Even at the height of The Maury Povich Show (later shortened to Maury), when lie detector tests and DNA envelopes pioneered a new kind of daytime television, Povich maintains that the storytelling never changed. “I really believed that every single story was unique,” he said. “Everyone had their own situation and life; my job was to be curious and let that story unfold.”

When asking Povich about one of the moments that remains unforgettable after 31 years of the daytime talk show, there’s still one that takes the cake: “A woman accused a man of being the father of her twins,” Povich recalled. When the results were revealed live, the outcome stunned everyone: he was the father of one twin—but not the other. “I actually stopped and asked my staff on air, ‘Is that possible?’” Povich said. “With fraternal twins, it’s a million to one shot and it happened on our show.”

Those unpredictable moments helped cement his show as a daytime TV fixture and a touchstone for an entire generation.

“I hear all the time that people grew up watching the show,” Povich said, laughing. “Some would fake being sick just to stay home and watch it, and others really were home sick—but either way, they’d catch the show.” The program’s longevity continues to surprise him. “The reruns are almost as popular as the originals. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

Podcasting has given Povich something television rarely allowed: the space to participate more personally in the conversation. “Everything has become more intimate,” he said. “For the first time, I can actually reveal myself a little more.”

After interviewing celebrities, politicians, and everyday people for decades, one lesson stands out. “Everybody goes through failure,” he said. “No one just has success after success. That’s the common thread.” It’s a perspective that’s both grounding and humanizing, one that informs every conversation he conducts, whether on television or in the studio for the podcast.

Curiosity is the fuel behind Povich’s enduring drive. “It’s automatic. It’s part of my DNA,” he said. “I’m as curious today as I was as a teenager.” That curiosity extends to the evolving landscape of media. Social media, he noted, has made storytelling more intimate, giving audiences closer access to both narrative and storyteller.

Looking ahead, Povich has multiple projects underway. In January, Povich appeared in and helped produce a three-part ABC documentary series, Dirty Talk, which aired starting January 14. The series explores the rise of daytime talk shows during their 1990s and early-2000s golden era, when more than a dozen shows dominated daily television. “There was nothing like it,” Povich said. “That era shaped television in a way people don’t fully realize.”

He’s also developing another documentary centered on crime and forensic science, examining how DNA evidence has transformed murder investigations. “It’s fascinating,” he said. “The DNA technology completely changed the outcomes of many cases and shaped our understanding of truth.”

Povich is also open to revisiting the people whose lives intersected with The Maury Povich Show.

“There are a lot of stories from the show that turned out well,” he said with a smile. “I’d love to check back in on some of those people. It’s rewarding to see that the decisions made then helped people in the long run.”

Nearly 70 years into his career, Maury Povich remains a storyteller who never stopped listening, and whose curiosity continues to drive everything that comes next. Through it all, he has had a constant by his side, his wife, fellow journalist Connie Chung. Married for 42 years, Povich credits their partnership with keeping him grounded amid the highs and lows of a life in the spotlight.

When asked how he wants to be remembered, Povich doesn’t hesitate. “That I survived.” It’s a simple answer, but one that carries the weight of a career built on reinvention, resilience, and relentless curiosity. “It’s all about curiosity,” he said. “Wanting to know, wanting to understand, and wanting to connect.”

On Par with Maury Povich is available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube, with new episodes currently streaming. Dirty Talk airs as a three-episode limited series on ABC Wednesdays.