Legendary broadcast journalist Katie Couric joins our final episode to share lessons she's learned from her extraordinary career. Katie tells Brooke how she responded when CNN’s president questioned her talent, what she took from her history-making turn at CBS Evening News, and how she fought to shake the “morning news albatross.” Speaking candidly about the lingering pain from her husband and sister’s deaths, Katie also shares how standing up to cancer has become her life’s mission. See omnystu...
Dec 19, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 47
Brooke’s hubby Chris Henchy makes his “Now What?” debut! The couple swap details about their meet-cute on the Warner Brothers lot, their parenting skills and favorite family traditions, and how Chris’ dedication to his Irish granny helped convince Brooke he was "the one." Chris also opens up about his journey from finance bro to comedy writer, and shares how he moved on from the failure of his first movie to one of his greatest successes to date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
Dec 12, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 46
Writer, director, and actress Jennifer Esposito stops by to talk about her critically acclaimed new film, Fresh Kills, and shares how making her dream project helped her heal from years of abuse from industry heavyweights. Brooke and Jennifer discuss the importance of self-advocacy, Jennifer’s life-long struggle with celiac disease, and the power of art to breed greater empathy and understanding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 05, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 45
Author, advice columnist, and all-around badass Cheryl Strayed joins Brooke for a wide-ranging conversation about parenting, childhood poverty, and what it means to be rich in love. Cheryl gets candid about the years leading up to her famous trek on the Pacific Crest Trail, and shares why she’s in need of another life-changing journey. Plus, the one thing Cheryl keeps in mind whenever she gives advice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 28, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 44
Neurosurgeon, podcast host, and CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta chats with Brooke about why some brains respond more positively to “now what” moments than others, what his mom’s refugee journey taught him about resilience, and why his pivot into broadcasting was one of the biggest challenges of his life. Plus, Brooke and Sanjay share the advice they’d give their 25-year-old selves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 21, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 43
Singer, songwriter, and activist Joan Baez chats with Brooke about her new documentary “I Am Noise,” and shares why she chose now to reveal intimate new details about her personal life and music. Joan also reflects on some of the biggest moments of her 60-year career (including her performance at The March on Washington), how our voices shape our identity, and what it means to be courageous. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 14, 2023•26 min•Season 4Ep. 42
Cedric the Entertainer chats with Brooke about his new novel Flipping Boxcars, the origins of his "dapper style," and his pre-comedy career at State Farm. Cedric also opens up about how the industry has evolved for non-white performers and shares why he pivoted his career to be closer to his family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 07, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 41
Have mercy! John Stamos and Brooke take a trip down memory lane as they reminisce about their young Hollywood days and their struggle to find legitimacy as actors. John opens up about his early “hatred” of Full House , his past alcohol addiction, and how love letters from his parents inspired him to write a memoir. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 31, 2023•31 min•Season 4Ep. 40
Actress and comedian Sarah Silverman bonds with Brooke over their own parents' "sick" sense of humor, and discusses how her struggle with bedwetting as a kid made her less afraid of bombing onstage. Sarah also talks about the comedy boy’s club of the '90s, the evolution of her own material, and how aging forced her to embrace "the other parts" of herself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 24, 2023•31 min•Season 4Ep. 39
Brooke’s good friend and long-lost brother Willie Geist (Morning Joe, Sunday Today) joins the pod and shares the ways in which living in the South for 10 years changed his worldview, the moment he got (and then subsequently lost) a dream job, and what his father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis taught him about gratitude. Brooke and Willie reminisce about the origins of their friendship, including the show-stopping way Brooke first met his family (spoiler: it involves theft.) See omnystudio.com/listener ...
Oct 17, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 38
“Now What?” returns with actor-comedian Bowen Yang! Brooke talks with Bowen about his early days recording Saturday Night Live on VHS tapes, why he abruptly left his MCAT mid-exam, and the warning Lorne Michaels gave him before he joined the cast of "SNL." Bowen opens up about learning to embrace his queerness after his painful experience with conversion therapy and explains why "compassion" is an integral part of his comedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 10, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 37
Sportscaster, podcast host and new mom Erin Andrews joins Brooke for the last episode of the season! The Fox Sports mega star talks about her most embarrassing sideline gig, and why she feels she has to work harder than her male counterparts. Plus, Erin opens up about her decade-long fertility struggles and gives a candid perspective of the surrogacy process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 29, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 36
Ellie Kemper (The Office, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and Brooke bond over memories of their alma mater Princeton (Go Tigers!), and their shared love for Wawa hoagies. Ellie also opens up about her short-lived career as a D1 athlete, her 'terrifying' audition for SNL, and why you won’t see her in a drama anytime soon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 22, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Gynecologist and women’s health expert Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz joins Brooke for an information-packed episode about aging, fertility, and menopause. The two discuss why society has normalized women’s pain, and what we can all do to better advocate for our well-being. Plus, the physiological “Now What?” moments you should look for in your lifetime. Love Dr. Suzanne as much as we do? Check out her latest book “Menopause Bootcamp” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 15, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Today co-anchor (and literal ray of sunshine!) Savannah Guthrie chats with Brooke about their mutual love of Arizona, Savannah’s high school “slacker” days, and how her father’s sudden death pushed her toward the career she has today. The broadcast journalist and children’s book author also gets candid about her past struggles with infertility and why she hopes to start singing (and songwriting) in the years to come. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 08, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 33
TV personality, sports broadcaster, and entrepreneur Michael Strahan stops by the pod! The Hall of Famer chats with Brooke about his childhood spent on a military base in Germany, how he coped with being separated from his family as a teen and later as a young father, and why he credits his legendary NFL career (in part) to Jane Fonda’s workout videos. To learn more about Michael and his business endeavors, go to michaelstrahanbrand.komi.io See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 01, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Buckle up for the Mayor of Flavortown! Chef, restauranteur, and TV personality Guy Fieri (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy’s Grocery Games) joins Brooke for a story-packed episode. Guy shares how a childhood rebellion against vegetarian food pushed him towards the culinary world, how he grappled with his younger sister’s death from cancer and the ways in which her legacy inspired him to think (and cook!) differently. Plus, Guy shares how a tragic wake-up call as a teenager pushed him away from l...
Jul 25, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 31
DISCLAIMER: This podcast was recorded prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike Actor, author, and Brooke's #1 fan Selma Blair (Legally Blonde, Cruel Intentions, Hellboy) opens up about her lifelong struggles with multiple sclerosis and sobriety, and shares how a public humiliation years ago led her to the diagnosis that would change her life. Plus, why Selma started saying yes to the things that scared her most, and what she’s manifesting for the years to come. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...
Jul 18, 2023•31 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Kar-Jenner matriarch and media mogul Kris Jenner joins Brooke for a wide-ranging conversation about the surprising origins of her business savvy and how her approach to managing her children's careers has changed over the years. Plus, Kris opens up about the “wake-up calls” she experienced following the death of her friend Nicole Brown Simpson and her divorce from Robert Kardashian. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 11, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Brooke welcomes Tig Notaro (One Mississippi, Tig) to the pod for a candid conversation about mothers and daughters, and the origins of their senses of humor (Shout out to Teri Terrific!) The actress-comedian opens up about finding love and shares what back-to-back illnesses and an unexpected death taught her about vulnerability and the importance of family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 04, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Actor-director Andrew McCarthy (Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire) chats with Brooke about the nostalgia surrounding '80s films and how he struggled to be taken seriously after his Brat Pack fame. Andrew shares how he flew under the radar as a successful travel writer and details his most profound trip yet: a 500-mile walk along the Camino de Santiago with his eldest son. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 27, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles (Waitress, Girls5Eva) chats with Brooke about privacy, self-doubt, and what it’s like to fight for — and win — an authentic career. Sara also gets candid about the lingering effects of her parents' divorce, including why she and fiancé Joe Tippett waited to get engaged. Plus, we dig into her newest role mentoring up-and-coming musicians on Audible’s Breakthrough. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 20, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Entrepreneur and media personality Bethenny Frankel kicks off Season 3 with a candid conversation with Brooke about her chaotic childhood and what growing up at the racetracks taught her about business. Bethenny reflects on her pre-Housewives days (including a nightmare audition for The Apprentice), how she moved forward after her divorce, and what led to her latest venture as a beauty influencer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 13, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Politician, activist, and writer Stacey Abrams talks to Brooke about her deep love for classic TV, how she's coped with difficult political losses, and why her psychological thrillers had to be masked as romance novels. Stacey shares a story from her childhood that underscores her drive to change the system, and why she thinks she ruffles so many feathers in Washington. Plus, the "Rogue Justice" author reveals how a bad breakup helped define her life philosophy. See omnystudio.com/listener for p...
May 09, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Actor, dancer, and Broadway legend Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago, Cheers, Julia) joins the podcast! Brooke and Bebe swap stories about their very different Princeton days and dig into Bebe’s early years on Broadway — including her work with Bob Fosse and the time she lied in an open call (and still got the part!). Bebe shares what it was like to end her first marriage and opens up about the pressure of dancing on Broadway after having two hip replacements. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
May 02, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Author, model, and former MTV VJ Karen Duffy joins the show to talk about the importance of having a “life philosophy” and how ancient wisdom helped her cope with a life-altering diagnosis. Brooke and Duff talk about aging out of the beauty industry and the difficulties they had trying to conceive their children. Plus, Duff shares a true story about her surrogate that’s worthy of a Lifetime movie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 25, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Actor, comedian, and podcaster Rosie O’Donnell joins Brooke for a wide-ranging conversation about having a family member who suffers from addiction, the ways they learned to practice tough love, and what it’s like to come into your own in the public eye. Rosie opens up about her early stand-up career (including stealing Jerry Seinfeld’s jokes!), her controversial turn as a co-host on The View, and why producers of a cult-classic film pushed her to hide her sexuality. See omnystudio.com/listener ...
Apr 18, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Author and therapist Amy Bloom joins Brooke to talk about her powerful new memoir “In Love,” which chronicles her late husband’s decision to pursue end-of-life treatment after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Amy shares how she made peace with her husband’s unwavering choice, how they approached their final months together, and the ways in which his death gave her a greater appreciation for her own life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 11, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Brooke sits down with Dr. Nicole Bedera, a sociologist and leading researcher on sexual violence, to talk about the pervasiveness and danger of normalizing traumatic experiences. Brooke opens up about her own sexual assault and shares why she struggled to come forward. Then, Dr. Bedera debunks some of the biggest myths surrounding rape culture and shares what you can do to support survivors. Resources: https://www.rainn.org/ https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/resources.html ht...
Apr 04, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Award-winning journalist and all-around badass Lisa Ling (This is Life with Lisa Ling, Take Out with Lisa Ling) joins the show! Lisa talks with Brooke about her experience being raised by a single dad, what it was like dropping out of college to become a war correspondent, and how a trip to Taiwan helped repair her relationship with her mother. Lisa also reflects on her “uncomfortable” fight for equal pay, and shares how her latest project has given her a new appreciation for her Chinese heritag...
Mar 28, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 18
