The LZ Granderson Show returns for season 2 with Rams GM, Harvard historian and charity taping

The LZ Granderson Show is back for season 2 with guests Les Snead and Sven Beckert, plus a live Sept. 22 taping in Kalamazoo that will support a local youth nonprofit. The premiere mixes sports, economics and entrepreneurship, while tying the show’s return to a community fundraiser.

Why it matters: - The season launch pairs a nationally known sports executive and a Harvard historian, giving the show a broader mix of sports, business and culture. - The live taping turns the premiere into a fundraiser for a Kalamazoo nonprofit, linking the series to a local community impact. - The event also spotlights regional entrepreneurship through PitchMI’s $375,000 prize and a path to a $1 million statewide championship in 2027.

What happened: - Emmy-winning journalist LZ Granderson is launching season 2 of "The LZ Granderson Show" with two featured guests: Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead and Harvard historian Sven Beckert. - Snead will discuss building a team and handling setbacks. - Beckert will discuss his new book, "Capitalism." - The season premiere includes a live taping on Sept. 22 at Glow Hall in downtown Kalamazoo. - The taping will feature the winner of PitchMI’s $375,000 prize, awarded during Kalamazoo’s Startup Zoo Southwest Michigan Entrepreneurship Summit. - The PitchMI winner advances to a $1 million statewide championship in 2027. - This session’s topic is AI and software. - Tickets cost $15, and doors open at 8 p.m. - Net proceeds will benefit The Village's Chair, a Kalamazoo nonprofit that provides free haircuts and self-care education to underserved youth in the area.

The details: - Granderson is an LA Times op-ed columnist, an ABC News contributor and a journalism professor at Western Michigan University. - In 2026, "The LZ Granderson Show" won two awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, in entertainment and sports. - The show is available on Spotify, YouTube and other podcast platforms. - Yosemite Productions and 1213 Embers St. produce the show. - The source post also lists Granderson’s social media links on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The guest lineup suggests the show is leaning into conversations that connect public life, markets and leadership. - The charity component adds a local service angle that can help broaden the show’s audience beyond podcast listeners. - The entrepreneurship tie-in gives the live episode a built-in business and innovation hook.

What's next: - The season premiere live taping takes place Sept. 22 in Kalamazoo. - The PitchMI winner will move on to the 2027 statewide championship. - New season episodes will continue to roll out through the show’s podcast and video platforms.