COUNTERCULTURE is a television interview show for a new generation that values cosmopolitanism, thoughtful dialogue and soul. 

Host: Kweli Washington
Director: James C. Taylor, III
Art Director: Melissa Gray-Washington
Editors: James C. Taylor, III, Phillip Nguyen, and Kweli Washington
Crew: Candice Delevante, Lee Guest, Monica Grant, Adjua Mantebea, Madelena Montiel, Chris Prophete, Judy Stokes, and Claudia Atkinson

Two of America's foremost non-fiction filmmakers, Albert Maysles and his brother David (1932-1987) are recognized as pioneers of "direct cinema," the distinctly American version of French "cinema verité." They earned their distinguished reputations by being the first to make non-fiction feature films- films in which the drama of human life unfolds as is, without scripts, sets, or narration. 

Their works include Salesman (1968), Gimme Shelter (1970) and Grey Gardens (1976)

Award-winning journalist, Nicholas Kristof, sits down to discuss women's oppression, healthcare, the election, and US policy in Syria. Kristof is a journalist, author, op-ed columnist, and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes. He and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, recently published "Half the Sky," an in-depth look at the toll that the oppression of women takes on families and societies and a survey of inspiring stories of women who beat the odds.

Nicholas Kristof has written an op-ed column for The New York Times since November 2001. The Washington Post says that he "rewrote opinion journalism" with his emphasis on human rights abuses and social injustices, such as human trafficking and the Darfur conflict. Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa has described Kristof as an "honorary African" for shining a spotlight on neglected conflicts.

Grammy-winning recording artist John Legend sits down to discuss his music, philanthropic work, and views on the economy, politics, and sports

Interview with supermodel, Sports Illustrated beauty, TV personality, food blogger and twitter sensation, Chrissy Teigen

Interview with national arts treasure, Bill T. Jones, Executive Artistic Director of New York Live Arts. A dancer, choreographer and theatre director, Bill has won a MacArthur genius award, Kennedy Center honor, and multiple Bessie awards and Tony Awards for his work. He directed the Broadway sensation, FELA! and is currently developing new work for the Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Broadway. Witness Bill speak about the downtown New York art scene, the evolution of his own creative process and the nature of balancing art and commerce.

Kyle Abraham is an American choreographer. He began dancing under the tutelage of the Civic Light Opera Academy and he studied at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went on to study dance at SUNY Purchase and received an MFA from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Abraham has performed with a variety of modern dance companies prior to starting his own, Abraham.In.Motion. He joined David Dorfman Dance in 2007, prior to working with the likes of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, The Kevin Wynn Collective, Nathan Trice/Rituals, Dance Alloy, and Attack Theatre

Abraham was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2013.

Interview with comedy writing duo whose work includes penning the funniest jokes on TV for "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." and the short film, "ALL ACCESS"

A series of interviews on various topics with NAACP President and CEO, Ben Jealous.

The creative forces behind a documentary film, Flex is Kings, film-makers Deidre Schoo and Michael Beach Nichols, dancers, Story Basquiat and Flizzo, and impresario, Reem, joined us on the COUNTERCULTURE set. See the dancers work their magic. Hear about the creative approaches they are taking to market their talents through live events, widely-distributed online videos, and merchandise. Learn about the exciting documentary film premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, FLEX IS KINGS, that captures the beauty and adversity of their lives and work.

Comedian, tech evangelist, and political commentator, Baratunde Thurston, talks about Twitter, the economy, the Presidential race, his hair and why he gave up on the NFL football for premiership soccer.

Interview with the multi-talented Gbenga Akinnagbe, activist and actor best-known for his work in the role of Chris Partlow on the hit HBO show, "The Wire."

Interview with New York City Councilman, Charles Barron

Tania James is a fiction writer who recently published her second book, a collection of short stories entitled AEROGRAMMES. Tania's first book, a novel entitled ATLAS OF THE UNKNOWNS, was described by the San Francisco Chronicle as "Dazzling...one of the most exciting debut novels since Zadie Smith's White Teeth."

Jonathan Cristaldi is a Wine Evangelist, the Founder of @NobleRotNYC, a PR, Marketing & Social Strategist, and the Concept Man behind nycdiningcar.com. Yes, he once served a 6 course meal to guests on the L train

Interview with Clarence Ruth, the founder and designer of the denim label, Cotte D'Armes

Interview with Shaifali Puri, the Executive Director of Scientists Without Borders, a web-based collaborative community dedicated to generating, sharing, and advancing innovative science and technology-based solutions to the world`s most pressing global development challenges

Interview with visual artist, Tom Smith.

Tom Smith attended Maryland Institute College of Art and received an MFA from School of Visual Arts. He has exhibited work internationally in France and Ireland and began showing in NYC with Eyelevel BQE in 2009. In 2014 he will travel to Rio de Janeiro for an artist in residence program at Largo Das Artes.

An award-winning composer and musician, Mikel Rouse performs two of his original works and talks about the AM radio roots of his music making, his celebrated opera trilogy, including "Dennis Cleveland," and his experience collaborating with the late moden dance icon, Merce Cunningham. The third part of Rouse's trilogy will debut at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois on September 17, 2013.

Sarah Aroeste is a Manhattan-based. Jewish Ladino musician. Her music is often referred to as “feminist Ladino rock. Aroeste grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. Her family roots can be traced to the formerly vibrant Greek Jewish community of Salonika, which was almost completely destroyed in the Holocaust. In 1927, her family built a synagogue in Salonika, which today remains one of the only synagogues there. Her family immigrated to the United States from Macedonia and Greece in the early 20th century.

Aroeste trained in classical opera singing at Westminster Choir College and Yale University. She attended the Israel Vocal Arts Institute in 1997, first learning traditional Ladino songs while studying with Nico Castel.

Dr. Saamdu Chetri is the Director of the Gross National Happiness Centre, located in the spiritual heartland of Bhutan, Bumthang.

GNH is a holistic and sustainable approach to development which balances between material and non-material values with the conviction that humans want to search for happiness. The objective of GNH is to achieve a balanced development in all facets of life which is essential to our happiness. The goal of GNH is happiness. One of several means to achieve this goal is sustainable economic growth. GNH is a unique approach to national and global development.

The concept of Gross National Happiness consists of four pillars: Fair socio-economic development (better education and health), conservation and promotion of a vibrant culture, environmental protection and good governance.

The four pillars are further elaborated in nine domains: psychological well-being, living standard, health, culture, education, community vitality, good governance, balanced time use and ecological integration. In accordance with these nine domains, Bhutan has developed 38 sub-indexes, 72 indicators and 151 variables that are used to define and analyze the happiness of the Bhutanese people.

2013 NYC Mayoral Candidate, George McDonald, sits down to discuss what differentiates him from the other candidates.

2013 NYC Mayoral Candidate, Rev. Erick Salgado, sits down to discuss what differentiates him from the other candidates.

2013 NYC Mayoral Candidate, Sal Albanese, sits down to discuss what differentiates him from the other candidates.

2013 NYC Mayoral Candidate, John Liu, sits down to discuss what differentiates him from the other candidates.