Emsolation

All this week we’re celebrating the arrival of the final season of ‘The Newsreader’ having dropped in Australia, by getting the show’s creator, writer, producer AND Em’s best friend since they were 11, Michael Lucas to chat about it. In an Emsolation exclusive, on Tuesday we gave you our chat with Anna Torv, who plays Helen Norville, today we give you the other half of the ‘The Newsreader’s' dynamic duo, Dale Jennings, aka Sam Reid. Inside Em and Michael chat with Sam about the final season and ask him your questions, covering everything from if Sam realised how beloved the character of Dale would become, right thru to how difficult is it to switch between playing Dale in ‘The Newsreader’ and Lestat in ‘Interview with the Vampire’. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra Sam gives us the one piece of advice he’d give Dale if he could, plus he answers a stack of your questions about his role on ‘Interview with the Vampire’ too. You can sign up to our 7-day FREE trial and listen for $1.73 a week, or watch it for $2.30 a week at emsolation.supercast.com and don’t forget you can watch both of these special ‘The Newsreader’ episodes in full maximalist colour on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@emsolationpodcast & you can catch the entire 6 episode final season of ‘The Newsreader’ now streaming on ABC iView. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The final season of ‘The Newsreader’ has dropped in Australia, so why wouldn’t we get the show’s creator, writer, producer AND Em’s best friend since they were 11, Michael Lucas to chat about it. In an Emsolation exclusive, we’ve also got the 2 stars of the series on the pod this week, starting with the one and only Anna Torv, who brings the character of Helen Norville to life. Anna sits down to chat with Em and Michael to talk about everything from what it’s like to work with Michael, to why Em has never invited Anna onto the podcast before. Then she answers your questions which cover everything from Anna’s favourite scene, to who she would marry, kiss or avoid between her characters of Helen of ‘The Newsreader’, Dr Wendy Carr from ‘Mindhunter’ or Olivia Dunham from ‘Fringe’. There’s also lots of behind the scenes goss from the series, plus spoiler free teasers for some of the big scenes coming up in the final season. Then on Thursday, Em and Michael have the ONLY sit down chat with Anna’s co-star, Sam Reid, who brings Dale Jennings to life, as well as Lestat in ‘Interview with the Vampire’. He’ll join us to chat about the final season of ‘The Newsreader’ and answer your questions too. Catch the entire 6 episode final season of ‘The Newsreader’ now streaming on ABC iView. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is utter chaos, Michael joins us from Queensland, so of course he stuffed up the time difference, then we had a bajillion and 7 technical issues. You’ll hear what Michael was doing instead of joining us, and experience the full chaos of Em and Michael trying to hear each other and right their technical wrongs together. Once all that’s sorted, it is onto the nominees for the Razzies for worst movies of the year, from ‘Madame Web’ and’ Joker: Folie a Deux’, all the way through to’ Borderland’ and ‘Megalopolis’. There’s a quick visit into the Oscar noms and much chat around why ‘Wicked’ deserves more accolades than the 13 nominations that ‘Emilia Perez’ has secured. We also get a full update on Elio’s birthday celebrations, plus Elio’s first day at primary school is next week, so Em is naturally deep in her feels about what the future holds for him. Finally, Lady Gaga dropped her teaser for a brand new album called ‘Mayhem’ so naturally we need chats around that too. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em grills Michael about what is happening in the final season of his critically acclaimed TV series ‘The Newsreader’. We also delve into the latest in the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuits, plus Em reviews the must see Oscar nominated animated film ‘Wild Robot’ and what is up with Madonna’s whiteboard insta share? You can sign up to our 7-day FREE trial and listen for $1.73 a week, or watch it for $2.30 a week at emsolation.supercast.com and don’t forget you can watch this episode in full maximalist colour on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@emsolationpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode begins with an update on Em’s hormones as well as a full explain on why they’ve been out of control lately. Then it’s on to chastising the 3 gay men Em works with for NOT noticing she had her Gucci necklace on backwards during last week's episode. We also come bearing gifts, in the form of giving props to an Emsolator who actually gifted Em that saucy 2025 calendar that Chad Michael Murray stripped off for, huzzah! After that we need to hand over to Michael for all the “highlights” from the Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the USA on Tuesday. There’s Melania’s outfit and hat ensemble to reflect, Carrie Underwood’s music not working, Hillary laughing at Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico and so much more. Finally, Em and Michael are back at the gym and they’ve noticed a HUGE change in the clientele since they first started doing gym visits in the late 90’s that needs to be talked about. Then in our Sealed Section on our premium service, Emsolation Extra, Em & Michaell talk Cher’s autobiography, try to name the dragons from the ‘Fourth Wing’ book series & discuss if the Oscars will even happen this year after the LA fires. You can sign up to our 7-day FREE trial and listen for $1.73 a week, or watch it for $2.30 a week at https://emsolation.supercast.com/ & don’t forget you can watch this episode in full maximalist colour on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@emsolationpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Em’s got a bone that needs picking & that bone belongs to Michael, but before the picking can begin, Em & Michael are sport! Yes they’ve been to the tennis, apparently unlocking Em’s newest skill as a tennis commentator, naturally a full demo of said skills is included. Then it’s onto the bone picking over Michael’s recommendation for Em to watch Demi Moore’s movie ‘The Substance’. Em also has props for Nikki Glaser’s hosting of the Golden Globes and Em and Michael make their predictions for the Oscars too. Then it’s onto Carrie Underwood agreeing to sing at Trump’s inauguration, Donald’s threats to Greenland and Canada and his plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico. We also need to cover off the unhinged billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, with a side quest into the brilliance of the seating plan for Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Finally there’s a news story out of Italy that had Em cackling and she can’t wait to read it to Michael and show off a bunch of flamboyant photographic evidence to accompany it as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode the part of Em Rusciano will be played by a hollow shell of a woman on the verge of collapse, mmmkay? Once we’ve acknowledged that and the end of Em’s Outgrown tour, we need to move on to the disturbing reaction to the murder of Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. His alleged killer, Luigi Mangione is being lusted over & celebrated with glowing comments & deep dives into his thirst trap pics, especially in the gay community. This all sits uneasily in Em’s ethics place so we’ll discuss the reaction and what it all means. After that it’s onto the Golden Globe noms, ‘The Bear’ is once again nominated for best comedy, Jon M Chu didn’t get a nomination as best director for ‘Wicked’ and there’s a bunch of other weird stuff to discuss too. Then after a quick visit to Beyonce’s mum Tina Knowles saying she was hacked after double tapping posts about those Jay-Z allegations, we need to step through Michael’s choice of the Top Ten Diva Moments of 2024. Well, we do number 10 in this episode, but if you wanna hear who made it in at number 9, all the way through to the ultimate Number 1, you’ll need to be a member of our premium service, Emsolation Extra. You can sign up to our 7-day FREE trial and listen for $1.73 a week, or watch it for $2.30 a week at emsolation.supercast.com and don’t forget you can watch this episode in full maximalist colour on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@emsolationpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Em and Michael have a special guest on the pod this week, Em’s youngest Elio is making an appearance to give us his review of Moana 2 and also to give his Mum the right to swear as much as she likes. Then we get an update on Michael’s whirlwind visit to New York for his International Emmy nomination, followed by Em and Michael’s night out together once he returned at Rob Mills Jon Bon Jovi (don’t call it a tribute show) concert.Then we need to deal with the hellscape that is going on inside Em’s mouth and the total lack of interest her dental surgery has for her infected wisdom teeth and unfinished root canal. Fold that into the fact that Em is also counting down the final days till her final Outgrown arena spectacular, you’ll understand why Em is focussing on everyone that’s coming and not sweating the bajillion small things going on behind the scenes. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael answer your Ask Me Anything questions, including casting queer roles with queer actors, memory wipes to revisit their fave movies, and much needed advice on hooking up with the former high school crush who’s now an award winning adult movie star. Sign up to our 7-day FREE trial and listen for $1.73 a week, or watch it for $2.30 a week at emsolation.supercast.com and don’t forget you can watch highlights from this episode in full maximalist colour on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@emsolationpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Em and Michael are sitting down with one of Em’s besties, Zambian-born Australian journalist, historian, author and filmmaker Santilla Chingaipe, for an eye opening chat about her new book that is rewriting the history of this country. Recognised by the United Nations in 2019 as one of the most influential people of African descent in the world, Santilla has spent the last 7 years researching and writing her debut non fiction book ‘Black Convicts’ which is in stores now. ‘Black Convicts’ builds on the research Santilla did for her critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary ‘Our African Roots’which is still streaming on SBS On Demand. It is fascinating to hear how colonial record keepers white washed parts of our history, silencing the lives of people like David Stuurman, a revered South African chief transported for anti-colonial insurrection; John Caesar, who became Australia’s first bushranger; Billy Blue, the stylishly dressed ferryman who gave his name to Sydney’s Blues Point; and William Cuffay, a prominent London Chartist who led the development of Australia’s labour movement. ‘Black Convicts’ is bound to change the way we think about who we are, buy your copy here https://shorturl.at/Jjk2V. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and her eldest Marchella review the new Netflix Christmas offering ‘Hot Frosty’ and answer your AMA questions. Sign up to listen for $1.73 a week, or watch it for under $3 a week at emsolation.supercast.com and don’t forget you can watch highlights from this episode in full maximalist colour on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@emsolationpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hannah Diviney is a writer, disability advocate, actress, screenwriter, author and media personality. Her disability advocacy has garnered global attention thanks to both a viral petition encouraging Disney to create a disabled Disney Princess and a successful campaign encouraging both Lizzo and Beyonce to change ableist lyrics. As if that wasn't enough, she also made television history as the first disabled person in Australia to do a sex scene on television in the SBS series, ‘Latecomers’ and she’s joining Em to talk about some of those things plus her feature film debut in the new dark comedy ‘Audrey’. Together they’ll discuss what it was like to see Marissa Bode as the first disabled actor to play the role of Nessarose in ‘Wicked’ and then interview her afterwards as well. We’ll also talk about what it's like to be in her first feature film, how she secured the role and even how the script was changed to reflect her abilities as well. Hannah is utterly hilarious as well and they both connect over their shared love of awkward conversations and Em’s belief that Hannah needs to get her sit down comedy career underway as well. Then in our Sealed Section, on our premium service Emsolation Extra, Em and Michael review their Glicked weekend seeing Gladiator 2 and Wicked and give their final reviews. Sign up to listen for $1.73 a week, or watch it for under $3 a week at emsolation.supercast.com and don’t forget you can watch highlights from this episode in full maximalist colour on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@emsolationpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re giving you part two of a very special audio only episode taking you behind the scenes of Em’s ground breaking Outgrown Tour, as producer Ben talks to some of the creatives who helped Em bring her show to life. In episode two you’ll meet the show's set designer, Kitiya Palaskas and hear everything from how Em first approached her about doing the set for the tour, to what it was like to have to wait until her Palais show to actually see all her flower work on stage and experience the full show, plus we get her side of the story of getting that call from Lucy saying they needed a new set when everything went missing. We also chat to costume designer Tamara Keane about Em’s brief and the making of all the incredible outfits Em wears on stage. Then finally we talk to production manager and musical director Ezekiel Fenn about creating the beautiful theme music for Outgrown with Em, what happened when the set went missing before the Ballarat show and so much more. Em’s final performance of her Outgrown Tour is the Arena Spectacular at Margaret Court Arena, Saturday December 7, get tickets from just $50 here https://www.frontiertouring.com/emrusciano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices