Fragmented Truth, Echo Chambers, and the Erosion of Shared Reality

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "Finding Ultra" by Rich Roll - Rich Roll's previous book, which he contrasts with his current, more challenging writing project.
• "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl - A book about finding purpose in suffering, which Katie Couric plans to read.
• "Primo Levi's book about being a concentration camp" by Primo Levi (presumably "If This Is a Man" or "Survival in Auschwitz") - A book about the author's experiences in a concentration camp, referenced by Katie Couric.

People Mentioned

• Katie Couric - A renowned broadcast journalist who has anchored news on major networks and co-founded Stand Up To Cancer. The entire episode is an interview with her.
• Steve Pressfield - An author whose advice on approaching creative work like a professional was mentioned by Rich Roll in the context of his book writing.
• Dr. Valter Longo (Director of USC's Longevity Institute) - The world's leading expert on fasting and the creator of ProLon and the Fasting Mimicking Diet.
• Walt Whitman - Poet whose quote "we contain multitudes" was referenced by Katie Couric.
• Les Moonves - Former head of CBS, who lured Katie Couric to the network.
• Leslie Stahl - Female correspondent who worked at CBS.
• Meredith Vieira - Female correspondent who worked at CBS.
• Diane Sawyer - Female correspondent who worked at CBS, and who Jennifer Aniston's character in "The Morning Show" is partially based on.
• Jeff Fager - Head of 60 Minutes when Katie Couric was there.
• Lady Gaga - Musician and pop icon, whose profile Katie Couric pitched to 60 Minutes.
• Anderson Cooper - Journalist who ended up doing the Lady Gaga profile for 60 Minutes.
• Jeffrey Wigand - The subject of the movie "The Insider," whose story provides a lens into 60 Minutes.
• Matt Lauer - Former co-host of the Today Show, whose scandal is referenced in "The Morning Show."
• Brian Gumbel - Former co-host of the Today Show.
• Donald Trump - Former President of the United States, whose impact on media and politics was extensively discussed.
• Bill Clinton - Former President of the United States, mentioned in a hypothetical scenario.
• Barack Obama - Former President of the United States, mentioned in a hypothetical scenario and in the context of John McCain's defense of him.
• George W. Bush - Former President of the United States, mentioned in a hypothetical scenario, and whose speechwriter David Frum was.
• Peggy Noonan - Columnist whose writing Katie Couric reads.
• Pam Bondi - Mentioned in the context of the DOJ or FTC involvement with TikTok.
• Brendan Carr - Mentioned in the context of the DOJ or FTC involvement with TikTok.
• Charlie Kirk - Mentioned as having a memorial service where Donald Trump made a statement about hating his opponents.
• David Frum - Conservative writer and former speechwriter for George W. Bush, who was interviewed by Rich Roll about decorum in politics.
• Gavin Newsom - Governor of California, whose pugnacious political style was compared to Donald Trump's.
• Ronald Reagan - Former President of the United States, whose quote "government is the problem" was referenced.
• Jerry Falwell - Leader of the Moral Majority, mentioned in the context of the origins of political incivility.
• Brian Stevenson - Lawyer and social justice activist, whose concept of "being proximate" was discussed in relation to community and understanding.
• Vivic Murthy (Surgeon General) - Mentioned in the context of a documentary Katie Couric tried to make about loneliness.
• Jonathan Haidt - Social psychologist who is doing work on phone-free schools.
• Larry Sabato (Political Science Professor at UVA) - A professor whose class Katie Couric and her daughter visited.
• Kathy Hochul - Governor of New York, mentioned in the context of phone-free schools.
• Dr. Lisa Mosconi (Head of NYU's Women's Health Center) - Expert on women's brain health, recommended by Katie Couric.
• Andrea Yates - Woman who drowned her five children, whose story Katie Couric covered in the context of postpartum psychosis.
• Rusty Yates - Husband of Andrea Yates, whom Katie Couric interviewed.
• Burt Vogelstein - Scientist at Johns Hopkins who discovered the Ashkenazi Jew gene, whom Katie Couric contacted when her husband was ill.
• RJ (Rivian CEO) - Mentioned as being focused on practical and evolving technology for Rivian vehicles.
• Jay Leno - Former host of The Tonight Show, which Katie Couric appeared on.
• Michael (Head of the Colon Cancer Alliance) - Katie Couric's friend who approached her about the "Lead From Behind" campaign.
• Ryan Reynolds - Actor whose production company came up with the "Lead From Behind" campaign idea.
• Jimmy Kimmel - Talk show host whom Katie Couric took to get a colonoscopy.
• Tom Brady - NFL player, mentioned hypothetically in the context of getting a colonoscopy.
• Sydney Sweeney - Actress whose jeans ad was spoofed by Katie Couric for colon cancer awareness.
• Ryan Murphy - Mentioned as being involved with Ryan Reynolds' production company.
• Yasser Arafat - Former leader of the PLO, whom Katie Couric interviewed.
• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Former President of Iran, whom Katie Couric interviewed.
• Jerry - A writer at CBS who Katie Couric worked with.
• Sarah Palin - Former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential candidate, whose interview with Katie Couric was extensively discussed.
• Brian Goldsmith (Producer) - Katie Couric's producer with whom she did a podcast about the Sarah Palin interview.
• Tina Fey - Actress and comedian who famously impersonated Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live.
• John McCain - Former Senator and Presidential candidate, who Katie Couric interviewed alongside Sarah Palin.
• Daniel Patrick Moynihan - Former Senator and sociologist, whose quote about being entitled to opinions but not facts was referenced.
• Hillary Clinton - Former Secretary of State and Presidential candidate, whose "deplorable comment" was mentioned.
• Herby - Katie Couric's 94-year-old father-in-law.
• Miss Rachel - Children's content creator, mentioned in the context of screen time for young children.
• Barbara Cherney - Katie Couric's friend from whom she borrowed a white turtleneck.

Organizations & Institutions

• ABC - American Broadcasting Company, where Katie Couric worked as an intern and anchored the news.
• NBC - National Broadcasting Company, where Katie Couric anchored the news (Today Show).
• CBS - Columbia Broadcasting System, where Katie Couric anchored the news and co-hosted 60 Minutes.
• CNN - Cable News Network, where Katie Couric worked as an assistant assignment editor and associate producer.
• The Pentagon - Where Katie Couric was assigned to cover news.
• USC's Longevity Institute - Where Dr. Valter Longo is the director.
• Stand Up To Cancer - Organization co-founded by Katie Couric to raise money for cancer research.
• My Touch Network - Independent media organization mentioned by Rich Roll.
• The Bulwark - Independent media organization mentioned by Rich Roll.
• Pod Save America - Podcast mentioned by Rich Roll.
• Crooked Media - Media company behind Pod Save America, mentioned by Rich Roll.
• DOJ - Department of Justice, mentioned hypothetically in the context of preventing mergers.
• FTC - Federal Trade Commission, mentioned hypothetically in the context of preventing mergers.
• NIH - National Institutes of Health, mentioned in the context of medical research funding.
• NYU Women's Health Center - Where Dr. Lisa Mosconi is the head.
• NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, where Andrea Yates' husband worked.
• Colon Cancer Alliance - Organization that approached Katie Couric about the "Lead From Behind" campaign.
• Johns Hopkins - University where Burt Vogelstein works.
• Harvard - University that conducted a study on happiness and relationships.

Courses & Educational Resources

• Commencement address at the University of Massachusetts Medical School - Given by Katie Couric.
• Commencement address at her daughter's high school - Given by Katie Couric, where she spoke about the importance of being bored.

Websites & Online Resources

• richroll.com - Rich Roll's website, where episode pages and the podcast archive can be found.
• Instagram - Social media platform where Katie Couric's spoof video was posted.
• newsmax - News outlet mentioned as a source of information.
• fox news - News outlet mentioned as a source of information.
• Facebook page - Social media platform mentioned as a source of information.
• tiktok - Social media platform discussed in the context of mergers and political influence.
• the free press - Barry Weiss's independent media organization.

Other Resources

• Eudaimonia - A wellness-themed event in Florida where Rich Roll was speaking.
• ProLon - A fasting mimicking diet program developed by Dr. Valter Longo.
• BetterHelp - An online therapy service.
• Rivian - A company that makes all-electric trucks and SUVs.
• On - A brand of running and hiking gear.
• Element - An electrolyte drink mix.
• American Eagle - Brand of jeans, whose ad was spoofed by Katie Couric.
• Lead From Behind - A colon cancer awareness campaign.