He sang on stage with his legendary and abiding friend Prince. Shadow boxed with his hero Muhammad Ali. Interviewed and argued with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Traveled to Africa with his friend and iconic poet Maya Angelou. Eulogized civil rights heroine Rosa Parks. Sat for a conversation with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. And served as a personal attendant to Nelson Mandela during his first visit to the United States.

From his celebrated conversations with world figures to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, Tavis Smiley — broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist — emerged long ago as an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently host and managing editor of the nationally syndicated radio show Tavis Smiley, produced by the flagship radio station of his company SmileyAudioMedia, Inc., KBLA Talk 1580 in Los Angeles. During his award-winning broadcast career, Smiley has appeared on every major American media stage. 

Smiley has written 24 books. His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times Bestseller, as did The Rich and the Rest of Us co-authored with Cornel West, and Covenant with Black America which climbed to #1 on The New York Times Bestseller’s list. Smiley’s book My Journey with Maya chronicled his almost thirty-year friendship with the iconic poet, Maya Angelou, and his 2014 New York Times Bestseller, Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Final Year is required reading at many colleges and universities.

The nonprofit Tavis Smiley Foundation was honored for spearheading a $3 million four-year campaign called ENDING POVERTY: America’s Silent Spaces to alleviate endemic poverty in America. 

The recipient of numerous awards and nearly 20 honorary degrees, TIME magazine cited Smiley as one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People,” and he has been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Smiley appears on the “Heavy Hundred” list of the “100 Most Important Talk Radio Hosts in America” and was honored with the highest award in the talk radio industry, the coveted “Freedom of Speech” Award at TALKERS 2023.