Next Question with Katie Couric

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   Twenty-four years ago, Katie Couric aired her first colonoscopy on the ‘Today Show.' It was an up-close and personal experience that helped demystify a still-taboo health procedure.    A study would later find that colonoscopies increased by 20 percent as a result of Katie airing her personal business on national television. It was called “The Couric Effect.” And it turns out, the Couric Effect is still rolling. “Using you as a model,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar tells Katie, “I’ve tried to really talk about this.” On this episode, Katie and the Minnesota Democrat talk about the Senator’s recent disclosure of her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and how it could have gone another way. “I should have gone in a year earlier.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a neuroscientist and in addition to his on-air work and a daily podcast (Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction), Sanjay also found the time to write a book called “Keep Sharp: Building a Better Brain at Any Age,” which is out now. On this episode, Katie and Sanjay talk about how to keep the brain healthy with tips you can use right now to protect and improve your brain. But Katie starts the conversation by asking the COVID about the status of the pandemic and if we’re truly out of the woods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie (a total Deborah) is joined by KCM producer Adriana Fazio (Katie’s Ava) to chat with the creative team behind the acclaimed show "Hacks"—Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs. The trio opens up about how their own path to comedy writing, including their love for classic TV like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and time spent waiting tables, inspired the characters of Deborah and Ava. From casting newcomer, Hanna Einbinder, opposite national treasure, Jean Smart, to the process of developing plotlines and story arcs, this episode offers a deep dive into the creative process behind an original show that has become a fan favorite. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   On this episode, Katie explores the subject of happiness. Because as a culture, we seem to be obsessed with achieving it. Just look to higher ed. Some of the most elite universities tout courses on happiness — the science of it, the value of it, the history and future of it. But the search for happiness has also seeped into our regular podcast consumption and our must-watch TV shows.    So what’s the deal? Why is happiness the carrot dangling just outside of our reach? And what defines happiness anyway? To find out, Katie talks with one of those aforementioned happiness scholars, Arthur C. Brooks, whose most recent book is called “From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   There have been some scary headlines going around about the climbing rates of alcohol use, particularly among women, during the pandemic. One study found that heavy drinking among women increased 41 percent! What’s behind these numbers and how do women find the help they need? On this episode, Katie Couric, Katie invites her friend and award winning broadcast journalist Elizabeth Vargas to co-host and help find some understanding about why women are drinking more than ever, why women drink, and what recovery looks like.. Elizabeth knows about this first hand and wrote about her issues around alcohol, addiction and anxiety in her memoir, Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction. Elizabeth and Katie talk to two women — Khadi Oluwatoyin and Emily Paulson who hit their own rock bottoms and not only found their way out, but also made recovery spaces for people like them — Black Girls Sober Club and the Sober Mome Squad, respectively. Katie and Elizabeth also talk to long-time clinical social worker and interventionist, Dr. Louise Stanger, on how to help someone you love who may be suffering through addiction. If you or anyone you love is struggling with alcohol use, you can call the national drug and alcohol treatment hotline at 1-800-622-HELP (4357).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie sits down with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for this special Next Question bonus episode. It’s an intimate, urgent conversation that leaves no issue off the table – from her thoughts on President Biden’s decision to end his campaign and what she believes Vice President Kamala Harris must do to win in November to the increasingly bitter divisions that threaten our democracy and the devastating rise in political violence that has affected her on a deeply personal level, they cover it all. They also discuss Speaker Pelosi’s new book, “The Art of Power,” which is a thoughtful reflection on some of her more consequential legislative decisions across a remarkable political career spanning four decades. As the country rights itself from the recent twists and turns of an unprecedented campaign season, this must-listen conversation gets to the heart of what’s at stake as we look to November. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Couric joins Alyssa Mastromonaco on her podcast Hysteria for a chat about Kamala Harris fundraising (featuring white people on Zoom calls), the Veepstakes, and calling MAGA Republicans like JD Vance “weird.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   For so many women, menopause is a mystery. Its symptoms can be wide-ranging and last for years, and information about treatments can be confusing - where it exists at all. To make things even more challenging, healthcare providers are often less-than-helpful when it comes to finding solutions.  Our guests today are here to help: New York Times writer Susan Dominus’ recent article, “Women Have Been Misled About Menopause” was an immediate viral sensation, becoming a valuable resource on the latest research and treatments. Her reporting also resonated for another reason: the symptoms women experience are finally being taken seriously. Dr. Rebecca Brightman, a gynecologist from New York City specializing in menopausal medicine, joins the conversation to share what she’s learned throughout her years of treating women facing this life-altering transition. Plus: our guests answer questions submitted by you, our listeners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Already missing Next Question in your podcast lineup? Good news: There’s more where that came from. Join me next month as we dive back into some of our most important and informative conversations around women’s physical and mental wellness.   With the help of the women’s health experts at Midi Health, we’re bringing you a five-episode miniseries, Wellness Check, focused on issues that affect our daily lives — from the science of happiness, to the ins and outs of menopause.   You can find these conversations right here on the Next Question feed, with episodes released on Thursdays starting August 1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Couric co-hosts Hysteria with Alyssa Mastromonaco, diving into Biden dropping out of the race, Kamala Harris, potential VP picks, and misogynistic political media. Then, for some levity: Sani-Petty (Celine Dion! The Olympics!).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.