Transcript
Taking it back to the 90s with Kali Reis! Full interview.
From Stephen A. Smith · Episode page · Watch on YouTube
· 21 min · 4,610 words · 56 timestamped sections
This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Taking it back to the 90s with Kali Reis! Full interview.", an episode of Stephen A. Smith published January 23, 2026 (21 min, about 4,610 words). It mentions 10 people, works and ideas, including Kaylee Reese, Mercy, Artificial Intelligence, True Detective, Chris Pratt.
Who speaks in this episode?
- Kaylee Reese (Guest)
What is discussed, and when
- – 5:00: True Detective, Kaylee Reese, Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson
- – 10:00: Chris Pratt
- – 15:00: Rebecca Ferguson, Artificial Intelligence
- – 20:00: Marvin Hagler, Shakur Stevenson, Terence Crawford, Kaylee Reese
- – 20:34: Mercy
Notable quotes from "Taking it back to the 90s with Kali Reis! Full interview."
The first page when I read the script, just seeing thee trajectory that this character took, Chris Pratt's character being someone who started this judicial system and he's now accused of murdering his wife and has to prove his innocence.
about Chris Pratt · atWell, True Detective, I play obviously a detective and here I play Jack Detective Jack Dio, but it's very unique. It's in the not so distant near future where you have you know the in LA there's a lot of.
about True Detective · atProjects especially I've been so blessed to be a part of projects such as Mercy where I'm working with Rebecca Ferguson Chris Pratt people who are very well seasoned T-our who…
about Rebecca Ferguson · atAnd I'm so used to making things, understanding what the end goal is with boxing and making it work for me. And I really think that also just going to the school of life and…
about Mercy · atKnow because in the movie Rebecca Ferguson plays the AI judge and she gives the persons this person being Chris the same resources that she uses to deem him guilty and he gets…
about Artificial Intelligence · atWho's your who's your favorite fighter of all time?
about Kaylee Reese · atMoved to Italy and started acting which is crazy like that is he's one of the best. He's underrated as far as people don't mention him too much.
about Marvin Hagler · atBut Tio, you never know, man. It depends on what Tio shows up, too. But he's a relentless, so I think that's going to be good. But if I had to if you I had to put I hate…
about Shakur Stevenson · at
Who and what is mentioned in this episode?
People
- Kaylee Reese — Person · Main guest · 4 mentions · first at
Interview subject promoting the film 'Mercy' and discussing her dual career as an actress and former world champion boxer, plus opinions on modern boxing. - Chris Pratt — Person · Referenced co-star · 4 mentions · first at
Discussed as a lead actor in 'Mercy' whose character created the AI judicial system and must prove innocence; also referenced via his law-enforcement brother as a realism consultant. - Rebecca Ferguson — Person · Referenced co-star · 5 mentions · first at
Highlighted as a major co-star in 'Mercy' (playing the AI judge) and praised for talent and presence; used to illustrate the guest's desire to work with top-tier performers. - Shakur Stevenson — Person · Referenced active boxer (fight pick) · 2 mentions · first at
Central to a specific fight prediction segment (vs. Teófimo Lopez); Kaylee Reese picks Stevenson by decision and discusses stylistic advantages and risks. - Marvin Hagler — Person · Referenced sports legend · 3 mentions · first at
Cited as Kaylee Reese's favorite fighter of all time; used to anchor a broader discussion about 1990s-era boxing toughness and elite matchups. - Terence Crawford — Person · Referenced active boxer · 2 mentions · first at
Discussed as the best current fighter ('best on the planet') and praised by both host and guest as a standout of the era.Cuz you didn't take him out in the first round. Okay. Modern day. Modern day. I look at it right now, I think Terence Crawford just retired. He's the best on the planet. That's how I feel. Do you agree with that?
- Timor Beck Mambetov — Person · Referenced director · 2 mentions · first at
Mentioned as the director attached to 'Mercy' and described as a 'master' of the screenlife genre, influencing Kaylee Reese's decision to join the project.This knowing that Timor Beck Mabatov which has wanted missing searching and he's like this master of the screen life genre I was like I got I have to do this and the trajectory…
Products & tech
- Mercy — Product · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at
The main topic of discussion, a new sci-fi thriller film starring Kaylee Reese and Chris Pratt, centered around an AI judge system.
Concepts & topics
- Artificial Intelligence — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions · first at
Central theme of the film 'Mercy', discussing the implications of an AI system acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
Media & podcasts
- True Detective — Media · Referenced work · 4 mentions · first at
Mentioned as Kaylee Reese's breakthrough role, providing context for her acting career and comparison to her role in 'Mercy'.
Full transcript with timestamps
Back to the Stephen A. Smith Show. 27 minutes past album number two. Back here on the Stephen A. Smith Show, SiriusXM Mad Do Sports Radio. I'll get back to your calls in just a few minutes, but I've been waiting to talk to this guest because I'm a fan. Uh, not just because she's a world championship, former world championship boxer, but she's a hell of an actress as well. She's an Emmy nominated actress known for her breakthrough role in HBO's True Detective, Night Country, and a world champion professional boxer. Like I just alluded to, her latest project is the new sci-fi thriller Mercy. Please welcome to the show, Kaylee Reese. How are you? How's everything going?
Thank you. Very well. How you doing? I'm doing all right. It's good to see you. Good to finally meet you. Heard a lot about you throughout the years and watched a little bit of you when you were doing your thing in the world of boxing. We'll talk about that in just a second. But first things first, congratulations to you. And I wanted to get to this film because people are buzzing about it. It comes out in theaters this Friday night. um called Mercy the buzz. I I want you to talk about you know this film itself and what do you like about it so much and what do you like being a part of it? Why do you like being a part of it so much? Ah, first of all, man, it the script just what it's about based on an premise is about an AI judge having this mercy court system having an AI judge be a judge, jury, and executioner. And from the first page when I read the script, just seeing thee trajectory that this
character took, Chris Pratt's character being someone who started this judicial system and he's now accused of murdering his wife and has to prove his innocence. And I play detective Jack Dio who is his partner who has to basically be his eyes ears flying around and on boots on the ground trying to
help him prove his innocence in 90 minutes. So I really this knowing that Timor Beck Mabatov which has wanted missing searching and he's like this master of the screen life genre I was like I got I have to do this and the trajectory that my character specifically takes is a very interesting twist and turn. Absolutely. When you talk about the the trajectory that your character takes, speak to that for a second. How is that going to be different than anything that we've seen from you in the past, particularly on True Detectives and stuff like that?
Well, True Detective, I play obviously a detective and here I play Jack Detective Jack Dio, but it's very unique. It's in the not so distant near future where you have you know the in LA there's a lot of unrest as you know the the society is going wild and she's actually along with her partner Chris Raven is somebody who has faced injustices in her life and wants to be part of the the bigger solution and she thinks that mercy is you know can never be wrong and she's completely behind that. So playing another detective but having a different why um they make the decisions that they do. You know Detective Navaro had a lot of other the different things going on in Alaska in this Alaska. So um being that she's also riding this what we call a quadcopter and she basically has to be Chris's ears eyes and this this 90 minutes be on the ground trying to take phone calls and go from this area to this to another area to to basically try
to help improve his innocence. I think the the emotional journey that you get to see my character play um is is definitely way different than Detect Navaro from True Detective Night Country for sure.
How does this character that you're going to be playing, I know you highlighted some of the differences or whatever, but you know, when you think about, you know, the the actors and actresses that I talk to, people talk about different roles, how challenging they could be and how it just elevates you because it shows your range and what have you. A lot of times you hear uh uh you know actresses allude to that and actors allude to that. Does that do is that something that you're paying attention to at this point in your career where it's not just about the work, it's about the quality of the work and what it can do to really elevate you to another level. Can you speak to that for a second?
Absolutely. You know, no actor, actress wants to get typ cast. like you can stick a gun in my hand and I can look like a quote unquote badass. But I like the challenging roles where there's something that I may have to learn how to do, you know, or some emotional range that you wouldn't normally expect someone who's in this position that I'm playing to actually reach. So I love being in different rooms where I don't know anything. I love being part of projects especially I've been so blessed to be a part of projects such as Mercy where I'm working with Rebecca Ferguson Chris Pratt people who are very well seasoned T-our who was a great director this amazing story that's really relevant to this time so I this early on in my career I want to take on more of those roles so I can you know it's just like a muscle in the ring I want to be get better so I got to be around the greats and to be around great such as
Jodie Foster and True Detective and now Mercy with Chris back and Rebecca Ferguson I definitely welcome on those roles where I know I'm going to have to really stretch that emotional muscle, learn new skills, um be in a situation where I actually have to talk to the people who are in these fields of work such as Mercy where I played a detective, a homicide detective. You know, we worked really close with the LAPD detective to really get that that understanding of especially how the partner relationship is. So, I this point in my career, I open the door to learning new things and making sure that I can not get typ casted into these one-dimensional roles and I can really work that muscle and stretch my range out as much as I can. As long as I'm breathing air and in this space, I'll do the best I can. You know, I can't help but have that champion attitude.
That's right. And when you say a champion attitude, educate people about what a championship a champions attitude is all about. I'm asking a person that was a six that that boxed, you know, for 16 years a professional boxer for six years and had six world titles on a resume. What is a champion's attitude, Kaylee? What is that? Explain that.
I mean, you're not going to knock me down and I'm not going to get up physically, mentally, anything. I'm going to keep coming. I'm going to be relentless. I'm going to learn what I need to learn. I got plan A through, you know, F and F is F it. I'mma fight. I'm always going to fight to the death. I'm always going to go out on my shield. Whether that's learning something new, figuring out what what way I need to I'm always going to get to the end goal by any means necessary. Whether that's telling a story or taking somebody's strap off their waist in that ring cuz I ain't retired yet.
Do you think that gives you an advantage in the world of Hollywood, in the world of acting? Because one would imagine that everybody has the same mentality because all of y'all are in the same craft per se, but that's obviously not true. Do you think that gives you a distinct advantage having that quote unquote champions attitude when it comes to the work that's required in order to make a project successful?
Absolutely. I mean, the resilience and the endurance you have to have in just any kind of combat sports, especially boxing. I mean, we have to fail all the time. We have to get criticized. We have to keep going no matter what. There's no days off in boxing. There's no days off in in acting either. So I think just the mentality and the discipline it takes to box crossed over into my act and I feel it's beneficial. I didn't go to Julie the art. I didn't go to any school. I didn't get any professional training. But I got the background of boxing. That dedication I have to get to the end goal is definitely something that I feel is an advantage. Also, I didn't get taught.
I'm learning as I go and I'm learning what works for me. It's the same thing I do with boxing. You might show me how to do something, but I make it work for me. And I'm so used to making things, understanding what the end goal is with boxing and making it work for me. And I really think that also just going to the school of life and all the experiences I had through boxing and just life itself is an advantage cuz I there's no right or wrong way to do things. It's just just tell the story how you want to tell the story and just do it the best you can.
You know what? I got to ask this question. Forgive his ignorance. If it's comes across ignorant, damn it, just just check me on it. Okay. You brought up the police and I've often wondered about this. You know, you talked about working with the LAPD and stuff like that. How what's the word I'm looking for? I I want to know how much did they let you in? I always get, you know, when I hear about actors and actress and and anybody working with different professionals, how much do they really really let you in? Because I'm wondering, I'm thinking, do they really really want to let her know how they do stuff? I know it's for a movie and everything like that, BUT THEY MIGHT BE TRYING TO LIE. THEY MIGHT BE TRYING TO HIDE IT. THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ALL THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE THAT THEY'RE IN.
HOW receptive were they to you um for this project in terms of showing you what you got to go through when you're a detective to do some of these things?
Oh, you know, I worked with Chris Pratt's brother. He's in he's been in law enforcement for a long long time and he was very open. And I think it comes down to just like a box a boxing movie. I always just hope that they work with real fighters because as a fighter I don't want to see something looks fake. Like I that drives me crazy in anybody from any profession. I'm sure once you see it in a movie if it doesn't look like how it really is we almost take offense to it. So I believe they were really open. I don't I didn't want to ask I don't want to know too much but as far as telling story from a p perspective of some somebody like a homicide detective that's very specific.
So even the way you move, the different language you use, the different way you treat your partner, at least with from his perspective, I want to make him proud because I know how I feel when I see somebody fighting in a boxing movie and I'm like, "Oh, man. All right. Well, I guess they just guessed that one." So, um, he was they I've worked with really good professional people in their fields that just want have that mentality, just wants that realism of when they watch it, they want to be proud. So, I want to make sure he was proud when he saw that.
Did you find yourself scared while you were doing this from this perspective? So, you're Chris Pratt. You create a system and all of a sudden, I mean, it's not innocent until proven guilty. You guilty until proven innocent and you got 90 minutes or or or or YOU GOING DOWN. THEY'RE going to bury your ass. I mean, this is what's going on right now. And I'm like, did you find yourself doing this, Gay, and saying to yourself, damn, this could actually happen in our judicial system someday? Did you find yourself thinking like that? Now more than ever because I read the script two years ago and we shot it about a year and a half ago and is the way the AI and everything else technology have progressed from now till then we find we know me and Chris are talking about it like we're having a lot more conversations based on the realism. We knew this was in the near distant future but it seems more in the near future
than than not. And I personally think I'm not scared. I don't think that there should be at least I don't think there should be a judge judging you and executing 90 minutes. That's ridiculous. But I think the resources at which you know because in the movie Rebecca Ferguson plays plays the AI judge and she gives the persons this this person being Chris the same resources that she uses to deem him guilty and he gets to use the same resources as to try to prove his innocence. So do I think that we should have an AI judge? No. Do I think the speed at which people can process with the help of AI, whether it be public defenders that don't have access to the sources, whether it be people who can't afford resources to have people who are locked up and shouldn't be locked up now who didn't have the resources that had to ple out.
Do I think there can be a balance where AI can be a tool just like anything else? Absolutely. So, I'm the only thing I'm scared of is that people see this movie and they think, "Oh, this is exactly what needs to happen." I don't think that needs to happen. I think that it's a tool. it could be used and hopefully it doesn't get in the wrong hands.
So, I was going to ask you, does it make you be somebody that embraces AI and the future impact it's anticipated to have or does it make you want to run away from it, but it sounds like you're saying it's something that we should embrace but with caution and make sure we monitor it better. Is that a is that an accurate way to depict it?
Yeah, I think, you know, I'm learning especially like I said talking about this movie, AI is learning from us. I'm one of those people that don't use chat db GBT. I don't really use AI. I mean, when we Google stuff now, AI comes up first. So, it's kind of inevitable. It's in everything. Our phone, we're always in our phones. We're always in our computers and laptops and everything else. So, it's inevitable that we're going to the best bet for me is to learn all you can about it and how it can you can use it to benefit us because AI is learning from us. I feel like something like this movie, it's not a thought piece on AI like we're not leaving like you should think about AI. I feel like you should ask yourself a question. If there was a world where it was like this, would we be more kind to one another? would we pay attention to being more aware of how we were treating one another? Um, I don't Yeah, I'm not a I'm
not a huge AI person, but this movie has definitely has intrigued me and made me positively curious that, you know, this can be something that could be used as a tool to help. Just like anything else, too much of one thing is not good. And just like a hammer, you can build something with it and you can bash somebody in the head with it. So, we got to be mindful. I think that now I have a better understanding of how we can use it to benefit us because it's inevitable. It's not like it's going to go away.
Now, this is a big question for me. This is coming from me. Rebecca Ferguson, are you a fan? I am a fan of that woman. I'm from Mission Impossible. Miss, she is the
She's all that. All that and a bag of chips, man. Ter Rex. And Rex is cool as I will say Rex is cool, man. She's hilarious. She's intelligent. She is She's one of the It was really a pleasure to see her work. Even at the table read, I'm like, "Yo, you're she's always busy. She's the most busy actor I personally know and she's amazing. She's really a gem that we have in our our generation.
Listen, you can't find a bigger Tom Cruz fan than me. And I believe Fallout I mean listen her in Mission Possible four and five. I'M LIKE IT AIN'T THE SAME WITHOUT HER. IF SHE WASN'T THERE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE SAME. THAT'S HOW SPECIAL.
SHE'S AMAZING. And she just has she has a presence about her. Like she just she clicks right in and right out. But like in between takes, she's a goofball. She's cracking jokes, but she's she's a master at her craft, man. It's a pleasure walking watching her and you are a fan for a reason. She's dope. She's dope.
Let me get back to you. Are you a fan of watching today's boxing? I am. I am. I do watch boxing. I will say I am a fan of seeing where women's boxing is right now. Oh my god. Like I couldn't imagine
where when I started in 2008 as a professional to see where it is now. I will say I wish it wasn't such a I wish you can install some of the heart because there's lack of heart and there's lack of gahones a little bit in our boxing society. I will say that everybody doing it for the clicks and likes, you know. Yeah.
Um it's it's a different time but I think we're getting back to where it used to be maybe in the 90s. I'd like to see a little bit more of that. It's crazy.
Now what does that mean? What what Kayla? What does that mean when you say you want to get back to the 90s? What was it in the '9s that you liked so much? Just for clarification.
Yo, if there was a if there was a zero on, you were undefeated and you got beat. Now today, if you get beat, it's like the end of your career. Back in the 90s, the best were fighting. The best were fighting the best were fighting the best. You know, you lost, then you came back, redeemed, you lost. Now it's like nobody everybody wants to fight dead men. Everybody wants to fight a pedestrian or somebody's a boiler. Nobody wants anybody that maybe knows how to fight. It's crazy. So, like, yo, I have I have losses, but I I bet you I ain't never got my ass whooped. I may have lost, but ain't nobody ever be my ass. You know what I mean? So, stepping up a little bit. Don't be afraid to fight the best. Need to fight the best.
That's what we want to see. So, I'm seeing a little bit more of that, but stop just doing it for clicks and likes, bro. Actually get in the gym and it's a lifestyle. I don't see these fighters living like the 90s fight like a lifestyle. Like, just because they don't have a fight scheduled in a few months, they ain't in the gym. You can get me out of the gym. Like, that's the mentality. I got to see that old heavyweight L and Mike Tyson that that type of mentality. I like those fights.
Who's your who who's your favorite fighter of all time? Marvin Haggler. MARVIN HAGGLER.
OH, GIRL. GIRL, DID DID YOU SAY MARVELOUS? THE MARVELOUS ONE. DID YOU JUST BRING HIM UP? OH MY LORD. YOU'RE YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON THAT I'VE HEARD BRING HIM UP FIRST. I MEAN, THEY DON'T REALIZE how great this man was. Greatest honor. Let me share this with you. One of the greatest honors of my career. He passed away, God rest his soul. I never had the pleasure of seeing him in person, but his family
saw me speaking about him and asked me to come to his memorial service to say a few words. I flew to Brockton, Massachusetts just to do that
because that way from around my way and oh my lord started acting. He went he moved to Italy and started acting which is crazy like that is he's one of the best. He He's underrated as far as people don't mention him too much. Melick Taylor, he's from Philadelphia. I absolutely love him.
Okay. Mike Tyson. Yeah. I I didn't like I didn't like what happened to him at the tail end of his career. He got robbed against Julio Caesar Chavez. TOTAL ROBBERY. TOTAL ROBBERY.
I HATE WATCHING ROBBERY. I love watching that fight. Oh, AND IT HAD HIM and and excuse me, what' you say?
I love Chavez, but I was like, "Yo, Chavez, you got beat. You got beat." Yeah, he got beat. And Richard Steel should have never been allowed to officiate again after that robbery. TWO SECONDS. Oh my goodness. IT WAS IT WAS TERRIBLE. TERRIBLE. TERRIBLE.
I was so I still watch that fight, Madler, but still. Come on. Oh my good. And you know, listen, one of my favorite fights to watch was Sugar Ray versus Hearns one.
One when Sugar Ray was in trouble and Angelo Dundy's like, "You're losing it, baby. You're losing it." And Sugar Ray came out like a man possessed. And yeah, I I love that one. Hearns Haggler first round. But I knew Hearns lost the fight cuz you didn't take him out in the first round. Okay. Modern day. Modern day. I look at it right now, I think Terence Crawford just retired. He's the best on the planet. That's how I feel. Do you agree with that?
I do. I mean, I do. I I love Crawford and I mean I I like Canelo, too. I mean, I I think
Yeah. Canelo's what his his growth through his career. I'm so impressed with to see how he's adjusted to see what what where he ended up right now. He's such a well-rounded fighter. If he doesn't have to fight anymore, but I Terence Croft is the best in our era right now that's ever done it. I mean, you have you have a list of fighters. There's a list of fighters from 105s all the way to heavy heavyweights. It's a little a little shaky but
um I always say Terren Crawford has been one of my favorite fighters for a long time. I I I like different fighters for different things, too. I'm not like just one,
but like if they Let me ask you. Let me ask you this last boxing question. I'm putting you on the spot. I'm putting you on the spot. January 31st.
Tapimo Lopez, Shakor Stevenson. Who you got? Oh, I'm January 31st. It's a big one. It's a big one. Kayie
Shakur fan. Shakur, man, he's on it. He's always one and a half steps ahead of you. But Tio Fimo got that.
He's He's also a fierce fighter, too. But I will say I got to go with Shakur. But Tio, you never know, man. It depends on what Tio shows up, too. But he's a relentless, so I think that's going to be good. But if I had to if you I had to put I hate picking fighters, but if I had to, I go with Shakur. I gotta go with Shakur. I got Shakur by decision but with grave concern because the power is in Tophimo plus Shakur is moving up in weight. So he has to completely outclass Tapimo in order to beat him and he can't get caught.
That's how I'm looking at it. That's a great analysis. And he can outclass him. He just can't get you can't get comfortable ever. Don't ever get comfortable in there.
Yeah. Okay. Well, let me tell you something right now. First of all, congratulations to you, your successful career. Congratulations to the successful career you had in boxing. By the way, don't be surprised if I call you back from time to time just to analyze some of these fights that's coming down.
I will I WILL DO A live analysis in a fight, man. Let me be your co-host. What's up,
girl? Done. Done. I will I will gladly bring you on. Absolutely. But the first thing we going to do is make sure everybody sees this movie Mercy that starts in the that comes out in theaters tomorrow. Thank you so much for being on the show. I really appreciate it. Love talking to you and looking forward to talking to you uh in the in the weeks, the months, and the years to come. Always stay in touch. All right. Be feel free to do so. Thank you so much for coming on the show.
Thank you for having me. This has been a pleasure. Thank you so much. Absolutely. The marvelous, the wonderful Kaylee Reese right here on the Steen A. Smith Show, Sirius XM Mad Do Sports Radio. 16 years, six world titles. Girl knows A BOXER NOW AND SHE CAN ACT. SHE'S special and I like having special people on the show. I got additional boxing analyst right there. I got additional boxing analyst right there because she know what she talking about. Shakor Stevenson. SHE WAS RIGHT. MARVELOUS. ANYBODY THAT BRINGS UP MARVELOUS MARVIN HAGGLER FIRST KNOWS BOXING. ANYBODY. YOU UNDERSTAND? CUZ THAT'S HOW GREAT he was.
Yeah. I'm getting most I'm just getting excited as much as I was ABOUT BASKETBALL YEARS. THIS STUFF IS SPECIAL. Y'ALL DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SPECIAL THIS IS. But I digress. Mercy in theaters this Friday. This the Stephen A. Smith Show. SiriusXM. Mad Dos Radio back with more in a
Questions about this episode
Who speaks in "Taking it back to the 90s with Kali Reis! Full interview."?
Kaylee Reese (Guest).
What is discussed in "Taking it back to the 90s with Kali Reis! Full interview."?
In order: 0:00 True Detective, Kaylee Reese, Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson; 5:00 Chris Pratt; 10:00 Rebecca Ferguson, Artificial Intelligence; 15:00 Marvin Hagler, Shakur Stevenson, Terence Crawford, Kaylee Reese; 20:00 Mercy.
What is mentioned in this Stephen A. Smith episode?
10 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Kaylee Reese, Mercy, Artificial Intelligence, True Detective, Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.
How long is "Taking it back to the 90s with Kali Reis! Full interview."?
The episode runs 21 min; the transcript is about 4,610 words in 56 timestamped sections.
More from Stephen A. Smith
About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 26, 2026.