Emsolation

It’s the reunion we’ve all been waiting for since they connected and cried together during the ‘Wicked’ press tour. Now, with her brand new album ‘I Forgive You’ finally available to download and stream, Em reunites with one of her personal heroes, the one and only Cynthia Erivo. Together they revisit the tears that somehow had the whole world crying (or weirdly in some cases seething with anger). There’s also chat about Cynthia’s recent Coachella performance, the elite level of her attire on the day and why the ‘Waiting to Exhale’ soundtrack is the best movie soundtrack EVER! Then it’s on to reviewing and discussing her new album ‘I Forgive You’, which Em has had an advance copy of that she’s been playing on repeat. Naturally Em’s gone deep in her analysis and review of it, MUCH to Cynthia’s utter joy, so prepare to discover layers to the album you might have missed, and hear about the inspiration and difficulty of writing and recording it. Finally Em also manages to squeeze in a quick chat about Cynthia hosting the upcoming Tony Awards and also how not ready she is to witness Cynthia and Ariana Grande take on ‘For Good’ in Wicked 2, with Cynthia offering some VERY useful advice about seeing the movie. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and her bestie Michael talk baby goats, Lady Gaga’s Tudum appearance, new season ‘Wednesday’ and ‘Hacks’, plus they dive into the controversy over Patti Lupone’s latest interview. You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or watch weekly video episodes via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We begin this deep dive by analysing the recent American Music Awards hosted by Jennifer Lopez, aka J’Lo. There’s the sniff of MAGA about the entire show plus the obsession for famous women of a certain age, like J’Lo, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani & Janet Jackson, to not actually age. There’s a side quest into Lindsay Lohan’s restorative juicing routine, plus all the other AMA “moments” worth reflecting. The ageless divas obsession also brings up how much women are expected to do, with a side quest into the Human Rights lawyer who recently ran and won an ultramarathon, whilst breast feeding her 6 month old baby along the route, because of course she did. Then it’s onto the problematic history of Dolce and Gabbana before we ‘Okay, Stop!’ the new D&G fragrance commercial with Theo James. Then Em gives us her one page TED talk on why it’s okay to be ogling Theo James. In our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em hilariously details how she shot her own nude photo shoot alone in her office after hours to launch her new book cover. You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or listen and watch the video of our main episode via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The whirlwind US tour won and done, Em and Michael are back on home turf at Down the Hill Studios and getting up close and personal whilst comparing bicep bulges…wait is this real life? Has this become a toxic bro podcast without us even realising it? Speaking of toxic, the Weeknd has a new movie out called ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’, he wrote it, produced it and stars in it with Jenna Ortega. The Daily Beast called it a “feature length ego stroke of monumental hubris and the worst film of the year” so naturally Em and Michael are mad keen to discuss it and watch it. Then we’re talking sport…wait, what? Yep, only because Em is living for the fact a gay men’s group called the Bears Perth have been inundated with interstate membership requests after the NRL announced WA’s very first NRL team, the Perth Bears, perfect. There’s also side quests into Susan Boyle, Em’s upcoming book release and her residency singing with her band and friends every Monday in July at the Brunswick Ballroom, tickets are on sale NOW! Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael discuss the Netflix comedy series ‘The Four Seasons’, the shock breakup of the Liberal-National Coalition, Chris Jenner’s face, Amy Poehler’s podcast and so much MORE! You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or listen and watch the video of our main episode via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the whirlwind tour of the US that we’ve all been hanging out for, now it’s time for Em and Michael to drop all the details on their most eventful holiday EVER! We begin with the original reason for the tour, Em’s tour of the Pixar Studios in San Francisco for their upcoming animated film ‘Elio’, in which Em voices the character of “Female Co-Worker A”. From touring the Pixar Cafe and sampling their world famous bacon, through to meeting the women who helped create the movie and talking Australian birds and spiders with one of the movie’s animators, it was easily a lifetime achievement for Em. Then we get to hear Michael recount his side of their night on Broadway watching Sarah Snook in ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ and hanging with icons Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Rob Lowe, Gayle King and Jackie Weaver. There’s also dinner at Taylor Swift’s favourite Italian restaurant, and their night witnessing Andrew Scott (the hot priest from ‘Fleabag’) singing Broadway tunes and holding Chella’s hand. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael discuss their night at Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour, plus there’s other bonus material too saucy for our main episode! You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or listen and watch the video of our main episode via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday night Em and Michael celebrated the 2 year anniversary of Emsolation going independent by doing a live stream of the podcast. Understandably not everyone could be there for it, so we’ve assembled some of our favourite moments from the full hour of hilarity for you to enjoy. Inside Em and Michael chat about the election result and what Anthony Albanese needs to do next, and even what the future holds for the Liberal party and Peter Dutton. Em reveals her algorithm is serving her reels of slow-mo rugby men and guys in spandex doing backflips, Michael also introduced Em to the abs of former rugby player and independent politician David Pocock. They also talk about their last minute trip this week to the US and took your questions answering if they got Lady Gaga tickets and will they be doing more ‘Okay, Stop!’ segments and so much more. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael reveal all the details about why they’re off to the US and everything they plan to do while there and it’s a LOT! You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or listen and watch the video of our main episode via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Paynter is one of Em’s best friends, they’ve worked together on her music, he also has mad singing skills (best believe that he is a SING-GER!) which he’s currently showing off 8 times a week, playing Jesus in the latest version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. Together they’ll discuss his awe inspiring take on the role of Jesus, from why he chose to accept the gig, the part Mahalia Barnes played in his decision, through to the enormity of taking on this kind of role and the emotional toll it takes on him during each performance. Plus Em asks him how he prepares himself before a show and what it’s like to take on a musical like this when he’s never even acted or done musical theatre before. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael Paynter give you an extra 35 minutes where they discuss how they first met, their shared love of John Peter Farnham and both of them work their way through a bunch of hilarious and revealing rapid fire questions. Michael will also truly captivate you and prove his status as a SING-GER by singing his favourite John Farnham song ‘Burn For You’. You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or watch the entire video of this conversation via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She’s been the Beyoncé of the Rusciano household ever since she lost to Julie Goodwin on the first season of ‘Masterchef Australia’. Now the multi-talented Poh Ling Yeow is back as a judge on the new season of ‘Masterchef Australia: Back to Win’ premiering from 7.30 Monday April 28 on 10 and 10Play. Inside Poh discusses the upcoming season, how she’s navigated 2 divorces and managed to remain besties with both her ex’s, the expectations placed on women to have a career and children, and why she loves being alone. Poh also claimed before the chat that she is an actual bog witch (hence the reference in the episode title) and has so much knowledge to impart, from her experience of menopause, how she prioritises self care and managing guilt and making time to relax. So prepare to fall in love with Poh even more than you already do and to be schooled on how to be the ultimate bog witch. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael discuss their picks for the new Catholic Pope and how it needs to be more like Drag Race, plus they reveal all the new TV series they’re consuming, including why the new season of ‘Hacks’ is disappointing Em. You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or listen and watch the video of our main episode via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is this real life? Apparently, it is, so we begin with a discussion on how wild all the topics are that we wanna discuss this week. We side quest into Em’s favourite corner of TikTok, the developing feud between Chinese luxury goods manufacturers and the Trump administration. Then it’s onto Katy Perry and Gayle King’s 11-minute feminist statement to “take up space” on Jeff Bezos’s wang shaped rocket. We reluctantly follow that up with Peter Dutton’s attempt to highlight the housing crisis bringing his son Harry to a press conference, with disastrous results. Finally, Em and Michael review Lady Gaga’s Coachella performance before they have to run off to try and secure their tickets to see her ‘Mayhem Ball’ tour. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, you get the rest of their full Lady Gaga Coachella review, whilst they continue to try and buy their Gaga tickets, plus they tackle an Emsolation Facebook Group post about weaponised incompetence. You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or listen and watch the video of our main episode via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(CW: Discussion of miscarriage) This week, comedian, writer, and recovering lawyer Sashi Perera joins Em in the studio to reveal how she moved from being a refugee lawyer for the UN, to becoming a standup comedian. Sashi’s hilarious social media clips helped her go viral before her debut stand up show, that show then secured her a Best Newcomer nomination at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2023. She’s also the only Australian comedian featured as ‘One to Watch’ at the UK 2021 Funny Women Awards and a two-time RAW Comedy finalist. You’ll learn the value of trying something different, how Sashi flipped her career in her 30’s, the freedom of not worrying about what others think, how she shared her IVF journey and the miscarriages that came from it, dealing with anxiety and ADHD, and the process of writing her upcoming book ‘Standstill’. Then Friday in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em & Michael talk the final episode of Season 3 of ‘The White Lotus’ and watching ‘Dying For Sex’ on Disney+. You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or watch our video episodes via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week comedian, TV and radio host, fashion enthusiast and actual friend of both Em and Michael, Joel Creasey joins the pod. Having seen his new standup show ‘Thanks For Being Here’ Em and Michael were determined to get Joel in to talk about his hilarious new tour and reflect on his 15 years of doing standup comedy shows. There’s reminiscing about Em and Joel’s early days of comedy gigs and their specific after show ritual, how busy Joel is and the benefits of his time working a stage musical like ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’. They even manage to cover off their mutual love of politics and ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em allows Joel to reveal his deep love of US Politics and his teensy tiny (actually huge) obsession with one particular CNN political reporter, plus all three of them work through a specific Spicy Sunday Low Key Hot Take and surprisingly Em and Joel do not agree on the specifics AT ALL! You can sign up and listen for $1.87 a week, or watch BOTH video episodes via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices