you speak about, you know your children or your family, and such a you know light that other people can feel it. Man, that's a very special thing. So today we celebrate a man who grew up in the spotlight but never stopped reaching deeper, from Theo to Thought Leader from Teen Icon if I could use the word to elder statesmen in our culture. The sudden loss is another example, folks, that we are not here to stay, we're just passing through, so use this time that we have to honor god first, love those around us and enjoy the gift of life, the only one.
Speaker 2:My podcast is available on all streaming platforms that you stream your podcast on. So wherever we, wherever you listen to it, that's where we're at, so be sure to catch us there. Be sure to check out our youtube channel to catch up on the past and current episodes and don't forget to rate the show and hit the subscribe button. Thank you for all the new subscribers that have joined all the conversation in regards to the last episode we dropped. This is what this is. What this is about, folks. The mic drops is that we can have conversations in regards to these topics, guys, and it also, you know helps to hit that subscribe button because it helps the channel, it helps us to grow and we thank you for that. Follow us on instagram and x at the only one, mike p1. Facebook and linkedin at the only one, mike podcast. Email us at the only one, mike 00 at gmailcom, or call and text us at the 302-367-7219. Your voice, your questions, your take could be featured on the show. Guys, hit us up in the comments.
Speaker 2:What was your favorite moment from Michael Malcolm Jamal Warner? Like you know, cosby Show, whatever show that you've seen him on, if you heard him speak somewhere, I remember him speaking. You know, a buddy of mine reminded us of how he was here at the library in Delaware and he was spitting a poem and whatnot and he said the poem was so deep they was trying to get him off stage but he had to keep going to get that word out. So you know, any memory that you have in there, share them in the comments and you know it would be appreciated to hear. You know the only one Mike Podcast. Mike Drop Show. I'm Carl Girod signing off peace.