Menounos flips from harder-hitting, controversial stories on E! Network's “Untold With Maria Menounos” to topical roundtable debate on “Live From E!”

Maria Menounos has been grappled in the WWE ring and faced the wrath of Hollywood on the red carpet, and now the host is tackling tough topics from heroin addiction and the transgender community to obsession with selfies and a Vine tribute to Joan Rivers.

“On ‘Untold With Maria Menounos,’ we are talking tough topics,” she told TheWrap about her new E! show, which airs its third episode Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. “This whole environment is very different for me and it is really stimulating and exciting.

“With this I am going back to my journalistic roots, it is like a pop culture version of “Dateline.” We are tackling deeper, meatier stories and I love it,” said Menounos, who is also a co-host on ”Live From E!” alongside Ross Matthews, Jason Kennedy and a revolving guest panelist, debating pop culture, celebrity news and topical coverage in an “off the cuff” style.

The 35-year-old signed a multi-year agreement with the network including both talent and production roles, E! announced in May, which allows Menounos’ production company Underman/Omegagirl to get first look rights to ideas for series, specials and other projects across all platforms.

TheWrap talked to Menounos about the differences between her two shows, and why amid it all, she still dreams of getting back in the wrestling ring....