The Questlove Show
The Questlove Show builds on the award-winning Questlove Supreme podcast, bringing listeners into intimate, one-on-one conversations with peers, influences, and friends. Hosted by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, each episode uncovers the unexpected — from morning rituals and hidden talents to the art and experiences that shaped a guest’s journey. Sometimes playful, sometimes profound, always curious, QLS offers rare insight into leaders in music, film, television, comedy, literature, mental health, and beyond. It’s a fresh, unpredictable spin from a trusted source — a place where randomness is encouraged, tangents are welcomed, and conversations are anything but ordinary.
Episodes
Hip-Hop visionary Fab 5 Freddy joins Questlove to trace his path from Bed-Stuy's Hancock Street to painting whole-car subway masterpieces, exhibiting in Rome, and helping bring Rap to the mainstream through Yo! MTV Raps. While discussing his new memoir, Everybody's Fly, Fred shares vivid memories of Brooklyn riots, preserving Malcolm X’s final speech on reel-to-reel tape, and even cold-calling Thelonious Monk as a kid. Freddy...
The second half of the 2022 interview with Fred Hammond. The Roots' James Poyser joined Team Supreme as they interviewed their first Gospel artist — others would follow in time. This conversation is spirited, fun, and informative. Enjoy as part of our 2026 Black Music Month fleet of Classics.
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In 2022, Questlove Supreme interviewed our first Gospel legend, and we started right. Fred Hammond is a game-changer and an innovator. We covered it all in this two-parter. Oh, and keep your ears open for a special guest cohost with his own Gospel "roots."
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Nick Polowy is the Los Angeles–based artist behind The Questlove Show logo and many of the animations that have appeared throughout QLS episodes since 2022. While taping in Hollywood, Ahmir and Open Mike Eagle sat down with Nick for a special mini episode to talk about his creative process, the deep research that informs his work, and a career that spans everything from major television net...
In part 3 of this truly classic Questlove Supreme interview (being re-broadcast for Black Music Month), Jimmy Jam talks about everything from what Janet and Michael's sibling relationship was like, to his relationship with his own family and shares even more insider secrets.
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Black Music Month at QLS carries on tradition. In part 2 of his epic interview (the one that Quest' always refers to), Jimmy Jam spoke about making Prince jealous, the studio secrets behind his recordings, how he made all those hits with Janet Jackson and much more.
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In part 1, the legendary R&B songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam spoke about his early days, life with Prince and goin' broke.
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Black Music Month kicks off in a major way. Mickey Guyton joins Questlove for a deeply personal conversation about carving out space as a Black woman in Country music, from her church roots in Texas to performing on global stages like the Super Bowl and in China. She opens up about her religious upbringing, perfectionism, anxiety, creative burnout, and finding her true audience among marginalized...
In 2024, Ben Vereen joined Questlove Supreme with his daughter Kabara. Quest' recently called this one of the most powerful QLS episodes in the show's history. What began as a conversation about a legendary, award-winning career in theater, film, and television organically went someplace much deeper. Ben Vereen shared discoveries about his identity and traces his knowledge of self while speaking about Roots, Sweet Charity, and his ...
Christopher Cross joins Questlove in Hollywood for a deep musician-to-musician conversation about songwriting, studio craftsmanship, and surviving meteoric success. Cross reveals the true origin of Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) and the outlaw mythology behind Ride Like The Wind, while recalling experiences like seeing Jimi Hendrix live, opening for Led Zeppelin, and singing background vocals with Carl Wilson. He breaks down...
This 2023 Questlove Supreme episode gave way to a lot of the format you now hear on The Questlove Show. Ahmir, Laiya, Unpaid Bill, and Suga Steve ask Dave Matthews a mix of random icebreakers and some very specific questions about life and career. This interview, and the way audiences reacted to it, taught us all so much.
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In a recent conversation with Padma Lakshmi, Questlove brought up the near-sacrilegious act of putting ketchup on a hot dog in Chicago. Chicago native Open Mike Eagle reacts — while admitting he may already be disqualified from the debate for entirely different reasons. The podcast affiliate (and recent guest) also speaks about the hometown food he gravitates towards, name-checking some purveyors.
The mini episode conve...
Angela Nissel joins Questlove for a deeply funny and moving conversation about growing up in Southwest Philly, breaking into television, and navigating grief after losing her mother—the subject of her new memoir, Good Grief, Pass The Bread, Mom Is Dead.
The longtime friends revisit their wild early days together, from te...
Recorded back in mid-2023, Cedric the Entertainer—the king of comedy whose career spans film, television, and hosting—added “novelist” to his already expansive résumé. That was a cause for discussion with Questlove and Team Supreme during the virtual interview days. In this funny and thoughtful episode of QLS, Cedric discusses his debut novel Flipping Bo...
In this Questlove Show mini-episode, Questlove revisits the making of Michael Jackson's HIStory with a previously unreleased encore segment from the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis interview. Ahmir unpacks the track’s orchestral scale, Boyz II Men vocals, and marathon mix sessions with fellow producers, breaking down why “HIStory” feels like MJ&rsq...
Back in 2022, the Questlove Supreme's Team Supreme began doing 1-on-1 interviews with some of their favorites. Ahmir captured an amazing two-parter with one of his drumming heroes, Steve Ferrone. In part 2, Steve tells a great story about meeting Prince and recalls amazing years with Average White Band, pivotal time with Duran Duran, Chaka Khan, Rick James, and Tom Petty. Make sure you've heard the first part too.
On this mini episode of The Questlove Show, Open Mike Eagle and Cousin Jake react to the recent two-hour interview between Ahmir and Posdnuos. In a mutual celebration of the Native Tongues movement, they highlight moments from the conversation involving De La Soul’s Turtles lawsuit, newly revealed details about subliminal lyrics, and the emotional weight o...
Raheem DeVaughn joins Questlove to trace his journey from a Washington DC Go-Go kid to internationally known “Love King,” radio host, and independent R&B force. He breaks down the spiritual meaning of love, the art of the perfect slow-jam mixtape, and how Go-Go culture shaped his sound and hustle (including his current band). Raheem also tells stories about his father touring with Stevie Wonder, remaking a full, soo...
Back in early 2022, for a very special Questlove Supreme 1-on-1 episode, Questlove interviewed one of his heroes, Steve Ferrone. In part 1, Steve talks about growing up in England, tap dancing, his major influences on the drums, and going from Bloodstone into Average White Band. This interview is a soulful delight.
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Questlove welcomes bestselling author Brianna Wiest (The Mountain Is You, 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think) for a vulnerable, funny, and wide‑ranging conversation about self‑sabotage, creativity, and learning to “just show up.” Brianna explains how she writes from her center, why nature and long drives unlock her best ideas, and how she separates the heart’s “what” from the mind’s &l...
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Hosts And Creators
Laiya St. Clair
Questlove