David Axelrod is a renowned Democratic political strategist, most notably for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. These days, he runs the nonpartisan Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago and hosts a hit podcast, The Axe Files, where he interviews major political figures. In this special crossover episode, Katie and Brian turn the tables on "Axe" and get his own story, including his early days in gritty Chicago journalism, his father's death from suicide, and his family's efforts on beha...
Sep 21, 2017•59 min•Ep. 39
Dan Savage has dished out love and sex advice in his syndicated Savage Love column for over 25 years. He's blunt, hilarious and empathetic-- and not just in his writing! Dan joins Katie and Brian to discuss working at Ann Landers' desk, being "monogamish" and the sex questions he gets asked the most. He also recalls what it was like to come of age during the AIDS epidemic. Plus, two words that Katie never expected to hear on the podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...
Sep 07, 2017•59 min•Ep. 38
Katie and Brian pay a visit to Disney's studios in Burbank, California to talk with the inimitable director of Selma and 13th about everything from A Wrinkle In Time to her relationship with Oprah. They also discuss #OscarsSoWhite, criminal justice and the Ava DuVernay Barbie doll. Plus, how Ava made the leap from publicizing movies to directing them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 24, 2017•40 min•Ep. 37
Social media is supposed to help us connect with one another and reduce loneliness, but what if the opposite is true? Psychologist Jean Twenge just wrote a piece in The Atlantic asking, “Have smartphones destroyed a generation?” She joins Katie and Brian to discuss the costs and consequences of endless screen time. Twenge is an expert on what she calls "iGen," those born between 1995 and 2012. She explains the pros and cons of an all-digital world and breaks down the research on smartphones and ...
Aug 10, 2017•45 min•Ep. 36
To mark their podcast's first anniversary, Katie and Brian return to Washington, D.C.—this time, to interview New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. There they find lawmakers on the Capitol steps with a megaphone, leading an impromptu rally on health care. After interviewing folks in the crowd, Katie and Brian sit down with Senator Booker to talk about the future of the Affordable Care Act, criminal justice reform, the documentary that captured his biggest failure, and living in Newark's most dangerous...
Jul 27, 2017•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 35
Dr. Kerry Sulkowicz returns to answer listener questions on how to navigate leadership dilemmas at work. Plus, Katie and her husband John have some questions of their own! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 20, 2017•7 min
Katie and guest host John Molner (aka Katie's husband) welcome Dr. Kerry Sulkowicz for a discussion about the psychology of leadership and his views on President Trump's mental health. They also talk about why many mental health professionals won't publicly comment on the psyche of public figures. Plus, Dr. Sulkowicz explains his unexpected path from practicing psychiatry and psychoanalysis to advising CEOs and corporate boards. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...
Jul 13, 2017•43 min•Ep. 34
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu knows that race is hard to talk about, but he thinks it's important to do it anyway. In fact, he recently put himself on the map with a powerful speech backing the removal of Confederate monuments in his city. Mayor Landrieu sits down with Katie and Brian at the Aspen Ideas Festival to delve into the history and context behind his now-famous remarks. They also discuss climate change in the Big Easy, the role of cities in the Trump era, and why Mayor Landrieu stil...
Jun 29, 2017•38 min•Ep. 33
It's time for another bonus episode! Katie and Brian ask Veep's Matt Walsh all the questions they didn't get to last week. Find out what Matt considers his big break and who he admires most in comedy. Plus, why he gave up on becoming a therapist– and a squirrel. Yes, a squirrel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 22, 2017•9 min
In his role as the beleaguered Mike McLintock on HBO's Veep, Matt Walsh is often the butt of the joke. In real life, however, Matt is revered— in the world of improv comedy, at least. He's one of the founding members the Upright Citizens Brigade, a comedy institution. Matt joins Katie and Brian to discuss improv vs. stand-up, what makes Julia Louis-Dreyfus so great to work with, and the advice he'd give to Sean Spicer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See ...
Jun 15, 2017•41 min•Ep. 32
Brian takes the wheel this week and sits down with Graham Allison, the founding dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a leading military strategist. For decades, Allison has advised defense secretaries and presidents on both sides of the political aisle. Now he's out with a new book that examines whether America and China are destined to go to war. He and Brian delve into the challenges associated with China's rising power, the diplomatic implications of the Paris Climate Accord, an...
Jun 08, 2017•39 min•Ep. 31
When Sheila Nevins started her career in the 1960s, she didn't know women could be bosses. After all, she'd only ever worked for male supervisors. Now, at 78, she's the president of HBO Documentary Films. Sheila joins Katie and Brian for an unflinching conversation about everything from her painful childhood memories to her plastic surgery. Plus, they discuss what makes a great documentary and listen to celebrities read excerpts from Sheila's new book. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/...
Jun 01, 2017•44 min•Ep. 30
Surprise! Katie and Brian serve up a podcast extra featuring Christie Todd Whitman, the Republican former governor of New Jersey. In this debut bonus segment, Governor Whitman offers some exclusive insights into her life and career, including what her parents taught her and what she sees as her biggest mistake. She delves into everything from her first job, as a candy striper, to her favorite job: being governor. Plus, she shares her top tip for a successful marriage. Learn more about your ad-ch...
May 31, 2017•8 min
Christie Todd Whitman was New Jersey's first female governor, but she didn't grow up thinking that she'd like to run for office. She joins Katie and Brian to discuss her path to public service, why she left as George W. Bush’s EPA Administrator, and her assessment of New Jersey’s current Governor Christie. Plus, she talks about the state of her party, and the country, under President Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listene...
May 25, 2017•52 min•Ep. 29
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has scored the most points of any NBA player in history, and basketball isn't the only arena where he's found success. At 70, he's a best-selling author, an award-winning cancer research advocate, and a prolific cultural commentator who isn't afraid to speak out on controversial political and social issues. Kareem joins Katie to talk about being black and Muslim in America, surviving cancer, and watching the game of basketball change since his own heyday. Plus, he explains wh...
May 18, 2017•31 min•Ep. 28
After more than 40 years working in America's top newsrooms, Marty Baron is one of the most respected names in news. As editor of the Washington Post since 2012, he has led his staff to Pulitzers and helped them weather the changes that came when a tech billionaire bought the paper. Marty talks with Katie and Brian about the state of journalism, fake news, and how technology has changed his job. They're also joined by Jessica Lessin, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Information, an innovat...
May 04, 2017•34 min•Ep. 27
After her husband died suddenly from a cardiac arrhythmia, Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg (Lean In) thought she would never experience true joy again. Nearly two years later, she is out with a new book, Option B, that delves into how she proved herself wrong— and how others can build resilience in the face of trauma, too. Sandberg wrote Option B with her friend Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist and Wharton professor. They both join Katie onstage at 92Y (92Y.org) in Manhattan to discuss ...
Apr 27, 2017•54 min•Ep. 26
Ina Garten welcomes Katie and Brian to her 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 48 years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omny...
Apr 20, 2017•55 min•Ep. 25
Neil deGrasse Tyson (the host of StarTalk) fell in love with the cosmos at age 9, on a visit to the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. Not only did he fulfill his childhood ambition of becoming an astrophysicist, today he’s the director of the Hayden Planetarium and one of America's most beloved scientific educators. Dr. Tyson joins Katie and Brian to discuss science in the Trump era, the future of space exploration, and why a TV appearance in 1989 changed his life. Plus, he gives a preview of...
Apr 06, 2017•48 min•Ep. 24
Dan Taberski is the host and creator of the hit podcast Missing Richard Simmons. Dan made the six-episode series in an effort to find out what was going on with his friend Richard Simmons, who hasn't been seen in public in over three years. Missing Richard Simmons became the #1 most downloaded podcast on iTunes but now that the show is over, questions still remain. Beyond what's going on with Richard -- physically and mentally -- Dan himself has been under fire for the ethics of his project. In ...
Mar 30, 2017•33 min•Ep. 23
Renowned Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg has advised the likes of Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Nelson Mandela. But he first made a name for himself studying white working class voters. His seminal 1985 report on so-called Reagan Democrats examined why auto workers were abandoning the Democratic Party in Macomb County, Michigan. Greenberg joins Katie and Brian to discuss how the 2016 election gave him déjà vu, why he's been spending time in Macomb again and what he's hearing from Trump support...
Mar 23, 2017•46 min•Ep. 22
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 jump...
Mar 09, 2017•58 min•Ep. 21
Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor are alumni of the Obama administration who recently founded Crooked Media, a progressive media company. They also host the hit political podcast, Pod Save America. For this special crossover episode, Katie speaks with these former White House communications aides about President Trump's troubled relationship with the press, media accountability and how Democrats can translate protests into votes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...
Feb 23, 2017•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 20
Vanessa and JR Ford didn't know their youngest child was a girl until she told them on her fourth birthday. "Mom, I'm not a boy," she said. "I'm a girl in my heart and in my brain." As the parents of a transgender daughter, Vanessa and JR are at the epicenter of today's changing terrain when it comes to gender. The Fords are just one of the families featured in Katie's new documentary, Gender Revolution: A Journey With Katie Couric. In this companion podcast, Katie and Brian dive deep with the F...
Feb 09, 2017•49 min•Ep. 19
Bill Browder used to be Russia's largest foreign investor. Then, in 2005, he was blacklisted by the Russian government and kicked out of the country. Now he's one of Vladimir Putin's most outspoken critics. He joins Katie and Brian to explain what went wrong, including how his own lawyer ended up dead in a Russian prison. Plus, Browder unpacks the perils and opportunities of a closer U.S. relationship with Russia and offers a chilling assessment of Putin. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...
Jan 26, 2017•52 min•Ep. 18
Actor Alec Baldwin has delighted millions of viewers playing Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, but it wasn't so long ago that he tried to say goodbye to public life entirely. He joins Katie and Brian for a frank discussion about the arc of his career, his personal challenges with tabloid journalism, and the political tensions within his own family. Plus, he dishes on his favorite Jack Donaghy lines from 30 Rock and why no one is more thrilling to work with than Tom Cruise. Learn more about yo...
Jan 12, 2017•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 17
No reporter cut through the media din of the 2016 presidential election quite like David Fahrenthold of The Washington Post. Remember the infamous Access Hollywood tape? That was one of Fahrenthold's scoops, as were his exhaustive stories on Donald Trump's questionable charitable activities. He joins Katie and Brian to discuss becoming an overnight sensation after 16 years on the job, getting called a "nasty guy" in a phone call with Donald Trump, and how he thinks journalists should cover Trump...
Dec 29, 2016•43 min•Ep. 16
Katie and Brian head to the White House and sit down with Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama. Not only is Jarrett a guiding voice in the Obama administration, but she has also been friends with the President and First Lady since they were an engaged couple in Chicago in the early 1990s. Jarrett discusses managing her work and friendship with the President, her emotions since the election and why she has hope for the Affordable Care Act's future. Plus, Brian talks with Wh...
Dec 15, 2016•47 min•Ep. 15
GOP strategist Mike Murphy caught the political bug early: he began his career as a college student making radio ads out of his dorm room for a long-shot congressional race. He's gone on to specialize in winning statewide campaigns for governor and Senate. He's been the lead strategist for many major Republican figures, including John McCain, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mitt Romney. He also had a role in the 2016 campaign season. "I ran the Jeb Bush super PAC," he explains, "which gives me the uni...
Dec 01, 2016•43 min•Ep. 13
Larry Wilmore has worn many comedic hats, from writer and show creator (The Bernie Mac Show) to late-night host (The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore). He joins Katie and Brian to process the election results, pay tribute to Gwen Ifill and share highlights from his over 25 years in television. Plus, we want to hear from our conservative listeners: what do you think the future holds for the GOP? Leave us a message at 929-224-4637. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...
Nov 17, 2016•49 min•Ep. 12
