She’s written 9 books and she loves digging up facts like these. Mamie Eisenhower, wife of the 34th President, wore a pink inaugural gown that had more than 2,000 hand-sewn rhinestones in it. And New York Times Op-Ed columnist Gail Collins also says Mamie liked pink toilet seats. In addition to Collins, we also hear from Betty Friedan about the people who used to be called stewardesses, writer Nora Ephron about how she got her skin to clear up, Bella Abzug on the elusive idea of equality and Shirley Maclaine on why she’d never want to be 20 again.  That’s all on this episode of “Now What?” produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer and Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

When Ruth Reichl was the Restaurant Critic of the New York Times, she dressed up in disguises like Chloe the sexy blond and Heddy the bag lady to fool anyone who might recognize her at upscale restaurants like Le Cirque. Reichl has written 8 books about her relationship with food including her latest “Save Me the Plums.” I went to see Reichl in her home in upstate New York where she told me about what happened when the ax fell on Gourmet Magazine and she lost her job as Editor of one of the last iconic food magazines on the planet.  Now What?” was produced with help from Stephanie Hou, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

Judy Collins made her debut as a classical pianist playing a Mozart concerto when she was 13. But folk music stole her heart in the days when Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie were capturing the bohemian spirit. In the 60s and 70s Collins recorded songs by Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Stephen Sondheim. And there were songs written about her like Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, a big hit for Crosby, Stills and Nash.  We talk about love gone wrong, eating disorders, alcoholism and musical legends on this episode of “Now What?” which was produced with help from Stephanie Hou, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

She's already lived many lifetimes in this one life. Eve Ensler wrote the ground-breaking theater piece, "The Vagina Monologues," about a woman’s most private parts. She founded a community in the Congo for women who were raped. She won a near-fatal battle with cancer. And in this episode, Ensler talks about another shocking subject: how she was sexually abused by her father from the time she was 5 years old.  Now What?” was produced with help from Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is a long-shot candidate who’s running for President. On the n trial, de Blasio talks a lot about his interracial family and raising a black son. I had the opportunity to speak to his wife, New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray, about the challenges she’s faced as a mother, her own aspirations of running for office and what’s it like to be a private person in the public spotlight. It’s all in an updated version of my interview with Chirlane McCray on this episode of “Now What?” which was produced with help from Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta

She’s an heiress to her grandfather’s fortune. He co-founded the Walt Disney Company. She’s also a philanthropist who has given away more than $70 million. And Abigail Disney is a Twitter queen. Her tweet storm went viral when she called Disney CEO Bob Iger’s $66 million salary “insane.” And expressed her fury about what she calls the poor working conditions and low salaries of the people who take your tickets at Disneyland. Listen to what Abby has to say about being rich and being poor on this episode of “Now What?” which was produced with help from Stephanie Hou, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

Listen to this truly historic episode of "Now What? which features best selling author Michael Pollan and Timothy Leary. Leary comes to us by way of a 1980 interview I did with him about turning on, tuning in and dropping out. We talk about how LSD has become trendy again and whether psychedelics have the potential to lead to a new world consciousness. "Now What? is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio Production is by Nick Ciavatta and Billy Libby, who composed the new "Now What?" theme.

Older women. They’ve been the target of jokes forever. Clinical psychologist and bestselling author Mary Pipher doesn't like that. Pipher has written a book called “Women Rowing North" about flourishing as we age.  To round out our conversation I invited my young friend Haley Zimring to join us. Haley is 28 and has two young children. Listen to us talking young and old and all the stages in between. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

He's a big guy in more ways than one. John Fetterman is 6' 8." He got a reputation as America's coolest Mayor when he tried innovative ways to revive the little town of Braddock, Pa. Now Fetterman is the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. Unlike most politicians, he’s isn’t boring. He’s downright inspiring. We talked about why anyone would want to be in politics in 2019 and why he likes getting whacked in the head by his son’s nerf gun.“Now What?” was produced with help from Derrick Clements, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

Ali Velshi is co-host of the MSNBC show Velshi and Ruhle. And it's a good thing he's got a sense of humor. Stephen Colbert has referred to Velshi as the "business reporter from our hairless, raceless future.” True, Velshi is bald. Born in Kenya to parents of Indian descent, Velshi is also an immigrant and a Muslim. We talked about all that, fake facts and the future of the planet on this episode of “Now What?” Check out our conversation, which was produced with help from Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.