Tom Llamas On Honoring Your Roots and Raising Your Hand

Tom Llamas On Honoring Your Roots and Raising Your Hand

Author: Hoda Kotb, TODAY June 25, 2025 Duration: 45:21
Tom Llamas is the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News. He got his start in news at just 15 years old as an intern for Telemundo in Miami. After 30 years in the news industry, he says raising his hand for opportunities helped get him to the anchor chair. Llamas is the son of Cuban immigrants, who fled the country when they were young. Growing up in a Cuban American community, Llamas says his family didn't shy away from discussing politics and current events. He opened up to Hoda about his upbringing, his love for storytelling, and the responsibility of anchoring an iconic broadcast.

In a world that often feels full, the act of creating room-for reflection, for change, for breath-is a radical kind of strength. That’s the quiet heart of Making Space with Hoda Kotb. Here, Hoda moves beyond the morning show desk to engage in a different kind of conversation, one focused on the resilience and compassion that shape a meaningful life. Each episode is built around a simple, powerful question: where do you draw your strength? The answers unfold through intimate dialogues with people from all walks of life whose stories Hoda genuinely admires. These aren't interviews about achievement, but testimonies about human experience. Listeners will hear how others have navigated personal challenges, found unexpected joy, or rebuilt after loss, extracting practical lessons on making space for whatever you might be seeking right now-be it better mental health, a new fitness goal, a cultural perspective, or simply a moment of peace. The tone is warm, curious, and deeply personal, as if you're listening in on a conversation between friends who aren't afraid of the big topics. This podcast lives at the intersection of society, culture, and self-improvement, but it feels like a personal guide. You won't find quick fixes or loud promises here. Instead, you'll find a steady companion for your own journey, leaving each talk feeling subtly stronger and inspired to carve out your own space for growth. It’s a reminder that making space isn't about adding more, but about uncovering what was already there, waiting for room to breathe.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Making Space with Hoda Kotb
Podcast Episodes
Sheryl Lee Ralph on Dreams, Determination, and Defying the Odds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:39
Sheryl Lee Ralph is an Emmy-winning actress, singer, and advocate whose radiant spirit and decades-long career, from "Dreamgirls" to "Abbott Elementary," have inspired generations. Sheryl opens up to Hoda about choosing…
Selma Blair on Acting Through Adversity and the Power of Positivity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
Selma Blair is an actress, author, and advocate whose career has spanned film, television and stage, with standout performances in "Legally Blonde," "Cruel Intentions," and "Hellboy." After publicly revealing her diagnos…
Linda Cliatt-Wayman on Leading With Love to Transform a School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:08
Linda Cliatt-Wayman spent 20 years teaching special education before rising to oversee all 61 high schools in the School District of Philadelphia, but her defining moment came when she stepped up to lead Strawberry Mansi…
Big Sean on the Power of Peace and Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:51
Chart-topping rapper Big Sean has spent nearly 15 years in the spotlight, but his path to success wasn’t always easy. The Detroit native joins Hoda Kotb to reflect on his evolving relationship with fame, from believing h…
Arthur C. Brooks on Building the Life You Want [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:05
Bestselling author, acclaimed public speaker, and Harvard Business School professor Arthur C. Brooks joins Hoda Kotb for an inspiring conversation on the science and practice of happiness. They discuss how to cultivate j…
Erin Andrews: “I Just Couldn’t Give Up" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:26
Sportscaster Erin Andrews is in the busiest and best season of her life. She joins Hoda Kotb to talk about her career, her health journey and becoming a new mom.
Goldie Hawn on Hollywood, Happiness and Mental Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:25
Goldie Hawn is a Hollywood legend. And while she never set out to be a movie star, the Academy Award winning actress, producer and director has had a career spanning more than five decades, with iconic roles in films lik…
Suleika Jaouad On How to Live an Inspired Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:16
Suleika Jaouad is a New York Times-bestselling author and journalist. When Jaouad was just 22-years old, she was diagnosed with leukemia, sidelining her dream of becoming a foreign correspondent. Instead, she chronicled…