Onward with Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie and Onward producer, Lori E. Seid, share some conversation and news about the future. Thanks to you, the listener, we appreciate all your support. And a special shout out of thanks and love to Lyra Smith, Jenna Kagel and Chris Faller. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rosie's guest this week is the one and only, Linda Richman.  Linda is part of the cultural zeitgeist; the hilarious, Barbra-obsessed, Saturday Night Live "Coffee Talk" character, ('I'm fahrklempt, talk amongst yourselves'), Linda Richmond.  And for Rosie, Linda has been a stand-in mother; a grandmother to her son Parker; and the hilarious sage Rosie turns to in just about every situation life brin...

This week's episode is entirely about Rosie's experience with 'Guide Dogs of America' and what autism service dogs can do, not only for the child with autism but for the entire family. Learning about these service dogs who worked with autistic children, it was quickly realized that the child themself is not the dog's handler, so, Rosie became the designated adult, the 'Primary Handler' for her kid...

Rosie's guest this week is Derrick Downey Jr., also known as a "Squirrel's best friend." With well over a million followers, Derrick caught Rosie's eye and heart with his creativity, compassion and love for squirrels.  Derrick shares content about fighting depression, taking care of oneself, and making the time to be still with nature through his squirrel family, especially Maxine. A true influenc...

After listening to Rosie interview Lyle Menendez in prison; many of our listeners reacted in such a visceral and intellectual way, we wanted to dedicate a full episode to some of your voice memos. Not an easy subject for anyone; no matter what you believe happened, Rosie felt it important to share your reactions and respond with her own. Please note:Abuse is discussed in this episode - nothing gra...

In 2000, when Rosie asked audience member, Jimmy Smagula, to stand up and play a singing game with her on live TV, who was to know it would be the beginning of a beautiful profound kinship? But as viewers, we saw their connection was electric.  And now, Onward to 2024; Smagula's hopes and dreams mentioned during that short intro to his favorite comedian and talk show host, have been realized. He's...

Our first episode back in 2024 is dedicated to YOU - our listeners! As you know, we ask for you to send in voice memos with questions and/or thoughts but we never seem to have enough time to do more than 2 questions per episode. Rosie wanted to hear from you more and here it is: a whole show of questions and thoughts from the voice memos sent in and Rosie responding.  Did we pick yours? Listen and...

Ricki Lake and Rosie chat and giggle about sex, drugs and hosting talk shows! Just say YES Nancy Reagan! We'll be back on January 16, 2024 with a new show consisting entirely of your questions and comments for Rosie! Please send your voice memos to  OnwardRosie@gmail.com    (2 min or under if possible!) From all of us at Onward with Rosie O'Donnell, Have A Very Happy and Healthy Holiday and New Ye...

Writer, Actor, Producer, and Creator Lena Waithe joins Rosie for this dynamic episode! The two bond over manifesting their careers as they dreamed from a very young age and their incredible love for Mary Tyler Moore. Waithe produced the doc, 'Being Mary Tyler Moore', that Rosie also appears in... Their powerful conversation is a true heart to heart about how different a person and their persona mi...

Unrivaled Sensation, Activist and Gay Icon Cyndi Lauper, is our very special guest this week. Listen in as two dear friends catch up with each other in a funny, heartbreaking, wacky and poignant way, as only two longtime friends could. They gab about their latest life happenings, their careers, and the day-to-day battle to use your voice and platform to unite for the good of mankind and the world....

Sam Harris; singer, author, husband, dad, activist and Rosie's dear friend for over 40 years, is our guest this week. Meeting during their Star Search days, Rosie and Sam recognized each other as kindred spirits as soon as they laid eyes on one another, forming a life long familial relationship. Listen in as they chat at warp-speed about their show biz experiences, including being turned down for...

Rosie's guest this week is the TikTok sensation known only as "Annoyed Lemon." Scrolling thru, as she does, Rosie happened upon a floating lemon with enlarged eyes and huge lips, with wit and heart just as big. She's been hooked ever since; laughing and commenting with each other throughout the year, it became clear a longer conversation needed to happen! Remaining anonymous, Annoyed Lemon joins R...

Actor, comedian and host, the dynamic Murray Hill joins Rosie this week in a chatty, poignant, and jocular conversation. An "overnight success" 25 years in the making, Murray is now widely known for portraying 'Fred' on the HBO hit show "Somebody, Somewhere." Listen in as Rosie and Murray compare notes from their "tomboy" days, creating their own ladders to climb up to break those glass ceilings,...

This week, a favorite from the early releases - the "Magical Wisdom" of actress, best-selling author, and dear friend, Jenifer Lewis. Rosie and Jenifer have an uproarious and deep conversation about life, mental illness, and self-care. We'll be back with Murray Hill on December 5th! Share a voice memo with your questions for Rosie to: OnwardRosie@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Our guest this week is Allison Josephs, who Rosie met thru social media years ago. Allison's platform, @JewInTheCity, is a non profit organization that works to change negative perceptions about Orthodox Jews and Judaism.   Rosie and Allison sit down together to have a real exchange on what they each see has been happening since October 7, 2023. It is complex, and they both are resolute in their t...

Journalist, documentary filmmaker, and friend, Alexandra Pelosi sits down with Rosie to discuss her crucial new documentary, "The Insurrectionist Next Door." Alexandra, who is the youngest daughter of Nancy and Paul Pelosi, was with the Speaker inside the Capital, on Jan 6, 2021. After witnessing the violent insurrection unfold, Alexandra talked to the people who stormed the building, to ask why,...

This week's conversation is with the phenomenally talented Cheryl Dunye, an award winning filmmaker and television director. Rosie's love and respect for Cheryl's 1st film, 'The Watermelon Woman' (its groundbreaking style is now known as Dunyementry*) is the spark that ignites this gabfest. But as all great conversations go; they wander thru just about every topic under the sun, including working...

This week, Rosie's guest is the award winning playwright, actress and drag legend, Charles Busch.  One of the funniest broadway shows Rosie ever saw was Charles'  The Tale of The Allergist's Wife  and when deciding to produce  Taboo on Broadway, he was  THE  only writer she wanted! This pursuit and production began their lifelong friendship filled with drama, laughter, and survival. Join us as Ros...

This week's guest is Angela Tucker. A brilliant filmmaker, author and transracial adoptee, her new book on that subject, You Should Be Grateful , makes for a fascinating conversation with Rosie. Listen in as their unique perspectives of adoptee and adopter makes for an engrossing and enlightening conversation about the many layered complications of adoption, which often are portrayed in a fairy-ta...

This week, join Rosie and her guest, artist Sophia B Hawkins, in a absolutely fantastical conversation. Having met right after Sophie released her biggest hit,  Damn I Wish I was your Lover;  and Rosie was seen in her first movie,  A League Of Their Own , they experienced a deep and magical connection like none other. Their long soulful friendship is on full tilt as they chat about fame, motherhoo...

Rosie's guest this week is Amy Nelson. In 2020, while the entire world suffered the catastrophe of Covid, the Nelson family was under an even bigger added attack. Amazon accused her husband of several unfounded crimes and felonies, and used the DOJ and FBI hoping to get him to plead guilty anyway. FBI agents knocking on their door with guns drawn; their bank accounts emptied by the DOJ; their empl...

Comedian, tv writer, actor, author and activist Judy Gold catches up with Rosie for an impassioned conversation packed with laughs, love and rage at the current climate of hate and intolerance. Good friends for so many moons, Judy and Rosie share their longing for the time when their kids actually wanted to hang out with them, when theater geeks and freaks ruled the air waves thru Rosie's talk sho...

This week on Onward, Rosie has a fascinating conversation with Lyle Menendez.  Many of a certain age will remember the sensational trials of Lyle and his brother Eric, found guilty of the murder of their parents. So sensational within the American zeigeist; this case has been made into movies and tv shows, it has also been studied in law school as well as a mainstay of cultural conversation. Recen...

"Griffin." "O'Donnell.' "O'Donnell." "Griffin." This week's special guest is none other than Kathy Griffin. Join us as these two long term cohorts hang out, chatting about life and stuff; both big and small. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Rosie has a very special guest, American hero, Alexander Vindman. Vindman, in honoring his oath to democracy and the constitution, reported Trump's quid pro quo phone call to Ukraine's President Zelensky. Rosie and Alexander talk about his childhood as an immigrant growing up in NYC, his service careers in both the military and the White House, and the decision to expose Trump's abuse of...