Emsolation
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.
Latest episodes
Aug 10, 2022 • 60min
Cock-a-doodle-do
Ever wonder how we come up with our episode titles? Probably not, but in this episode you’re actually going to hear Em, Michael and Chella workshopping a few options, you’ll also understand why we picked cock-a-doodle-do too. First up though, we need to spend some time absorbing the news that the one and only Dame Olivia Newton-John is no longer with us. There’s a lot of ONJ memories to reminisce on within including Em’s first viewing of Xanadu, why Grease shaped Michael’s sexual education and how Livvy gave us the best Christmas movie. After that we need to process the fact that Beyonce and Madonna have teamed up for a duet/remix of biblical proportions. There will be a goat scream from Michael, plus he’s very keen to adjust his rather lacklustre rating for Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ album from last week’s episode too. Finally there’s a tweet Michael sent Em that actually shook her world. Turns out there’s something that Em experiences during intimate times that she’s never actually spoken about publicly. Finally revealing that thing while her eldest daughter Chella was in the room (AND on a microphone as well) wasn’t something any of us expected, especially not Chella, but you’ll get to relive all of that awkward realness when you press PLAY.Olivia Newton-John interview courtesy of The Project, Channel 10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 3, 2022 • 52min
Cuddle Puddle
Anyone else feel like they really need a cuddle right now? Same, although the cuddle puddle that inspired this episode's title might not be for everyone. Em has just finished watching the Netflix show ‘How To Build A Sex Room’ and she has questions, theories, thoughts, feels and so many other things to process. Michael hasn’t seen the show so he’ll do an "okay stop" viewing of the trailer for us, while Em’s eldest daughter Chella will step up to the mic for extra commentary, because she binged the entire series in a night. Strap yourself in for the ride because this chat goes all over the shop and comes with abundant added harp gliss, you’ll understand why when you get there. We also need to talk through the new Beyonce album, ‘Renaissance’ which dropped last week. Em, Michael and Chella all have different takes on it, there’s also been a few controversies since its release too. Lizzo also dropped her new album ‘Special’ a few weeks ago so naturally there’s a lot of compare and contrast. Finally Em needs your help, her outfit for her National Press Club address has fallen through and she needs your help to fix it for her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2022 • 49min
Seriously Sexy Science
Who knew science could be seriously sexy? J’Lo did and now we do too and we don’t want any other kind of science moving forward. A brand new email from J’Lo hit Em’s inbox this week and you bet Em and Michael are ready to go through every single word Jenny from the block said with a fine tooth and sometimes sassy comb. Also Em has already finished the first draft of her National Press Club address, now she’s keen for Michael to help her work through her anxiety over the 30 minutes of questions she might get from the press after her speech. Finally it’s all about pulling apart the news of a reality TV series medical emergency that Em actually predicted in a previous episode. It’s probably gonna make you feel a smidge itchy in all the wrong places, but at least we’re just talking about it and not actually experiencing it so huzzah for small blessings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2022 • 49min
Hold On To Your Ankles Australia, I’m Coming In Dry
Um, yeah, that title is a LOT! Naturally you’ll get a full explain on how those words were assembled into a sentence and dropped in the middle of this podcast. First up though we need to work our way through the shock and disappointment that was the latest email from J’Lo. Yes the wedding that Em and Michael have been anticipating for ages, and had actual fever dreams about, somehow happened in Vegas without anyone even really knowing! There was no pomp and circumstance on a luxury yacht, no full scale pop diva realness, no J’Lo lyrics inserted into the vowels, no nothing. Just some crappy email with a few behind the scenes videos of pretty much NOTHING, how rude! Once we’ve worked through that disappointment, Em will attempt to update us on her speech writing for her National Press Club address, but Michael helps derail most of that. Then we need to talk through the latest obsessions for Em’s three year old Elio. It turns out it’s equal parts creepy doll Sirenhead with a generous sprinkling of a sassy British piglet called Peppa thrown in. Finally there’s the nickname Em’s daughter Odie chose for herself which is pretty much slang for a wang and is now emblazoned across the back of all her sports gear, such fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 13, 2022 • 57min
Vabs, Abs and Babs
We begin by introducing Michael to the viral trend of ‘vabbing’, if you follow Em on socials and you haven’t been up to your neck in the filming of Season 2 of ‘The Newsreader’ like Michael has, then you’d no doubt be well versed in vabbing. You’ll get to hear Michael learn all about it in real time within this episode, swiftly followed by Em and Michael working through all their thoughts and feels and reactions. There’s also a brand new Marvel film to discuss, Em has seen Taika Waitiki’s new effort ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and she’s totes about it, even if the early reviews are saying it aint all that. Finally we need to update you on all the latest in musical theatre news, as we occasionally do. This time around we’ll be focussing on the news that the problematic former star of ‘Glee’, Lea Michele is about to take over the lead in the Broadway edition of ‘Funny Girl’. It’s the show that helped make Barbra Streisand a star so yes Michael will be singing, plus we may even have a few screaming goat cameos too…that’s fair warning right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 6, 2022 • 49min
Flanter
Are you ready for some flirty banter, or flanter? If you’ve seen the hugely successful reality TV franchise ‘Love Island UK’ or its various spinoffs, you’ll be well acquainted with the term ‘flanter’. Thanks to a hideous head cold and a lack of sleep, Em has found herself bingeing bulk episodes of ‘Love Island UK’, she’s got lots of thoughts and feels and even a series of alternative options that are all guaranteed to be ratings winners. Aside from that erotic deep dive, Em and Michael will talk through the table read of the new season of Michael’s Logie award winning series ‘The Newsreader’, we also need to process the news that Australian Idol is back, but only if you’re under 28. Plus Em takes us through the lengths she went through to get herself front and centre with Ash Barty’s inspirational mindset coach Ben Crowe. He’s now on board to help her break through her writer's block ahead of her National Press Club address. So press play and prepare ye-self for maximum hectic, Em role playing with Michael’s Logie, plus an abundance of wheezy cough laughing and other related hilarity throughout as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2022 • 60min
Barbie & Yoda - A Love Story
Yeah things are about to get weird, so it’s pretty much situation normal here. This week we’ve got Michael offsite and on Zoom as he’s finally succumbed to Covid, but that won’t stop us from giving you everything you never knew you needed. We start with a check in on how lockdown is going, then there’s Em’s iron deficiency to cover off and her obsession with a brand new beauty routine to delve into. We also need to talk through the shocking news of the overturning of ‘Roe vs Wade’ in America. In much lighter and way more exciting news, there’s also a brand new live action Barbie movie filming right now starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Em and Michael are one hungie percent HERE. FOR. IT. (side note, this is where Yoda marries Barbie and Em also reveals which rather buff kids toy really awakened her sexual desires, you are NOT ready). Finally, we gotta reflect the shows we’ve been bingeing, including gay rom com ‘Fire Island’, the final season of the Umbrella Academy, and the hectic first episode of ‘Drag Race France’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2022 • 52min
Not Just Here Shaking My Ass
Yeah, we’re shaking all of our parts in utter excitement that our very own Michael Lucas can now add Logie winner to his list of achievements. Naturally you’ll get the inside word on Em and Michael’s Logie winning efforts on the Gold Coast over the weekend. You’ll also get a full reaction to the news that a footy player is using their ADHD diagnosis as an explainer for his off field transgressions, Em isn’t a fan and she’s keen for someone to step up and educate the masses about it. Finally, Beyonce has dropped a brand new song called ‘Break My Soul’ and ushered in the Beyaissance, plus Em and Michael spent their downtime on the GC watching the J’Lo Netflix doco ‘Halftime’. Safe to say that they are totally here for both of those things and also can’t wait to give you their hot takes as well. So step into another episode and gorge yourself on all of their thoughts and feels ASAP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2022 • 32min
MELISSA LEONG - THE BEYONCE OF MASTERCHEF
It’s no secret that Em and Michael are HUGE fans of everything Melissa Leong does, so ahead of the 2022 Logie Awards, we got our favourite Gold Logie nominee into the Emsolation studios. Expect a deep dive into all things Melissa Leong, with the requisite level of appreciation and gushing thrown in. Inside you’ll hear how she reacts to the suggestion she’s the Beyonce of Masterchef, how she achieved peak skills for on-camera eating, what she’s planning to wear, plus Em even offers to write her an acceptance speech. It’s everything you didn’t know you needed from two Logie nominees, in Melissa and Michael, and their equally proud emotional support human and all round hype woman, Em. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 15, 2022 • 46min
DIAMOND ENCRUSTED G-STRING
Over the last few days, we’ve all been gifted some of the greatest pop culture moments ever to be dropped into our social media feeds. Obviously the penultimate moment is Britney Spears getting married to Sketchy Sam. Any event that includes Em and Michael’s favourite Divas like Madonna, Paris Hilton, Donatella Versace, Drew Barrymore, Selena Gomez PLUS the one and only Britney is bound to inspire a level of hysteria worth tapping into. So expect a forensic breakdown of ALL the highlights from Britney’s nuptials, including the fact she rocked a diamond encrusted g-string, boy do we have a LOT of thoughts on that. We’ll also go through the backlash and response from Lizzo over her new single ‘Grrrls’ being called out for using ableist language and how the Sydney Morning Herald attempted to try and out Rebel Wilson. So standby because we’ve got all of the things to say and we are certainly gonna say them, huzzah! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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