Thursday, Oct 8, 2026 · 49 min

D.L. Hughley on Charlie's Boy and the Conversation He Never Had

Show Notes

D.L. Hughley wanted one more conversation with his father. He put it into Charlie's Boy.

In this episode of Mick Unplugged, D.L. joins me to talk about his new memoir, the man who raised him and the parts of fatherhood he understands differently now.

We get into duty, family silence and why providing for your children can become so consuming that being present gets pushed aside. D.L. shares what he learned about Charlie after his death and why he makes a deliberate effort to let his own children know him.

I also tell D.L. how his backstage mentorship changed the way I approached my podcast and my business. We talk about knowing the rules, owning your decisions and understanding why people keep listening.

You'll hear:

- The conversation behind Charlie's Boy

- What showing up does for a father-child relationship

- The pressure to keep working, even when it costs you time at home

- Why finding his way into comedy also brought survivor's guilt

- A reunion 25 years after an act of kindness

- D.L.'s take on freedom of speech, consequences and protecting your peace

I'm giving a copy of Charlie's Boy to the first 100 people who DM "Charlie's Boy" to @mickunplugged on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/

CHAPTERS

The conversation D.L. never had with his father

Meet D.L. Hughley