Next Question with Katie Couric

More than a decade ago, Katie asked a question she now regrets—one that sparked a meeting with her guest today, Laverne Cox. In this deeply personal conversation, the two revisit that moment and the friendship that grew from it. Laverne shares why she believes transformation is still possible–even under the Trump administration—if we’re willing to be uncomfortable and to listen. They also tackle the rising wave of anti-trans legislation, the right-wing propaganda machine, and how fascism takes root. It’s part masterclass, part catch-up, and a powerful reminder that teachable moments can change more than one life—they can change the culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world that rewards power grabs, Jacinda Ardern chose a different path. The former prime minister of New Zealand, who led her country through the Christchurch massacre and COVID, talks with Katie about leading through heartbreak and crisis, why kindness isn’t weakness, and the courage it takes to step away from power. It’s all detailed in her new book A Different Kind of Power and the behind-the-scenes doc Prime Minister, out June 13.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Parnas grew up in a Fox News household and once campaigned for Trump. But today, he is a rising progressive voice with millions of followers—and no patience for the media status quo. In this conversation with Katie Couric, he shares how his worldview changed, and why he’s using TikTok and Substack to rewire how we consume the news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie traveled to Washington, D.C. to sit down with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson for a candid conversation about their book Original Sin—an investigation into how President Biden’s decline was hidden from voters, colleagues, and even some members of the press. As questions swirl in the wake of his cancer diagnosis, their reporting offers critical insight into just how long this story has been building. They discuss the blind spots that shaped media coverage, the role of Biden’s inner circle, and how silence and loyalty collided in the final year of his presidency.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They weren’t political operatives—they were a civil rights lawyer, a digital editor, and a marketing guy. But in the chaos of the Trump era, the Meiselas Brothers felt compelled to act. In their first in-person interview all together, Katie gets the behind-the-scenes story of how a pandemic group chat turned into the ascendent progressive MeidasTouch Network, and why truth, clarity, and community—not partisanship—are at the heart of what they do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York Times reporter Astead Herndon has spent years embedded in the world of Trump voters. He joins Katie to explain what he’s hearing now—why economic fear, media distrust, and cultural resentment still fuel Trumpism, how tariffs and Elon Musk are playing with the base, and why the Democrats’ message just isn’t landing. If you think you know what’s driving voters in 2024, think againSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Microbiome" is a buzzword these days--but many people don't know what it means. As we re-assess the lasting impact diet may have on our health, researchers are examining the role of gut health as possible causes for the dramatic uptick in colorectal cancer in young people. Katie Couric, founder of Katie Couric Media and Stand Up To Cancer, hosts an expert-led panel including Dr. Nancy You, a surgeon and director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Program at MD Anderson, Dr. Susan Bullman–an Associate Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, to discuss the impact of diet on the gut microbiome.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump’s first 100 days? Worse than former congressman and “proud RINO” Adam Kinzinger ever imagined. He joins Katie for a bracing conversation about authoritarian creep, advice on Democratic Party messaging, why the next few years could be rougher than anyone’s ready for–and why blind optimism is useless, but keeping hope alive can galvanize the American people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this heartfelt conversation, Katie sits down with the iconic Christie Brinkley or an intimate look at the moments that shaped her–from her bohemian days in Paris to the glitz of Studio 54, from the heights of modeling fame to unexpected heartbreak. With warmth, candor, and even a little singing, Christie opens up about a life lived in full technicolor--and now finally captured in her new memoir, Uptown GirlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Project 2025. Maybe you’ve heard whispers about it. Maybe you’ve rolled your eyes. But David A. Graham read the whole thing—and he sat down with Katie to break down why this isn’t just rhetoric – it’s a roadmap already in motion. From privatizing weather data to rewinding civil rights gains, this playbook for Trump 2.0 is more extreme—and more possible—than you might think. In this episode, Graham walks us through the wildest parts of the plan, the men behind it, and why his book The Project might just be the most important one you read this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.