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
Apr 27, 2022 • 49min
Bloody Patriarchy!
There’s so much campery to be had in this week’s episode so huzzah to that and meh to the patriarchy. To begin with we need to talk about the new life changing queer teen rom-com that Em and Michael can’t get enough of called ‘Heartstopper’. It’s the kind of show Em and Michael wished they got to see when they were teenagers, they had deep feels and Michael relives the first time he kissed a man. Harry Styles naturally makes a return, as well he should, Em’s Lizzo tip paid off and so did their hunt for tickets to Harry’s Aussie tour, plus Michael took his mum through the history of Harry with surprising results. Then we’ve got the news that Em’s dad Vincie has finally been converted to the way of the Apple iPhone, we do a quick check in on the latest election news, try and work through the fact that Elon Musk is buying twitter and wrap things up by wishing Barbra Streisand a happy 80th birthday, but that’s mostly just so Em can force Michael to sing more Barbra songs, such fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 20, 2022 • 48min
Rat Tatt Tatt Tatt Tatt Tatt
Are we ready to help Em unpack some feels around her appearance on the second season of Australian Idol? Abso-bloody-lutely we are, but first up we need to check in on Em’s recovery after Michael hexed her with the ‘rona at our 2nd Birthday Extravaganza. Harry Styles performed at Coachella on the weekend, so we need to allow time to froth out over that. Plus, as previously alluded to, we’ll also do a full deep dive into some residual Australian Idol related trauma involving a specific Gloria Estefan song that Em’s finally let go of after being terrified of it for way too long.Then, last but by no means least, we need to talk about the evolving shit show that is the 2022 Election campaign. There’s more whack moments from Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter to process and the hideous trend of using trans kids for political point scoring needs to be addressed too. So prepare yourself for a trip back in time, where we’ll revisit last week and the weekend just gone, then head back to 2004 for a feast of Oz Idol related revelations, before wrapping things up by travelling all the way back to the 50’s, fingers crossed none of that upsets our tummies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2022 • 51min
The After Party Episode
Are we recovering from our 2nd Birthday Extravaganza? Indeed we are. Is this a recap episode? Well kinda sorta, but it also has fresh shiny new things as well. So let’s get the recap stuff out the way, we give you all the highlights from our most listened to episode in our 2 year history. So expect maximum 365 DNI/Days recapping, huzzah for added wang chat. Then we offer up the fresh and shiny new things, like a chat with hilarious comedian Geraldine Hickey, where we talk Em and Geraldine’s mutual love of bins and birds and so much more. Finally we also offer up Michael Lucas personally reading his forward from Em’s book Try Hard. It’s our birthday and we’ll gush if we want to, so get some cake and get your listens in, and huzzah to you for helping us shine, we love you LOTS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 6, 2022 • 49min
The Slow Nod
Strap yourselves in Emsolators because we are stuffed to the brim and wandering all over the shop. This episode features the Gold Coast, super spreader events, Formula 1, hectic pottery chat, peeps turning on our smirking PM, a human octopus prediction, Grammy Award realness, and even Michael singing more Barbra Streisand for us. There’s also some on point advice in our intro, plus the full reveal on the slow nod reference in our title isn’t revealed until the very end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30, 2022 • 52min
The Slap. The Reveal. The Ton.
It’s the one thing you’ve all been waiting to hear. No not Em and Michael’s thoughts on that Oscar slap between Will Smith and Chris Rock, but yes you will hear ALL their thoughts on the Academy Awards, plus there’s the heavy breathing of Season 2 of Bridgerton to cover off. However the one thing we know you’ve all been waiting to hear is the big reveal on the secret Em teased in last week’s episode. Is it a Eurovision hosting gig or a judging slot on RuPauls Drag Race? You’ll finally find out inside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 23, 2022 • 42min
Hot Ghost Sex
We did have other options for the episode title this week, in fact ‘The Premier’s Pecs’ even gets a shout out in the actual show but during the edit we decided some ‘Hot Ghost Sex’ would be way better. Before we get down with the ghost though, we gotta get down with the latest update on last week's vent about someone who still shan't be named or advised of his appearance in said podcast. It would seem old mate helped us get a heap of new listens and Em also won therapy, so huzzahs all round. There’s also a pinch pot pottery update and the news that Coolio hit up a community festival to sort through. Then we gotta get around the brand new South Australian Premier who’s pecs are so worth frothing over that they inspired a call for a #TopsOffTuesday from Em. There’s also a political sticker campaign that threatens to stifle Em’s ability to have her garbage removed, which opens up a full rundown on how hectic bin night really is in the Rusciano household. Finally we’ve gotta talk more about the utter campery that is ‘The Gilded Age’, the confirmation of a second season of ‘And Just Like That’ and also all the abundant wang action featured in the new series on Stan called ‘Minx’. So it’s pecs and peen and all the other camp and political stuff in between for you to enjoy at your earliest convenience, so have at it and enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2022 • 40min
Snitches Get Stitches
Yeah they sure do, especially when you’re high on cold and flu tablets and running on zero sleep, so keep your lips sealed and don’t be telling peeps about what goes down inside this episode or it’s sutures and needles for you. You’ll understand what that’s all about when we get into this week’s chat with Michael. After the great unload of 2022, it’s on to our Prime Minister, where we cover off whether he’s about to be toppled for the top job, his attacks on Albo’s weight loss and the terrible branding of the Women’s Network logo, we also get another dire prediction from the Unicorn of Death. In happier news there’s a brand new Disney Pixar animated movie to binge called ‘Turning Red’. It’s a coming of age fantasy comedy that Em and her family fully loved, it also happens to be written and directed by women, has an Asian lead character, and deals with puberty and menstruation. So it kind of ticks all the boxes for a female audience, but it also has universal appeal, although one male reviewer has had a sulk about it not being targeted at him, naturally we’ve got a lot to say about that too. Michael will also give us the lowdown on the Disney Pixar spat that’s currently going on. So plug in and get ready for shocking revelations, especially one involving teenage Michael and a bus trip for school. It's a joyous ride filled to pussy’s bow with things to make your ears and mind excited, so have at it and enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2022 • 38min
It’s Gay
How gay is it? Well we start with Em and Michael doing a deep dive on the Madonna Boot Camp that Madonna is holding to find the actor who will play her in the visual autobiography movie of her life, so Madonna. Then there’s the TV shows they’ve been watching to distract them from the state of the world right now, like the new Vikings: Valhalla show Em is into, where hot bearded men smash into each other. That’s pretty gay and it also brings up memories of Em’s love for wrestlers like Stone Cold Steve Austin who was fully doing his thing in their own versions of drag outfits. Meanwhile Michael’s all about the Young Royals show where Royals are in a boarding school and there’s a gay romance to get lost in with lots of milking of the gay angst. Finally, it’s not at all gay, but we do have a message from Emsolator Bridget who’s coming to terms with dating in her early 40’s and asking for some advice on how to deal with the feeling that kids won’t be in her future. So heaps of gay things and then some advice from your gay Uncle Michael and your equally camp Auntie Em to round things out, so take all that gaiety and shove it in your listening holes and enjoy our podcast campery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 2, 2022 • 43min
Sissy That Bat
We are face to face, in the same room, breathing each other's air, making eye to eye contact without the help of Zoom, FINALLY! It was freakin’ ace, you had to be there obvs, thankfully you will be, because you’ll hear all about it and get our blissful happy vibes through the speakers/headphones, so HUZZAH! Lets have at it shall we. Obviously there’s heaps of meh happening around the planet right now, hopefully we can give you a moment of escape. We start with the positive news that Queen Liz is back on the mend, but there’s also the news our Prime Minister is now on the “doh I’ve got it” bandwagon too. Then there’s the hectic amount of flooding that's happening across Queensland and NSW. We're gonna focus on the helpers, it’s the perfect way to remind all of us of how amazing humans can be in moments of crisis. Then we need to talk about the situation in Ukraine and the amazing backstory of their heroic President Volodymyr Zelensky, who’s been countering Russian conspiracy theories by going live on social media, and refusing to leave his people even when offered. Naturally we’re not a news podcast so we’re more focussed on the fact that Volodymyr is close to Em and Michael’s age, he was an actor and a comedian, and he won ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2006. Em feels his backstory would be the equivalent of us having Grant Denyer becoming our Prime Minister, Michael feels it’s way more a Guy Sebastian scenario. Australia has clearly never had a popular celebrity comedian/actor who’s managed to successfully transition into politics, although Albo has gone luxe for a Women’s Weekly photoshoot which was enough for Em to give us a full rundown on him prepping for his spray tan for the shoot, as you do. After that we need to talk about the Melbourne premiere of the new Batman movie starring Robert Pattison and Zoe Kravitz. Em and Michael have a LOT to say about it, it’s 3 hours long, it’s directed by the guy who did ‘Planet of the Apes’, it’s the same ol’ same ol’ kind of story with Gotham and Batman and Catwoman and you know what to expect. Our focus seems to be more on the whole dramatic eyeliner thing being used to help disguise him from the general public and all the gloom that seems to dominate the film, so much so that you can’t even really see what the hell is happening on the screen. There’s also LOTS of attempts at doing the gruff Batman voice by both Em and Michael, plus all the ins and outs of what they did and didn’t enjoy on the big screen. Em thinks they might never get invited to a movie review again, we think they should be reviewing all of the movies all of the time, because this is the movie review to end ALL movie reviews, there I said it, prove me wrong (this is Ben who writes the podcast descriptions and I know I’m right hehe). Anyway all of that ends with props to RuPaul, you’ll have to listen to find out how they ended up there, it’s a ride and a half we promise. You’ll also wanna see the film after listening just to get the full effect. Finally we have the sensational news that we’re doing a live show in Melbourne with all the details on how to get your tickets first. So what are you waiting for? Start listening and stay safe out there, while we send massive poddy hugs from here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 23, 2022 • 48min
New Studio, Who’s This?
We are FINALLY in our new studio, although that “we” doesn’t include Em’s high school bestie and co-host Michael, he’s still phoning it in via Zoom whilst doing romantic getaway things in Tasmania with his husband Adrian, but more on that later. We start with Em being totes profesh in the surrounds of the new Emsolation office, which also means she now gets interrupted by adults instead of her toddler, hence why you get an unexpected appearance and apology from her executive producer Ben, who just decided to saunter in whilst Em was recording the shows intro. We then get a full rundown of Elio’s second attempt at a gymnastics class and the continuing saga of trying to toilet train him, unrelenting chaos seems to be the operating word throughout much of that update. Once that’s sorted, we welcome in Michael so he can get his official apology out of the way for ruining our first face to face recording in our totes adulting office/studio. Of course Em can hardly wait to update him on the new digs, highlights include discovering a garbage room with abundant bin access and meeting a local cafe owner that she's decided to name Daphne, more explain on that within, plus there’s a pottery course update too. Then we gotta talk about the news that Her Majesty has Covid. As a huge fan of everything to do with Lizzie and our official in-house Royal watcher, Em has made it her duty to find out all she can about how the Queen is coping in lockdown. We even get a visit from the Magical Unicorn of Death, although surprisingly, this time around the Unicorn is offering up a positive vibe and predicting that the Queen will be totally fine. Our usually optimistic Seahorse of Hope however, isn’t so hopeful, but then Michael isn’t much of a fan of the monarchy, so maybe he’s looking at it from a slightly less positive perspective. We follow up on Royal watch with the continuing PR extravaganza from our current Prime Minister. The last 7 days have included more election campaigning and photo ops, including some terrible OHS work involving a spot of welding, and accusations that the opposition leader is best mates with the Chinese Government, so nothing unusual there AT ALL! There’s more predictions from the Unicorn and the Seahorse and even some chat about who is the Liberal exhibiting the most humanity, as you do. Then it’s off to Hollywood for Em and Michael’s reaction to the Vanity Fair photoshoot of Nicole Kidman that every Emsolator is talking about, and we’ve gotta work through all the latest Oscar announcements, from who is hosting, to the campaign to give an Oscar to whoever gets the most tweets. Michael is not about it, but Em can’t wait to see who will win an Oscar from a hashtag, she’s even hoping some random twitter fan will be plucked from obscurity to present the award on the night too. We also do a lot of live Google work trying to work out the height and age of a variety of politicians, and we recap all of the Unicorns predictions too. So plop yourself in front of your favourite podcast listening device and press play on another episode that is as full as something that is totes overstuffed with the kind of content that leaves you feeling spent and utterly satisfied. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


