GETTING CURIOUS | What’s The Cultural History Of The Calorie? with Dr. Athia N. Choudhury
27 September 2023 - 1 hour 14 mins explicitWhat’s in a calorie? So much more than what you see on a box of cereal or a restaurant menu. The story of the nutritional calorie is the story of U.S. empire, dating back to the late 1800s when government agencies used it to determine just how little they could feed people in the military, prisons, asylums, and Native boarding schools. This week, Dr. Athia N. Choudhury joins Jonathan to discuss the history and politics of the calorie, and explains why counting on this metric—and wellness culture more generally—can be a “mundane kind of violence.”
A note from Dr. Choudhury and Team JVN: This discussion periodically includes the term “ob*sity.” When it is referenced, it is only to describe a...
How To Tap Into the Energy, Vibe, and Spirit of PRIDE 2026 — w/ Peppermint
explicitThis 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
39 mins
24 June Finished
What My Cannabis Break Taught Me, the Swampy Reflection Pool, PRIDE Spelling Bee, Sunscreen Daywear Tips
explicitThis 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
34 mins
22 June Finished
Maren Morris on Reparenting Herself and Being a Rebel with a Cause
explicitCan 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
38 mins
17 June Finished
How to Sit with Discomfort, UFC Cage Fight, Hair Loss Hacks
explicitThis 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
31 mins
15 June Finished
Why We Love Office Supplies w/ the "Staples Baddie"
explicit“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
33 mins
10 June Finished
How to Come From a Place of Gratitude, Navigating Grief, and an Office Supplies Spelling Bee
explicitThis 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
38 mins
8 June Finished