Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast
Hosted by veteran campaign operatives and HBCU alums Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel, The Southern Comfort Podcast delivers unfiltered political analysis with a Southern perspective, drawing from over 40 years of combined experience shaping campaigns from City Hall to the White House. Each week, they break down complex policies, share insider stories, and explore the intersection of politics and culture, offering listeners a front-row seat to the strategies and wisdom that drive American politics.
Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast
Episode 10 | From Fades to Filibusters
Kevin and Rich are back in Atlanta, and this episode kicks off with barbershop banter and ends with a powerful tribute to political courage. The two dive deep into the importance of grooming—physically, professionally, and politically. From hairline disasters and beauty appointments to Senator Cory Booker’s 25-hour filibuster, this conversation blends humor, vulnerability, and reverence for Black leadership. It’s a timely reflection on what it means to stand up, stand out, and lead with purpose.
Topics
📍 00:01 – Back in the A, Back in the Chair
Rich shares a barbershop horror story and laments the struggle of finding a solid, consistent cut.
📍 14:25 – The 25-Hour Filibuster
The convo shifts to Cory Booker’s historic floor speech. Rich and Kevin unpack the physical demands, the message behind the moment, and how it flipped the legacy of a tool once used to block civil rights.
📍20:53 – The Spirit of John Lewis
Kevin draws a powerful line between Booker’s stand and the beatings sustained on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They reflect on generational sacrifice and what "getting in good trouble" looks like today.
📍 29:54 – What If I’d Gone with Booker?
Rich recounts the career crossroads where he had to choose between working for Elizabeth Warren or Cory Booker, and how a health crisis made him realize timing is everything.
📍 36:09 – Still Questioning Cory’s Blackness?
The hosts get real about the way Booker’s Blackness has been questioned, despite his consistent, targeted advocacy for Black communities. They argue it’s time to revisit who we label “real.”
🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…
🐍 Senator Cory Booker – For turning a historically oppressive tool into a mic-drop moment of resistance. Twenty-five hours of truth, grit, and purpose earned him a permanent seat at the table—and a well-deserved Mamba Mentality Award.