Andy Cohen Built the Bravoverse. He Still Thinks Like a Producer.

Andy Cohen (0:00)

You know, BravoCon, we do in Vegas, we've got 30,000 people going to absolutely idolize the almost 200 Bravo Leberties that go and take part in it. Yes, Bravo Leberties, Kara. And they are able to sell things at booths. They are able to...

SPEAKER_2 (0:19)

A giant Star Trek convention.

Andy Cohen (0:20)

Yes, I mean, they're, you know, yeah.

Kara Swisher (0:34)

Hi, everyone from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network. This is On with Kara Swisher and I'm Kara Swisher. My guest today is Andy Cohen, the host and executive producer of Watch What Happens Live and executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise. He curates two serious XM channels, Radio Andy and Andy Cohen's Kiki Lounge, runs his own book imprint and co-hosts CNN's New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper. He's also the author of several best-selling memoirs and his latest book is Andy's Bravo Scrapbook, which is out October 20th. I always want to talk to Andy. I met him a long time ago. He probably doesn't remember, but he's always really interesting. And I think a lot like oddly enough, Ryan Seacrest and others sort of undersung in how much business he does. And so I want to talk about business and of course, his quirky personality, his relationships, and also his outspokenness against President Trump, which is I think unusual in the celebrity area. But of course, not the person we asked to do the expert question, Rosie O'Donnell, legendary comedian and talk show host. She's also an outspoken activist and recently wrapped up a stint as guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC. So stick around.

Support for this show comes from The Guardian and their new show, Stateside, where journalists Kai Wright and Carter Sherman use the entire independent reporting resources of The Guardian to slow down the news and wrestle with the questions we all have about what is actually happening in the world. Join Kai and Carter three times a week as they utilize all the reporting resources The Guardian has across news, international coverage, climate, culture, wellness, and more. The Guardian's not owned by a billionaire, they fearlessly report the facts without interference. Go to theguardian.com/stateside to learn more and listen wherever you get your podcast or watch on YouTube. That's theguardian.com/stateside.

Support for this show comes from Odoo.

Running a business shouldn't feel like surviving a software group project. One app for accounting, another for inventory, another for sales, and somehow, none of them ever talk to each other. That's where Odoo comes in, in an all-in-one business management software that brings every part of your business together. From sales and accounting to inventory and marketing, all in one powerful platform. No messy integrations, no bouncing between tabs, and best of all, no spreadsheets. Stop managing software and start managing your business with one unified system. Try it today for free at odoo.com/kara. That's odoo.com/kara.

SPEAKER_2 (3:18)

Support for the show comes from Injun.

Running a small business means every dollar has to work hard. But if your team is still booking travel the old way, it's costing you more than you think. Injun is the fastest growing travel and spend platform in the country built specifically for businesses like yours. Book a trip in as little as two and a half minutes. Earn up to 10% back on hotels. And in 2025, Injun customers save more than $300 million on travel, with zero booking fees, no contracts, and no BS. More than a thousand businesses join Injun every month. Join them and get $500 when your business signs up and starts traveling at injun.com/vox.

Kara Swisher (4:06)

Andy, thanks for coming on On.

Andy Cohen (4:08)

Thanks for having me.

Kara Swisher (4:09)

I kind of stalked you, didn't I? Through Anderson Cooper.

Andy Cohen (4:11)

You know what? By the way, a flattering stalk, I would say.

Kara Swisher (4:15)

Yes.

Do you know where we met? You don't know. You probably don't remember. That's okay. I'm scared. It's all right. We were at dinner at the Sunset Towers with Lauren Zelaznyk early days.

Andy Cohen (4:27)

Wow. Long time ago.

Kara Swisher (4:28)

Long time ago. You were there and you were hysterical at the head of the table.

Andy Cohen (4:32)

Okay.

Kara Swisher (4:33)

Yeah. You were great.

Andy Cohen (4:34)

But was it just the three of us?

Kara Swisher (4:35)

No. She was one of those Lauren Dears.

Andy Cohen (4:38)

Yes.

SPEAKER_4 (4:38)

You know what I mean?

Kara Swisher (4:39)

I had just finished the Code Conference and I had interviewed all the techies. You had some questions about Mark Zuckerberg and everybody else.

SPEAKER_2 (4:46)

Okay. Wow. I didn't remember that.