Next Question with Katie Couric

In January of this year, Katie sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris for a rare one-on-one interview in her ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. At the time, a Trump-Biden rematch seemed inevitable. But then, in the weeks following his poor performance in the first presidential debate in late June, President Biden’s future as his party’s candidate was suddenly anything but certain. After increasing calls for him to drop out of the race, he announced he would end his campaign and endorsed Vice President Harris to run in his place on July 21st. Now, as this long election year enters a brand new chapter, it’s the perfect moment to have a closer listen to Katie’s expansive, in-depth conversation with the likely Democratic presidential nominee. It gets to the heart of what’s at stake in this race, and offers one of the clearest pictures we have of what a future Harris administration could look like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since John F Kennedy Jr, his wife Carolyn Bessette, and her sister Lauren Bessette, died in a plane crash. On July 16, 1999, the plane, piloted by John, went down off the coast of Massachusetts–shocking the world. Just a few months prior, Katie sat down with John for what would be his last television interview. Now, for a special two-part remembrance, she reflects back on that fleeting moment in time when John and Carolyn captivated the public’s imagination and talks to the authors of two new books about them, contemplating their scrutinized lives, their fierce love, and their enduring legacy. Today we bring you companion episodes remembering John and Carolyn, as well as Lauren–their scrutinized lives, their fierce love, and their enduring legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since John F Kennedy Jr, his wife Carolyn Bessette, and her sister Lauren Bessette, died in a plane crash. On July 16, 1999, the plane, piloted by John, went down off the coast of Massachusetts–shocking the world. Just a few months prior, Katie sat down with John for what would be his last television interview. Now, for a special two-part remembrance, she reflects back on that fleeting moment in time when John and Carolyn captivated the public’s imagination and talks to the authors of two new books about them, contemplating their scrutinized lives, their fierce love, and their enduring legacy. Today we bring you companion episodes remembering John and Carolyn, as well as Lauren–their scrutinized lives, their fierce love, and their enduring legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2020, Joe Biden stood on stage with Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and our guest today, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and declared himself a “bridge” candidate, hinting at a single term. Now, as he runs for reelection amid heavy scrutiny, the low rumble of approval that has met Whitmer’s term at Michigan’s helm has amplified into a clamor by some for her to step into a larger leadership role in the future Democratic party. Sitting down with Next Question during the Aspen Ideas Festival, Whitmer discussed her role in preserving abortion rights in Michigan and managing the state during COVID-19, among other accomplishments–all of which she did while fielding truly terrifying personal attacks and a kidnapping plot from the MAGA right wing. Gretchen for President? Maybe someday. But here today, her resilience and focus on key issues position her as a prominent future Democratic leader who inspires! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor, co-hosts of Pod Save America and founders of Crooked Media, remember when politics felt hopeful. Their latest venture, after working for Obama, starting Crooked Media, and launching a slew of great ventures and podcasts, is a user's guide to American government: Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps. They are some of the most informed, level-headed, and hilarious political voices around, and their book is the antidote to feeling stressed out, beat down, and powerless over politics. You certainly don’t have to be a political junky to appreciate that!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven years ago, Brian Wallch was diagnosed with ALS at just 37 years old. He and his wife, Sandra, found out on the day they brought their second daughter home from the hospital. Instead of passively accepting this new reality, the two decided to spearhead a patient driven movement. For Love and Life: No Ordinary Campaign is a new documentary on Amazon Prime, executive produced by Katie, that chronicles their love story, their demand to accelerate the rate of research, and their efforts to change legislation. Today on the podcast, we have a conversation with Brian, Sandra, Jeff MacGregor and Tim Rummel--two of the film's producers, and director Chris Burke. It is an episode you won't want to miss!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler have been stars for decades–who can forget their turns in Anchorman and The Sopranos respectively?--but they share a sisterhood with each other: they’ve both been diagnosed with MS. Their podcast MeSsy is all about supporting each other and listeners through whatever curveballs life throws their way, and Katie was delighted to sit down on the interviewee side of the desk to discuss her activism around raising awareness for cancer–and also have some fun. From moving moments at Stand Up to Cancer benefits to stripper names and that one word everyone misuses this interview will have you in stitches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know Renée Fleming as one of the most famous and beloved sopranos in history. You may not know that Renée struggled mightily with stage fright for most of her career. Her experiences sparked a passionate interest in brain science, and she found a kindred spirit in Dr Francis Collins, former NIH director and fellow musician. This unlikely duo is working together to bring attention and much needed funding to the healing power of sound for ailments ranging from Alzheimer’s to chronic pain. A world with less pharmaceutical intervention and more singing, dancing, and community? We’re in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patric Gagne is a sociopath–as are 5% of the population generally. Growing up, she reports she “mostly felt nothing.” When she was diagnosed in her early adulthood, she finally understood why she experienced life so differently than those around her. She got her PhD in Psychology and wrote her memoir, Sociopath to demystify disorders like psychopathy and sociopathy. Gagne doesn’t hold back, sharing with us what it feels like to be a sociopath and what neurotypical people so often get wrong about these disorders. It's not every day we get to hear about sociopathy from someone who lives it, so settle in for an extended episode and a conversation like no other.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie sat down with eminent journalist Frank Bruni in this spirited live conversation hosted by Temple Emanu-el’s Streicker Cultural Center earlier this month. While their jumping off point was Frank’s new book, The Age of Grievance, Katie and Frank covered a lot of ground: the current climate on college campuses, political violence, and the corrosive nature of cancel culture. Frank centers today’s events in a longer historical context that lends a surprising note of optimism. Calling our current moment an “Age of Grievance” may seem almost too polite, given the coarsening of public discourse and the curated, angry echo chambers many of us find ourselves in. But Bruni wants us to remember that grievance used to be a constructive American virtue. Grievance gave us the Revolutionary War (the word grievance appears in the first amendment after all!) and many civil rights movements. These high points in our history can still guide us today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you bring your personal values to your public life? This question has animated Jim VandeHei’s and Mike Allen’s long career together; first at Politico and then as they went on to launch Axios. It’s not an easy feat to pull off. Jim’s new book, Just the Good Stuff: No-BS Secrets to Success (No Matter What Life Throws at You) explains how they did it–and all the mistakes, triumphs, and unexpected breakthroughs along the way. In this wide-ranging interview, Katie, Jim and Mike talk about media past, present, and future, Trump and the election, and the future of AI. You’ve heard interviews about all of these things before, of course. But in this extended episode these three keen observers get to dive deeper than usual. The rare space for this added depth brings us to very universal and human questions: amidst all the noise politically, culturally, and digitally, what can we control? Only ourselves. This conversation ponders how we can act individually in a way that leads to more freedom, more transparency, and more opportunity for more people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve probably heard the name Sophie Trudeau, best known as the glamorous wife of Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada. But Sophie is a whole lot more than that. In her new book, Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other, she candidly shares a lot about her life and struggles. But Sophie has also incorporated the best science and interviewed the leading researchers about how our brain handles life’s biggest challenges–her book tackles everything from mindfulness to the function of the vagus nerve. Her endless hope and practical approach to knowing ourselves is an invitation to curiosity, progress, and inner peace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social Psychologist and NYU Professor Jonathan Haidt’s new book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness lays it out emphatically: kids are being very negatively affected by ubiquitous phone use. The research on what phones and their attendant apps are doing to our kids is devastating, and these spikes in depression, anxiety, and even self-harm correlate pretty exactly with the rise of internet-connected smartphone use. The good news is that the answer to possibly reversing this trend is simple, if not easy. In this urgent conversation, Haidt lays out exactly what parents need to know to help protect and prepare their kids as they navigate this complex technological era.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like many influencers these days, Jay Shetty is much discussed, but not necessarily much understood. He seems like he’s everywhere–officiating JLo and Ben Affleck’s wedding, dispensing wise sound bites on TV, and connecting daily to nearly 50 million people across a variety of social media and other platforms. Shetty rejects the title “guru,” which some have used to describe him, but it’s easy to see that he’s a guiding light for many. Shetty strives to create spaces where true vulnerability and openness is possible, and he brought a sense of peace and calm to this wide-ranging interview which traces his path from “failed” monk to household name. Together, Katie and Jay explore the power of unconditional love, and how to take self-care from buzzy jargon to practical tactics for bringing more peace into our lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kris Jenner has vision. From an early age, she knew she wanted a family–she even predicted she’d have six kids! From her origins working in retail stores owned by her mother and grandmother, Kris has built something with true staying power along with her accomplished kids–and now their own kids, her grandchildren! One of the joys of matriarchy is being able to sit back a bit and survey what you’ve built. In this personal and heartfelt interview, Jenner dishes about her love of celebration (she’s already started Christmas shopping!), grandkid dates, and realizing that what you promise one grandkid… you promise to them all. More tips for grandparents–including a new one by the name of Katie Couric!--in this delightful conversation with Kris Jenner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next Question is back for season nine, and the times, they are a changin’! Katie has big personal news to share in the season kick off with Kris Jenner–plus advice, memories, and humor from the Momager in Chief herself. Then it’s full steam ahead with Jay Shetty on balancing being and doing, valuable insights from Liz Cheney and Hillary Clinton for this major election year, and internationally renowned soprano Renee Fleming takes us inside music and the mind with her new book. All that and more from Next Question Season 9!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Next Question’s more personal episodes, this conversation features a very special plus one: Katie’s daughter, Carrie Monahan! Katie and Carrie, along with their guest, author Emmeline Clein, have all grappled with disordered eating at certain points in their lives. The research bears out that this is a nearly universal experience for American women, and that was a central inspiration for Clein’s new book, Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm. So many of us know on a deep level how easy it is to be beguiled by the pressure to be thinner, that thin means “perfect”--and how hard it is to get out of that mindset because, as Clein explains, "society as a whole is 'colluding with anorectic reasoning.'" But something powerful happens when lived experience is borne out in research, data, and other types of “proof”: it becomes impossible to continue to blame the victims for what is a much more complex and insidious societal sin. That is a driving message of Clein’s book, and this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Next Question was produced in partnership with Capital One, and recorded live at the Capital One Cafe in Herald Square in New York City. In it, Katie and a panel of caregivers explore the vast spectrum of challenges facing caregivers — those of us who find ourselves taking care of a loved one when they can no longer take care of themselves.As our panelists Chris Punsalan, Adrienne Glusman, and Capital One’s own Celia Edwards Karam share from personal experience, it can be a terrifying, overwhelming task — from the sudden windfall of money decisions and the struggle to sort out a workable financial plan at a time of immense uncertainty, to the psychological burden of simultaneously caring for a loved one while mentally preparing to lose them. But there are also moments of grace, connection, and priceless time together that will stay with our panelists for a lifetime.This conversation is both a practical guide and, we hope, a source of real inspiration and comfort for navigating an enormously challenging phase — one that most of us will face at some point in our lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kara Swisher, Official Next Question plus one and dogged chronicler of the good, bad, and the ugly of the tech world (and the “adult toddlers” that so often populate it), has really seen it all. She made tech her beat at the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal before most journalists took any notice of the fledgling “nerdy” industry. From there, Kara fearlessly reported on a new generation of tech entrepreneurs who would change the world as we know it. Her journalism breaks news and starts conversations, and her bubble-bursting, down-to-earth approach to those who often get handled with kid gloves is perhaps one of her most enduring traits. Some call her approach “mean,” and the title of her much-anticipated memoir, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, plays on this reputation as a reporter who minces no words and is not afraid to ask the hard questions. Kara chronicles the history of how tech came to dominate our lives, and with more potentially life changing tech on the horizon with things like AI, she certainly has some dire warnings. But Kara also has plenty of optimism to share, along with hot takes on everything from Gavin Newsom’s suits to where she derives her confidence (and the bone she has to pick with the question “How are you so confident?”). Nothing is off limits in this funny, insightful, profound conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allie Phillips, a young Tennessee woman who runs a daycare from home and has a young daughter, Adalie, was delighted to learn she was pregnant with a second daughter, Miley, in 2022. The same year, Tennessee enacted an abortion ban after the fall of Roe v Wade. Allie had no reason to believe this would affect her–but unfortunately it did. Miley was deemed “incompatible with life” at around 19 weeks, and Allie was faced with the decision many women must grapple with now that Roe has fallen: to leave the state to receive abortion care, or to continue her pregnancy as her daughter deteriorated, threatening Allie’s life and fertility. She chose the former, and documented the difficult, time-sensitive process to her nearly 300,000 TikTok followers. She shared her story to put a face to the consequences of the overturn of Roe, and a little while after she returned to Tennessee, she decided to get involved politically. Her state representative was no help– Allie learned he hadn’t considered cases like hers in banning abortion because he thought, shockingly, that only first pregnancies could have complications. She’s now running for that very seat in the statehouse, and joins Next Question today to make her inspiring case for change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode of Next Question, Katie sat down for a rare one-on-one interview in DC with Vice President Kamala Harris in her ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. And there was a lot to talk about. 2024 is here at last, and it’s a monumentally important election year–one that looks more likely every day to be another Biden-Trump re-match. The political news has been heavily skewed toward the Republican side of the race, given the drama of selecting their nominee. Less has been heard from the incumbent administration. But the campaign is heating up for the Democrats too. From abortion rights to the crisis in Israel and Gaza, shifting voter coalitions and where Biden-Harris need to really make their message sing, such as with Gen Z, this wide ranging conversation gets to the heart of what’s at stake this election year, and what the Biden-Harris administration is doing to make their case to voters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since long before Roe v Wade enshrined a federal right to choose in 1973, abortion has been one of the most contentious issues in American life. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe with their decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, marking a new peak in the political energy and emotion surrounding abortion. Katie’s guest today, New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor (who won a Pulitzer for her Me Too reporting), has been behind some of the most exhaustively sourced and in-depth reporting on just how Dobbs unfolded. As Jodi tells us, in many ways, SCOTUS’ Dobb’s decision was shocking. The case started as a long-shot ban on abortions after 15-weeks in Mississippi. But a series of events made it one of the most monumental in American history: an even more controversial case from Texas coming along at the same time, Justice Ginsberg’s death, and an unprecedented leak of the decision in Dobbs that some feel affected Justices’ ability to deliberate fully. It’s easy to imagine this going differently if even one of those things changed. Roe’s reversal could be interpreted as the triumphant fruition of 50 years of conservative efforts or as an issue that could swing voters to liberal candidates; there’s evidence for both. Entering an election year, the transparency Jodi brings to one of our most hallowed institutions–one that may face serious tests this year–is unmissable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a recent episode of Brooke Shields’ podcast Now What?, Katie and Brooke took a walk down memory lane and came back with some thoughtful insights to kick off 2024. Brooke and Katie share a long history with the limelight, and they reflect in this intimate conversation on the trials and tribulations of going through life’s ups and downs in the public eye. That’s come with its challenges, but also the privilege of a long relationship with their audiences. Both blazed trails and opened doors in their respective industries. But some of the most enduring work has been with causes close to their hearts. We all have so much to give to the world; allow this conversation to inspire you this January to find your passion, and share it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ava DuVernay’s newest film, Origin, breaks a lot of molds. The book on which it’s based, Caste, grapples with some of the deepest inequalities in our world today, and was famously deemed unadaptable into a film. Not to mention DuVernay came to the adaptation as the industry entered one of its biggest slumps in recent memory. Not one to be dissuaded, DuVernay found a way to adapt this seminal book and to fund it outside of the typical studio-or-streamer model for making a movie. The result is a sweeping mosaic of personal stories, including Isabelle Wilkerson’s own, that chronicle how lives today are defined by a hierarchy of human divisions. The adaptation speaks for itself: there were many tears in the audience of this Q&A, taped live at Art Basel in Miami, one of the partners in a revolutionary new funding model that made the project possible. This incredible movie and the innovation that underpins its production have a lot to teach about new ways to approach some of the most intractable problems of our time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melissa Etheridge has written two memoirs now–her new one is Talking to My Angels. For many people, writing more than one memoir might seem excessive, but Etheridge has lived a lot. She’s reflective on just how much she’s learned between 40, when she wrote her first memoir, and about 60 where she’s writing from now, especially how a definitive spiritual experience (thanks to what she calls a hero dose of cannabis) really separated her life into “before” and “after.” On the other side, Melissa finds herself happier and more centered than ever. She’s articulate and sure about how she found that peace, and seems to have an amazing capacity to learn from and process the not-so-peaceful events in her life. And of course music is the thrumming throughline underpinning everything from her career to her memories of childhood, to what drives her now after so many challenges that could have broken many. But Melissa seems to ground herself even deeper in times of trial, and has a lot to teach anyone about resilience, grit, and grace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new film May December stars Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, and Charles Melton, was directed by Todd Haynes, and written for the screen by Samy Burch’s–her first screenplay! Julianne Moore’s Gracie began her relationship with the much-younger Joe (Charles Melton) when he was a young teen, and paid the price for this hard-to-understand liaison. Elizabeth, played by Portman, is an actress who arrives at their home to do research for her role portraying Gracie in an upcoming biopic. Critics are calling it a “booby trap” of a movie, because it’s so hard to decide just who to root for. In this wide-ranging interview, Katie Couric sits down with the cast to delve into how the actors approached these complicated characters, where Haynes drew inspiration from as he directed (there’s a very interesting story to the music in this film), and what excited them about the fresh take Burch brought to her screenplay. This isn’t a movie that invites easy answers, but it’s clear the team had great fun bringing us this story, and we hope you enjoy the peek behind the curtain!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent bombshell report in the New York Times reveals that Israel knew about Hamas’s attack plan for October 7th, 2023, codenamed “Jericho Wall,” more than a year before it happened. On this episode of Next Question, the journalists who broke the story, Ronen Bergman and Adam Goldman, detail how this intelligence failure came about, including the dismissal of a female Israeli intelligence analyst’s urgent warnings that Hamas had devised a “plan to start a war” as “imaginary.” We now know that Hamas’s intentions as laid out in the Jericho Wall document were deadly serious, and Bergman and Goldman note that the attack followed the plan with “shocking precision.” They give insightful analysis of how a threat like Jericho Wall could be dismissed and what this grave misstep means for not only this conflict, but also for Israel's broader idea of itself in the world and for the trust in its powerful intelligence service at home and abroad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is the anniversary of Open AI’s launch of Chat GPT, a tool which brought AI out of the realm of sci-fi and right to our fingertips. AI seems to have crept into every facet of our lives in that one year, and it’s hard to know if that’s a good or bad thing–especially in light of the chaos wrought by Open AI’s recent firing and rehiring of their co-founder Sam Altman. Sometimes it feels like the battle lines are drawn–you can be for or against AI–and the stakes are high. So in this episode of Next Question, Katie is joined by her plus one, Vivian Schiller, in conversation with data scientists and AI ambassadors Chris Wiggins and Vilas Dhar, to sort through some of the noise. The panel covers a lot of ground, but remains grounded in real-world examples (and there are several acronyms defined!), to rationally consider what AI can and should do for us now, what risks we should keep an eye on, and who needs to be involved in the conversation shaping AI’s next chapter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you achieved the American Dream? Actually–how do you even define the American Dream? Sometimes it can feel like that phrase is meaningless and politicized but that idea is such a cornerstone of what makes us the United States. It’s foundational, but it can sometimes feel like it’s falling apart. Enter David Leonhardt’s new book–he’s a columnist at the New York Times and heads their The Morning newsletter. In the book, Ours Was the Shining Future, he sets out to quantify the American Dream and tell a story of how it’s changed over the last few decades. And for those who might feel intimidated by economics, Leonhardt’s book might just be the perfect entry point: the personal narratives of the people who shaped our history bring this book from the theoretical to the concrete. This insightful, comprehensive, human book provides a perfect jumping off point to examine the long, imperfect story of our ongoing project as Americans, striving to realize the promises of democracy and capitalism–and all the successes and failures along the way so far. We can learn from the past, and David, armed with data but also with compassion and optimism, is an excellent guide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the course of their careers, Katie Couric and Kara Swisher have weathered (and thrived amongst) massive sea changes in the news industry–from network TV to streaming; the rise of mobile viewing; Twitter as the global newsroom water cooler; and now AI, polarization, and a serious crisis of truth. This makes Kara the perfect plus one for a discussion with Instagram founder Kevin Systrom. Kevin was the architect of some of those sea changes Kara and Katie documented, and with his new venture Artifact, a “fully machine learning driven, personalized newsreader,” he’s aiming to remedy some of the problems facing news and information today. Katie, Kara, and Kevin go back to Kevin’s roots at Instagram and draw out what made that app great–its ability to evoke delight; its sense of discovery and community-building. They also discuss how those features, combined with a leadership ethos of responsibility and proactivity makes Artifact something beyond the headline aggregators you might think of when you hear “newsreader.” Can conscientious design create an app that genuinely informs you? Could it even solve the problem of social media echo chambers? Kevin Systrom thinks so! So come along on a little trip to how we got here, where we’re headed, and what we can do to make sure that the content we see online is vetted and true. Because facts we can rely on are crucial to our entire world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Kinzinger and Mary Trump don’t have a lot in common on the surface:but in a moment where politics are dividing more people than ever before, Kinzinger and Trump find they have more and more in common. January 6th was a watershed moment for them both: Kinzinger’s departure from the current GOP was basically assured with his participation in the Congressional hearings on the matter, and a worst-fears-realized anguish after the discord crystalized a drive for activism in Mary Trump. As Katie’s plus one, Mary Trump digs deep with Kinzinger on their shared fight for the future of democracy and how the country may find a path forward. Plus, Kinzinger is full of insider, behind-the-scenes explainers from his time in Congress, from what exactly is meant by “military aid” to the impact on history of Kevin McCarthy’s visits to Mar a Lago. You’ll find yourself walking away from this conversation convinced there’s a way forward from the current state of political division and dysfunction, and gratitude that Mary Trump and Adam Kinzinger are on the case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smart people know things; wise people know people. For Next Question guest today, David Brooks, knowing people has been a lifelong endeavor. Katie Couric and her + 1 today, Kelly Corrigan, dig deep into David’s new book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, which is all about how we connect–empathy, curiosity, vulnerability–and how we can build these skills in ourselves. There’s even an empathy test you can take along with us in the episode! Incisive and wide-ranging, this conversation is one of the funniest episodes Next Question has ever presented. Join Katie, Kelly, and David in asking yourself about the role empathy and connection plays in your life, and discover with them new ways to build and use those skills to have a more “lit up” existence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our first Katie Plus One, Katie is bringing in backup: Kelly Rizzo, the host of the Comfort Food podcast and the widow of Bob Saget. Their guest today is John Stamos, Saget’s Full House co-star and longtime friend of Bob and Kelly. Together, Katie, Kelly, and John cover a ton of ground – from memories of Bob, to John’s deep love of Disney, to an incredible story about Sammy Davis Junior and General Hospital. This season is all about FUN and great conversations! Enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Couric is back with a new season of Next Question, this time with a new format: Katie + 1! While the good ol’ classic Katie Couric interview isn’t going anywhere, Season 8 boasts a variety of co-hosts, who bring their own style and new perspective to the conversations. In the season premiere, Katie is joined by Bob Saget’s widow, Kelly Rizzo, to interview John Stamos, Saget’s “Full House” co-star and close friend, for a conversation that’s intimate and poignant while also irreverent and a lot of fun. Future conversations include Katie and Kara Swisher’s interview with Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom for a deep dive on the past, present, and figure of social media. In another, Katie and author Kelly Corrigan are joined by David Brooks to discuss the growing social disconnect in our culture and the surprisingly simple (but not necessarily easy) ways we can bring people closer together. This season is more relaxed, a little more conversational, a little more spontaneous, and quite frankly, a little more fun. So join us for season 8 of Next Question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last eighteen months or so of Jada Pinkett Smith’s life have been… well, complicated. But complicated is nothing new for the multi-hyphenate who now hosts Red Table Talk and has a new book, Worthy, her gripping memoir tracing her origins in Baltimore to her throne as reigning queen of refusing to fit into anyone’s idea of who she should be. Pinkett Smith shares her perspective as a young girl from her grandmother’s garden, as a young woman at Baltimore School of the Arts, where one of her closest friends was Tupac Shakur, and as a starlet in the heady 1990s heyday of opportunity for Black actresses. Her exhilarating highs came with devastating lows; Pinkett Smith has shared openly about her depression and even suicidal ideation–in this wide-ranging interview, Pinkett Smith opens up about coming through those dark times, falling in, out, and in another kind of love with her life partner Will Smith, and, yes, her take on “The Holy Slap.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Lewis is like a literary Forrest Gump. He always seems to know where the biggest story of the year is going to be–and he’s usually halfway through a book about it when it breaks. This time he couldn’t have gotten the timing better: his book Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon came out the same day as Sam Bankman-Fried, the book’s subject, went on trial in the aftermath of the collapse of his crypto exchange, FTX, and Alameda Research. So thank goodness Michael is here, because there are enough acronyms in this fascinating story to make your head spin–not to mention getting your head around the blockchain. In this conversation Michael takes us from his first impressions to his hard-won insights into SBF and his motivations, mistakes, and the mayhem he’s been at the center of. He also takes the time to talk us through the Effective Altruism movement that underpinned SBF’s ideology and explains the ins and outs of FTX’s rise–and the details of how it collapsed, taking billions in net worths along with it. He also hints at how that money might not be so gone after all. If you can’t get enough of this story check out Michael’s podcast Judging Sam, available wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, produced in partnership with Katie Couric Media and Equip—the leading evidence-based virtual eating disorder treatment program—Katie sits down with one of the stars from Netflix’s Queer Eye, Jonathan Van Ness, and Dr. Jessie Menzel, a clinical psychologist. In honor of Pride month, they discuss the importance of access to care for disordered eating for the LGBTQIA+ community; they also cover Jonathan’s tumultuous childhood, coming to understand his gender identity, his experience with body dysmorphia and disordered eating, and the way these issues uniquely impact those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Jonathan and Jessie offer effusive support, as well as practical advice, on developing a healthy relationship with body image. (A note for readers: this episode contains sensitive material, including eating disorders and sexual assault.) Link: https://equip.health/?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=KCM_JVN&utm_adgroup=&utm_term= Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, produced in partnership with Ally and Katie Couric Media, we’re taking a look at the racial wealth gap; the systemic and historical factors that have contributed to persuasive economic inequality, as well as how we can work together to navigate a new path forward. First, Katie is joined by financial columnist Michelle Singletary from the Washington Post. Her series, “Sincerely, Michelle,” was not only a reaction to the murder of George Floyd, but also an invitation to millions of Americans to see the reasons for the stark financial disparity that falls along racial lines. Next, Katie speaks to Chloe McKenzie, founder of Black Fem, an organization dedicated to reimagining wealth opportunities for Black women. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to priorities, Julia-Louis Dreyfus has had hers in place for a long time. As a young mother when she played Elaine Benes on Seinfeld, Julia had to figure out how to separate the demands of working on set, from the demands of being a committed parent. Even so, she tells Katie, “Being a mother who is working outside the home is a bitch. It’s very difficult to do both well.” On this episode of Next Question, Katie and Julia discuss the challenges of maintaining a healthy sense of self worth — a central theme of Julia’s new movie, You Hurt my Feelings. They also candidly discuss the ways that older women feel “liberated” from these concerns, as Julia has learned from her new hit podcast, Wiser Than Me (hint: they “don’t give a shit”). Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the host of the new podcast Wiser Than Me produced by Lemonada Media. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just as Facebook was on the verge of becoming Meta Platforms, Inc. in late 2021, a scathing series of articles was published by the Wall Street Journal. The reporting was based on internal documents that detailed the ways Facebook’s platforms “are riddled with flaws that cause harm, often in ways that only the company fully understands.” The source for these internal documents — some tens of thousands of pages — became known as The Facebook Whistleblower. The name behind these revelations is ex-Facebook product manager Frances Haugen. On this episode, Haugen reveals why she came forward, what she hopes to accomplish with her new book, The Power of One, and what she sees as the perils — and promise — of an ever-changing technology landscape that requires transparency to keep itself honest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, produced in partnership with Ally and Katie Couric Media, Katie sits down with Ally’s Jack Howard, Senior Director of Financial Health and Wellness. Together, they discuss how our emotions around money come from our past and make up our “money stories.” These narratives find their way into our attitudes about money, and can wreak havoc in our relationships. Kiersten and Julien Saunders, founders of Rich and Regular, offer helpful advice about how couples can avoid these pitfalls; by understanding each other’s money stories better, couples have a much better chance of writing their own financial happy ending.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geena Rocero is known as a storyteller, a supermodel, and an activist, who decided after nearly a decade in the public eye that she could no longer live under the burden of her greatest secrets. So she revealed them all. In her new memoir, Horse Barbie, Geena recounts her journey from extremely humble beginnings in the Philippines to headlining fashion runways all over the world - all while hiding her truth. She reveals to Katie the years-long terror she felt of being outed as a transwoman, and the fear that her career as a supermodel would be crushed if anyone were to find out. Geena discusses why support from the matriarchs in her life - from the mother who raised her to the drag mother who helped her flourish - are the reason she can now be a light for others, through her activism and community outreach work. In this thought-provoking conversation, Geena illustrates why coming out about who you are can often be the only way to live a life that matters. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For author Judy Blume, writing is about making connections. Her genius has always involved finding a path into the intimate spaces of her readers’ hearts; it’s the very thing that drove her to write. Now, at 85, she’s reaching her third generation of readers — and she’s connecting as powerfully as she did in the late 1960s when her first book was published. A new documentary, Judy Blume Forever, explores this phenomenon, and the deep cultural reach of her books. On this episode of Next Question, Katie chats with the incredibly energetic Judy Blume, as well as the doc’s directors, Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok, about the power of books as a force for transformation, identity, disruption, escape, and revolution. They discuss why Judy’s books have been embraced and feared, and why the connections she has made are just as strong as ever — even though there are people who would like to silence her altogether. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Amy Klobuchar believes that a certain amount of optimism is essential in overcoming obstacles, “Whether it’s through an illness, or whether it’s through trying to get a bill through congress.” And she’s had more than her share of experience with both. On this episode of Next Question, Katie and Senator Klobuchar talk about her getting-things-done mindset, and how it found its way into the pages of her new book, The Joy of Politics: Surviving Cancer, a Pandemic, a Campaign, an Insurrection, and Life’s Other Unexpected Curveballs. While the Senator has been through a lot the past few years, she’s well aware that she’s not alone. Now, she’s ready to rejoice in the comeback. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Academy-Award winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim set out to make Still, a film about Michael J. Fox, he imagined he’d be making a hybrid documentary/80s movie. What he discovered along the way, however, was something deeper: his subject is far more than an iconic mega-star — Michael is an inspiration. After decades of living with the degenerative and debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease, Michael J. Fox reveals his personal philosophy: “With gratitude, optimism is sustainable.” Katie’s conversation with Michael and Davis is funny and revealing, and traces the highs and lows of creating a film about an incurable optimist trying to overcome an incurable disease. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin has covered Some of the most notorious figures in U.S. history. Now, in his book “Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of RIght-Wing Extremism,” Toobin takes on the man behind the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Toobin puts the incident into historical context by tracing the roots of McVeigh’s actions from the standoff at Ruby Ridge, to President Clinton’s ban on assault weapons, and all the way through the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. In this episode of Next Question, he tells Katie, “That's why I wrote Homegrown to show that [McVeigh] was not an aberration. And that his legacy lives on in both people and ideas that are persistent to this day.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For so many women, menopause is a mystery. Its symptoms can be wide-ranging and last for years, and information about treatments can be confusing - where it exists at all. To make things even more challenging, healthcare providers are often less-than-helpful when it comes to finding solutions. Our guests today are here to help: New York Times writer Susan Dominus’ recent article, “Women Have Been Misled About Menopause” was an immediate viral sensation, becoming a valuable resource on the latest research and treatments. Her reporting also resonated for another reason: the symptoms women experience are finally being taken seriously. Dr. Rebecca Brightman, a gynecologist from New York City specializing in menopausal medicine, joins the conversation to share what she’s learned throughout her years of treating women facing this life-altering transition. Plus: our guests answer questions submitted by you, our listeners. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If 87% of people are sick and tired of being divided we have more in common than we think. Daniel Lubetzky — philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and founder of the Kind company — is committed to understanding how we can come together to solve our most intractable problems. As a Mexican immigrant and son of a Holocaust survivor, Daniel believes fervently in our ability to overcome obstacles like hatred; he built his non-profit, Starts With Us, to help us find common ground. This episode also features Columbia psychology professor, Peter Coleman. His book “The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization,” offers concrete tips on what each of us can do to achieve what so many of us want: solutions. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hosts of the hit podcast, Teenager Therapy – Gael Aitor, Kayla Suarez, and Thomas Phamm – have been making a difference in the lives of their young audience for nearly five years. Now, on the verge of turning 20, they share the wisdom they’ve discovered along the way – and it might surprise you. They believe that the best relationships happen IRL, friendships require a lot of work, and the best way to reach teens is by using one of the most powerful communications tools there is (and they should know): vulnerability. Their openness will allow you to see how much teens’ lives have changed – and give you new insight into the mental health crisis that affects so many of them right now. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happiness is not a destination. According to Dr. Laurie Santos – host of The Happiness Lab podcast, and professor of a popular class on happiness at Yale University – happiness is a journey that comes with many roadblocks. Whether you call it flourishing, contentment, or just plain joy, the key to finding it involves rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. With rates of anxiety and depression skyrocketing among young people, Dr. Santos sheds much-needed light on ways that we can adjust our own expectations about happiness, and offer constructive support to the people who need it most. She also clarifies the unexpected role that resilience plays along the path: the stronger we become, the more we’re capable of post-traumatic growth. Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.