The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell

by Kenya Barris, Malcolm Gladwell, Audible Originals (publisher)

Join Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell as they bypass pleasantries and promotional banter to deliver raw, unfiltered conversations with some of today’s most influential figures. Featuring titans across a spectrum of professions (from Olympic gold medalists to trailblazing Fortune 500 CEOs and everything in between), The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell pulls back the curtain to offer listeners unprecedented access to the minds of the world’s most extraordinary individuals and their distinct paths to success.

Episode 1: Ursula Burns, first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company
Episode 2: Jimmy Kimmel, longest-running late-night TV host
Episode 3: Sue Bird, WNBA superstar and legend
Episode 4: Wes Moore, first Black governor of Maryland
Episode 5: David Chang, renowned chef and founder of the Momofuku restaurant group
Episode 6: Ava DuVernay, acclaimed writer, director, and producer
Episode 7: Dr. Dre, iconic rapper, producer, executive, and actor
Episode 8: Kenya Barris, award-winning writer, producer, and showrunner and Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times bestselling journalist

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published January 30, 2025

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started this, but I definitely enjoyed it. I hope they do more.

[AttackGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to develop a taste for all the talking, and stupid laughing.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interested interviews with interesting interviewers.

Episode 1: Ursula Burns, first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company
Episode 2: Jimmy Kimmel, longest-running late-night TV host
Episode 3: Sue Bird, WNBA superstar and legend
Episode 4: Wes Moore, first Black governor of Maryland
Episode 5: David Chang, renowned chef and founder of the Momofuku restaurant group
Episode 6: Ava DuVernay, acclaimed writer, director, and producer
Episode 7: Dr. Dre, iconic rapper, producer, executive, and actor
Episode 8: Kenya Barris, award-winning writer, producer, and showrunner and Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times bestselling journalist

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Malcolm Gladwell's style of writing and research. Kenya Barris was a surprising host - very entertaining.

I wasn't quite sure what I was getting with this Audible original, but I'm fan of the interviews.

I didn't know of Ursula Burns, Ava Duvernay, and the very inspiring Wes Moore, the current governor of Maryland. I will seek out their work in the future.

Of course, I knew Jimmy Kimmel, Davin Chang, and Dr Dre - the latter being a very surprising interview, wished for more!

Can't wait to see what future UNUSUAL suspects they interview.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

11.20.25

I haven't picked this up in a few months, and I haven't really wanted to. Some interviews were interesting, especially Ursula Burns, but the others failed to inform me or teach me in the way I hoped. At this point, I'm just putting it down. I may give it another shot later, but likely not anytime soon.

[Rebecca Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved listening to Malcolm Gladwell and Kenya Barris interview these people who are well known in their areas, but some of whom I knew little about. I gave 4 stars on performance because at times, I struggled to understand what Barris said and had to slow down and repeat the audio.

[Nicole Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Gladwell masterpiece with heavy servings of pop culture. Interviews like you've never heard before with Dr. Dre, Jimmy Kimmel and even the founder of Momofuku. Truly enjoyed this hearing these origin stories and learning about the people who've shaped the world we know today.

[Erica Amad]

ursula burns you are everything
the first few episodes were so emotional
the one and ava duverney got super side tracked abt her relationship which i thought was random but maybe it’s cuz they’re friends
i loved when they interviewed each other i wanna hear more from gladwell

[Jorge Figueroa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable AF

[Nicole Cushing · Rating 4 out of 5]

On audible. Some of the interviews much more interesting than others.

[Annette Bross · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of the day its just a bunch of interesting interviews

[mikelhenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful interviews in podcast format

[Thalia Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favs:
Ursula Burns
Sue Bird
Wes Moore
Ava DuVernay
Brené Brown

[Ron Plummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed reading almost all of Malcolm Gladwell's books and just last month completed Revenge of the Tipping Point." But, this series caught me by surprise. I really, really enjoyed all the interviews and especially the format. The down to earth verbal conversations communicated much more, than I believe I would have gotten from the written word.

I'm at a point in my life, where I'm more focused on connecting with what the authors (in this case hosts and interviewees) are communicating to me and trying as best as possible to hold my biases and temptation to analyze in check.

Thank-you Mr. Gladwell and Mr. Barris.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding conversations!!

[Dirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring these interviews are. - master Yoda

Suggestion: the next round of interviews could be done with people who do not stand out as ‘successful’ (who did not earn recognition in the form of awards or a huge audience) but are good at their job, and faithful. Like Kenya Barris’ mother.