Next Question with Katie Couric - podcast cover

Next Question with Katie Couric

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Tired of political headlines that feel like déjà vu? Wondering if you actually need to care about every controversy? This season, Katie’s asking those same questions—and talking to the people who have real answers. From political insiders to sharp-eyed journalists, she’s breaking down what’s worth your attention (and what’s not), with smarts, sanity, and even a little humor. Because none of us can be tuned in 24/7—but we can stay informed without losing our minds. 

Tune in every Thursday and join Katie Couric and her guests for a conversation on NEXT QUESTION.

🎉 Big news! Next Question with Katie is nominated for Best News & Politics Podcast at the @TheWebbyAwards!

These awards are fan-voted—and we need YOUR help to bring it home 🏆🎧🗳️

Voting’s open now through April 17th. Hit that vote button 👉 https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/music

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Episodes

At Home with Dr. Phil

Phil McGraw welcomes Katie and Brian to his eye-popping Beverly Hills home to chat about his long-running daytime talk show, his pre-TV gigs and Oprah’s role in his success. Plus, he weighs in on America’s opioid crisis, mass shootings, President Trump’s atypical behavior, and the #MeToo movement. But first, Phil and his wife Robin give Katie and Brian a tour of their digs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Jun 14, 20181 hr 3 minEp. 66

Graham Norton: Britain's King of Late-Night

The pod heads across the pond to London, where Katie and Brian turn the tables on Graham Norton, Britain's most popular chat show host. They revisit highlights from his long-running talk show, including the time he told Judi Dench, "You lie like a rug." Graham also opens up about growing up Protestant in a Catholic stronghold and his total commitment to becoming a comedian and actor as a young man. "I had no plan B," he says. Plus, they dig into Graham's views on Brexit and Ireland's recent land...

Jun 07, 201859 minEp. 65

Julianna Margulies on #MeToo, Trump, and “Dietland”

Julianna Margulies has been lighting up the small screen for over two decades, with standout roles on TV shows like ER and The Good Wife. She joins Katie and Brian to discuss everything from the big impact George Clooney had on her career to what she loved about playing Alicia Florrick. She also explains what makes her latest character on AMC's Dietland such a delicious role. Plus, Julianna opens up about her own experiences with harassment as a young actress. Learn more about your ad-choices at...

May 24, 20181 hrEp. 64

Frank Bruni on the Age of Outrage

What is the line between sensitivity and censorship? In today's episode, Katie and Brian are navigating the realm of political correctness, from trigger warnings to safe spaces. New York Times Op-Ed writer Frank Bruni joins to discuss what he sees as the promise and pitfalls of hot-button issues like cultural appropriation and the idea of "checking your privilege." Plus, listeners call in with their own thoughts on PC culture. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork....

May 17, 201855 minEp. 63

Silicon Valley's Toxic Bro Culture

It's no secret that Silicon Valley has a problem with women. In her new book, Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley, journalist Emily Chang explores what the tech industry has been getting wrong when it comes to sexism and workplace bias. Her findings are grisly: from business meetings in strip clubs to drug-laden sex parties. Emily joins Katie and Brian to discuss her findings and consider how the tech industry can do better when it comes to addressing gender parity, pay inequi...

May 10, 201853 minEp. 62

Your Brain on Tech

Social media is much more than a way to stay in touch with friends. According to today's guest, Tristan Harris, Facebook and platforms like it are actually manipulating billions of people's minds. Tristan joins Katie and Brian to explain how tech companies are creating addictions, steering elections and making many of us lonely. He would know: After selling a startup to Google in his twenties, Tristan worked there as an in-house design ethicist, where he studied how tech affects people's attenti...

May 03, 201857 minEp. 61

Mr. Jones Goes to Washington

In December, Doug Jones became the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in ruby-red Alabama in 25 years. This week, Katie and Brian make their way to Washington, D.C. for an extended interview with Senator Jones in his new office. They talk about the ongoing dysfunction in the Senate, Jones' upset victory over his embattled Republican opponent Roy Moore, and they dig into a grab-bag of current events. Plus, they delve into Jones' life story, from his teen years in Alabama's newly-integrated publi...

Apr 26, 20181 hr 15 minEp. 60

The Muslim Next Door

Half of Americans say they have never met a Muslim. What’s it like to be Muslim in America today? Katie and Brian take to the stage at South by Southwest for a live podcast taping with guests Wajahat Ali, a New York Times contributing op-ed writer, and Mona Haydar, a Syrian-American rapper and activist. They have a frank conversation about the joys and pressures of being American Muslims, misconceptions about Islam, and how US media coverage plays into all of the above. Plus, they dig into the c...

Apr 19, 201851 minEp. 59

Bryan Stevenson: Re-Righting History

The first episode of Katie's National Geographic documentary series, America Inside Out, is out now! To mark the occasion, Katie and Brian welcome Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Bryan could have gone anywhere—he chose to move to Alabama to help confront racial disparities and reform the criminal justice system. On the pod, they discuss Bryan’s childhood experiences with school segregation, the problem with Confederate monuments, and shi...

Apr 12, 201854 minEp. 58

Cecile Richards: Planned Parenthood Boss on Making Trouble

Cecile Richards has been president of Planned Parenthood for over a decade, but her interest in women's issues started before she could vote. As a teenager, she helped her mother, Ann Richards— who would go on to be governor of Texas— work on political campaigns for female candidates. Cecile joins Katie and Brian to discuss her trailblazing mom, her new memoir, and her decision to step down from her role at Planned Parenthood. Plus, she opens up about her meeting last year with Ivanka Trump and ...

Apr 05, 201851 minEp. 57

Processing Parkland

Aly Sheehy is a senior at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 people were killed in a mass shooting last month. She joins Katie and Brian for an emotional account of how she and her classmates in Parkland, Florida have coped with the tragedy's aftermath and why they are now pushing for change. Katie and Brian also speak with Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, about state and local gun law reforms— and taking on the NRA. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...

Mar 22, 20181 hr 2 minEp. 56

55.5 Ava DuVernay: Groundbreaker

Katie and Brian revisit the time they interviewed Ava DuVernay at Disney's studios in Burbank, California. They 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 AvaDuVernayBarbie 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 priva...

Mar 15, 201841 min

Wonder Woman: Diane von Furstenberg

For the final installment in the Wonder Women series, Diane von Fürstenberg—the woman behind the iconic fashion line—welcomes Katie and Brian to her company's Manhattan headquarters for a conversation about her full and colorful life. They discuss her wide-ranging philanthropy, her famous husbands, and how her brand has evolved since she appeared on the cover of Newsweek at age 29. She also tells the story of her mother, a Holocaust survivor, and how she inspired Diane’s determination to be inde...

Mar 08, 201859 minEp. 55

Wonder Woman: Kara Swisher

Kara Swisher is perhaps the most feared—and effective—journalist in tech. She first made a splash covering AOL in the 1990s and she's continued to scoop Silicon Valley players ever since. In this crossover episode with Kara’s podcast, Katie and Kara discuss the competition between Instagram and Snapchat, and why Facebook executives have been slow to acknowledge the site's role in the 2016 election. “They don’t want to take responsibility for the fact that their platform was used by a malevolent ...

Mar 01, 20181 hr 2 minEp. 54

An Episode of Olympic Proportions!

Katie heads to Pyeongchang, South Korea to report from the 2018 Winter Olympics. First up: two Wonder Women from the U.S. women's ski jumping team explain their fight for recognition and resources that has been decades in the making. Next, New York Times sports reporter Karen Crouse explains how a tiny Vermont town has produced an outsized number of Olympians— and why these athletes are uniquely prepared to embrace life beyond sports. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcast...

Feb 15, 201842 minEp. 53

Wonder Woman: Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox is no overnight success. By the time she 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 tea...

Feb 08, 20181 hrEp. 52

Wonder Woman: Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer made a name— and a career— for herself with her unapologetically raunchy brand of stand-up comedy. But being known as "the sex comic" never phased Amy. "That just seemed like a stepping stone," she says. Katie joins Amy at home to discuss everything that came out of her success in stand-up comedy, including starring roles in movies and on Broadway, her Comedy Central sketch series, and her best-selling memoir. They also discuss the #MeToo movement, body image issues in Hollywood, and...

Feb 01, 20181 hr 5 minEp. 51

Wonder Woman: Rep. Maxine Waters

As the longest-serving black woman in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Maxine Waters has been a fixture of California's political scene since the 1970s. In 2017, she unexpectedly became a viral sensation, too. Katie and Brian join Rep. Waters in Los Angeles to talk about “reclaiming her time,” growing up as one of 13 children, and why she doesn't hesitate to call President Trump racist. Plus, the Congresswoman offers a poetry reading. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ih...

Jan 25, 201849 minEp. 50

49.5 Stitcher Presents: Unladylike

Katie and Brian pop in with a preview of Unladylike, a new podcast from the Stitcher family about what happens when women break the rules. Join hosts Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin for their trademark obsessive research and stories from rule-breakin’ ladies. Hear the first episode in Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2n0NMsk Or visit their website: unladylike.co/podcast Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jan 23, 20183 min

Wonder Woman: Maggie Haberman

Questions about Donald Trump? Maggie Haberman has answers. She began reporting on Trump as a New York tabloid journalist over a decade ago. Now, as a White House correspondent for the New York Times, she's made a name for herself by filing scoop after scoop about his presidency. She joins Katie and Brian to parse everything from Trump's Diet Coke consumption to his cabinet relationships. They also discuss the role— and limits— of journalism in holding the president accountable. "lt is not a repo...

Jan 18, 201847 minEp. 49

Mika Brzezinksi and Joe Scarborough: Mika and Joe Set the Record Straight

Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski share a morning TV news show— and a life. For over a decade, they've co-hosted Morning Joe on MSNBC, along with Willie Geist. Soon they'll take on new titles: husband and wife. Katie and Brian head to NBC Studios in New York to talk with Mika and Joe about the criticism they've faced for their coverage of Donald Trump, the evolution of the GOP, and why they think the 25th Amendment should be invoked. Plus, their account of New Year’s at Mar-a-Lago. Learn more ...

Jan 11, 201855 minEp. 48

Maria Sharapova Bounces Back

Maria Sharapova has won five Grand Slams since becoming a pro tennis player at just 14 years old— and she's faced her share of setbacks, too. Sharapova joins Katie at 92Y in New York City to discuss highlights from her new memoir, including emigrating from Russia at age 6, her rivalry with Serena Williams, and the urine test that took her off the court. Sharapova also opens up about her recent ban from tennis, calling it "one of the toughest things that an athlete can go through." Plus, what it ...

Dec 28, 201751 minEp. 47

Danny Meyer: Recipes for Success

Danny Meyer is a legend in the food business. While he's best known for founding Shake Shack, the global burger empire, he actually got his start in fine dining. He was just 27 years old when he opened his first restaurant, the Union Square Cafe. Katie joins Danny there to talk (over tagliatelle) about the decision to eliminate tipping at many of his restaurants, the difference between service and hospitality, and why he was initially embarrassed to tell his family he wanted to go into the resta...

Dec 14, 201749 minEp. 46

Rabbi Steve Leder: Transformed By Pain

Rabbi Steve Leder, senior rabbi at the oldest synagogue in Los Angeles, sits down with Brian to discuss the subject of his new book: how suffering can be transformational. Rabbi Leder details the change he experienced following a car accident that briefly left him dependent on opioids and eating them "like they're candy." He also offers advice on how to help loved ones coping with trauma and why to avoid saying, "Let me know if you need anything." Plus, insights from Maimonides on the steps it t...

Dec 07, 201733 minEp. 45

Marie Kondo in Katie's Closet

Marie Kondo brings her world-renowned tidying expertise to Katie's own closet, where—let’s just say—not everything is “sparking joy.” They discuss Marie’s early (and sometimes overzealous) forays into organizing and why the "KonMari Method" for cleaning up has turned into a global phenomenon. Plus, Marie explains how her young daughters have changed her approach to tidying and divulges the unnecessary object in her home that she refuses to give away. For bonus footage of Marie helping Katie conf...

Nov 30, 201734 minEp. 44

Pete Souza: Obama's Photographer

As the chief official White House photographer for President Obama, Pete Souza spent eight years in the "room where it happens." He has the stories — and the pictures— to show for it: from playing cards with POTUS on Air Force One to photographing the Situation Room during the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. No one, with the possible exception of the First Lady, spent more time with Barack Obama during his presidency. Plus, Pete reflects on his formative years outside Washington, including a h...

Nov 16, 201748 minEp. 43

42.5 Longest Shortest Time Takeover: It's A Real Mother

Surprise! Katie offers up a bonus takeover episode from The Longest Shortest Time, another podcast in the Stitcher network. Former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift describes what it was like to be the first U.S. governor to give birth while in office. Plus, moms today share their own stories of discrimination in the workplace. This episode is the first in a four-part Longest Shortest Time series on working moms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnyst...

Nov 09, 201758 min

E-Day, One Year Later (w/ Norman Ornstein)

Longtime political analyst Norm Ornstein joins Katie and Brian to reflect on the upcoming anniversary of Donald Trump’s election. They discuss the “seeds of Trumpism,” the changing Republican Party and the future of American civic life. Plus, Ornstein opens up about his late son’s struggle with mental illness and his push for mental health policy reform. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Nov 02, 201749 minEp. 42

Gretchen Carlson Takes Her Power Back

Gretchen Carlson may have been fired last year from her job at Fox News, but it hasn't slowed her down one bit. After filing and settling a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former boss at Fox for a reported $20 million, Gretchen has transitioned from journalism to advocacy. She joins Katie and Brian to discuss her new book, the recent bombshell allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and her advice for others facing sexual harassment at work. Plus, she recalls what it was like...

Oct 19, 20171 hr 2 minEp. 41

Martha Stewart Speaks Her Mind

Martha Stewart has dominated all things domestic for nearly 35 years. But what about the woman behind the empire? Katie and Brian pay a visit to Martha's pristine office for a candid conversation over some apple-cranberry crisp. Martha recalls what it was like growing up in New Jersey as one of six kids, getting her first book deal, serving time in prison and what it was like to work on a TV show with Donald Trump. Plus, she discusses her new cookbook and her collaboration with Snoop Dogg. Nothi...

Oct 05, 20171 hrEp. 40
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