Katie Couric

In a tweet on Tuesday night, political analyst Amy Walter dubbed the 2018 midterms the “‘choose your own narrative’ election”—meaning that voters on all sides could find cause for celebration or disappointment. Katie and Brian talk with Amy about what the results mean, what we’ve learned about the electorate, and how the elections might shape both parties’ strategies in 2020. Presidential historian Doug Brinkley also joins Katie and Brian to discuss how this week’s election compares to midterms past—and he shares his thoughts on how President Trump will react to the new opposition Congress. Plus, we take your calls! Correction: Our guest, Doug Brinkley, misspoke when he said that Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) lost his 2018 election. In fact, Hurd won re-election. Brinkley also characterized Hurd as "Trumpian," but many would not characterize him this way. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The midterm elections are coming up on November 6, 2018, and there are lots of close races to watch at the federal, state, and local levels. Clare Malone from FiveThirtyEight joins Katie and Brian to highlight some of the most interesting contests: Cruz v. O’Rourke for Texas senator, DeSantis v. Gillum for Florida governor, Abrams v. Kemp for Georgia governor, and more. Clare also breaks down how recent events might affect the elections. Then Katie and Brian talk with Michael Lewis—author of The Blind Side, Moneyball, and The Big Short—about his newest book, The Fifth Risk. Michael spent months investigating the decay of the federal government under the Trump administration and why that could be dangerous for the country. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend, a gunman killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. It was the deadliest attack on Jews that the United States has ever seen. On this special episode, Katie and Brian talk with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League — an organization that fights against anti-Semitism and other racially-motivated hate. Jonathan talks about the rise of hate crimes in the U.S., the role of social media and political rhetoric, and what all Americans can do in the wake of this tragedy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Busy Philipps made her name on TV shows like Freaks and Geeks, Dawson’s Creek, ER, and Cougar Town. But Instagram Stories was the place where Busy really found her own voice — and that might’ve set the stage for her new E! talk show, Busy Tonight, which premieres on Oct. 28. Katie and Brian talk with Busy about why she loves Instagram so much, the moment she thought she was “done” with acting, the political causes that get her fired up, and how she’s still coping with the sexual assault that happened when she was 14. Plus, Katie gives Busy her best advice about hosting a TV talk show. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and #MeToo, women in Hollywood formed a coalition, called Time’s Up, to combat sexual harassment and sexual assault. As part of the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit, Katie talks with two important women in the Time’s Up movement: America Ferrera, one of the actors involved in creating Time’s Up, and Lisa Borders, the incoming president and CEO of the organization. America and Lisa talk about why Time’s Up is so important to them, how recent news has affected the movement, and the ways they are working towards change. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the spectacle of Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings, the already deep political divide in the country seems to have calcified. To try to understand where this rancorous political moment came from — and where it might be going — Katie and Brian talk with two experts. First, they welcome back to the show Rebecca Traister, author of the new book Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger. Rebecca explains why she’s so devastated about the new Supreme Court justice, and she reckons with the fact that women have been on both sides of this bitter political debate. Then they turn to Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law expert and Harvard Law professor, for a legal perspective. What will happen to the Supreme Court as an institution, and what does that mean for the American people? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second and final chapter of their documentary series, Katie and Brian explore what happened after the Palin interviews aired: from the struggles of the McCain campaign to Sarah Palin’s decision to start “going rogue.” Plus, they explore how Palin helped usher in a new brand of American politics— and President Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Palin Interviews, 10 Years Later is a two-part documentary series from the Katie Couric podcast. For this special series, Katie and Brian look back at Katie’s interviews with then vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and the impact those conversations had on the 2008 election. Plus, they consider the path Palin may have paved for the rise of Donald Trump. In Part One, Katie and Brian go behind the scenes with top officials from the McCain and Obama campaigns and cover Palin’s extraordinary emergence on the national stage: her selection as John McCain’s running mate (which almost didn’t happen) and her electrifying speech at the Republican National Convention. And of course, they examine the interviews heard round the world and consider why they struck such a chord. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie and Brian welcome their first couple to the show! Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan have made their mark on the fashion and design world. Jonathan is a potter-turned-housewares guru who is known for his namesake brand of home goods. Simon is arguably the most famous window dresser in the world and the creative ambassador-at-large at Barneys. Together, they are a cheeky and glamorous pair. The couple joins Katie and Brian to dish on their unconventional families, how they turned their respective passions into wildly successful careers and why they’ve lasted as a couple. But first, they remember their first date. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Van Ness, better known to his fans as JVN, is a beloved member of the "Fab Five" cast of Netflix's hit show Queer Eye. He joins Katie and Brian for a lively discussion about everything from standing out as a gay kid growing up in Quincy, Illinois to what it was like filming for Queer Eye in rural, conservative areas of Georgia. Plus, JVN recalls his epic 6th grade talent show performance. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie and Brian celebrate 10 years of Stand Up to Cancer, the organization that Katie co-founded that has raised close to half a billion (with a b!) dollars for cancer research. First up: Katie gets personal with actor Matthew McConaughey to discuss how cancer has affected his life and loved ones. Next, Katie and Brian sit down with Dr. Bill Nelson, a nationally recognized physician and scientist, to discuss the groundbreaking research that SU2C supports and what the future of cancer treatment looks like. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Robbins has a packed resume: he’s a bestselling author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and renowned motivational speaker. In addition to being a self-help titan, Robbins has advised presidents and star athletes, and is involved in 31 businesses which he says generate annual sales of $5 billion. He joins Katie and Brian to discuss his difficult childhood, his remarkable career, his new book, and how President Trump’s leadership style compares to President Obama’s. Plus, he explains why he jumps into a cold pool every morning and demonstrates some “radical explosive breathing” exercises. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie and Brian call in a favor (literally) to beloved actor Alan Alda, who agrees to lend them an episode of his new podcast, Clear+Vivid. They chat about the perks of podcasting and then throw to a conversation Alan had with Tina Fey in front of a live audience. Plus, Tina drops by the studio to answer seven questions about herself. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie and Brian revisit their trip to Ina Garten’s home on Easter morning for a lesson on slow-cooked scrambled eggs (with truffles!) and a wide-ranging conversation at her kitchen table. Between bites of breakfast, they discuss Ina's views on feminism, other celebrity chefs, and her unlikely path from White House nuclear energy expert to Food Network star. Plus, an unexpected cameo from Jeffrey, Ina's husband of nearly 50 years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To kick off their summer break series, Katie and Brian revisit their conversation with actress and activist Laverne Cox. By the time Laverne had stepped onto the national stage (and the cover of TIME magazine) in 2014, she'd been dedicating her life to acting for well over a decade. "Being an artist is what informs everything that I do," she says. Laverne joins Katie and Brian to discuss everything from acting opportunities for trans women, her breakthrough role as Sophia on Netflix's Orange is the New Black, and her childhood in Mobile, Alabama. Plus, Katie and Laverne revisit the teachable moment they confronted together. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preet Bharara, the former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, joins Katie and Brian to help us make sense of the investigations swirling around President Trump. But first, Preet details the whirlwind experience of being courted and then fired by Trump. He also explains why he's decided not to run for public office— for now. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant joins Katie and Brian for a wide-ranging discussion about work. "My job is to fix other people's jobs," Adam explains. They delve into what makes a great leader, the difference between workplace givers and takers, and why Adam typically recommends against group brainstorms. Plus, Adam dishes on his experience sitting in on the writers' room at The Daily Show. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reddit just overtook Facebook to be the third biggest website in the US. Steve Huffman, Reddit's co-founder and CEO, joins Katie and Brian at the Aspen Ideas Festival to talk about everything from propaganda to Pizzagate. They discuss how Reddit handles the threat of misinformation in its communities and how the company's challenges compare to what Facebook is going through. Plus, Steve explains the circumstances that led him to co-found Reddit at the ripe age of 21. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie and Brian are taking the week off and bringing you a taste of a new podcast called Akimbo in the meantime. Join host Seth Godin as he explores our culture and how we can change it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie puts former FBI director James Comey in the hot seat at the Aspen Ideas Festival with an in-depth conversation about his controversial role in the lead-up to Donald Trump’s election. They dig into the recent Justice Department report calling Comey “insubordinate” and what Comey makes of Trump's time in office. Plus, Comey reflects on his past year teaching at Howard University, where he was welcomed to his first lecture by students chanting, “James Comey, you’re not our homie.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.