Next Question with Katie Couric

For author Judy Blume, writing is about making connections. Her genius has always involved finding a path into the intimate spaces of her readers’ hearts; it’s the very thing that drove her to write. Now, at 85, she’s reaching her third generation of readers — and she’s connecting as powerfully as she did in the late 1960s when her first book was published. A new documentary, Judy Blume Forever, explores this phenomenon, and the deep cultural reach of her books. On this episode of Next Question, Katie chats with the incredibly energetic Judy Blume, as well as the doc’s directors, Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok, about the power of books as a force for transformation, identity, disruption, escape, and revolution. They discuss why Judy’s books have been embraced and feared, and why the connections she has made are just as strong as ever — even though there are people who would like to silence her altogether.

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Senator Amy Klobuchar believes that a certain amount of optimism is essential in overcoming obstacles, “Whether it’s through an illness, or whether it’s through trying to get a bill through congress.” And she’s had more than her share of experience with both. On this episode of Next Question, Katie and Senator Klobuchar talk about her getting-things-done mindset, and how it found its way into the pages of her new book, The Joy of Politics: Surviving Cancer, a Pandemic, a Campaign, an Insurrection, and Life’s Other Unexpected Curveballs. While the Senator has been through a lot the past few years, she’s well aware that she’s not alone. Now, she’s ready to rejoice in the comeback. 

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When Academy-Award winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim set out to make Still, a film about Michael J. Fox, he imagined he’d be making a hybrid documentary/80s movie. What he discovered along the way, however, was something deeper: his subject is far more than an iconic mega-star — Michael is an inspiration. After decades of living with the degenerative and debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease, Michael J. Fox reveals his personal philosophy: “With gratitude, optimism is sustainable.” Katie’s conversation with Michael and Davis is funny and revealing, and traces the highs and lows of creating a film about an incurable optimist trying to overcome an incurable disease. 

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Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin has covered Some of the most notorious figures in U.S. history. Now, in his book “Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of RIght-Wing Extremism,” Toobin takes on the man behind the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Toobin puts the incident into historical context by tracing the roots of McVeigh’s actions from the standoff at Ruby Ridge, to President Clinton’s ban on assault weapons, and all the way through the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. In this episode of Next Question, he tells Katie, “That's why I wrote Homegrown to show that [McVeigh] was not an aberration. And that his legacy lives on in both people and ideas that are persistent to this day.”

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For so many women, menopause is a mystery. Its symptoms can be wide-ranging and last for years, and information about treatments can be confusing - where it exists at all. To make things even more challenging, healthcare providers are often less-than-helpful when it comes to finding solutions.  Our guests today are here to help: New York Times writer Susan Dominus’ recent article, “Women Have Been Misled About Menopause” was an immediate viral sensation, becoming a valuable resource on the latest research and treatments. Her reporting also resonated for another reason: the symptoms women experience are finally being taken seriously. Dr. Rebecca Brightman, a gynecologist from New York City specializing in menopausal medicine, joins the conversation to share what she’s learned throughout her years of treating women facing this life-altering transition. Plus: our guests answer questions submitted by you, our listeners.

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If 87% of people are sick and tired of being divided we have more in common than we think. Daniel Lubetzky — philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and founder of the Kind company — is committed to understanding how we can come together to solve our most intractable problems. As a Mexican immigrant and son of a Holocaust survivor, Daniel believes fervently in our ability to overcome obstacles like hatred; he built his non-profit, Starts With Us, to help us find common ground. This episode also features Columbia psychology professor, Peter Coleman. His book “The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization,” offers concrete tips on what each of us can do to achieve what so many of us want: solutions. 

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The hosts of the hit podcast, Teenager Therapy – Gael Aitor, Kayla Suarez, and Thomas Phamm – have been making a difference in the lives of their young audience for nearly five years. Now, on the verge of turning 20, they share the wisdom they’ve discovered along the way – and it might surprise you. They believe that the best relationships happen IRL, friendships require a lot of work, and the best way to reach teens is by using one of the most powerful communications tools there is (and they should know): vulnerability. Their openness will allow you to see how much teens’ lives have changed – and give you new insight into the mental health crisis that affects so many of them right now.

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Happiness is not a destination. According to Dr. Laurie Santos – host of The Happiness Lab podcast, and professor of a popular class on happiness at Yale University – happiness is a journey that comes with many roadblocks. Whether you call it flourishing, contentment, or just plain joy, the key to finding it involves rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. With rates of anxiety and depression skyrocketing among young people, Dr. Santos sheds much-needed light on ways that we can adjust our own expectations about happiness, and offer constructive support to the people who need it most. She also clarifies the unexpected role that resilience plays along the path: the stronger we become, the more we’re capable of post-traumatic growth. 

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On this episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, produced in partnership with The Wonderful Company and Katie Couric Media, Katie sits down with marketing guru, philanthropist, and Vice Chairman and co-owner of The Wonderful Company, Lynda Resnick. With decades of experience developing successful marketing campaigns for major brands, Lynda has long been a leader in her field. Together with her husband, Stewart, they have created some of the most recognized better-for-you brands on grocery store shelves, including POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice, Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, Wonderful Halos, FIJI Water, and JUSTIN Wines. But 11 years ago, Lynda had an epiphany: it was time for her to give back. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re shining a light on what could be Lynda Resnick’s most important contribution: her philanthropy. She has made a major impact on communities in California’s Central Valley, and on the reach and depth of climate change research around the world.

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Journalist Lisa LaFlamme has been called “Canada’s Katie Couric.” She was the familiar face coming into viewers’ homes and delivering the news each night, having worked for CTV for 35 years.  But last summer, she became the face of female outrage when she was unceremoniously let go from her job anchoring the evening news. Her former employers denied ageism or sexism played a role in her firing, but viewers wondered if her choice to go gray during the pandemic - as so many women did - was the real cause. Katie and Lisa dive into the unequal pressures women face in the workforce, why we lionize men who’ve gone gray, the “isms” they’ve both faced as women in media, and so much more.

Want to be a know-it-all? Subscribe to Wake Up Call, our jam-packed newsletter. Monday through Saturday, we break down the top news stories of the day, answer your pressing questions, and scour the internet for the best entertainment tidbits, streaming recommendations, recipes, and health and wellness tips. To sign up, go to katiecouric.com, or click here.

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