Janine Rubenstein

Janine Rubenstein is the host of PEOPLE Every Day. Follow her on Twitter here.

How did you find yourself at PEOPLE?
I’d recently graduated from USC with my Master’s degree in print journalism and had done a stint reporting crime at the Cape Times newspaper in Cape Town, South Africa. I started at PEOPLE as an editorial assistant and reporter for the crime and human interest team -- before moving over to the entertainment side as a TV writer, and then music editor – then was tapped to host PEOPLE Every Day and serve as editor-at-large, where I cover it all.

How did the podcast start?
As the leading, most trusted entertainment news source, PEOPLE had been looking to get into the podcast space for a while, but we wanted to do it in a way that felt authentic to the brand. PEOPLE Every Day launched this past February as a daily show. Like the brand’s digital products, it hits all the breaking news, but also folds in exclusive A-list interviews that dive deep and lift your spirits.

If people haven't listened yet, where should they start?
We just celebrated our 100th episode, where we revisited some of our favorite interview moments, so that’s a good sampling. Also, episodes featuring Tiffany Haddish, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, John Legend, and Malala Yousafzai are among some of my favorites.  

Do you ever get nervous interviewing celebrities?
I still get nervous, but mostly because I can’t trust Zoom and the Internet not to cut out on me! I am a fan of nearly everyone I talk to on the show, and the appreciation I have for being able to share their stories with our audience is not lost on me. But I also have learned from reporting entertainment over the years that as much as stars aren’t like us, they really, really are.

What is the secret to a good interview?
Preparation! Know who you’re dealing with and where they’re coming from on any given day. Checking their social media helps with that last part. I always try to make my guests feel comfortable and welcome and knowing/speaking to what’s top of mind for them helps do that.

Magazines are a tough industry. Why do you love working in them?
Since I was a kid I’ve always wanted to be a magazine writer. Maybe it was all the rom-com movie portrayals, but I love writing. Actually, it’s like a professor once said, “I hate writing, but I love having written.” There’s something about story telling that’s always made me happy. And thankfully, being at PEOPLE, the industry doesn’t feel as tough as it does elsewhere.

What is your mantra?
Love hard, shop harder. Also, if you don’t have anything nice to say, it’s probably Monday.

How is the show different than the magazine and how is it different?
The show is like your daily dose of the weekly print magazine, but it also has its own feel. It gives a perspective on why we’re all so fascinated with these stars and stories. In terms of the interviews, there’s just something about hearing the story. We’re able to have fun, play games, and get into some of those interesting, irreverent questions that may not make it onto the page.

What are the challenges of turning a magazine into a podcast?
I’d say finding that balance, where we’re not simply repeating what’s in the issue, but also offering an equally enriching counterpart to it. The audiences are different, though there’s overlap, so it’s a dance to make sure we’re staying true to the brand, but also pushing the limits to welcome in new groups.

What is your relationship to your voice and how would you describe it?
It’s funny, I grew up being told I have a weird, raspy speaking voice. I’ve been a singer all of my life, and that usually makes for an interesting tone, but mine got made fun of a lot as a kid. They’d liken me to Fran Drescher or Patty Mayonnaise from the cartoon Doug. That said, I’ve always been pretty proud of my singing voice, so I’d say it’s been a love/hate thing. I’m hearing now from listeners that my speaking voice is actually pretty warm and inviting, and you can “hear the smile in it.” So, take that, Arthur from 7th grade!

If you were going to start another podcast, don't worry about the logistics or whether or not anyone would listen to it, what would it be?
I think it would be with my siblings. I’m the youngest of four, and we are all firecrackers and have a ton of opinions that we like to argue over and share with anyone listening.

What do you hope PEOPLE Every Day does for people?
I hope PEOPLE Every Day leaves them fully informed and entertained at the end of their day, so they can pick up the buzziest conversations around with their friends, families, and colleagues and own it because they heard it here first.

What's it like doing a daily show? That sounds nuts. How do you do it?
It’s a LOT -- though it reminds me of my newspaper days when the 3 pm deadline was king. You had to make it, but once you did, you usually had the rest of your day until it started all over again the next morning. Now, doing it at home with two young kids and my equally busy husband in quarantine is a whole other conversation, but we’ve made it work!

Who is PEOPLE Every Day for?
PEOPLE Every Day is for those who are and who want to be in the know about the biggest entertainment and human interest news around. There’s so much that gets tossed out there on social media timelines, but we are doing the work every day to break it down, fact check it, and give it to you straight in a quick, fun, and entertaining way. We’re also bringing the audience personal interviews with A-listers and newsmakers that are hard to come by anywhere else.

What's something that surprised you in one of your interviews for PEOPLE Every Day?
Well, the biggest surprise was Black-ish’s Anthony Anderson Zoom-bombing another interview I was doing. He got his wires crossed and logged on early and totally stole the show as I was interviewing my editor-in-chief about Princess Diana.

On PEOPLE in the '90s, Jason Sheeler has an ongoing segment where he is trying to track down Fabio. Which elusive celebrity would you love to interview on the show? Who is a hard get?
I recite the word, the statement, the out of body experience that is “BEYONCE” every night in order to manifest her majesty onto the show, so there’s that. But also, thinking back to the ‘90s, I was a diehard Jonathan Taylor Thomas fan, so JTT would be a treat. Though my husband might not allow it.

What do you say to people who roll their eyes at celebrity and pop culture content? The people who think it's unimportant?
I’d like to say something similar to what Meryl Streep’s Devil Wears Prada character, Miranda Priestly, told Anne Hathaway’s character about the origins of her cerulean blue sweater. It was a read! But I’d probably just say “To each their own” because I’m busy enough breaking down that wildly popular “unimportant” content to millions of people who aren’t boring.

What other podcasts do you love?
I love Call Your Grandmother, Ratchet and Respectable and PEOPLE in the ‘90s!

Is there anything I didn't ask you about that you want to discuss?
What to do about global warming!

Thanks, Janine!