The CNN Audio podcast The Assignment with Audie Cornish has explored the creative path to climate solutions, examined artificial intelligence in a time of loneliness, meditated on the future of late-night television, and so much more over the past 13 months.
We sat down with CNN Anchor Audie Cornish to reflect on her lessons learned hosting the award-winning podcast and to gain insight into what listeners can expect in the new year.
The Assignment launched just over a year ago. What have you learned the past 12+ months?
Over the last year I have learned that people are hungry for connection and to be heard. Our guests routinely express surprise at the stories they share on the show or surprise themselves with questions they have not been asked before. Our inbox is full of people who address me by my first name and offer up story ideas, comments and perspective. It's the opposite of social media.
You recently launched a Tuesday episode of the show (in addition to the weekly Thursday edition). Tell our readers why you made this decision, and what the focus of those episodes are.
I have so many fun political conversations at CNN in the hallways, in passing in the makeup rooms etc. I wanted a way to capture that energy and share it with our listeners. Fundamentally the show is about sharing experiences. And CNN contributors and staff reporters have TONS of experiences that do not make it on air. It's a high wire act approach a political panel that I want to be fun for political junkies and helpful to people who actually feel burned out by politics and don't want to drown in the weeds.
