Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness

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.  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. 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 shar

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." 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 exc

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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 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.&nb

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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 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 “superi

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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 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 relat

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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 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 Episod

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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 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

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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 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 Pr

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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 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 protectin

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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices