Catholicism Is So Hot Right Now. Why?
Catholicism is having a moment. The election of a new pope set social media buzzing with silly songs and comedy sketches, fantasy pope drafts and power rankings, and last year’s Oscar-winner ‘Conclave’ provided an imaginary reference point for what was happening behind the Sistine Chapel’s closed doors. But the interest goes beyond the papal election: Reports point to a rise in young converts, from JD Vance to Shia LaBeouf to a wave of Zoomers. Audie talks with Christine Emba of the American Enterprise Institute to unpack what’s driving this renewed fascination. Editorial note: This episode was updated on 5/8/25 with language describing the election of a new pope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8 Mai 34min
Why Does Dating Feel So Hard Right Now?
It’s been called a ‘romantic recession.’ Has love and dating always been this hard? Orna Guralnik, a psychoanalyst and star of Showtime’s Couples Therapy, says she’s seeing political polarization take a toll on modern-day romance. She sits down with Audie for a session on repairing America’s divided relationships, and steps we can all take to find connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 Mai 30min
Who’s Laughing in Trump’s Second Term?
The White House Correspondents Dinner takes place this weekend with at least one notable absence: comedy. Standup comic W. Kamau Bell visits Audie to talk about the tough decisions facing artists in the Trump era—and what institutional power plays, like the president’s takeover of the Kennedy Center and the abrupt cutting of Amber Ruffin from the White House Correspondents Dinner, mean for the future of comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
24 Apr 33min
A Wonk-Free Conversation About Tariffs
The fallout continues from the president’s so-called “Liberation Day,” with the on-again off-again global tariffs and the rising tensions with China. This all has the financial markets bouncing like a yo-yo. Audie talks with CNN Business Senior Writer Allison Morrow about what this means for you and your finances, and whether we’re heading for a recession. Allison writes the CNN Business Nightcap, subscribe here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
17 Apr 28min
Can We Trust AI, or the People Building It?
Artificial Intelligence can be difficult to understand, but a few things are certain: it's here, it's reshaping entire industries, and it's making a lot of people nervous. Audie sits down with Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI and a cautious optimist about our technological future. They unpack what AI is already changing, what it can do next—and how we can prepare for what’s coming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10 Apr 38min
College Arrests: “A Kind of Policy That Ends Democracies”
Detaining foreign students over their activism is the “kind of policy that ends democracies.” That’s what Jameel Jaffer tells Audie this week. He’s a law professor and Executive Director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. We also hear from Franziska Wild, student senior editor at The Georgetown Voice, about the chilling effect the detentions are having on campus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
3 Apr 39min
Is the Windy City Charting a Course for the Left?
What’s the way out of the political wilderness for Democrats? The mayor of Chicago says look to his city “leading the way in this moment around the value system that the people of America want to see carried out in governance.” Audie talks with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson about his political path forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27 Mar 30min
Are College Athletes Cashing In and Killing the Game?
For decades, college athletes made millions for everyone but themselves. Now, the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness policy, NIL, has changed the game. Audie dives into the chaos of NIL with former All-American gymnast Savannah Schoenherr and Washington Post writer Jesse Dougherty to find out who’s winning, who’s losing, and what it's like navigating America’s latest “wild west.” And will it change the way you experience college sports? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20 Mar 28min
