Emsolation
Em Rusciano
Join multi-media maven Em Rusciano—writer, singer, comedian, producer, podcast princess, and disability advocate—and her best friend of 30 years, award-winning screenwriter Michael Lucas (Offspring, Party Tricks, Rosehaven, The Newsreader), each week for an unpredictable mix of deeply personal anecdotes, obsessive pop culture dissections, and truly unhinged movie and TV reviews. If you’re after a show full of humour, heart, and hot takes, we’ve got good news for you!We should also warn you: Emsolation isn’t just a podcast—it’s a community. A place where listeners feel seen, heard, and thoroughly entertained.Welcome to the family! We’re so happy you’re here. You’re now an official Emsolator.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 17, 2025 • 32min
Em’s Dating Lessons, Goop Gifts & the Top 10 Diva Moments of 2025
It’s been a HUGE year, so inside we reflect on the sheer volume of things Em and Michael achieved this year, they also talk their Xmas gift wishlist (which includes several many #TheNorthFace references *wink, wink*). There’s also AI Twilight, Michael's incredible new gig as a 'trophy wife' at Sundance, and the risks of gifting things to Em.
Em has learnt much from her recent dating experiences and wants to talk on that, plus the joys of the love of friends and family, and that elusive quest for secure attachment in a world of ‘low effort’ Hinge profiles (don’t worry, the screenshots are being collected for a future stand-up show).
We unpack Gwyneth Paltrow's bonkers Goop Holiday Guide, which includes a $105 candle that smells of pasta water…for reals. Then it’s time to BRING ON THE DIVAS! After debuting it last year, Michael is returning with his selection of the Top 10 Diva Moments of 2025.
You’ll get the first two entrants in his Top 10 Diva Moments in this episode, but to hear numbers eight, through to one, you need to subscribe to our premium service Emsolation Extra.
Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch the full video of both episodes back to back via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 15, 2025 • 8min
BONDI
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims, their families, & all of those who have been affected in the senseless act of violence at Bondi Beach on December 14. Our thoughts are with each & every one of them. If you can donate blood, in particular O negative donations, you can find where to donate via this link https://www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centreFor more help:NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511Lifeline on 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800GriefLine, National Grief & Loss Support Hub on 1300 845 745, available 8am-8pm everyday.Beyond Blue on 1300 224 63613YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line on 13 92 76Headspace on 1800 650 890 ReachOut at au.reachout.com QLife, LGBTIQ+ peer support on 1800 184 527 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 10, 2025 • 35min
Katy Perry & Justin Trudeau, Gaga, Michael’s Breaking News, & the Golden Globe Noms
Em arrives in this episode with extra long locks, the planned removal of her extensions has surprisingly undergone an extra long mermaid length upgrade.
Then it’s on to Em and Michael attending Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball, they have feedback, plus they wanna cover everything from the merch, to their theme dressing efforts and various other highlights.
Michael then reveals his exciting news, we chat his AACTA noms for 'The Newsreader', we side quest on Oprah and Tyra Banks, plus we work our way through the surprising nominations for the Golden Globes as well.
Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Jason Bateman is looking hot in his latest photo shoot, and we play Michael Sarah Paulson’s epic scene with Glenn Close from a recent ep of ‘All’s Fair’.
Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch the full video of both episodes back to back via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 3, 2025 • 22min
Albo’s Wedding, McLaren’s F1 Blunder, Our Golden Globe Predictions & MORE!
This week Em and Michael are info dumping to each other on their favourite topics of the week, so we begin with Michael updating Em on Anthony Albanese’s recent wedding to his partner Jodie Haydon at the Lodge.
Then Em updates Michael on the latest F1 developments and the continuing farce that is the McLaren management team's decisions. Michael drops his predictions for the Golden Globe nominations, which is also in Em’s wheelhouse of faves.
Em’s been watching the final season of ‘Stranger Things’ on Netflix and offers her thoughts, and Michael is frothing out over the steamy seggs scenes in ‘Heated Rivalry’, a gay romance series on HBO Max set in the world of men’s ice hockey.
In our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em updates us on her second date, they get excited about their prep for Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball on the weekend and they come up with the names and backstories for 10 random glamour shots from the 80’s.
Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch the full video of both episodes back to back via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 26, 2025 • 27min
Keith Urban's Mar-a-Lago Fail & That Wicked "Sex Cardigan"
It’s official, Keith Urban can no longer sit with us, especially after he accepted an invitation to perform at a private party thrown by Aussie billionaire Anthony Pratt, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Donald Trump was in attendance, as well as Gina Rinehart and Pauline Hanson, but the biggest WTF is that Keith performed Chappell Roan’s queer anthem ‘Pink Pony Club’ as part of his appearance. There are several many things Em and Michael have to say about that, as well as side questing into the Kardashians, Caitlyn Jenner and Lady Gaga.
Then it’s onto their regrouping over ‘Wicked: For Good’ after Michael finally saw it over the weekend. There’s three things that left them both perplexed, all of them costume related, the first one is the sex cardigan Cynthia Erivo, aka Elphaba, wears for, and after her sex scene with Jonathan Bailey, aka Fiyero.
There’s also Jonathan’s lack of nipple exposure after said sex scene, and the delicate black see thru hood Elphaba wears as she’s trekking through the desert in the final scene. None of it makes much, if any sense, so prepare for much ridicule and analysis from Em and Michael on all of it.
Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em went on her first date and she’s ready to spill, she also needs to do an F1 in Vegas info dump, plus Em’s going to rate 10 pictures of different dogs, and decide if she would date them IF she was a dog too, because of course she is.
Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch the full video of both episodes back to back via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 19, 2025 • 38min
Em-vestigating ‘Wuthering Heights’ & Reviewing ‘Wicked: For Good’
Em’s polished introduction is back and then we dive straight into an Em-vestigation as Em and Michael ‘Okay, Stop!’ the saucy trailer for Emerald Fennel’s adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights’ starring Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi. Expect much deep breathing and gasps and several many offers from Em to be mic’d up and commentate the entire thing when it’s released.
Then it is onto Em’s review of ‘Wicked: For Good’ where we get the full rundown of Em’s trip to Singapore, from the joys of being cared for by the staff on her flight, to the efficiency of Changi Airport on arrival.
As well as finding new friends in Tik Tokers Aicha Robertson and Katrina West, the shopping in Singapore, the premiere red carpet weirdness and Em’s full spoiler free review of the movie as well.
In the Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael discuss the latest on Trump, the Epstein files and Marjorie Taylor Greene turning on the president, plus we ‘Okay, Stop!’ the trailer for Alicia Silverstone and Jameela Jamil’s Netflix movie ‘A Merry Little Ex-Mas’.
Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch the full video of both episodes back to back via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 12, 2025 • 25min
Filling Holes *No Actual Holes Filled
After the most chaotic intro EVER, it’s onto the secret Em has been keeping from Michael, she's hard launched a new profile on Feeld, the dating app for open minded individuals!
Michael does the investigative work on her profile, plus she spills the tea on the 221 likes she got from a plethora of mostly younger men, even sharing photographic evidence with Michael. Em’s basically only interested in looking, but revelations have been made.
Then Em reveals how a simple question and a flick of her hair at the local soccer oval on the weekend, scored her a slightly unsettling saucy note from some random dad wedged into her car door handle. They also reveal the story of a Noosa note drop Em planned but that actually never happened.
Hear SOME of the content within plus get the beginnings of Em and Michael’s thoughts and feels having watched the first 3 episodes of Kim Kardashian and the divas of Ryan Murphy’s ‘All’s Fair’.
The full chat is only available in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, where you’ll also hear about their fave new MUST watch TV series ‘Plur1bus’, they also watch the new footage of J’lo and Ben Affleck kissing in Venice and Em reveals some of the hectic research and prep she’s done for her upcoming ‘Wicked: For Good’ interviews in Singapore.
Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch the full video of both episodes back to back via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 5, 2025 • 34min
In Conversation with Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash-Betts & Naomi Watts
It’s the brand new legal drama series from Ryan Murphy now streaming on Disney+. When the trailer for ‘All’s Fair’ dropped, Em described it as “a gay man’s wet dream”, so naturally getting the chance to chat with 4 of the actual divas from the show is Em’s wet dream too.
Inside Em will chat with Sarah Paulson and Naomi Watts about everything from reminding Sarah of their meeting backstage in NY, what vocal unloading is, Naomi’s delayed gratification, who’s the best lawyer, the scripts, and a side of broken headphones for Em to deal with too.
Then it’s onto Glenn Close and Niecy Nash-Betts, where Em congratulates Niecy for her Out 100 Icon of the Year Award and Glenn for having a secret bottle of maple syrup. They also talk Ryan Murphy’s love of creating complicated older women for his shows, who they’d pick as their fave lawyer and if Glenn remembers meeting Em too. Em also has a huge announcement about the upcoming ‘Wicked: For Good’ premiere in Singapore.
Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael discuss Michael’s HUGE Halloween party, plus Em discovered the gay cruising app ‘Sniffies’ and she has MUCH to report.
Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch Em with Glenn, Niecy, Naomi and Sarah with our video episodes on our Extra extra tier via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 2025 • 32min
The Sydney ‘Blood, Sweat and Glitter’ Book Launch
Em’s got a little intro to explain what you’re about to hear as we take you inside the echoey halls of the Paddington Uniting Church in Sydney for the launch of ‘Blood, Sweat and Glitter’ on the actual day the book arrived in stores. Michael takes on the role of host for this event, peppering Em with questions about the book, from how it came about, to her process of writing it.
There’s cameos from her publisher Tom, her Wiggles love life obsession, her dreams of writing erotic fiction, the inspiration for the book cover and her daughter Odie’s artwork within. Em also reveals how difficult it was writing the book and being so open and honest about her struggles over the last few years.
Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em does a proper Em-vestigation of the new Lily Allen album ‘West End Girl’ plus she’s finally watched ‘The Hunting Wives’ and is obsessed.
Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch the 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

Oct 22, 2025 • 33min
Mariah’s Sydney Show & Your ‘Blood, Sweat & Glitter’ Reviews
Em and Michael are back in studio and Em is now a Signal Award winning podcast host who’s side questing even before the intro is out into Michelle Obama’s brother, her ABC Conversations interview, and a recommendation for the new season of ‘The Diplomat’.
Mariah’s recent appearance at the ‘Fridayz Live’ concert tour with Pitbull has caused a stir, Anthony Callea has come for Mimi over claims she mimed her performance. Em and Michael review the footage and offer their approval for her doing whatever she wants because she is Mariah Carey.
There’s a Cowardly Lion from ‘Wicked For Good’ side quest, then we chat to Emsolator Erika, who actually saw Mimi’s Sydney show. Em also updates us on the trauma of recording the final chapter of the audiobook version of her ‘Blood, Sweat and Glitter’ book, plus they listen to the very first book reviews from Emsolators Lyndall, Chelsea and Bec.
Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Michael reviews Em’s dating profile and pics, plus they Em-vestigate the Celebrity Traitors UK fart moment, the trailer for the Netflix Christmas movie ‘My Secret Santa' and Kevin Rudd’s awkward Trump moment. Get access for just $1.87 a week, or watch the full video of both episodes back to back via the Supercast website for $2.50 a week at emsolation.supercast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


