When America’s Next Top Model premiered in the early 2000s, it looked like a golden ticket: a glamorous TV show that could catapult aspiring models into fame. But two decades later, many contestants describe its aftermath as a curse. Hosted by pop-culture journalist Bridget Armstrong, Curse of: America’s Next Top Model is a deep investigation into the hidden costs of reality television, and what the show’s legacy reveals about beauty, power, and the culture that cheered it on. Through conversations with dozens of former contestants, producers and crew members, Curse of: America’s Next Top Model explores what happened behind the scenes on one of the most iconic and problematic reality shows of our generation. The series starts off by exploring how ANTM almost didn’t get made. You’ll get the real story behind the show’s most infamous controversies. Then, the models and producers pull back the curtain and talk about how the most outrageous photoshoots and runaways came together. You’ll hear from contestants who say ANTM saved their lives and from those who say it ruined theirs. The contestants also talk about how the body shaming they experienced on the show caused lifelong scars. Finally, we try to answer the question, is Tyra Banks the ultimate reality television villain? Curse of: America’s Next Top Model takes you on an investigative journey to figure out if the so-called curse is real? And if so, what was the toll on the models, and us, the audience? Listen here and subscribe to Curse of: America’s Next Top Model on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Katie Couric on shaking the morning show stigma
Legendary broadcast journalist Katie Couric joins our final episode to share lessons she's learned from her extraordinary career. Katie tells Brooke how she responded when CNN’s president questioned her talent, what she took from her history-making turn at CBS Evening News, and how she fought to shake the “morning news albatross.” Speaking candidly about the lingering pain from her husband and sister’s deaths, Katie also shares how standing up to cancer has become her life’s mission.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Brooke's husband Chris Henchy takes the hot seat
Brooke’s hubby Chris Henchy makes his “Now What?” debut! The couple swap details about their meet-cute on the Warner Brothers lot, their parenting skills and favorite family traditions, and how Chris’ dedication to his Irish granny helped convince Brooke he was "the one." Chris also opens up about his journey from finance bro to comedy writer, and shares how he moved on from the failure of his first movie to one of his greatest successes to date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jennifer Esposito on not taking no for an answer
Writer, director, and actress Jennifer Esposito stops by to talk about her critically acclaimed new film, Fresh Kills, and shares how making her dream project helped her heal from years of abuse from industry heavyweights. Brooke and Jennifer discuss the importance of self-advocacy, Jennifer’s life-long struggle with celiac disease, and the power of art to breed greater empathy and understanding.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Cheryl Strayed on embracing the gray area
Author, advice columnist, and all-around badass Cheryl Strayed joins Brooke for a wide-ranging conversation about parenting, childhood poverty, and what it means to be rich in love. Cheryl gets candid about the years leading up to her famous trek on the Pacific Crest Trail, and shares why she’s in need of another life-changing journey. Plus, the one thing Cheryl keeps in mind whenever she gives advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What do you do when you encounter the unexpected? That make-or-break moment that leaves you crying in front of strangers or quitting your job to pursue your true passion. Now What? with Brooke Shields dives deep into the world of redos, resets, and forward fails: From career pivots and personal missteps to moving through grief (or just plain moving on). Join Brooke as she sits down with authors, experts, and celebrity guests to hear their ‘now what?’ moments and learn what they’ve done (or are still doing) to get through it.