Mathis Family Talks

About Mathis Family Talks

Judge Mathis is used to giving the verdict. At home, everybody gets a say. On Mathis Family Talks, Judge Greg Mathis and Linda Mathis are joined by their adult children, spouses, and guests for the honest, funny, and sometimes heated conversations families usually save for the group chat, the kitchen table, or the ride home. Rooted in Detroit and shaped by life in the public eye, the Mathises get into the issues beneath modern Black family life: marriage, parenting, money, mental health, identity, code-switching, success, privacy, and the complicated line between helping the people you love and trying to control them. Every generation brings a different truth, and nobody is above being challenged—not even the Judge. This is not a perfect family performing perfection. It is a loving, accomplished, opinionated family telling real stories, owning what they got wrong, laughing through the tension, and turning disagreement into something listeners can use in their own lives. Come for the strong opinions. Stay for the heart and the humor. From our couch to yours.

Publisher

iHeartPodcasts

Category

kids & family · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Jun 2026

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Daryl “Chill” Mitchell: House Party, Fatherhood and Real Friendship | Ep. 16

   What does real friendship look like when life stops going to plan? For Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, one answer involves a house full of friends, his sister’s fried chicken and an unexpected encounter with Denzel Washington. Chill catches up with Judge Greg Mathis, Linda Mathis and Amir Mathis for a conversation about the people who showed up, the roles that changed his career, and the values he wants his sons to carry. He remembers the friends brought together by Butch Lewis, tells his side of House Party’s original casting story, and explains how Michael Strahan committed to Brothers before seeing a script. Along the way, there’s a two-week trip to Los Angeles that turned into ten years, Linda asking whether his wife still laughs at his jokes, and Chill’s distinction between possessing money and owning your name. They also talk NCIS: New Orleans, reuniting with Tim Allen on Shifting Gears, and moving into directing. Old friends compare stories, tease each other and get into what showing up really means. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Diarra Kilpatrick: From Linda Mathis' Classroom to Diarra From Detroit | Ep. 15

   Long before Diarra Kilpatrick created and starred in Diarra From Detroit, she was a four-year-old student in Linda Mathis' preschool classroom in Detroit. She even spent mornings at the Mathis home before school, while Judge Greg Mathis was developing a friendship with her father. Years later, Diarra returns to the Mathis couch for a conversation about the people and places that shaped the storyteller she became. Diarra talks with Linda, Judge and Greg Jr. about Bates Academy, Detroit Country Day, playwright Ron Milner, leaving Detroit, finding her voice as an actor and writer, and eventually creating Diarra From Detroit. She also opens up about working with Kenya Barris and her husband Miles, staying authentic in an industry that often asks people to change, losing her mother, becoming a mother herself, and the emotional inheritance she hopes to pass on to her son. And because this is still the Mathis couch, the conversation includes childhood stories, plenty of Detroit humor, and a Coney Island alibi game that quickly gets out of hand. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   25 Sept 2026

   The Chair Is Sacred: Celebrity Hair, Trust & Building a Business | Ray Parker | Ep. 14

   Celebrity hairstylist and longtime Mathis family friend Lawrence “Ray” Parker II joins the family for a conversation that goes far beyond hair. Ray shares how he went from studying music at Hampton University to working with major names like 50 Cent, Olivia and Naomi Campbell, and how one unexpected salon client helped open the door to Hollywood. He also gets candid about trust between stylists and clients, being taken advantage of in the entertainment industry, and why he believes “the chair is sacred.” Plus, Ray breaks down changing hair trends, reveals the secret behind his own hair, and explains how he turned years behind the chair into his own product line and plans for a manufacturing plant in Atlanta. Then the family pitches Ray their own billion-dollar hair ideas to see which one he thinks could actually work. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

4. 

   18 Sept 2026

   REPLAY | Family Court: Love, Boundaries and Control | Ep. 13

   The Mathis family opens up Family Court for real viewer dilemmas about trust, money, relationships, parenting, code-switching, mental health, and boundaries. Linda, Judge Mathis, Camara, Greg Jr., and Amir debate whether a mom should be forgiven for posting her daughter’s pregnancy news, whether parents get a say when they’re paying the bills, and whether preparing someone for the “real world” can cross the line into telling them to hide who they are. The episode ends with the bigger question every family has to answer: when does love stop being support and start becoming control? Judge Mathis closes with the Family Verdict. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

5. 

   11 Sept 2026

   Who Makes the First Move After 41 Years of Marriage? | Ep. 12

   After 41 years of marriage and 45 years together, Judge Greg Mathis and Linda Mathis get candid about what it really takes to keep a relationship fresh. They talk about sex, romance, feeling pursued, fear of rejection, scheduling intimacy, and how their idea of love has changed through careers, kids, dogs, and decades of marriage. They also answer listener questions about feeling more like roommates, getting your partner to put in more effort, and keeping the spark alive when life gets in the way. Then Judge and Linda put it all to the test by pretending they’re strangers meeting at a hotel bar for the first time. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

6. 

   4 Sept 2026

   Our Favorite Moments From the First 10 Episodes | Ep. 11

   Judge Greg Mathis and Linda Mathis revisit their favorite moments from the first 10 episodes of Mathis Family Talks. From family money rules and a forgotten $1,200 loan to marriage honesty, code-switching, friendship lessons, AI scams, Rick James stories, and the “Black tax” in Hollywood, Judge and Linda react to the clips, correct the record, and admit that the family may have told a little too much of each other’s business. They also reflect on what these conversations revealed about their family and why some viewers may be ready to have conversations they have been avoiding in their own homes. From our couch to yours. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

7. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Is Black Hollywood Going Backward? | Ep. 10

   Judge Greg Mathis reunites with longtime collaborator and producer Delece James to look back at the shows, pitches, battles, and funny moments they shared while building television together. Then the conversation gets bigger: Is Black Hollywood actually moving forward, or are fewer opportunities hiding behind a handful of major success stories? Delece talks about being boxed into “Black” projects, the surprising path that took her from HBO to dancing for the New York Knicks and back into television, and why Black creators may have more reason than ever to build outside the traditional studio system. Linda, Greg Jr., and Amir jump in on representation, nepotism, acting, ownership, YouTube, microdramas, and what the next generation needs to do differently. Plus, the family puts Delece back in the executive chair for Greenlight, Rewrite, or Pass, where she has to decide which ridiculous Mathis TV shows she would actually buy. It is a conversation about what Black Hollywood built, what changed, and where the next opportunity may come from. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

8. 

   20 Aug 2026

   Val Young on Rick James, Motown and What We Owe Our Hometowns | Ep. 9

   Val Young sits down with Judge Greg Mathis, Linda Mathis, Amir, and Greg Jr. for a Detroit homecoming conversation that moves from Motown history to a question every person who has left home has faced: what do you owe the place that made you? Val shares how church, Aretha Franklin, and Detroit shaped her before the Gap Band, Rick James, and Motown. She explains how she refused to wait quietly for opportunity, how a determined backstage meeting with Rick changed her career, and what people miss when they remember only his wild public image. Judge Mathis tells the story of the Detroit voters who elected him despite his past and why he believes success creates a debt to the community. Linda describes a different Detroit childhood, one rooted in Black excellence, while Amir admits he once avoided saying he was from the city. The family also debates whether hometown identity belongs to the next generation and whether giving back must involve money. And yes, the conversation includes Rick James’s feet and Linda’s accidental visit to a Beverly Hills “pajama party.” See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

9. 

   13 Aug 2026

   Raising Kids With AI: Assistant, Substitute, or Intruder? | Ep. 8

   When does artificial intelligence stop helping a family and start replacing the relationships that raise a child? Judge Greg Mathis, Linda Mathis, Greg Jr., and Amir sit down with Erin Reddick, founder of ChatBlackGPT, to decide whether AI belongs in the family as an assistant, a substitute, or an intruder. They debate personalized AI podcasts for the school run, bedtime stories read by a synthetic voice, children sharing secrets with chatbots, and the privacy cost of giving technology access to a child’s routines. Judge Mathis also shares how an AI deepfake changed a photo of him with Hillary Clinton, while Erin tells the story of a woman who spent three years talking to a fake boyfriend created with AI. That leads to one practical Mathis family rule: use a private family code before sending money during an emergency. The conversation becomes personal when Judge explains the talks he never had with his own parents, and the family disagrees over whether AI can help parents navigate difficult conversations about race. Erin closes with a boundary for every household: AI should be a partner, never a parent. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

10. 

    6 Aug 2026

    You Good? What "I'm Fine" Really Means in the Mathis Family | Ep. 7

    What does “I’m fine” really mean in your family? Judge Greg Mathis, Linda Mathis, Jade Mathis, Greg Cooper-Mathis Jr., and Amir Mathis compare how they respond to stress, from shutting down and overworking to doom-scrolling, going off the grid, and laughing through it. They revisit familiar Black family phrases like “stop crying” and “you’ll be fine,” debate whether social media has made people more honest or simply better at pretending, and discuss how to support someone without minimizing what they feel. Sometimes support means listening. Sometimes it means giving space. Sometimes it means leaving food at the door. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

11. 

    30 Jul 2026

    Who Has Your Child's Back? | Ep. 6

    Who your children choose as friends can shape the decisions they make long after they've left your house. In this episode of Mathis Family Talks, Judge Greg Mathis, Linda Mathis, and their sons Greg and Amir, have an honest conversation about the influence of friendship, peer pressure, and the fears every parent faces when they can no longer protect their children every moment of the day. Prompted by the recent death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose case remains under investigation, the family reflects on raising Black boys in two very different worlds—from Detroit to Beverly Hills—and how privilege changes the risks without eliminating them. They share personal stories about growing up, choosing friends, navigating peer pressure, and learning the difference between a true friend and someone who is simply along for the ride. From childhood lessons to hard-earned adult wisdom, this conversation is about trust, accountability, and why the people your children surround themselves with may matter more than you think. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

12. 

    23 Jul 2026

    Judge & Linda Mathis: What Kept Us Together for 41 Years? | Ep. 5

    Judge Greg Mathis and Linda Mathis look back on the 41-year journey that built their marriage - from falling in love before money or fame to raising a family, surviving financial hardship, and learning what it truly takes to stay together. In this candid conversation, they revisit marrying young, living on food stamps, filing bankruptcy, raising a niece alongside their own children, balancing demanding careers, and navigating the pressures that tested their relationship. The conversation becomes especially personal as Judge admits he didn't always know how to be the husband Linda needed, while Linda shares how she carried the family through long workdays, financial stress, and seasons when they had to find their way back to each other. With Amir guiding the conversation and Camara calling in with a question of her own, they reflect on losing connection while raising children, rediscovering one another after the kids left home, and realizing that providing for a family isn't the same as intentionally investing in a marriage. They close with the lessons they hope future generations carry forward about love, communication, intimacy, faith, shared values, and the legacy of family. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

13. 

    16 Jul 2026

    Family Money: Helping or Holding Back? | Ep. 4

    Every family has money rules—even if nobody says them out loud. Some believe you always help family. Others believe saying "no" can be the greatest act of love. In this episode, the Mathis family shares the real conversations they've had behind closed doors about allowances, paying for school, supporting adult children, and knowing when it's time to let someone stand on their own. Judge Mathis and Linda don't always agree, and neither do their children, making for one of the family's most personal conversations yet. If you've ever wondered whether helping someone is actually holding them back, this episode is for you. From our couch to yours. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

14. 

    9 Jul 2026

    Code-Switching: Survival or Surrender? | Ep. 3

    On this episode of Mathis Family Talks, Elliott Mathis-Cooper, Judge Greg Mathis, Linda Mathis, Amir Mathis, and guest Latasha Gillespie take on one of the most personal questions in Black family and professional life: is code-switching survival, surrender, or both? Latasha is a former Fortune 50 executive for Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video, and Freevee. She also founded Amazon’s CORE conference on race and ethnicity, created the Howard Entertainment Program, and now leads Logos Media Group. From the boardroom to the living room, the family talks about voice, hair, tone, “culture fit,” executive presence, parenting, covering, and the pressure to adjust in order to be accepted. Latasha shares why young professionals must know they are enough, Elliott opens up about identity at work, Linda brings the parenting wisdom, and Judge Mathis delivers the Mathis Verdict. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

15. 

    2 Jul 2026

    Family Court: Love, Boundaries and Control | Ep. 2

    The Mathis family opens up Family Court for real viewer dilemmas about trust, money, relationships, parenting, code-switching, mental health, and boundaries. Linda, Judge Mathis, Camara, Greg Jr., and Amir debate whether a mom should be forgiven for posting her daughter’s pregnancy news, whether parents get a say when they’re paying the bills, and whether preparing someone for the “real world” can cross the line into telling them to hide who they are. The episode ends with the bigger question every family has to answer: when does love stop being support and start becoming control? Judge Mathis closes with the Family Verdict. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

16. 

    25 Jun 2026

    Inside the Mathis Family: What Growing Up Was Really Like | Ep. 1

    Before you get to know the podcast, get to know the family. For years, you've known Judge Greg Mathis from the courtroom, and some of you watched the family's journey on Mathis Family Matters. Now, the Mathis family is opening the door to something even more personal. In this first episode of Mathis Family Talks, the family shares what growing up together was really like—from Detroit roots and strict parenting to sibling rivalries, life before fame, and the different ways each child experienced the same household. It's funny, honest, emotional, and the perfect introduction to the conversations you'll hear every week. Because every family has different versions of the same story. From our couch to yours. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

17. 

    17 Jun 2026

    Introducing: Mathis Family Talks

    See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Contact Mathis Family Talks

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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