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
Oct 23, 2023 • 33min
An Amuse-Bouche Of AMA’s From Emsolation Extra
Each week our Emsolation Extra subscribers pummel Em and Michael with questions via the Supercast website for a segment we call Ask Me Anything, or AMA for short. This special bonus episode is an appetiser for anyone who hasn’t committed to Emsolation Extra and wonders what they might be missing out on. Within, you’ll hear a sample of some of your questions being answered, from “Did Em pack enough undies for her US holiday?” to an “Am I The Arsehole?” that inspired a total of 3 episodes of questions, including an appearance on the phone from the question asker and their partner. So settle in for a tasty morsel of Emsolation Extra treats gifted upon you for free and subscribe for even more treats like this at https://emsolation.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 19, 2023 • 21min
In Conversation with Kaz Cooke
This bonus episode gives you access to something special from our podcast subscription service, Emsolation Extra. Recently Em sat down with one of her favourite people on the planet, the one and only Kaz Cooke. Kaz is famous the world over for creating the kind of books we all need to navigate life, having researched and written books like ‘Up The Duff’, ‘Babies & Toddlers’, ‘Girl Stuff 8-12 & 13+’ and her latest offering ‘It’s The Menopause’, which is in stores now. Together Em and Kaz will talk all things menopause, from sneaky wee’s to heavy flows, oestrogen levels and hair migration, hot flushes and the more than 30 signs that you might be experiencing menopause. So strap yourself in for a wild, hilarious and occasionally infuriating conversation about the ‘pause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2023 • 52min
It’s Time We Talk About The Hard Thing
First up we need to talk about the result of the Voice Referendum, after the country resoundingly decided that First Nations people apparently don’t deserve constitutional recognition and sadly, mostly voted ‘NO’. After that disappointing result, it’s on to the news that excerpts have started dropping from Britney Jean Spears upcoming tell all book, ‘The Woman In Me’. Thankfully, Em isn’t scared to go all method and usher in Britney herself so she can read the quotes for us in her naturally thick Southern slash Steel Magnolias M’Lynn accent, because AS IF she wouldn’t! Then Em reveals her latest hyper-fixation involving sharp blades and sticky vinyl, which is swiftly followed by the story of how Em found herself at a local play where the premise revolved around a small country town turning into a giant gay porn shoot. Lastly, Michael teases his hubby Adrian’s new story as part of an erotic anthology series coming soon to SBS. We wrap things up with a full debrief on Madonna finally hitting the stage for her recently postponed greatest hits tour and Taylor Swift’s concert movie finally being released too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2023 • 22min
A Sneak Peek at Emsolation Live
Well if you don't know, now you know. Maybe you've never been to an Emsolation Live Podcast before, maybe you have. If you have, you know it's the hottest night of the year, so kick your feet up and enjoy a trip down memory lane. If not, strap yourself in because boy are you in for a tasty, tasty morsel in the shape of a recap. Our spiritual guide, Present-Day-Em will take us back to a time where Past-Em from the past got together with Michael Lucas, her daughters, her dad, and a 6 piece band to celebrate the year that was, 2022; in style. We get a detailed, juicy glimpse into the VIP-only pre-show Q&A AKA Em and Michael uncut. Present-Day-Em then guides us through the many stages of an Emsolation live podcast which is unsurprisingly full of side-quests, laughing fits, anecdotes reworked into Madonna songs all for the sake of one-upmanship; and Michael Lucas Karaoke to boot. Plus there's even special guest Casey Donovan flying in for an interview and live performance. If you were on the fence about coming to this years live show at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, fear not! Let Present-Day-Em guide you through the extravagant, hilarious and heartworming moments we share together. Hit play, laugh loud, and head on over to https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=EMSOLAT23 to get your tickets now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2023 • 44min
It’s a Lot.
There’s a LOT going on right now so we’re taking the “let’s just stick to what we do” angle and offering up our thoughts on the brand new Netflix 4-part doco series ‘Beckham’ which covers off the career and life of David Beckham. We also get an update from Michael on the next “big” event coming from his former employer, Baz Luhrmann. That also means we get to hear some of the goss from Michael’s first job, including what it was like working from the home of Baz and Catherine, answering phone calls from Madonna, and hanging out around Leonardo Dicaprio memorabilia. There’s also the news that the Christina Aguilera, Cher movie ‘Burlesque’ is being turned into a musical to process. Plus the first live show of Madonna’s postponed tour is almost here, so Em and Michael reflect on what could have been, what will happen when someone drops the concert on YouTube, and even how Em’s feeling in her waters on if the tour will even go ahead at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 5, 2023 • 19min
The Voice To Parliament with Rachel Perkins
It’s the episode for anyone who feels like they don’t have all the info they need on the upcoming Voice Referendum. Em and Michael offer up their point of view on the Voice and reveal which way they will be voting. Em also talks to Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman, Rachel Perkins. Rachel is the founder of Blackfella Films and an award-winning writer, director and producer of documentaries and feature films, she’s also the daughter of world-renowned civil rights activist Charles Perkins and Co-Chair of Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, the group behind the Yes 23 campaign for the Voice to Parliament. Consider this a resource to help answer any questions you might have ahead of the Voice Referendum on October 14. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4, 2023 • 53min
Leave The Wig On Andre
Obviously we’re opening with MORE Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce recapping, if you’ve been following Em on socials this week, you’ll already know she’s done a deep dive on Taylor Swift rocking up to a Chiefs game with Hugh Jackman, Sophie Turner, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Trav’s Mum Donna. There’s much to discuss, including Michael’s overly excited call to alert Em to the situation. That’s followed with chats on Beyonce’s Renaissance visual album finally being given a cinema release date. Then we’ve got the story of the Gucci wallet Em left at the Vegas Airport being returned this week with EVERYTHING in it. There’s an update on Em’s eldest Marchella performing in ‘Heathers: The Musical’ and why it finished 20 minutes after she stepped on stage. Plus there’s mental side-quests on Barbra Streisand dating Andre Agassi and if she asked him to remove his wig during sex, Em’s singing voice changing thanks to oestrogen, Britney’s knife dance, the Supermodels doco, and Season 3 of ‘the Newsreader’ being confirmed, HUZZAH! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2023 • 57min
Taylor’s New Boyfriend Had A Friendship Bracelet & A Dream
That dream has been realised, so expect an Em level analysis of it all shortly and multiple ‘Good for Her’ button presses. First though we need to award a ‘Good For Her’ for Kylie, who dropped her brand new album ‘Tension’ and proved again why she’s maintained her success for the last 4 decades. Delta also announced her engagement so there’s a ‘Good For Her’ too, then it’s onto the news that Taylor Swift seems to have stumbled into the ultimate new relationship with an NFL player called Travis Kelce. We also manage to throw in a mental side-quest amongst all that Taylor inspired ‘Good For Her’ button pressing on “What is Em and Michael’s Roman Empire?”. Then we need to cover off the news that Victorian Premier Dan Andrews is retiring and delve into the woman who’s been tipped to replace him, Jacinta Allan. We also wanna touch on Em’s ADHD Senate Inquiry appearance and how Michael and Em’s bestie Jamila had to gently suggest Em maybe pull back on the scorched earth approach in her first draft and consider a few teensy tweaks. Finally, we need to cover off our upcoming End of Year Extravaganza Live Show at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2023 • 1h 13min
Please Respect Our Privacy At This Difficult Time
It’s the news that shook the planet, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness have called it quits on their marriage after 27 years and we need to discuss. Em has theories and she’s willing to throw a “mark my words” at it too. Then Em allows Michael to nerd out a smidge with an update on a masterstroke that Madonna recently delivered. We follow that with the news that very serious accusations of crime have been levelled at Russell Brand; if you’d like to avoid that discussion all together, all you need to do is skip ahead from 22.36 to 33.40, Em will give you fair warning before it pops up while you listen too. We’ll follow that with the news Em’s youngest Elio is a goth who’s also just been introduced to Harry Potter, which also ushers in a delightful mental side quest on her daughter Odie’s High School Musical Night. Finally the second season of Michael’s TV series ‘The Newsreader’ suddenly moved from a once a week drop, to dropping every episode, all at once on ABC iView yesterday. Naturally Em got her binge on and she’s ready to give her hungie percent honest review to her bestie Michael. So prepare to get some behind the scenes goss, with a teensy tiny episode 4 spoiler attached and a special musical performance from Em too, #IYKYK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2023 • 50min
Sexy Vampires, Stolen Cars & Supporting Sansa Stark
Strap yourself in because this episode is stuffed to the gills with all of the things you didn’t know you needed, until we dropped them into your earholes. We get things underway with a full rundown on the premiere of ‘The Newsreader’. Did Em unleash a bunch of inappropriate all over Sam Reid? Was Michael’s mum sassing up a storm? Were the Tony Bartuccio dancers in the room? All these questions will be answered as well as a bunch you haven’t even thought of yet. Then we need to talk about Em’s hubby Scott getting his car stolen during the week and why he left his wallet in it for them too. We also wanna dump on Joe Jonas over his breakup with Sophie (Sansa Stark) Turner, pick over the troubling facts about Britney’s brand new boyfriend and throw in a mental side-quest on Drew Barrymore becoming a scab. Finally there’s a shortage of oestrogen patches, so cut to Em entering into a virtual cage match with other peri-menopausal peeps to secure access to whatever supplies are still left. May the odds forever be in her and everyone else’s favour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


