Next Question with Katie Couric

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.