You think you know Katie Couric. You probably picture her on the Today show couch, coffee mug in hand, or maybe you remember that searing 2008 moment when she asked Sarah Palin what newspapers she read. But if you haven’t caught an interview with Katie Couric lately—either one she’s giving or one she’s conducting—you’re missing the actual story.
She isn't just a "news icon" anymore. She's basically a media mogul who went DIY.
Honestly, the way she has navigated the "post-truth" era is kinda wild. While other network legends faded into the background or stayed tethered to dying cable formats, Couric jumped ship. She built her own house. Katie Couric Media isn't just a vanity project; it’s a massive newsletter and podcast machine that actually dictates the news cycle for millions of people who stopped watching the 6:30 evening news years ago.
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Why the Sarah Palin Interview Still Haunts the Narrative
Whenever people bring up a famous interview with Katie Couric, they go straight to 2008. It’s the default. It’s the "all of 'em" moment. But in a recent conversation on the Rich Roll Podcast in late 2025, Couric reflected on that interview with a surprising amount of nuance. She didn't just gloat about the "gotcha" moment. Instead, she talked about the "disintegration of shared truth" that followed.
She noted that back then, a single interview could change the trajectory of an election. Today? Not so much. People just retreat into their respective silos. If she did that same interview now, half the country would call it "fake news" before the first commercial break. That realization—that the "monoculture" is dead—is what drove her to start her own platform.
The "Boxed Out" Years at CBS
People forget how rocky her transition to the CBS Evening News anchor chair was. It was a massive deal—the first woman to solo-anchor a big three evening newscast. But in her 2025 reflections, she’s been remarkably candid about being "boxed out" at 60 Minutes. She was the face of the network, yet she felt like an outsider in the boys' club of legacy investigative journalism.
It’s a specific kind of professional pain: reaching the "pinnacle" only to find out the stairs were rigged.
Next Question: The Podcast as the New Evening News
If you want to understand her current vibe, you have to listen to her podcast, Next Question. In late 2025, she ran a "Year in Review" series that felt more vital than anything on network TV. She interviewed Tina Brown about the year’s biggest scandals and David Sanger from the New York Times about national security shifts under the Trump administration.
The format is different now. It’s loose. She says "kinda" and "sorta." She’s not wearing the anchor suit.
Recent Standout Conversations
- Sarah McBride: In November 2025, Couric sat down with Congresswoman Sarah McBride, the first openly trans person in Congress. They didn't just talk about policy; they talked about the "chaos" of the current political climate and the survival of the Democratic party.
- Scott Galloway: This one was raw. Galloway, the "Prof G" author, talked to Katie about modern masculinity. They hit on the "three Ps"—protect, provide, and procreate. It was a weird, fascinating collision of old-school journalism and new-school "bro-stat" culture.
- Bobbi Brown: A live recording at the 92nd Street Y where they discussed reinventing yourself at any age. It resonated because, well, that's exactly what Katie did.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Cancer Advocacy
We all know the story of her first husband, Jay Monahan, passing away from colon cancer in 1998. We remember her getting a live colonoscopy on TV. It’s arguably the most impactful thing a journalist has ever done for public health.
But here’s what’s happening now that isn’t getting enough headlines. In her recent interviews, particularly a 2024 sit-down with Dr. Zachary Roberts, she’s been pushing the "CAR T Revolution." She’s obsessed with allogeneic (off-the-shelf) therapies. She’s moved past just "awareness" and into the weeds of medical manufacturing and access.
She’s frustrated that only 20% of eligible patients can get these life-saving treatments. When Katie Couric gets frustrated, things usually start to move.
The 2026 Shift: KCBC and the "Less Scrolling" Movement
As of January 2026, Katie has launched KCBC (Katie Couric Book Club). In an exclusive with People, she admitted she didn't read as many books as she wanted to in 2025. She’s human. She gets sucked into the Instagram scroll just like the rest of us.
KCBC is her attempt to fix that. She’s using her massive following—2.1 million on Instagram alone—to force a cultural pivot back to long-form reading. Her first 2026 picks include titles like Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro. It’s a smart move. She knows her audience (mostly women, mostly 35-65) is exhausted by the "rage-bait" news cycle.
The "Belle Burden" Interview: A Masterclass in Empathy
Just this week, Couric published a fascinating interview with Belle Burden about her sudden divorce. It’s a deep dive into "old money" insularity (Burden is a Vanderbilt descendant) and the role of women’s expectations.
What makes this a classic interview with Katie Couric is her ability to pivot from "the burden of privilege" to the raw, universal pain of a marriage ending after 20 years. She doesn't let the guest off the hook, but she makes them feel safe enough to be honest. That’s the "Katie Magic" that hasn't aged a day.
Actionable Takeaways from the "New" Katie Couric
If you’re looking to replicate her success or just learn from her career pivot, here’s the blueprint based on her recent moves:
- Own Your Platform: Don't wait for a legacy brand to give you a chair. Build a newsletter. Start a podcast. Couric’s "Wake-Up Call" newsletter is now more influential than her old CBS chair ever was.
- Vulnerability is Currency: She talks about her own mistakes, her health scares (like her breast cancer diagnosis in 2022), and her career setbacks. In 2026, "perfect" is boring. "Real" is what scales.
- Follow the Science: Don't just stay on the surface of a cause. If you care about something—be it climate, health, or tech—get into the technical details. People respect the homework.
- Curate, Don't Just Create: With KCBC, she’s proving that being a "filter" for information is just as valuable as being the "source" of it.
Katie Couric isn't looking back at her "glory days" at NBC. She’s too busy building the next version of herself. Whether she’s interviewing a president or a skincare mogul, she’s proven that the most important question isn't the one you just asked—it's the next one.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Audit your media diet: If you feel overwhelmed, follow Katie’s "Damp January" or "Less Scrolling" advice and pick up a long-form book from the KCBC list.
- Health Check: Use the 2026 guidelines for cancer screenings. Colonoscopies are now recommended starting at age 45, a change Couric heavily championed.
- Newsletter Deep Dive: Sign up for "Wake-Up Call" to see how she blends hard news with lifestyle curation—a model for modern digital entrepreneurship.