Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Wide Open with Ashlyn Harris

Cindy Eckert is a champion of the pink pill in a blue pill world. As founder of Sprout Pharmaceuticals, she’s responsible for Addyi, the only FDA approved drug that is proven to increase sexual desire in women. Today, Ashlyn sits down with Cindy to talk about the long road to getting Addyi on the market, why women’s health is still so under researched, and where Cindy's passion for justice comes from.

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Ashlyn has an unfiltered conversation with Nikki, a sports-obsessed baseball mom and patient. Hear how Nikki’s diagnosis inspired her to do more for herself, and how playing competitive sports helped prepare her for her toughest competition yet. Ashlyn and Nikki discuss what it’s really like to be a woman, balancing work, her treatment, and her son’s hectic sports schedule. Plus, Nikki talks about how her family, friends, and doctors became a team she could lean on for support. Visit https://www.novartis.com/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/kisqali.pdf for full prescribing Information for KISQALI (ribociclib). Sponsored by Novartis.

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Ashlyn sits down with entrepreneur Tristan Schukraft for a candid conversation about building businesses, expanding access to PrEP and HIV care, and preserving queer spaces. Tristan shares how failure, ambition, and vision shaped his career. He also opens up about polyamory, relationships, visibility, shame, and the importance of protecting LGBTQ+ communities and the spaces that give them refuge, history, and connection.

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Coming out can feel like starting all over again — being a beginner in love, relationships, and of course, sex. In fact, navigating sex in non-hetero relationships is probably the most nerve-wracking part of people’s queer awakenings. In Casey Tanner’s work as a queer sex therapist, she wants to erase the shame and fear associated with feeling like a beginner. Today, Casey sits down with Ashlyn to talk about her work, how she helps clients understand their desires, and to answer your burning questions about queer sex.

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Jeffrey Masters, creator and host of LGBTQ&A, joins Ashlyn to discuss the art of meaningful interviewing, the importance of preserving queer history, and what years of listening to queer icons and activists have taught him. They explore empathy, visibility, mental health, activism, and how asking better questions can create space for people to tell the stories behind the headlines.

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How can we support LGBTQ+ athletes? How is the state of women’s soccer? Is it hard being a mom? How do you know you’ve found “the one”? This week, Ashlyn is answering these and more in a reflective listener question episode.

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Mary Mazzio joins us to share the powerful story behind Mighty Mary and the lessons she’s carried from elite sport into filmmaking and life. From failure and rejection to resilience, leadership, and self-belief, this conversation explores how the mindset of an athlete can shape everything that comes next and why the story of women breaking barriers in sport still matters today.

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Laura Benanti has already made a name for herself on the Broadway stage, and now she’s entering the spotlight on a totally new one. Ashlyn talks to the Tony Award winning actress about her hilarious new one woman show, Nobody Cares, and what it’s like to reintroduce herself to her fans mid-career. Laura opens up about what it’s like to finally stop people pleasing, dealing with online trolls, the humbling moments of motherhood, and being unafraid to speak out in our current troubling times.

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Anna Camp is living her most authentic life right now. Last year, she came out as bisexual and in her words, a giant weight was lifted. Now, she sits down with Ashlyn to talk about the joy of shedding the expectations others put on you. They discuss the moments in Anna’s career that led to huge personal growth, like the time she literally bared all on a Broadway stage, the frenzy of being part of a huge hit like Pitch Perfect, and being honored as one of the Out 100 last fall.

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This week on Wide Open, Ashlyn sits down with Olympic hockey player Jackie Pierri to talk about identity, resilience, and life beyond the rink. Jackie opens up about growing up in Montclair, playing boys hockey, building a career across North America and Europe, and using her platform to push for better conditions in women’s sports and for climate-conscious change.
They also talk about the emotional weight of honoring her late father, the burnout of fighting for basics in sport, and how her values have shaped both her engineering career and her athletic journey

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You may know Abigail Thorn as Philosophy Tube on YouTube or as Sharako Lohar on House of the Dragon; she is a British playwright and actress. Today, Ashlyn is inviting her to get Wide Open about her acting process. They also discuss how her background in philosophy shapes what she brings to the screen, and they talk about what life in America is like and what it has taught her about extending compassion to friends and neighbors in new ways.

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You might know Sam Gordon as that little girl who went viral for outrunning all the boys on her tackle football team. She was just nine years old when her dad posted that video, and fourteen years later Sam has matured into a powerful advocate for women’s sports. In her career, she’s already co-founded the Utah Girl’s Tackle Football League and played D1 soccer at Columbia University. Now she’s professional football player with the Salt Lake Wildcats all while pursuing a law degree. Sam talks to Ashlyn about why it’s so important to be a multihyphenate in sports and life, what it’s been like to grow up as the face of a women’s sports movement, and the opportunities tackle football can bring to women on and off the field.

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Director, writer, producer, and comic creator Carly Usdin joins the show to talk with Ashlyn about their long career as a storyteller and the importance of making sure queer stories keep being made. Ashlyn tries to get the scoop on Carly’s upcoming film, “Courtside,” a gay basketball rom-com set to feature several WNBA players. Plus, Ashlyn and Carly discuss all things women’s sports, identity, and the new wave of joy in queer film and TV.

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Roku’s Director of Content, Publicity and Talent Relations Nicole Wilcox joins the show this week to give a peek behind the curtain into how, why, and when certain stories get told in film and television. Nicole knows what it takes to bring a project into the world, build excitement around it, and make sure everyone is represented on screen. Ashlyn and Nicole discuss the art of documentary filmmaking and why accessibility to media matters. Plus, they dive into what it took to get Ashlyn’s documentary, Game Changers: The Ashlyn Harris Story made and what it’s like to have it out in the world.

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Comedian, actress, and now author Aida Rodriguez joins Wide Open this week to depart some of her infinite wisdom on all things motherhood, comedy, and finding the courage to truly be yourself. Aida and Ashlyn have a raw conversation on setting boundaries with family and the importance of teaching conflict resolution to their children. Plus, Aida tells Ashlyn all about her new book Legitimate Kid and how her upbringing made her who she is today.

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Climate change is a fact, not a question. If you’re watching the World Cup this summer, you’ll see players facing record-breaking heat head-on. As a former player, Ashlyn knows how hard heat is on these athletes’ bodies, not to mention the challenges of travel, dehydration, and overheating turf. To get a handle on what exactly the teams are facing this summer, Ashlyn is talking to sport ecologist Madeline Orr and CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute, Dr. Douglas Casa. In this special episode, Dr. Maddy Orr and Dr. Doug Casa discuss the conditions of the World Cup and warn that it is just a preview of how rising temperatures will affect the future of sports.

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Get ready, because comedian, actor, and writer Michelle Buteau is gracing Wide Open with her loud, boisterous, and infectiously-upbeat self. That larger than-life persona is intentional. In her career, Michelle refuses to tone herself down for the male gaze. She tells Ashlyn how she stays true to that value, where her confidence comes from, and why kindness and allyship are of the utmost importance in comedy today.

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Happy Pride month from Wide Open! For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.

Legendary film, television, and theater producer Bruce Cohen joins Ashlyn for a conversation about what showing up for the queer community looks like now— when it’s more needed than ever. Bruce is best known for producing films “American Beauty,” “Milk,” and his latest documentary “Reclaim the Flag.” The doc shines a light on the political movement to take back the American flag from those who have co-opted it as a symbol of hate and division. Ashlyn and Bruce talk about the ways the documentary moved them, and the importance of political activism.

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Jordan Lucas went viral for being utterly himself. On CSUN’s men’s volleyball team, he snaps, flicks, waves, and serves more than just volleys on the court. He’s one of the few visibly gay male athletes we have right now, and today Ashlyn sits down with him to talk about what it took to live so openly. They discuss safety in men’s sports for queer people, the importance of leading by example, and Jordan’s mission to make sure everything is better for the next generation of players.

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Happy Pride month from Wide Open! For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.

This week, Ashlyn welcomes Emmy award winning actor Laverne Cox to the show. Ashlyn talks to Laverne about the release of her new book, Transcendent, and what it was like writing about the challenges she faced in childhood. Laverne speaks about the importance of speaking out and supporting the queer community right now, the art of forgiveness, and the power in moving past your internal shame.

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Happy Pride month from Wide Open!  For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts.

This week, Ashlyn welcomes Tony winning director and choreographer Sam Pinkleton to the show. Sam has made a career out of bringing outrageous queer theatrics to the masses. At a time when queer and trans rights are in danger, Sam’s work proves that embracing your deepest, most unique self is the key to personal and communal joy. Ashlyn talks to Sam about the stunning rise of Oh, Mary!, his recent Tony nomination for Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the importance of not just chasing success—but chasing what you love.

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Do you ever feel like you have to split yourself between who you really are and who society tells you to be? Amy Chozick’s thrilling, vulnerable novel, With Friends Like You, explores that feeling from the perspective of a new mother. A former journalist who profiled figures like Lorena Bobbitt, Stormy Daniels and Elizabeth Holmes, Amy knows that a messy woman can be hard for the public to swallow. Amy and Ashlyn talk about the multiple selves they confront every day and about the new parts of herself Amy confronted while writing her book.

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Brandon Kyle Goodman is a writer, producer, and host of his own podcast "Tell Me Something Messy." and today we're talking all about SEX, who's having it and how can we be having it better? We talk all about that and more in this messy episode! 

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Today Ashlyn is joined by the amazing Selema Masekela. You know him from his time hosting ESPN's X Games for 13 years, but he is also an activist and musician. In this conversation, they discuss visibility, representation, and identity within the action sports world and beyond.

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On this special Mother’s Day episode, Ashlyn has Sophia Bush and Lauren Holly on to talk about their new movie, Broad Trip, now out on Roku. If you're nostalgic for comedies of the '80s and '90s, this one's for you. It's a mother/daughter road trip romp and as its stars, Lauren and Sophia have unmatchable chemistry. They talk about how they established that connection, the importance of making accessible media, and why light, heartfelt stories are essential in our dark times.

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The week Ashlyn is talking to Stephen Colletti, you know and love him from his days on Laguna Beach or One Tree Hill, and most recently as a contestant on The Traitors. They discuss what it takes to be successful in the reality TV format and what he wants his legacy to be as a father and husband.

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In this episode, Ashlyn talks with Denali, who we all know and love from season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She talks about growing up in Alaska, how she came to understand her gender expression through figure skating, and how she is settling into her career as a successful RuPaul's Drag Race alum.

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You know Jen Tullock from Severance, but she's been working on the stage and screen her entire life. This week, Ashlyn and Jen talk about the complexities of queer life and a conservative Christian upbringing, and how that is all brought to life in her one-woman show "Nothing Can Take You From The Hand Of God."

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Jan Sport is taking the world by storm. Known for slaying the main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race (twice), and her fabulous cruise shows, Jan serves face everywhere she goes. Before the outrageous wigs and the whistle tones, there was a gay Catholic school boy lacing up his cleats, ready to tear it up on the soccer field.

In this episode, Ashlyn and Jan trade stories of growing up queer in straight spaces, the defining moments of their early careers, and how they learned to stop shrinking themselves for others. 

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Visibility is important, especially when it comes to the queer community. There were great examples of this at the Winter Olympics, most virally when hockey player Hillary Knight proposed to speed skater Brittany Bowe. Today, Ashlyn sits down with Brittany to talk about that moment and what posting engagement pictures meant as an act of queer joy. Plus they talk about Brittany’s unconventional path to an unique sport, what’s next for her in retirement, and why that involves hypnotherapy.

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If you’re anything like Ashlyn you love true crime. But have you ever taken a step back to think about the ethics behind all those stories? Amanda Knox became one of the most recognizable names in true crime through biased reporting and sensational storytelling. Today she tells us how she’s clearing her name by reclaiming her story. She talks about the misogyny of the media circus around her trial, her new documentary, Mouth of the Wolf, about returning to Italy, and what healing looks like for her now.

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What could you accomplish if you took big risks without worrying about failure? That’s what has driven Alice Delanunt’s career as she climbed the ranks of the fashion business from Burberry, to Ralph Lauren, to her own digital fashion platform, Syky. Alice and Ashlyn bond about living a life free of regrets because they’ve taken big swings to achieve their dreams. They also talk about Alice’s Dublin origins, the power of a chic lesbian friend group, and why it’s important to take breaks.

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Today, Ashlyn is joined by Red Bull Athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, and star of her own new film, "Now Days," Caroline Marks. Caroline and Ashlyn share a lot in common, from growing up in small-town coastal Florida to competing amongst the boys growing up with their brothers. But history isn't lost on Caroline. She recognizes the women athletes who have come before her and paved the way for her to be where she is today.

 https://www.redbull.com/us-en/super-six-surfers-in-now-days-film

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You may know her as the creator of a hashtag and a movement, but Tarana Burke's work didn't just begin in 2017 when the #MeToo movement went viral on social media. Tarana Burke began the Me Too movement in 1997 in Selma, Alabama. Today, Ashlyn sits down with the founder herself to get the full picture and talk about where the movement is headed in dark times. Find out why Tarana describes it as "cutting the toenails off of a dragon" in this interview.

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Today Ashlyn is sitting down with the internet’s favorite lesbian, Catherine McCafferty. On her show, Pretty Gay, she dates culture’s hottest gays and today she’s telling long-partnered Ashlyn what it's like on the queer streets these days. They talk about red flags and icks plus deeper things like coming out later in life and why it’s important to be a good queer elder.

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From an early age Nia Sioux saw what she wanted and went after it. After years of being in the spotlight on Lifetime's Dance Moms, Nia is taking her narrative back. In this weeks episode of Wide Open Ashlyn and Nia dive into how it all began when she was 9 years old and what the journey was like for her growing up in the spotlight, and writing her new book "Bottom of the Pyramid".  

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It takes a powerful, confident woman to hold her own with Anna Wintour and climb the corporate ladder at Conde Nast. It takes an even stronger woman to leave a 20 year career behind and start something new. Pamela Drucker Mann is that woman, and Ashlyn talks to her today about the moment she decided to bet on herself—co-founding Run-A-Muck media alongside industry legends, Ilene Chaiken and Jennifer Beals. From The L Word to Heated Rivalry, they talk queer representation in media, why competition is important, and how to be fearless in work and life.

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13 years ago on Valentine's day, Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne made out in a bar. Now they're married with two kids, three cats, and a production company. Today with Ashlyn, the couple reflects on their relationship, their family, and what's important to them in the present moment. They also open up about the moving process of producing and releasing the documentary, Come See Me In The Good Light, a beautiful tribute to queer poet Andrea Gibson.

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Kathy Griffin joins us this week to talk about being unapologetically her during times when it's politically dangerous. She's had 3 facelifts and shes never stopped being funny. Enjoy this timely chat with Ashlyn and Kathy.

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Two gays meet on a podcast and instantly confuse their sexuality. Beloved Peleton instructor, Cody Rigsby, talks to Ashlyn about why he's chosen to lean into his queerness as a Peleton creator, meeting the iconic Ru Paul, and figuring out how to take it slow and live in the moment.

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Get ready for your first good laugh of 2026 because Hannah Berner is on Wide Open! If you’re anything like Ashlyn, your laughter might disrupt a room while listening to Hannah talk about her love of lesbians, her dad’s reaction to her raunchy comedy, and lessons from growing up as a serious tennis player. By the end of this episode, you’ll want to wear a tie and thank a lesbian for paving the way for strong women everywhere.

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Nicole Snooki Polizzi became famous for her leading role on the culturally iconic series Jersey Shore. But a lot has happened since Polizzi was 21. She's now a mother, a designer, and she's doing paranormal investigations. A cheer mom who still loves her leopard, Nicole tells Ashlyn about her regular store customers and what we can expect to see next from the Jersey legend. 

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Wide Open kicks off the new year with the smart, hilarious, and fearless Chelsea Handler. Gearing up for her High and Mighty tour, Ashlyn talks to Chelsea about the freedom she’s embraced as she ages ever so gracefully. Her sense of adventure has taken her to Antarctica, to a Vegas dalliance with a cowboy, and to a psychedelics conference on a cruise ship. Chelsea and Ashlyn get into all of this and more in an episode that might just inspire you to shed your self-consciousness in 2026. 

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Today, Ashlyn is joined by producer, TV personality, and celebrity stylist Mal Wright to discuss the complexities of identity, the power of community, and the importance of self-compassion. In this candid conversation, they explore the challenges and triumphs of navigating life in the public eye, the impact of appearing on Queer Ultimatum, and the beauty of allowing oneself to evolve. Tune in for an episode filled with warmth, wisdom, and a reminder to be gentle with ourselves and others.

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The festive, cozy, and moving chat continues in part two of Ashlyn and Sophia’s holiday extravaganza. From silly habits to deeply felt emotions, the couple reveals the joy their relationship has brought them over the years. This one’s for listeners who love love. Get ready to laugh and even shed a tear or two.

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Ashlyn and Sophia cordially invite you to their home for a holiday gathering. Grab a glass of wine, cozy up to the fire, and prepare to learn more about the singular beauty and exceptional talent that is Sophia Bush. Together, Ashlyn and Sophia explore how they inspire, challenge, and uplift one another. Put on your cozy Christmas sweater and get ready to feel your heart grow three sizes. 

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Today on Wide Open...Producer Joelle Monique joins Ashlyn to answer your listener questions. As we wrap up the first season of Wide Open, Ashlyn takes a moment to look back at the year and drop some hints on what's to come in 2026.

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Welcome to couples therapy, filled with tough love and hard truths. Raven-Symoné and Miranda Maday tell Ashlyn the story of how they fell in love, U-Haul and all. They don’t leave out the hard parts of their story, like the time Raven broke up with Miranda and the healing and vulnerability it took for them to re-commit to one another for life. They reveal the ways they've challenged and pushed one another to grow in their relationship, the weird AI generated videos wreacking havock on their lives, and why they want each other to live forever.

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Today, Ashlyn sits down with the one and only Jennifer Welch, from interior designer on Bravo's Sweet Home Oklahoma to being political on her podcast I've Had It. Today, Jennifer is talking about cutting conservative women out of her pickleball league, how she shows up for the queer community, who she thinks will be the first female president, the MAGA masculinity crisis, and moving to New York City!

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Jasmine Crockett has been going through it. As she bravely tries to preserve the American people's rights to health insurance, food, and marriage equality, she must confront a government unwilling to come to the table with humane solutions. She talks to Ashlyn about what banding together could look like and the type of life she hopes to live after Congress. Leading with grace, humor, and fire, Jasmine Crockett shows us what it means to stay grounded while pushing for change.

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