Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

This week, we’re talking: our hiatus, AOC, scarf spelling bee, voter registration, and our HBOTW! Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gretchen Rubin is back on Getting Better for a happiness check-in with JVN! This week, they’re talking about what actually helps us understand ourselves, and why knowing how we respond to expectations can make it easier to change our habits, navigate relationships, and create a life that feels better. Gretchen breaks down her Four Tendencies framework — Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel — and explains how our tendencies can shape everything from motivation to relationships. JVN and Gretchen also get into managing negative emotions, the importance of our environment, balancing self-acceptance with growth, and why slowing down can sometimes give us the clarity we’ve been looking for. Plus, Gretchen shares what she’s learning from her latest creative obsession, watercolor, and gives us a look at her upcoming Four Tendencies workbook. Check out Grethcen’s Four Tendencies workbook here.  Watch the stories from our AU Docket Drop here. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Gretchen Rubin on Instagram @gretchenrubin Follow Getting Better on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: the Lindsay Clancy case, HIV Social Safety net, getting better at going with the flow, english breakfast recs, and much more!   Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when we start asking AI to help us make decisions about our lives, relationships, and mental health? JVN sits down with NYU Professor, author, and AI researcher Meredith Broussard to unpack what AI actually is, what it can and can’t do, and how we can make smarter choices about when to use it. Jonathan and Meredith break down the AI bubble, generative and agentic AI, how AI models are built, and why the benchmarks we use to measure them don’t always tell the whole story. They also get into one of the most personal questions of the AI era: What happens when we start asking machines for advice about our lives, our relationships, and our mental health? Meredith explains why human expertise and critical thinking still matter, why AI can be especially risky when we’re vulnerable or looking for emotional support, and how relying on machines for connection can change the way we relate to other people. They also explore the environmental costs of AI infrastructure, the realities behind talk of “superintelligence,” and practical guidelines for deciding when AI is useful, and when it’s better to turn to a human. Because getting better in the age of AI may not mean learning how to use more technology. It may mean getting better at knowing when not to. Tiktok Algorithm Article: WALL STREET JOURNAL Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Meredith Broussard on Instagram @meredithbroussard Follow Getting Better on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: NYC apartment drama, Enough starring Jennifer Lopez, the reflecting pool, and much much more! Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Connection isn’t just about being around people — it’s about feeling seen. This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down certified mental health coach and founder of the SEEN Method, Morgan Burch, for a powerful conversation about authenticity, isolation, and what actually makes relationships work. Together, they unpack why so many of us feel disconnected even when we’re surrounded by others, how fear and rumination can quietly shape our relationships, and the ways cancel culture and manipulation can push people into deeper isolation. Morgan breaks down the psychology behind feeling “separate,” how visualization can either heal or trap us, and what it really means to be emotionally safe with another person. From recognizing when you’re being pulled away from connection to learning the key foundations of healthy, successful relationships, this episode is about finding your way back to yourself — and to others — with clarity, compassion, and intention. Whether you’re navigating friendship shifts, romantic relationships, or just trying to feel less alone, this conversation offers grounding tools to help you reconnect. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Morgan Burch on Instagram @goodmorgantherapy  Follow Getting Better on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re talking: JVN’s West Coast tour, last minute hotel switches, scalp treatments, an astrological spelling bee, LOUISIANA v. CALLAIS, our White House Instagram feature, lipstick setting, and AG8! Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if burnout isn't a sign that you're broken—but that you've become disconnected from yourself? Jonathan Van Ness sits down with Qigong master and author Master Mingtong Gu to explore why so many of us feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and stuck in our heads—and how reconnecting with our bodies can help us find our way back. Together, they unpack what Qi actually is, why modern life keeps us disconnected, and how simple Qigong practices can help regulate stress, build resilience, and create more balance in everyday life. Plus, Master Mingtong leads JVN through guided exercises you can practice at home and shares his remarkable journey from chronic illness to becoming one of the world's leading Qigong teachers. Whether you're curious about energy work or simply looking for new tools to navigate stress, this conversation offers a grounded, compassionate approach to getting better. www.chicenter.com/master-mingtong/ Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Eric Sedeño on Instagram @ricotaquito Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week: we’re talking about CATS: The Jellicle Ball, weddings, maiden name lore, striving for excellence (not perfection), GLP-1 Spelling Bee, Alexia Moore’s arrest, sleep for memory, the North Atlantic current, and Broadway bootlegs.  Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour ⁠here⁠.  The Monday Edit, now on ⁠YouTube⁠!  Follow us on Instagram ⁠@gettingbetterwithjvn⁠ Jonathan on Instagram ⁠@jvn⁠ and senior producer Chris ⁠@amomentlikechris⁠  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Better Babes, we’re bringing the levity back! JVN sits down with comedic genius Eric Sedeño (host of Wild Wild Web, star of Tan’s Honorable Gays) to talk all things internet. From the TikTok trends that live rent-free in our brains to the cringiest posts we wish we could delete. Eric opens up about leaving his career as an art director to become a full-time content creator, the friendship that helped him take the leap, and why he leans into joy instead of doom-scrolling despair. Plus: Housewives rankings, cruise ship horror stories, Margaret Cho nostalgia, and a real conversation about self-compassion, fear, and putting yourself out there online. This week, JVN and Eric are getting better at output over input.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Eric Sedeño on Instagram @ricotaquito Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re talking: USA Air Quality, Erie, PA True Crime, Sculptra in South Korea, Getting Better at accepting where we’re at, hair transplants, Internet Spelling Bee Words, Jonathan Van News Desk, coming out in your 30s, and Madonna’s new album.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can someone really change their mind? This week on Getting Better, Jonathan sits down with singer, author, speaker, and activist Julianna Glasse to look at what it means to question everything you’ve ever believed. Julianna opens up about growing up in an evangelical Christian community, singing at Trump’s 2017 National Prayer Breakfast, and the painful process of walking away from the beliefs, career, and identity that once defined her. She shares the pivotal moments that challenged her understanding of LGBTQ+ people, the books and philosophers that expanded her thinking, and why curiosity became more powerful than certainty. Julianna’s book: This Is What Happens When Women Read is out this fall.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Julianna Glasse on Instagram @juliannaglasse Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ICYMI: This week: our first official TME Spelling Bee, Producer Nathanael learns the Tin whistle, we try the viral smoked salmon, talk GLP-1 & Cannabis usage, cover Mifepristone Access in the US over at the Jonathan Van News Desk, and drop this week’s Hot B*tch of the Week. The Monday Edit, now on ⁠YouTube⁠!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! ⁠www.patreon.com/jvn⁠  Follow us on Instagram ⁠@gettingbetterwithjvn⁠ Jonathan on Instagram ⁠@jvn⁠ and senior producer Chris ⁠@amomentlikechris⁠  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does the separation of church and state actually protect, and why does it matter to all of us? This week, Jonathan sits down with Americans United President & CEO Rachel Laser (who somehow balances leading one of the country’s foremost constitutional advocacy organizations while teaching yoga on the side) for a conversation about one of the most important (and often misunderstood) principles in American democracy. Together, they explore how the Constitution protects religious freedom, why those protections belong to everyone, and what happens when government and religion become too closely intertwined. Rachel breaks down the growing influence of Christian Nationalism, why patriotism isn’t the same as religious identity, and how some political movements are saying the quiet part out loud. They also discuss recent debates over displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools, the importance of creating space for every belief system, and why defending church-state separation is ultimately about protecting freedom…not limiting faith. Join the fight at www.au.org/better  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Americans United on Instagram @amercansunited Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week is all about your listener questions! We’re talking: asking for what you need up front, finding people to co-sign your BS, advice for young queer folk, work trip rendezvous, the Maine senate race, being left out, being a narcissist, loose skin, and some spelling advice!  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. Constitution can feel intimidating—but what if understanding it is one of the most empowering things you can do? This week, JVN sits down with constitutional law professor, legal scholar, and Strict Scrutiny co-host Melissa Murray to unpack what the Constitution actually says, how it’s evolved over time, and what it does to shape our daily lives here in the U.S. Together, they break down the myths, the amendments, and the big debates that continue to define U.S. democracy. From the origins of Prohibition to the long fight for women’s rights, Melissa explains why the Constitution was designed to change—and why “We the People” have always been central to that process. They also explore what rights the Constitution does (and doesn’t) guarantee, how constitutional amendments come to be, and what power ordinary people have to shape the country’s future. Get your copy of THE U.S. CONSTITUTION: AN ANNOTATED GUIDE FOR THE MODERN READER here Catch Strict Scrutiny wherever you get your podcasts! .  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Melissa Murray on Instagram @profmmurray   Follow Strict Scrutiny on Instagram @stricscrutinypodcast  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: Liza Meownelli Updates, Pride 2026, posture, AC, allergies, caffeine decreasing, workout faces, Carly Rae Jepsen’s new era, earthquakes, Janet Jackson, American Spelling Bee, the Supreme Court’s ruling on Damon Landor’s locks, anti-ICE protesters, Sunscreen Advice, Diet Cherry Coke, and Jordyn Woods' Bag.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down with actress, activist, performer, and NYC Pride Grand Marshal Peppermint for a conversation about the energy, joy, resilience, and community that make Pride so powerful. From starring in Survival of the Thickest to leading one of the world’s most iconic Pride celebrations, Peppermint shares what Pride means to her today, how the movement has evolved, and why joy remains one of the most important tools for building connection and creating change. Along the way, JVN and Peppermint dive into Pride history, the responsibility and excitement of being a Grand Marshal, what it means to be “the first,” and how we can all help create a future rooted in belonging. Plus: a gum health detour, baths vs. showers, some Peppermint’s Transcendence Tea, and why staying connected to our shared humanity matters now more than ever. Whether you’re celebrating Pride this month or looking for ways to build more community, courage, and joy in your everyday life, this episode is a reminder that Pride is more than a celebration - it’s a practice. Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Peppermint @peppermint247  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: Liza the Cat Updates, why the World Cup is low-key tea, hazards of cruising, Diet Coke erasure, JVN’s cannabis break, PRIDE Spelling Bee, the cage fight & the peeling reflection pool, sunscreen advice, a shoutout to JVN’s husband Mark, and the gay bat.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can we get a hallelujah? Maren Morris is here! This week, JVN sits down with Grammy-winning artist Maren Morris to celebrate the 10th anniversary of HERO and explore the lessons she’s learned about growth, courage, and staying curious along the way. From navigating difficult conversations across political divides to finding the confidence to speak up when it matters, Maren shares how using her voice has shaped both her career and her personal life. She opens up about motherhood, how raising her son has given her the opportunity to reparent herself, and why some of life’s biggest transformations happen when we’re willing to get uncomfortable. Together, JVN and Maren break down adult friendships, the importance of stepping outside our echo chambers, lessons learned from her mom, and what it really means to stay connected in an increasingly divided world. Plus - an iconic Dolly Parton story. Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Maren Morris on Instagram @marenmorris  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: hair content around the world, shopping in Seoul, more Midwest comedy dates, updates on Liza the cat, skin treatments in South Korea, Gemini season, riding the waves of weed sobriety, closing my rings on the Apple Watch, streak fixations, sitting with discomfort, blueberry smoothies, “mother” on TikTok who doesn’t use butter or olive oil when cooking, TikToker Denise, Music Spelling Bee, the UFC Fight Cage, Serena Williams return, and Hair Loss Hacks.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Y’all, let’s make a mug. Tap in.”  As we continue to thrive during Pride Month, JVN sits down with TikTok superstar Kaden Rowland, aka the “Staples Baddie,” to talk all things office supplies, retail life, and internet fame. From the joy of a perfectly stocked stationery aisle to the story behind her viral success, Kaden shares how her love of pens, planners, and customer service won over millions online. Along the way, they chat about creativity, home office trends, journaling, mental wellness, and staying authentic while navigating life on and off social media - stationary lovers, this one is for you!  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Kaeden Rowland (aka Oblivion)  on TikTok @blivxxx Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we're talking: Thoughts on the recent Queer Eyes news, an update on our Pet family, talking about trauma without becoming our trauma, getting better at grief, exciting developments in the JVN Hair camp, JVN & Mark’s Anniversary, TikTok roundup, JVN & Beyonce on bikes, our Office Supplies Spelling Bee Todd Blanch & the 1.776 Billion slush fund, CBS News, giving fade haircuts, “Best of the World,” and John Travolta.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy Pride Month!  This week on Getting Better, we’re heading backstage on Broadway for a dazzling deep dive into the artistry, creativity, and sheer magic that brings iconic productions to life. Jonathan sits down with the Hair & Makeup team behind the 9-Time Tony Nominated production of CATS: The Jellicle Ball: Makeup Designer Rania Zohny & Tony Award Winning Hair Designer, Nikiya Mathis. Together, they unpack the intricate process of designing for the stage - from creating unforgettable character transformations to building wigs and makeup looks that can withstand eight shows a week. Plus, they take us behind the curtain of the iconic “Memory” transformation and share what it really takes to create Broadway magic night after night. Whether you're a theatre kid, a beauty lover, or just someone who appreciates a fabulous transformation, this episode is serving artistry, history, and a whole lot of Pride. Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Instagram @catsjellicleball Follow Nikiya Mathis on Instagram @nikiyamathis   Follow Rania Zohny @raniasmakeup  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: JVN’s U.K. Tour, seaweed pressed scarfs, visits with grandparents & friends abroad, JVN Hair Wave Spray, Nando’s Peri Peri, “The Crash,” CATS Spelling Bee, over-packing, hot yoga, Obsession, stretching, January 6th rioters, alone time, and our hot bitch of the week! Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A lot of us have a complicated relationship with movement - blamed, shamed, or stuck in routines that don’t truly serve us. But what if movement wasn’t about perfection, punishment, or performance? What if it was a powerful tool for connection, self-care, and resilience? This week, we’re diving deep into the psychology behind group fitness and movement’s ability to heal, empower, and transform lives. From JVN’s personal journey of finding community through yoga and gymnastics to hosting a joy-filled adult gymnastics experience with Airbnb, he explores how movement can help us reclaim our mental health, confidence, and sense of belonging. We break down how to create inclusive, nurturing spaces that honor the whole person - taking into account family stress, gender identity, trauma, and systemic barriers - so movement becomes a source of liberation, not shame.  Dr. Tess Kilwein, a sports psychologist, is dedicated to making group fitness accessible and affirming for all bodies and minds. Her work on the psychology of movement shows us that movement is a radical act of self-love and collective healing. Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Dr. Tess Kilwein @unapologeticpsych  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Best selling author Anna Malaika Tubbs stops by to tell us all about her book, Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us and helps us hone in on real time examples of our Patriarchy is being weaponized today. Anna unpacks how the United States has constructed a unique - and often invisible - gendered hierarchy, one that is inextricably linked to whiteness and a deeply flawed binary system. From the founding fathers to the current Supreme Court, from the erasure of women in the Constitution to the ongoing fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, Dr. Tubbs reveals the mechanisms that have kept women’s contributions hidden and their voices suppressed. Anna Malaika Tubbs is a scholar, advocate, and bestselling author (The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation) whose work brings a fresh, urgent perspective on American history and its gendered systems. With a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Masters in Multidisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelors in Medical Anthropology from Stanford University, Anna translates her academic knowledge into clear and engaging stories. Her articles have been published by TIME Magazine, New York Magazine, CNN, Motherly, The Huffington Post, For Harriet, The Guardian, Darling Magazine, and Blavity. Anna’s storytelling also takes form in her talks, including her TED Talk that has been viewed 2 million times, as well as the scripted and unscripted screen projects she has in development. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, former Mayor of Stockton, CA Michael Tubbs  and their three young children. Follow Anna Malaika Tubbs Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and executive producer Chris @amomentlikechris  New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday.  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giving birth is a MAJOR medical event, and we're learning about how to get the best possible experience for YOU with Jen Hamilton, the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Birth Vibes . From birth plans and building the right support team to navigating fear, nursing, and the reality of “bad” birth stories online, Jen shares practical advice and compassionate insight for every kind of parent-to-be. Whether you’re considering a hospital birth, home birth, epidural, natural labor, VBACs, supporting someone going through their birthing process, or you have absolutely no idea where to start whatsoever, this episode is here to help you feel informed, confident, and supported through your pregnancy journey. BIO: Jen Hamilton is a labor and delivery nurse recognized for her expertise in maternal and newborn care. Drawing from frontline experiences, Hamilton guides families through childbirth, managing high-stakes scenarios that require precision, empathy, and rapid decision-making. Her ability to explain the complexities of labor and delivery, combining clinical knowledge with storytelling, has established her as a speaker who clarifies the childbirth process.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Jen Hamilton on Instagram @_jen_hamilton_ Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: Morning routine optimization, TikTok controversy analysis, Jen Hamilton's bestselling journey, The Sopranos, Lost, Lincoln Memorial Swimming Pool, Time travelers, and our Hot B*tch of the Week.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re unpacking the mindset of money with Mrs. Dow Jones (Haley Sacks)! What money mindsets will set you up for the most success? Why is "girl math" low-key not great? What is treat culture and a "money date?" What role does money play as a proxy for security, status, and self-worth? We're gonna figure out and get better money habits together! You don’t need to have everything figured out  - you just have to start somewhere. Catch Haley's podcast " Financial Tea" wherever you listen! Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour ⁠here⁠.  Full Video Episodes now available on ⁠YouTube⁠.  Follow Haley Sacks on Instagram ⁠@mrsdowjones ⁠ Follow us on Instagram ⁠@gettingbetterwithjvn⁠ Jonathan on Instagram ⁠@jvn⁠ Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: JVN’s UK tour, Sally Field lore, crossed wires over wifi, scarf game, Swedish Death Cleaning, Edie Beale, South Korea & Japan travel, a financial-themed Spelling Bee, “How My Mom Tried To Kill Me Pt. 4”, more True Crime, Hantavirus, HIV funding, Irish curls, Mother’s Day, and coffee!  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.    Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2026 will be BIG astrologically speaking… Discover how astrology is shaping the year's biggest shifts, both personally and globally, with renowned astrologer Aliza Kelly. From planetary movements to understanding your unique birth chart, explore practical ways astrology can guide you through 2026's transformative energies. Aliza Kelly is a renowned celebrity astrologer, author, columnist, and host of the podcast, AstroloTea! Catch Aliza in LA at The Elysian on May 14th, and in NYC at Joe’s Pub on July 14th.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Aliza Kelly on Instagram @alizakelly Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re talking: JVN’s West Coast tour, last minute hotel switches, scalp treatments, an astrological spelling bee, LOUISIANA v. CALLAIS, our White House Instagram feature, lipstick setting, and AG8! Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bienvenue a FRENCH KITTY CORNER! This week - we're giving you a sampling of our gorgeous Patreon show, FRENCH KITTY CORNER! Join  JVN & French Kitty (aka the beloved cat cookie jar "co-host" on the set of GETTING BETTER) for a Golden Girls style compilation of "FKC" - and don't forget to subscribe to our Patreon for all this PLUS BTS vlogs, house tours, city adventures, JVN Hair photoshoots - the works! feat. Jennifer Welch (02:07), Cheryl Porter (05:43), Chris Appleton (11:05), Aly & AJ (15:04), Dylan Mulvaney (19:09), & Heather McMahan (27:27) Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: JVN on the West Coast, responding vs. reacting, self diagnosing from TikTok, the cocaine salmon, gifting etiquette, a very French spelling bee, and of course - our HBOTW!  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy Earth Day! This week on Getting Better, Jonathan sits down with plant biologist, author, and educator Dr. Beronda Montgomery for a grounding conversation about nature’s healing power and America’s Black botanical legacy. Together, they explore why reconnecting with green spaces can be so transformative for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being, and how practices like urban gardening and container planting can help us build a more meaningful relationship with the natural world—no sprawling backyard required. Jonathan and Dr. Montgomery also dig into the deeper wisdom held in landscapes, plants, and history itself—examining interdependence, the ways trees and land can testify to the past, and the often-overlooked contributions of African Americans in botany and agriculture, alongside the foundational knowledge of Indigenous communities. They touch on the significance of willow trees, the meaning of Sankofa, and what it means to look back in order to carry wisdom forward in a powerful episode about healing, remembrance, purpose, and the responsibility of growing a better future together. Dr. Montgomery’s new book When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical History (Henry Holt, 2026) is out now.  BIO: Dr. Beronda L. Montgomery is a writer, science communicator, and researcher. She has spent more than 20 years in higher education, most recently as vice president for academic affairs (2022–2024) and professor of biology (2022–present) at Grinnell College. Montgomery studies how plants and photosynthetic bacteria perceive, respond to, and are impacted by environments in which they exist. She is the author of Lessons from Plants (Harvard University Press, 2021) as well as her newest book When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical History (Henry Holt, 2026). Trees stand at the intersection of plant knowledge, Black agricultural history, and collective memories of trauma and triumph intertwined. In When Trees Testify, Montgomery explores the roles that seven tree species—pecan, willow, oak, poplar, mulberry, sycamore, and apple—along with the cotton shrub have played in the lives of Black Americans from their enslavement in the United States to the present. She also explores the science of these plants as well as the sometimes-fraught relationship that African Americans have with agriculture and plants. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Dr. Beronda Montgomery on Instagram @beronda_m Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re talking: JetSet Pilates, JVN & Michelle Kwan Take Paris, Ulta Beauty World, Tina Knowles sightings, being triggered by Britney Spears mics, seeing folks from the Pretty Curious era, New York sized bees, what we’re getting better at this week, JVN’s continued worked on perfectionism, speaking on vocal fry, Alex v. Alix, 4/20 Spelling Bee letting go of friendships, HBOTW’s - French Pharmacy & CNP Laboratory, and Rachel Zegler’s Olivier Award Win.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.    Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Disagreements are everywhere right now - and let’s be honest, they can get messy fast. But what if arguing didn’t have to wreck your relationships… or your nervous system? This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down with Dr. Julia Minson, a Harvard decision scientist and leading expert on disagreements, to unpack why we clash, how we can do it better, and the small shifts that make a huge difference. From dinner table debates to full-on conflict spirals, we’re getting into the psychology behind why being “right” isn’t always the win you think it is. Together, they explore the gold standard for healthy disagreement, where conflict actually comes from, and the real-life tools you can start using today to stay grounded, curious, and connected - even when you deeply disagree. How to Disagree Better by Julia Minson out now! Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Dr. Julia Minson on Instagram @juliaminson  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week: we’ve compiled our favorite Monday Edit Spelling Bee’s for your listening pleasure! Regularly scheduled TME’s will be back next Monday - but don’t forget to tune in this Wednesday, April 15th for a brand new episode of Getting Better with Harvard decision scientist Julia Minson talking all about how to disagree better. Divaaaa, do we need that now more than ever or what?  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.    Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Conversion therapy is back in the headlines—and it may be closer to home than you think. Today, we’re unpacking the reality of conversion therapy: what it teaches, how it operates, and the lasting impact it can have on identity, spirituality, and healing. In light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Chiles v. Salazar, this conversation feels more urgent than ever. To help us do this, we have Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, author of the upcoming book Conversion Therapy Dropout (May 5).  Through Tim’s personal story, we explore the pull of religious spaces, the promise of belonging, and the painful unraveling that can follow. Note: This episode was recorded prior to the March 31 Supreme Court ruling. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Tim Schraeder Rodriguez on Instagram @timothy.s.rodriguez Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week: we’re talking about: What WE’RE Getting Better At, having a BIG GAY Spelling Bee, and the Supreme Ruling on Conversion Therapy.  Related Articles:  Lipstick Lesbian Controvery LeAnn Rimes Jaw Tension Conversion Therapy Dropout Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.    The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GLP-1... 4-LIFE? JVN is joined by Dr. Liz Kazarian for a candid conversation on GLP-1 medications, the future of obesity care, and JVN’s personal journey with the medication. They cover: Food tracking—helpful or harmful? How does family medicine shape patient care? Do you take GLP-1s forever? Plus - what it takes to sustain long-term health on this “miracle” medication.  Dr. Liz Kazarian is a board-certified family medicine physician specializing in obesity medicine, with a clinical focus on women’s health, preventive care, and chronic disease management. She earned her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Virginia. As part of PMA Health, Dr. Kazarian provides comprehensive, patient-centered care, with an emphasis on long-term wellness and individualized treatment plans. Her approach integrates lifestyle, behavioral, and medical strategies to support sustainable health outcomes, particularly in the treatment of obesity and related conditions. She sees patients in the Northern Virginia area and is committed to helping individuals build practical, lasting approaches to better health. Disclaimer:This episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment, including GLP-1 medications. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Dr. Kazarian on Instagram @drkazarian  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week: we’re talking about CATS: The Jellicle Ball, weddings, maiden name lore, striving for excellence (not perfection), GLP-1 Spelling Bee, Alexia Moore’s arrest, sleep for memory, the North Atlantic current, and Broadway bootlegs.  Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.    The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show them you can THRIVE.  Hey Better Babes! It’s my birthday week, and I’m sitting down with my of my BEST friends in the whole wide world - Dylan Mulvaney! Dylan opens up about thriving under pressure, Broadway’s SIX, and navigating fame, criticism, and identity in the public eye. In this episode, she shares powerful insights on self-love, mindfulness, and what it really takes to stay grounded while living online and in the spotlight. From paparazzi and privacy to personal growth, ayahuasca, and friendship—you better believe we’re gonna talk about it.  Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Dylan Mulvaney on Instagram @dylanmulvaney  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: JVN’s birthday, Inner Child Work, weekend milestones, hack-a-rella sickness, what WE’RE getting better at this week, Afroman on TikTok, Broadway-Themed Spelling Bee, covering up hickeys, Alexandra Paul & Animal Rights Activists, and Dunkin Donuts Banana Iced Coffees.  Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.    The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wondered why we lash out, shut down, or spiral emotionally, even when we don't want to? On this episode of Getting Better, JVN teams up with psychologist and author Dr. Nicole LePera (The Holistic Psychologist) to dive deep into inner child healing, parts work, and the shocking truth behind our nervous system's reactions. Dr. LePera reveals how our past molds our emotions, why connection is our biological imperative, and how to become your own adult parent. JVN opens up about their own "parts," and together they dissect black-and-white thinking, fear, and emotional overwhelm, uncovering real-world strategies to break free! If healing has ever felt messy, scary, or downright nonlinear, this conversation may help you truly "getting better." Dr. Nicole LePera's new book Reparenting the Inner Child: The New Science of Our Oldest Wounds and How to Heal Them is out March 24th. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Dr. Nicole LePera on Instagram @the.holistic.psychologist Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: Hot & Healed Comedy Tour, Double Take Trend, Reba on TikTok, Melodyne vs. Autotune, Candace Cameron-Bure Attending Demonic Sex Parties and telling everyone about it, St. Patrick’s Day Spelling Bee, Nick Fuentes on Women, Katie Couric’s “use it or lose it” Reporting, CBS, Save America Act,  to have a kid or not to have a kid, and protein pop-tarts.  Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.    The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if getting dressed could actually help you feel better? This week, JVN sits down with Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike to talk about dopamine dressing, personal style, and why fashion is so much deeper than just clothes. Together, they get into how to figure out what your style really is, why “everything is fashion,” and how vintage, retail, and finding a good deal can all shape the way we express ourselves. BIO: Named editor-in-chief of Marie Claire (US), Nikki Ogunnaike is among a new wave of women driving fresh relevance across fashion titles (The Washington Post saluted her and her peers in a recent collective profile). Previously at Harper’s Bazaar in the role of senior digital director, she has a strong following through social channels and an all-around style that resonates with younger readers. In this new chapter for the reliable women’s magazine, Ogunnaike’s direction signals broader representation of faces and voices through fashion, beauty and news coverage, while appearing sharper and more accessible than ever. Nikki is a Nigerian-American style expert who cut her teeth at publications such as Vanity Fair, InStyle, Glamour, ELLE, and GQ. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Nikki Ogunaike on Instagram @nikkiogun Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re talking: prepping for the Hot & Healed comedy tour, self-tape adventures, new Instagram follows, shopping quirks, our weekly spelling bee, dermatologist updates, geopolitical reflections on the military action Iran, answering your listener questions, and of course - our Hot B of the Week! The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when you meet someone who looks like your long-lost twin… and then they also have an iconic backstory to match?  JVN is joined by Matt Newman (aka MattLovesHair on social media) for one helluva delightful conversation. From photoshoot fiascos, an ANTM-era detour, and Matt’s origin story as an OG Drybar stylist. From there, it’s all the hits - strip club stories, “DollarStoreJVN,” frat hazing, first love, and how social media can shape (and sometimes warp) the way we see ourselves. Then we go deeper: how gender expression evolves, what it takes to feel safe being seen, and the confidence it requires to live more honestly—even when the world has opinions. And yes… JVN talks about potentially chopping their hair off, what it was like cutting their hair back in the day, and what it taught them about identity, control, and change. If you’ve ever felt like you were editing yourself to fit the room, this one will hit—and leave you feeling a little braver. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Matt Newman on Instagram @mattloveshair  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices