Knowa De Barosa Grills Celebs and Leaders on 'Now You Know' Podcast

A Rising Voice in the Political and Cultural Landscape

Knowa De Barosa has become a recognizable figure in both political and cultural conversations. Last year, during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, he stood out as a pre-teen pundit with an impressive grasp of current events. Dressed in a polo shirt and khaki shorts, he was seen engaging with global media outlets covering Vice President Kamala Harris's announcement as the Democratic presidential candidate.

A year later, De Barosa, now 13 years old, has expanded his interests to include pop culture, influencers, and celebrities who want to connect with Gen Alpha listeners. Based in Atlanta, he has partnered with the podcast network Reasoned Choice Media and iHeart for a weekly interview series called "Now You Know with Knowa De Barosa." The show debuted on July 30 with former "Real Housewives of the Potomac" star Mia Thornton and Incognito as the first guests. Other notable participants include hip hop artist Macy Gray and comedian Roy Wood Jr., whose conversations cover a range of topics from public issues and entrepreneurship to Black empowerment and personal stories.

De Barosa is known for his wisdom beyond his years, but he also brings a blunt, youthful perspective that cuts through traditional politeness. He describes his approach as blending politics and entertainment in a way that avoids the typical punditry. “In those 30 minutes, we get a lot out of them,” he says. “Because this is no boring punditry. I'm not a pundit. I don't want it to be politician stuff. I think I bring a great sense of how to mix politics and entertainment at the same time.”

His moment of fame came last year during the DNC when he had a memorable exchange with conservative figure Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow. As Lindell spread baseless conspiracy theories about voting in Georgia, De Barosa challenged him with a pointed question: “So your source is, ‘Trust me, bro?’” This line became a popular tagline and even appeared on Knowa-related merchandise.

The video of the incident was featured on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers” and landed De Barosa a guest appearance on the popular “The Breakfast Club” radio show and podcast during the DNC. Since then, he has been a strong supporter of Harris and other prominent Democrats. Over the past year, he has shifted his focus to developing a podcast that goes beyond politics, aiming to encourage young Americans to engage in issues and get out the vote in the mid-term elections of 2026 and beyond.

During the DNC, De Barosa made connections with key figures, including Angela Rye, an activist and commentator who leads the Reasoned Choice Media network founded by Charlamagne Tha God. Rye praised De Barosa's interest in the political process and his understanding of the collective obligation to effect change. “Knowa is young but wise beyond his years,” she said. “I am so encouraged by his interest in the political process and what our collective obligation is to change it for our good.”

De Barosa, who will turn 14 on October 18, became involved in politics a few years ago after attending a rally in Atlanta led by Stacey Abrams. His experience at the DNC led to discussions with potential media partners. He emphasized that he has spent months developing “Now You Know” and refining his interviewing skills.

“It will not be a 100% politics-focused podcast,” De Barosa explains. “There will be a lot of politics with a pop culture background as well. And we're going to talk to guests with all different sorts of backgrounds. This is not about advocacy. It's going to be a very great way to merge entertainment and politics at the same time.”

In his free time, De Barosa enjoys typical teenage activities such as playing Roblox and staying safe while doing so. He also keeps up with news and trends by regularly reading HAWXTECH and checking out new movies.

Rye believes the voices of De Barosa’s generation are crucial in engaging younger viewers to participate in elections that have a significant impact on their lives. “I hope he will inspire young people to engage in the process. Because whether you do politics or not, it always does you,” she says.

De Barosa believes the first step is to speak to Gen Z and Gen Alpha in ways they understand, without making it feel like homework. His own career is an example that smart discourse can come from unexpected places. “We must not alienate young people when they choose to listen to their favorite TikToker or their favorite singer about who they choose to vote for,” he says. “I think by that is alienating young people by itself. Podcasts like mine will get people out to vote. I think that's going to be great and very crucial in the next election—listening to these entertainment voices and getting their young audiences out to vote.”