Stephen A. Smith: I'd Run for President If...

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

November 12, 2026

Duration

1h 16m

Channel

What Now? With Trevor Noah

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

What’s behind one of the loudest, most unapologetic voices in sports media? Stephen A. Smith joins Trevor and Eugene for a candid conversation about taking on critics, the rare occasions he’s decided to apologize, and why he seriously considered running for president. He traces his unlikely journey from struggling with childhood dyslexia to becoming one of the most influential personalities in broadcasting. But beyond the headlines and heated debates, Stephen opens up about losing his mother, the tough love that shaped him, and the complicated responsibilities of supporting his family. It’s a revealing look at the ambition, vulnerability, and personal struggles behind the larger-than-life personality. Subscribe for more conversations from What Now? with Trevor Noah: http://bit.ly/SubscribeTrevorNoah Or follow the podcast on your other favorite platforms... SiriusXM Apple Podcasts - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnApplePodcasts 0:00 - Do you actually plan to run for president? 1:00 - Stephen A. Smith joins What Now? 1:50 - Did ESPN make Stephen A., or his four older sisters? 4:00 - How he handles public criticism 6:10 - Earning the right to have an opinion 10:40 - The heckler at the NBA Finals 14:50 - Why he won't run from the hot seat 20:00 - When he chooses to apologize 23:00 - Losing his mother, and mental health 27:20 - On Mamdani, taxes, and New York 34:30 - Why the worst teams get the top draft picks 35:40 - College sports, and who sits at the table 42:20 - How he would want to see America run 45:50 - Dyslexia, his father, and his mother 48:30 - The teacher who believed in him 49:50 - Law & Order, and falling in love with sports 53:40 - His father never said he was proud 54:50 - Looking after the family 1:01:50 - On a possible presidential run

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Trevor Noah

  host

  Comedian and former host of The Daily Show who hosts the podcast What Now? With Trevor Noah.

• Stephen A. Smith

  guest

  Sports media personality and commentator, known for his ESPN work and Straight Shooter Media.

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of What Now? With Trevor Noah, featuring Trevor Noah and Stephen A. Smith, Stephen A. Smith: I'd Run for President If... explores Stephen A. Smith on truth-telling, backlash, politics, and presidency tradeoffs Stephen A. Smith says his outspoken style was shaped long before ESPN—by growing up as the youngest with four older sisters and by being trained in journalism to value truth over popularity.

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