Jim Gardner: More to Explore | Charles Barkley talks about EVERYTHING

Well, we always look forward to a new episode of Jim Gardner's podcast because it means we get to visit with him live in studio here tonight. Such is the case right now. Jim back with more to explore. Episodes three and four of that podcast available right now for your listening pleasure. And Jim, you've been having some really fascinating conversations with interesting people. Your next one certainly fits that description. Interesting. Also some fun. Thank you, Brian. Our next podcast features an individual already familiar to most of you. In fact, to most Americans, he was a basketball player. Now he's a broadcaster. But to my mind, he is also something of a social commentator, even a philosopher. He is Charles Barkley. People like you when you're doing good for them. But when you're not doing good for them, it's like, yeah, okay, you're on your own. Believe it or not, Charles Barkley recently celebrated his 60th birthday. Come on in. It ain't like I got anything to do. You may remember him as an always talented, but sometimes angry member of the Sixers, Suns and Rockets. And these days he's known as the most honest and candid sportscaster on TV. But ask Charles, and he'll tell you that it's another role he plays that captivates him the most. Being a grandpa is the greatest thing ever happened to me by far. It is the coolest thing ever. Charles's daughter, Christiana, and son-in-law, Ilya, are parents to one-year-old Henry and a granddaughter, Charlie, born this past May. And while Charles says he is blessed to have had the career and life since coming to Philadelphia from Alabama in 1984, he has many concerns about the society that will see his grandkids grow into adults. Watching the news every day, my heart aches for these kids. I mean, to live in these environments where people just shooting each other, saying, I don't like white people, I don't like Black people, I don't like Jewish people. You sound like an idiot when you say that. We don't treat our teachers good at all. We need to pay our teachers better. We need to make sure they're safer. But in an 80-minute conversation split into two parts, Barkley was most candid about himself, his highs, his lows, including when his failures and bad choices left him in tears. CHARLES BARKLEY, Son-In-Law of Charles Barkley Jr.: And I was just sitting there. I was crying. And I was like, damn, man, this is your moment. This is your turning point in your life. PAUL SOLMAN, Co-Founder, Charles Barkley Jr.: I first met Charles over 30 years ago. I suspect we have both done a good deal of reflecting since then. Beyond the laughs and morsels of outrageousness, he has cultivated a degree of wisdom that makes listening to him a special experience. I hope you will do just that on my podcast, More to Explore. CHARLES BARKLEY, Son-In-Law of Charles Barkley Jr.: Yes, the latest episode, Jim Gardner, More to Explore with Charles Barkley, available right now. You can also get the latest one, previous to that, with David Kim, who I had never heard of before. And I had learned so much in that conversation. He was such an honest guy. But honest is a word that applies to Charles Barkley in spades. PAUL SOLMAN, Co-Founder, Charles Barkley Jr.: No question about it. Another thing, do I have time to tell you one quick thing? As he was coming into and out of the station where we recorded this, every person that he came across, he said, hi, my name is Charles. What's your name? What do you do here? Just extraordinary that he would create those connections with everybody he meets. CHARLES BARKLEY, Son-In-Law of Charles Barkley Jr.: And, in fact, I think during his conversation with me that day, he agreed to get chicken wings with me, so I'm going to hold you to that. Buffalo wings, how about that? PAUL SOLMAN, Co-Founder, Charles Barkley Jr.: We will be right back. CHARLES BARKLEY, Son-In-Law of Charles Barkley Jr.: Thanks, Jim.