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Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Taraji P. Henson on Speaking Her Truth and Stepping Into Her Power (September 2024)

Making Space with Hoda Kotb

NBC News

Make Space, Nbc, Motivation, Spirituality, Inspiration, Education, Nbc News, The Today Show, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Today Show, Feel Good, Self Help, Making Space With Hoda Kotb, Making Space, Self Improvement, Hoda, Hoda Kotb, Mental Health, Daily Boost, Today

4.910.2K Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2026

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From screen star to producer to outspoken mental health advocate, Taraji P. Henson has never been afraid to say exactly who she is, a quality she’s carrying into her Broadway debut in "Joe Turner’s Come and Gone." In this conversation from September 2024, Henson joins Hoda to talk about the power of using her voice, taking care of her mental health, and fighting for what she deserves after years of overcoming doubt and dismissal. Plus, she reflects on the resilience it took to keep going and the strength she found in speaking up.

Transcript

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0:00.0

I'm a big believer in using your voice, speaking loudly and proudly and fighting for what you deserve.

0:12.4

And nobody, nobody uses their voice quite like Taraji P. Henson.

0:19.0

Taraji's an actress.

0:20.4

She's a producer and a mental health advocate.

0:23.2

She shines in roles like hidden figures and empire. But what I love the most about Taraji

0:28.5

is that this is a woman who speaks her truth. In fact, the word truth, it's actually

0:34.7

tattooed on her. Throughout her life, Taraji has faced naysayers, and at every turn,

0:40.2

she believed deeply in who she is and what she has to offer. She's advocated for equal pay,

0:46.5

paving a path for those to come. She inspires so many, including myself. Today we celebrate

0:53.1

how far Taraji has come, and she's not done yet,

0:56.8

not even close. I'm Hoda Codby. Welcome to Season 6 of my podcast, Making Space.

1:18.2

Thank you.

1:24.6

I saw you at the Olympics for a brief moment, and I was trying to have a deep conversation with you at some loud, screamy party.

1:27.4

And you said to me, oh, the one snoop Dog was in. Yes, you made a promise to me.

1:28.8

You said, we are going to have a big girl conversation later.

1:31.9

Yes.

1:32.4

This is our big girl conversation later.

1:34.6

I love so many things about how you navigate this world.

1:38.7

And one of them is a tattoo that you've sported for a long time.

1:42.2

And it says something that to me defines you.

1:44.8

And the word is truth.

1:46.1

Yeah.

...

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