The racially charged love triangle drama on the long-running reality series "Summer House" has echoed far beyond the Bravo-verse, and Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro are unpacking why Ciara's responses have gone so viral. Plus: Andrew Lloyd Webber of "Phantom of the Opera" and "Sunset Boulevard" fame joins to talk "Cats," sobriety, and letting go of creative control. Kara Swisher wonders why Pete Hegseth is pirouetting across her socials.

Jun 5, 2026

From PopTarts to soda, food brands are adding protein to almost everything, and people are going to gross lengths online to get enough of it, from the stars of Netflix show "Love is Blind" to the internet "boy kibble" creators. But can protein be...MAGA-coded? And does fiber have what it takes to become the internet’s new favorite food trend? Plus, Alan Cumming calls for an end to “slop bowls,” and what's really behind musicians like the Pussycat Dolls canceling their tours this summer.

May 29, 2026

Season three of HBO’s 'Euphoria' is coming to a close, and its characters...are not teens anymore. Neither are the stars. From Zendaya to Sydney Sweeney to Jacob Elordi, the cast has grown up with the show. In this episode of Engagement Party, Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro dissect the careers and controversies surrounding Sam Levinson's 'Euphoria.' Plus, what the sale of original Bob Ross paintings says about the line between art and kitsch, and what's up with all these AI Michael Jackson cartoo...Show morens. Welcome to Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro’s Engagement Party, where the hot takes are the smart takes. ​After years of working side by side, Audie and Ari have made it official with their pop culture video podcast. Party hopping between what you're watching, reading and scrolling, these longtime friends unpack what matters in our endless feeds.

May 22, 2026

Capitol Hill has a new kind of journalist: TMZ, the tabloid news powerhouse known for its scoops and celebrity paparazzi coverage. Audie sits down with Jacob Wasserman, co-managing editor of TMZ DC, to discuss his first few weeks on the job—and why both government insiders and legacy media can’t look away.  Producers: Lori Galarreta, Jesse Remedios, Graelyn Brashear Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Apr 30, 2026

Ramy Youssef has spent the past decade building a career that spans TV, stand-up, film and has even landed some big awards. Now, with the release of his third comedy special, In Love, he joins Audie to reflect on what it means to tell Arab American stories today vs seven years ago and why aiming to make everyone laugh is both a choice and a challenge. Then, Audie’s longtime friend and soon-to-be-coworker Ari Shapiro stops by to talk about Ramy— and also what's ahead for The Assignment. =====  Producers:  Jesse Remedios, Lori Galarreta and Graelyn Brashear Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Apr 23, 2026

Artemis II returns from its historic mission to the far side of the moon, inspiring millions during an otherwise tense news cycle. Astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi joins Audie to unpack the mix of awe, hope, and unease shaping this new era of space exploration.  Oluseyi is the author of ‘Why Do We Exist? The Nine Realms of Universe that Make You Possible.’  Producers:  Lori Galarreta, Jesse Remedios, Graelyn Brashear  Senior Producer: Dan Bloom  Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Apr 16, 2026

The manosphere isn’t fringe anymore. It’s mainstream, political and hard to ignore. Louis Theroux’s latest Netflix documentary “Inside the Manosphere” arrives after a decade-long rise, from the gamergate controversy to personas like Andrew Tate. Audie speaks with New York Times Opinion writer Jessica Grose, who’s followed the movement since its beginning. They explore the state of the manosphere, the downfall of “alpha-male influencers” and how women fit —or don’t— into this world. ----  Producers: Elizabeth Corallo, Jesse Remedios, Lori Galarreta, Graelyn Brashear Senior Producer: Dan Bloom Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Apr 9, 2026

From birth charts to astrology apps, we have an enduring fascination with what the stars can tell us.  Audie sits down with Astrologers Jennifer Freed and Chani Nicholas to talk about why this obsession has turned into big business. And, what we’re really looking for when we look up.

Apr 2, 2026

One man’s journey from suburban dad to self-described “degenerate gambler.” The Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins joins Audie to recount how he spent $10,000 of his employer’s money betting on the NFL over the course of a season. They discuss how online sports gambling reshaped his habits, what it reveals about a rapidly expanding industry, and how betting has seeped into everyday culture. Plus, the manosphere of it all. Producers: Jesse Remedios & Lori Galarreta Senior Producer: Matt Martinez Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Mar 26, 2026

From Camelot-era glamour to RFK Jr.’s viral moments, the Kennedys have a way of reflecting the cultural mood of any given time. That pattern is resurfacing again—with a buzzy FX series on JFK Jr. and a fresh wave of online fascination. Audie Cornish sits down with comedian and The United States of Kennedy co-host George Civeris to unpack how the family evolved from political dynasty into cultural barometer—and what their latest chapter reveals about where America is right now. Produced by Jesse Remedios and Lori Galarreta Senior Producer: Matt Martinez Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Mar 19, 2026