Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

This episode of Getting Curious, we’ve got one of the HBICs of Betches Media - Sami Sage! As we anxiously countdown to the U.S. Presidential Election this November, we know we’re going to need to laugh a little along the way…enter Betches: Betches Media has been giving us the intel we need with an extra few dashes of humor for years, and as online momentum grows for the Harris/Walz campaign we wanted to know from Sami - an original meme queen - can memes pave the road to Presidential victory? Sami Sage is the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Betches Media, one of the earliest digitally native media and entertainment companies founded and led by women, and the most influential female-focused humor brand in the market today. Since 2011, the Betches founders have earned spots on The New York Times Bestseller List and Forbes 30 Under 30, and today, Betches offers entertainment, information, and a sense of community to millions of passionate millennial and Gen Z fans. In 2015, Sami helmed the creation of the company’s award-winning news and activism vertical Betches News, and in 2021 she debuted her award-winning daily news podcast the Morning Announcements. Recently, Sami co-authored the New York Times Bestseller Democracy in Retrograde ahead of a historic US presidential election. Alongside her co-founders, Sami also co-hosts the weekly pop culture podcast @Betches. You can follow Sami Sage on Instagram @sami and Betches on Instagram @betches. You can follow Betches News on Instagram @betches_news Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have the incredible hosts of the Breaking Beauty Podcast on Pretty Curious today - Jill Dunn & Carlene Higgins! We’re going all in on the behemoth, the almighty…TikTok Shop. Plus - they dropped some some amaaaaazing #DamnGood product recommendations you won’t want to miss. Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins, are two longtime beauty editors who have seen it all and swatched it all, and they’re here to tell you what’s good. Whether you’re searching for the latest insider-fave foundation, building a gimmick-free skincare routine, or interested in exploring culture through a beauty lens, tune in Breaking Beauty every Wednesday for epic guests like Makeup By Mario, Dr. Pimple Popper and Jonathan Van Ness. Breaking Beauty Podcast is on Instagram @breakingbeautypodcast Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins are also on Instagram @jilldunbeauty and @carlenehiggins Listen to Breaking Beauty Podcast here. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve ever picked up a National Geographic and skimmed across the gorgeous images that cover those pages - you’ve probably come across the work of our guest experts. This week, we’re coming to you with a LIVE! Getting Curious episode with THE preeminent nature photographers in the game about the risk and reward of their art, their conservation efforts, and how they support each other in the process like the power couple they are! Cristina "Mitty" Mittermeier, a visionary photographer, marine biologist, and avid conservationist, stands as a formidable force in the realm of environmental advocacy. In 2014 she, alongside her partner Paul Nicklen, co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a healthy and abundant ocean through powerful storytelling and impactful visual media. Through her lens, she conveys the delicate balance of natural ecosystems and the urgency to preserve these habitats that sustain a myriad of life. Her art, driven by a desire to make a difference, serves as a compelling call to action, illustrating the transformative power of photography in raising awareness and inspiring change. Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist who has documented the beauty and plight of our planet for more than thirty years. Through the power of the image and, just as importantly, emotion and raw power, his work has been singled out for creating a unique connection between image and viewer by featuring wild subjects in some of the most extreme conditions known on Earth. Nicklen is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and aligns with Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative on collaborative efforts to preserve the natural World. Nicklen has won more than 30 of conservation and photography’s most prestigious awards, including the BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the World Press Photo for Photojournalism. In 2019, Mr Nicklen became the youngest person inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame (IPHF). You can follow Cristina Mittermeier on Instagram @mitty and Paul Nicklen on Instagram @paulnicklen. For more information on SeaLegacy- check out their Instagram @SeaLegacy. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think Gilded Age hair is super 19th century? Uhhh - think again! The hairstyling practices and salon culture that we’ve come to know today draw major inspiration from the American salons of the Gilded Age (which of course drew inspiration from the French salons across the pond…vive la France)! What mysteries are hiding underneath the pompadour poofs of Gilded Age hair? Well wonder no more, because we’ve got a brilliant guest for you today to break it all down - Elizabeth Block! It’s giving history of hairdressing, Encyclopedia Beau-tannica vibes. Elizabeth Block, is an art historian and a Senior Editor in the Publications and Editorial Department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She holds a PhD in art history from The Graduate Center at the City University of New York, and a Masters in American Studies from Columbia University. She is the author of “Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion” and her new book “Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing” came out September 10th! Elizabeth Block is on Instagram @elizabethlblock and on TikTok at @elizabethlblock_author Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Destiny’s Child of constitutional law (aka Strict Scrutiny) is back on Getting Curious to help us digest and dissect all the wack-a-doodle nonsense that is: Project 2025. Leah Litman & Kate Shaw from the hit podcast Strict Scrutiny sat down with JVN to really parse out the MAGA manifesto. We’re talking all about Project 2025’s hallmark proposals, the key players involved, as well as tossing in some Supreme Court, Alito/Thomas updates for good measure. Leah Litman is an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School. She clerked for Judge Sutton on the Sixth Circuit and Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court. Leah researches and writes about constitutional law and federal courts. She also maintains an active pro bono practice (and she loves reality television). Kate Shaw is a Professor of Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in NYC. She teaches Constitutional Law, Legislation, Administrative Law, and a seminar on the Supreme Court, and writes about executive power, the law of democracy, and reproductive rights and justice. Before becoming a law professor she worked in the Obama White House Counsel’s Office, and before that was a clerk to Justice Stevens and Judge Posner. You can follow Strict Scrutiny on Twitter @StrictScrutiny_ and on Instagram @strictscrutinypodcast. For more information, check out crooked.com. Leah is on Twitter @LeahLitman and Instagram @profleahlitman. Kate is on Twitter @Kateashaw1 and Instagram @kateashaw. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Caroline Hirons, arguably the most important figure in British beauty, stopped by this week’s Pretty Curious and is holding serious court, babes. Caroline gives the best skin in the biz, and she’s breaking down all the goodness she’s got going on over at her skincare brand, Skin Rocks. Plus! We’re talking Gen Alpha skincare, English breakfasts, and just exactly how the “Caroline effect” has taken over the British beauty space. Caroline grew up around the beauty industry, as both her mother and grandmother worked in the industry. From her first day on the counter in Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, Caroline fell in love with skincare in particular and went on to qualify in beauty therapy, leaving the shop floor for more senior roles in 2001. After gaining a wealth of experience across all departments in the previous 10 years, Caroline moved to consulting for brands and retailers in 2008, working with and advising some of the top names in the industry. Launching her blog back in 2010, she quickly amassed the eyes and ears of millions. She's utilized all her knowledge to launch her own brand, which includes her Limited-Edition Kits of recommended products which sell out in hours as well as the Skin Rocks brand, which consists of the award winning skincare line and app. She’s also the host of the new beauty podcast, Glad We Had This Chat - which just wrapped up its first season! Caroline Hirons is on Instagram @carolinehirons and you can follow Skin Rocks @skinrocks Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. 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 looking for a man in politics. Thick thighs. 6’4”. Blue eyes. Abraham Lincoln, course - or as we’re lovingly referring to him on this episode: GAY-braham Lincoln. That’s right - today we’re exploring whether or not “America’s best president” was also a soft-top zaddy! And to do that - we’re bringing in experts from the upcoming film, Lover of Men. We’ve got Shaun Peterson (the director) and Thomas Balcerski (one of the film’s historians) joining JVN to give us the receipts, proof, timelines, screenshots, f*cking everything to figure out if President Lincoln was a little…ya know… Thomas Balcerski is a scholar of early American history. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. from SUNY Stony Brook, and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. He is author of Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King (Oxford University Press, 2019). Thomas is also one of the most cited Abraham Lincoln historians, and is featured in the new documentary: Lover of Men. Shaun Peterson got a B.A. in Film Production and Theater Arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Peterson has worked as an editor for MTV, VH1, and A&E. He directed his first feature film, Living In Missouri in 1999. He then started directing music videos for bands such as Train, Team Sleep, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Vendetta Red, and Low. Shaun is the director of the new documentary Lover of Men, Out September 6th. You can follow the Lover of Men on Instagram @loverofmenfilm or on loverofmen.com Lover of Men is proud to partner with The Human Rights Campaign. A portion of ticket sales from Lover of Men will directly benefit HRC when moviegoers use HRC’s custom ticket purchase link. Lover of Men is in theaters September 6th, 2024. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Buckle in, sweetie - we’re getting hot & steamy and going behind the paywall for a very special preview of our Apple Podcast Subscription show, “Ask JVN”! What’s Ask JVN, you ask? Well babes, it’s our scintillating little show where we talk about sex - and other things too. It’s giving Talk Sex With Sue Johanson. JVN & Chris (Producer on the Curious Pods), talk current events, TikToks that make us LOL, and answer all the burning questions you submit on Instagram & AskJVN.com. Is it rude to call your hookup a car when you want them to leave? How loud is too loud during sex? Am I delulu for wanting to hookup with my high school boyfriend? Tune in to find out…And if you have a burning question - you can always submit on Instagram & AskJVN.com. The lines are open! Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a group of far right influencers lurking on your social media feeds. They post organic recipes, millennial mom advice, and #glowups. And they’re using this content to promote white supremacist ideas. This week, Dr. Eviane Leidig joins us to discuss who these women are and how they’re spreading hate on social media. Dr. Eviane Leidig is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellow at Tilburg University. Her research specializes in the global far-right, gender, and online radicalization, recruitment, and propaganda. Her latest book, The Women of the Far Right: Social Media Influencers and Online Radicalization, is published by Columbia University Press. You can follow Dr. Leidig on Twitter @evianeleidig, and at www.evianeleidig.com. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fumiko Takatsu, creator of the Face Yoga Method, stopped by Pretty Curious to help JVN find some easy, physiological, and fun ways we can keep our faces looking and feeling hot- at any age! Fumiko gave us amazing insight into what it takes to be a leader in the field, and how she’s inspired and helped so many people with her techniques! For nearly two decades, Fumiko Takatsu’s Face Yoga Method has used her proven combination of breath, mindset, and Face Yoga Poses to revolutionize the way people treat the aging process. Recognized as the best in the industry, Fumiko has certified over 450 students in her Method and successfully built her female-led brand around the world. Additionally, Fumiko has published five books, two eBooks, a skin care line, blog, and multiple online Face Yoga Programs to help people embrace their natural beauty and aging. Fumiko Takatsu is on Instagram @fumikotakatsu and on the Face Yoga Method page @faceyogamethod & faceyogamethod.com Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you ever feel the need to “gather” someone online? Or maybe someone in your life? It’s perfectly human! But maybe we should think twice about how we go about making that correction - and how we can make it in the most loving way possible. To help you and us do that, we’ve got adrienne maree brown back on the pod! Following her 2020 visit to Getting Curious, adrienne is here to talk all about the ideas in her new book, Loving Corrections, and help all of us give and receive feedback better! adrienne maree brown grows healing ideas in public. Through her writing, which includes short- and long-form fiction, nonfiction, spells, tarot decks and poetry; her music, which includes songwriting, singing and immersive musical rituals; and her podcasts, including How to Survive the End of the World, Octavia’s Parables and The Emergent Strategy Podcast, adrienne has nurtured Emergent Strategy, Pleasure Activism, Radical Imagination and Transformative Justice as ideas, frameworks, networks and practices for transformation. Her work is informed by 25 years of social and environmental justice facilitation primarily supporting Black liberation, her path of teaching somatics, her love of Octavia E Butler and visionary fiction, and her work as a doula. She is the author/editor of several published texts including “Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change,” “Changing Worlds” (2017), “Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good” (2019), and “Grievers” (2021) and “Maroons” (2023), the first two novellas of her speculative fiction trilogy. Her newest book, “Loving Corrections,” will be published in August 2024. After a multinational childhood, adrienne lived in New York, Oakland and Detroit before landing in her current home of Durham, NC. She has been featured in all types of media, from “We Can Do Hard Things” with Glennon Doyle and “On Being with Krista Tippett,” to New York Magazine’s The Cut, atmos, Vulture, Shondaland, Lifekit, BBC, Bon Apétit, and many others -- including of course on our show back in 2020. Her new book: Loving Corrections, is out now. Related materials: "The Four Parts of Accountability & How To Give A Genuine Apology" by Mia Mingus You can follow adrienne on Instagram @adriennemareebrown and on adrienne’s website adriennemareebrown.net. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com& Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re not a little bit obsessed with Nécessaire, we’re big-BIG time obsessed with Nécessaire and its co-founder, Randi Christiansen! Bodycare, one of the more niche corners of the beauty industry, is beyond important to our wellbeing. After all, as Randi says, “skin doesn’t stop at the neck!” Plus, we’ve got a JVN Hair Update, a word to the wise for all of you extension girlies about the scalp damage you could be facing, and the 411 on heatless rollers! Randi Christiansen is the CEO and co-founder of Nécessaire. Prior to Nécessaire, she had a 15-year career at Estee Lauder Companies, where she helped build and scale brands across the portfolio including iconic places like La Mer, Estee Lauder, and ELC Ventures. She holds a MSC in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School. Nécessaire is on Instagram @necessaire and online at necessaire.com. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. 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 telling the truth, the HOLE truth, and nothing BUTT the truth this week. It’s all about anal health today on the pod, and we’re sitting down with one of the most esteemed butt doctors in the biz: Dr. Evan Goldstein - or as we call him “the Robin Hood of anal.” Dr. Goldstein is here to get us together and answer all the burning questions - literally. How do we wipe? What is the scoop on fiber? And what is a fistula? Asking for a friend… Dr. Goldstein is the founder and CEO of Bespoke Surgical – a first of its kind health practice specializing in gay men's sexual health and wellness. He is one of the few surgeons dedicated to treating and restoring the human butt, and as a gay man, he understands both the physical challenges of anal play and recognizes the psychological and emotional issues that get in the way of engaging successfully and pleasurably. Dr. Goldstein has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Well+Good, Men’s Health, Howard Stern, and more. His new book, “Butt Seriously: The Definitive Guide to Anal Health, Pleasure, and Everything In Between” is a refreshingly inclusive and sex-positive, backdoor bible for anyone looking to uplevel their sex life. You can follow Dr. Evan Goldstein on Instagram @drevangoldstein. You can also follow Bespoke Surgical on Instagram @bespokesurgical. Bespoke Surgical is on TikTok @bespokesurgical. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Princess Diana. Lady Gaga. Tilda Swinton. No, this is not a fever dream, it’s just a sampling of the illustrious career of the awe-inspiring hairstylist, Sam McKnight - this week’s Pretty Curious guest! Buckle your seat beats, sweeties, JVN sat down with the iconic and truly one-of-one creative to pick his brain about navigating such an unbelievable and influential career. This episode is giving you 90s fashion lore, hot takes on the media's portrayal of the fashion industry, and some major gardening tips & tricks. Sam McKnight, MBE is renowned for creating the hair looks that every woman wants. From his signature, ‘Cool Girl’ effortlessly undone textured hair (the poster child of who is his long-term collaborator and friend, Kate Moss) to his fashionably timeless, elevated looks that reflect his rebellious spirit, to his handmade couture wigs, to red carpet sophistication. Sam’s unparalleled portfolio of work reads like a who’s-who of high-fashion and A-list celebrity. His ethos has attracted an unparalleled list of celebrity clients including Jodie Comer, Cate Blanchett, The Hadid Sisters, Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner, Emilia Clarke, Cara Delevingne, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, Tilda Swinton and, of course, Sam was Princess Diana’s private hair stylist for seven years. Sam has presided over iconic fashion moments of the past four decades and continues to be responsible for culture-defining hair looks that make him one of the most in-demand artists. Sam McKnight is on Instagram @sammcknight1 & @hairbysammcknight Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Getting Curious, we’ve got THE Olympic runner to watch - Nikki Hiltz! This episode is coming to you on the eve of their race at the Women’s 1500m semifinals, but JVN caught up with Nikki in the salon chair for a podium worthy haircut just before Nikki left for gay Paris! We're talking track & field 101, how Nikki shows up as their authentic self in every race, and what exactly IS a steeplechase? Nikki Hiltz is a nonbinary professional track and field athlete and is the first openly nonbinary runner to win a USA Track and Field championship title. The middle-distance specialist is an Olympian, 6 time National Champion, World Indoor Silver Medalist, Pan American Games gold medalist and American Record Holder in the mile. Nikki is also a vocal advocate for equal rights, particularly passionate about making the sport of running more inclusive and fundraising for services that support the young LGBTQIA+ community. In 2020, they founded the Pride 5K, a race which supports LGBTQIA+ nonprofits. Hiltz’s annual event has raised over $162,000 and they are currently planning the fifth iteration of the event in 2024. You can follow Nikki on Instagram @nikkihiltz or on TikTok @Nikki_Hiltz. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've got makeup artist extraordinaire Keita Moore on the pod today, sharing everything you need to know about finding THE foundation for you! Whether you’re a makeup novice or a glam aficionado, Keita's quick tips & sage advice are not to be missed! We're diving into skin prep for the best makeup coverage, color matching, and how to sanitize that ancient palette in your rotation. Keita Moore is one of the most sought-after makeup artists in the industry with dual bases in both New York City and Los Angeles. Keita has established himself as a true master of his craft, with a passion for transforming faces into stunning works of art. Whether he's working his magic on the red carpet, in music videos, at high-profile press events, or for striking editorial shoots, Keita's skillful artistry shines through, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he works with. Among his extensive list of celebrity clients are some of the most iconic figures in the entertainment industry, including Janelle Monae, Kelly Rowland, Iman, Tessa Thompson, and Yara Shahidi, just to name a few. Keita's work can also be seen on the covers and pages of esteemed publications such as Vogue, Elle, Interview, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, InStyle, and W Magazine, further solidifying his status as an influential force in the beauty industry. Keita Moore is on Instagram @kilprity and on TikTok @kilprity Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve ever seen a “What I Eat In A Day” video, glanced at a tabloid in the checkout lane, or even turned on the TV, you’re likely familiar with the problematic and often toxic messaging about food and our relationship with it. JVN and Emmeline Clein delve into the complexities of eating disorders, shedding light on their often misunderstood and stigmatized nature and how they’re deeply embedded in our culture. Emmeline, both in this episode and in her book Dead Weight, advocates for a more holistic and compassionate approach to the subject. Note: This episode covers topics related to eating disorders, including disordered eating behaviors, body image, and related struggles. These subjects are sensitive, so please take care when listening. Emmeline Clein’s writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Yale Review, The Nation, Smithsonian, Berlin Quarterly, VICE, BuzzFeed, Catapult and Antigravity, among other publications. Her chapbook Toxic was published by Choo Choo Press in 2022. She received her MFA from Columbia University’s School of the Arts and she lives in New York. Her first book, Dead Weight, is out now. You can follow Emmeline on Instagram @emmelc or on X @emmelclein. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Pretty Curious, JVN and Samantha Barry, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour Magazine, delve into the intersections of beauty, politics, and media - and how Samantha’s extensive newsroom background primed her for magazine leadership. They’re talking: Gen Alpha skincare, the ever evolving media landscape, and how to find County Cork, Ireland relative to the palm of your hand. Samantha Barry is the Americas Editorial Director of Glamour Magazine, where she oversees content development and consumer experiences across the brand’s digital, social, video and print platforms. Barry has served as editor-in-chief of Glamour U.S. since 2018, where she has transformed the annual Women of the Year Awards, led the brand to reach record-breaking monthly audiences, and grown video across platforms. She joined Glamour from CNN Worldwide, where she served as executive producer for social and emerging media. Prior to that, Samantha was a social media producer and journalist for BBC World News in London. Samantha Barry is on Instagram @sambarry and you can follow Glamour Magazine @glamourmag Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Curious People…the Summer Olympics are finally upon us!!! As we prepare for the most major event of the season, we also get curious about how Olympians prepare. Robert Andrews joins Jonathan to talk about working with countless elite athletes– including Simone Biles–to eliminate stress in their lives so they can focus on their sport. The two go deep into the world of Sports Psychology: what goes on in the brain when you incur an injury, quieting the pressures that surround competition, and sports that encourage lifting each other up. Plus, CORE mapping and how you can apply the tenets of Robert’s work to your own life. Robert Andrews is the founder and director of The Institute of Sports Performance in Houston, Texas who has 30 years of experience in private practice as a mental training consultant and licensed therapist. Robert has worked with Olympians and Olympic hopefuls in the last five Summer Olympic Games, contributing to the success of numerous athletes who have clinched Olympic Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals and World Championships. His expertise spans 11 countries and 13 sports, including men’s and women’s gymnastics, trampoline, swimming, diving, basketball, fencing, judo, track & field (sprints, pole vault, and middle distance), and rhythmic gymnastics. The Institute of Sports Performance is online at https://tinssp.com/ Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Red Light Therapy is all the rage…but what exactly is it? The legendary Dr. Barbara Sturm is here to tell Jonathan ALL about it. The two go deep into the science of inflammation, the difference between Red and Blue Light Therapy, Dr. Sturm’s iconic Blood Facial, and more! Then the two talk all about what to take to build a brand that lasts based on highly-researched formulas that really work. Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German doctor, orthopedics specialist, aesthetics expert and an anti-inflammatory pioneer. Dr. Sturm brought her experience in joint tissue inflammation into aesthetics in 2012, creating her MCX facial treatment, which is now recognized by many as the ‘Blood Facial.’ In 2014, her full anti-inflammatory collection, Molecular Cosmetics, was born. Today, Dr. Sturm has seven Spas & Boutiques worldwide, which are home to her high-performance treatments and serve as education hubs for her patients. Dr. Sturm is on Instagram @drbarbarasturm and online at drsturm.com. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year?? Gretchen Rubin is back with Jonathan to check in on our New Year's resolutions. We get real about how difficult it can be to find balance in our chaotic world, and the importance of finding fulfillment because after all, happy people are engaged people. We learn all about how Jonathan’s been relating to social media, Gretchen’s heated socks, and how to use our tendencies to reinvest in our goals. Plus, Gretchen shares the research she and her team has conducted with the Habits for Happiness Quiz. Gretchen Rubin is the author of many bestselling books, such as The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, and The Four Tendencies, which have sold millions of copies in more than thirty languages. Her most recent book is Life in Five Senses. She’s also host of the popular podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and founder of award-winning Happier app, which helps people track their happiness-boosting habits. You can follow Gretchen on Instagram @gretchenrubin. You can find more information about Gretchen, here and you can listen to Happier wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jess & Jenn from Fat Mascara are here for the beauty podcasting collab of the century! We talk about the evolution of beauty related media, how they’ve seen the industry change, and all the major tips & tricks they’ve picked up from all the founders and icons they’ve interviewed throughout the years. Plus, Y2K nostalgia, chunky highlights, and the beauty counters of their childhoods. Hosts (and friends) Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Sullivan are the hosts of the incredible beauty podcast, Fat Mascara. Fat Mascara leads the global beauty conversation with candor, humor, and unparalleled access to the celebrities, experts, and industry insiders who make the beauty world turn. They’re giving you sharp analysis of the news and trends, advice, and product recommendations on Wednesdays. And on Fridays, they interview people involved in the big business of beauty like Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian, and Jessica Alba, as well as makeup artists, hair stylists, and other industry experts. Listen to Fat Mascara wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Fat Mascara on Instagram @fatmascara. Jess is on Instagram @jessicamatlin and Jenn is on Instagram @jenn_edit. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are getting into all the Shark Week fun here on Getting Curious with Dr. Gavin Naylor! Jonathan and Gavin dive deep into all things sharks: Are attacks really becoming more common, or is that just our perception? Why are there only 530 species of sharks, and what makes them so resilient? What does intrauterine cannibalism mean? And Dr. Naylor tells us about how he’s able to study the marvels of evolutionary biology through his focus on sharks and what makes them so unique. Dr. Gavin Naylor is the director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History. He focuses his research on evolution, genetics, biogeography and the natural history of sharks. Dr. Naylor is also interested in the exploration of the biodiversity of sharks and rays, phylogenetic inference, protein folding, molecular evolution and the origin of architectural novelty. You can follow the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History on Instagram and YouTube @FloridaMuseum Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re anything like us, then you have endless burning questions about acupuncture: How exactly does it work? Can it relieve my stress? Indigestion? Headaches? Chronic pain? Acne? Dr. Eileen Li joins Jonathan to answer all this…and more! She shares her approach to treating the body’s whole health with both a Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine perspective, and how acupuncture can bring out our inner beauty. Plus, are Blue Zone Diets all they’re cracked up to be? Dr. Eileen Li is a second generation licensed acupuncturist & Chinese medicine herbalist, and licensed physical therapist. Her journey began as a physical therapist, obtaining a clinical doctorate at Simmons University in Boston, MA. From there, she worked in the physical rehabilitation field specializing in chronic pain research, pediatrics, geriatrics, inpatient psychiatry, and schools. She then decided to further pursue a career in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. With ten years of clinical experience from all different facets of healthcare practices, Dr. Li continues to expand her knowledge as our medicine evolves and specializes in orthopedics, chronic and acute pain, anxiety, sleep, stress, digestive issues, and general wellness. Follow Dr. Eileen Li on Instagram and TikTok @anew.acu. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi is here to tell us all about the major policy efforts that are making historic gains in the fight against climate change. Jonathan and Ali cover it all: from Ali’s journey to this work, to environmental justice concerns, to the many ways in which investing in these policies help strengthen local economies. Plus, how people just like you can get involved in a greener future with the American Climate Corps, which trains young people in clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience skills to help tackle the climate crisis. Ali Zaidi serves as Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor. In this role, he leads the White House Climate Policy Office, which coordinates policy development and President Biden’s all-of-government approach to tackle the climate crisis, create good-paying union jobs, and advance environmental justice. Zaidi helped design and negotiate the President’s historic climate and clean energy investment agenda – including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Zaidi has also worked for the Obama Administration and the state of New York. Ali immigrated from Pakistan and grew up outside Erie, Pennsylvania. He received an A.B. from Harvard University and J.D. from Georgetown University. You can follow Ali Zaidi on X @alizaidi46. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessie & Lennie Ware sat down with JVN for a good old chit-chat on their podcast Table Manners, and we’re bringing you some highlights from that incredible conversation, plus some of our standard Pretty Curious fare! We go deep on how Jessie puts together looks for her album covers, Lennie’s classic red lip, and Whitney Houston’s “I Look To You.” Plus, does Jessie think vocal rest is meh or MAJOR? Jessie Ware is an English singer and songwriter. She came to prominence following the release of her 2012 debut studio album, Devotion. Her fifth studio album, That! Feels Good! just came out last year. Jessie has won seven Brit Awards nominations including one for Best New Artist and four for British Female Solo Artist and two Mercury Prize nominations. In 2018, Jessie and her mom Lennie began co-hosting the Table Manners podcast all about family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat. Jessie Ware is on Instagram and TikTok @jessieware. Follow Table Manners on Instagram @tablemannerspodcast and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan and Alan recently met at Adele’s Vegas residency show and were instantly obsessed with each other! The two sit down for a truly delightful conversation about the journey of Alan’s career from working as a call center operator to becoming a UK comedy icon. The two chat about what it’s like to be a gay comedian, The Friday Night Project, and the challenges of working out new material as an established voice. Plus: Amy Weinhouse, Australian accents, and Drag Race UK! Alan Carr is a comedian, broadcaster, and writer. Alan has won three British Comedy Awards, two National Television Awards, and a BAFTA TV Award. Alan can be seen presenting his hit panel show There’s Something About Movies on Sky One, hosting BBC One's Interior Design Masters, and guest judging on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. He’s also the host of the Life’s A Beach Podcast. You can follow Alan Carr on Instagram @chattyman, and the Life’s A Beach Podcast @lifesabeach.podcast. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Desiree Verdejo took a leap of faith: she left the grind of New York corporate law and opened a boutique in Harlem, which eventually led her to found Hyper! skincare. Desiree joins Jonathan to talk all about how she made this massive pivot over time and to follow your own instincts. Plus the two go deep on hyperpigmentation for sensitive skin of all shades, ingredients and formulas, and what’s next for the brand. After leaving the world of corporate law, Desiree Verdejo moved to Harlem to open a beauty boutique specializing in Black-owned indie brands. She began to notice a hole in the market, which inspired her to launch the brand Hyper! – a skincare line focused on targeting hyperpigmentation for deeper skin tones and sensitive skin types. Hyper! was an Allure Best of Beauty 2022 award winner. Follow Hyper! on Instagram and TikTok @hyperskin. Desiree is on Instagram and TikTok @desiree.verdejo. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know that between 2006 and 2016, 58% of bars, pubs, and nightclubs that catered to the LGBTQ community closed in London? Sociologist Amin Ghaziani joins Jonathan to explain this phenomena and how the queer community is adapting. The two dig deep into how the norms of the typical gay bar often exclude already marginalized folks in the LGTBQ community, the underground parties like Buttmitzvah and Femmetopia that have filled this void, and the experimental economic models these parties use to disrupt capitalism. Plus, the deep importance of uplifting queer JOY! Amin Ghaziani is Professor of Sociology at UBC, Canada Research Chair in Urban Sexualities, and co-editor of Contexts, the public-facing magazine of the American Sociological Association. Amin has written and edited 6 books and over 60 academic articles, book chapters, and essays, many of which he has published in top disciplinary and subfield journals. He’s won several awards, including a Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best Book in LGBT Studies. Amin’s been featured in places like The New Yorker, Time magazine, BBC Radio 4, CBC Radio, and The New York Times, among others. His latest book “Long Live Queer Nightlife: How the Closing of Gay Bars Sparked a Revolution” was just published in the US on March 26th. You can follow Amin on Instagram and X @amin_ghaziani. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. 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 have Carol’s Daughter founder, Lisa Price! Lisa tells Jonathan about her decades-long journey to lasting success: from back in the early days when she made and sold products out of her kitchen at a time when there were barely any natural hair products on the shelves, all the way through being inducted into the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. Plus, being on the Oprah Winfrey show, how scent and product are inextricably linked, and an iconic vintage beauty memory. Lisa Price started Carol’s Daughter out of her kitchen in 1993, and now the brand has over 300 aromatic products for the face, hair, body and home. Her clientele include celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith, Halle Berry, Chaka Khan and Oprah Winfrey. During the Obama administration, Lisa was appointed to the National Women’s Business Council. She is also the author of “Success Never Smelled So Sweet,” a memoir that chronicles her transformation from a young Black woman deep in debt to president of a paradigm-changing business. In 2021, Carol’s Daughter partnered with the world-renown doula Latham Thomas to launch Love Delivered, an initiative focused on raising awareness of the Black Maternal Health Crisis in the United States. Lisa is also a part of the Executive Committee at L’Oreal USA giving her perspective on Black culture, diversity equality and inclusion and organizational topics. Follow Lisa Price on Instagram @iamlisaprice and Carol’s Daughter on Instagram @carolsdaughter. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Neil J. Young is here to answer all our burning questions about the history of gay people within the Republican party! Neil and Jonathan go back to the Mattachine Society in the 1950s and the beginnings of the Log Cabin Republicans in the late 1970s when neither political party accepted homosexuality. Then the two examine how gay Republicans were instrumental in taking down Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and advancing the legalization of same-sex marriage. Plus, we touch on the current mindset of this often disregarded group to better understand their political and personal motivations. Neil J. Young is an award-winning historian, writer, podcaster, and author. Neil formerly served as a contributing columnist for The Week and, before that, an opinion columnist for HuffPost. He writes frequently for leading publications, including the Washington Post, the Atlantic, CNN, the Los Angeles Times, Vox, Politico, Slate, and the New York Times. Neil co-hosts and produces the popular history podcast, Past Present. His latest book, “Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right” just came out in April. You can follow Neil on X and Instagram @NeilJYoung17. Check out the Past Present Pod archive on Apple Podcasts and X. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know that the looks for Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball Tour, Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale Tour, Katy Perry’s Vegas Residency, and Cirque du Soleil were all created by ONE design genius? It’s true! ZALDY is the artist behind this incredible oeuvre…and our guest on Pretty Curious. ZALDY tells Jonathan all about his journey from model to designer, meeting Ru Paul in their Club Kid days, and how the industry has evolved since then. Plus, the two geek out over all things Olympics! ZALDY is a fashion designer based in New York City. Since launching his own namesake clothing line in 2002, ZALDY has designed both stagewear and one-of-a-kind looks for Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Cirque du Soleil, and others. He served as the head designer for Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. collection and won an Emmy in Costume Design in 2019 for his work on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Follow ZALDY on Instagram @zaldynyc. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. 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, Curious People! We’re kicking the month off by talking with Angela Chen about the often overlooked “A” in LGBTQIA+. Angela lays down the basics of asexuality, then she and Jonathan talk more deeply about how the "Ace" perspective can offer everyone a new lens through which to think about their relationships to romance, sex, desire, and culture. Plus, compulsory sexuality and its MAJOR role in our cultural understandings of sex. Angela Chen is a journalist, editor, and author. She’s worked as a senior editor at WIRED, a staff reporter at The Wall Street Journal, Vox Media’s The Verge, and MIT Technology Review. Her reporting and essays have also appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Paris Review, Chronicle of Higher Education, Lapham's Quarterly, National Geographic, and more. She is also the author of Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex. You can follow Angela on X @chengela or on Instagram @angelaetcetera. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. 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 MAJOR fans of Irene Neuwirth Jewelry, known for her one-of-a-kind and incredibly gorgeous pieces! Irene tells Jonathan the story of her slow and steady journey from hobbyist at local gem shows to crafting unique pieces for major celebrities. She shares all that inspires her creative vision from her mother’s influence as a painter, to mixing and matching gems in playful ways that break traditional rules of jewelry making, and even the thought behind her individualized packaging. Plus, that time as a young designer when she broke a rare opal! Irene Neuwirth is a jewelry designer from Los Angeles. She began experimenting with jewelry design after college and soon after she found herself inundated with requests for her one-of-a-kind pieces. In 2003, with business partner Tracy Stoll, Irene Neuwirth Jewelry was born. Her jewelry has been worn by celebrities like Naomi Watts, Tracee Ellis Ross, Julianne Moore, Sarah Paulson, and Busy Philipps, and her work has been featured in publications like Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country, W, and The New York Times. Today the collection can be found at their flagship stores in Los Angeles, New York City, as well as leading boutiques across the globe. Follow Irene Neuwirth Jewelry on Instagram @ireneneuwirth. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what’s up with double negation, the history of gender neutral pronouns, or why swearing is taboo? Then get ready for this week’s guest, linguist Anne Curzan! Anne and Jonathan talk about how the English language has evolved since the 1300s and how our words are SO powerful because of their central role in our identities and communities. Plus, we talk about how to be a more generous speaker, listener, and caretaker of language. Anne Curzan is the Dean of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan, where she also teaches courses on the history of English, English grammar, language and gender, and the dynamics of conversations. She is a trained linguist and historian of the English language. Her TEDx talk at UM called “What makes a word ‘real’?” has over 2 million views on the national TED site. She earned her B.A. in linguistics from Yale University and her Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Michigan. Her book “Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words” came out on March 26th. You can follow Anne on Instagram at @annecurzan and find more information about her book on Penguin Random House. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Allure Editor in Chief Jessica Cruel just got back from a trip to South Korea and is ready to share all the latest beauty recs from her travels with us! Jessica and Jonathan go deep on her journey to Allure, what she’s seen change in the industry, and where she thinks the future lies. Plus, who better than this Best of Beauty expert to get real with us when it comes to which products are meh and which are MAJOR? Jessica Cruel is the editor-in-chief of Allure, where she leads the development of multi-platform editorial content for digital, social, and video platforms, including the Readers' Choice Awards and Best of Beauty Awards franchises. Jessica joined Allure in 2019, before becoming EIC in 2021. That same year, she spearheaded The Melanin Edit, an Allure platform exploring all things relating to Black beauty and wellness. Prior to joining Allure, Jessica also held editorial roles at Refinery29, SELF, and Popsugar. Follow Jessica on Instagram @jcruel. Allure is on Instagram @allure and online at allure.com. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. 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 all so used to turning to our phones for information, but how exactly does it travel across the internet…and what happens if that information is wrong? Renée DiResta is the perfect expert to break it all down for us! Jonathan and Renée dig into the differences and potential dangers of misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. From generative AI and Father Coughlin, to political polarization and being subpoenaed by Jim Jordan, we cover it all. Renée DiResta is the Research Manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory where she investigates the spread of malign narratives across social networks, and assists policymakers in understanding and responding to the problem. She has advised Congress, the State Department, and other academic, civic, and business organizations, and has studied disinformation and computational propaganda in the context of pseudoscience conspiracies, terrorism, and state-sponsored information warfare. Her latest book, “Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality” is out on June 11th. You can follow Renée on Threads @renee.diresta and on LinkedIn. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re as obsessed with Dieux Skin’s Forever Eye Mask as we are, then this episode is for you! Co-founder Charlotte Palermino joins Jonathan to share her unique perspective on the beauty industry. From developing brand loyalty through offering products you only need to purchase once, to how we can spot misinformation in a world overflowing with hot new trends, we go deep into how to be a discerning consumer and find the formulas that are best for your unique skin. Charlotte Palermino is a licensed esthetician and the CEO & co-founder of Dieux Skin. After 10 years working in media, building audiences and creating brand equity for award-winning publishers and Fortune 500 companies, Charlotte made the switch to skincare. When she’s not talking about skincare, Charlotte also writes about beauty, food, and culture for publications like The Cut, ELLE.com, Cosmopolitan and Bon Appétit. Charlotte is on Instagram and TikTok @charlotteparler. Follow Dieux on Instagram @dieuxskin. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Osamah Khalil is back to tell us all about what was happening in this period of history from the 80s to the very beginning of the new millennium. From the Cold War conservatism of the Regan administration to the Camp David Summit at the end of the Clinton presidency and everyyyyything in between, Jonathan and Osamah walk through these critical few decades and trace the common threads. Plus, we’ll pick up at the beginning of the Bush administration in our upcoming Part 3 episode! Dr. Osamah Khalil is a historian of U.S. foreign relations and chair of the international relations program at Syracuse University. He’s a frequent media commentator and contributor for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, NPR, USA Today, PBS Newshour, The Hill, and Al Jazeera. His new book “A World of Enemies: America’s Wars at Home and Abroad from Kennedy to Biden” is available now. You can find Osamah on X @Osamah_Khalil. You can find more information about his first book, America’s Dream Palace, here. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. 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 getting personal on this episode of Pretty Curious with Jonthan’s dermatologist, Dr. Ali Shahbaz! The two walk through Jonthan’s psoriasis journey and along the way, Dr. Shahbaz answers all our questions like what are the different types of psoriasis, what are some common triggers for flare-ups, and what are the best treatment options? Plus, Dr. Shahbaz shares the foundations for skin health, fills us in on all the latest technological advances, and busts myths around the so-called rules of aesthetics in the dermatological space. Dr. Ali Shahbaz is a double Board-Certified Dermatologist. Dr. Shahbaz received his undergraduate of Honors in Bachelor of Medical Science at Western University. He then attended The University of Ottawa School of Medicine in Ottawa. Dr. Shahbaz specializes in medical, procedural and cosmetic dermatology. He enjoys treating patients of all ages and skin types. Dr. Shahbaz is on Instagram @alishahbazmd_. Follow Westlake Dermatology on Instagram @westlakedermatology or online at westlakedermatology.com. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seth and Lauren Rogen are on the pod this week to talk with Jonathan all about their incredible organization Hilarity for Charity that’s on a mission to care for families impacted by Alzheimer's disease. Lauren tells the story of how her personal connection to Alzheimer’s joined forces with the pair’s careers in comedy to make a big impact. Plus, we go deep on the science of the disease, the importance of bringing levity to heartbreak, and how to keep your brain healthy. Seth Rogen is an award winning actor, writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He’s known for his recent work in Hulu’s Emmy Award-winning series Pam & Tommy, the Academy Award-nominated film The Fablemans, and he currently stars in and produces an Apple TV+ Untitled comedy series. Beyond the camera, Rogen became a New York Times best-selling author for his first book, Yearbook. He also is the co-founder of Houseplant, a Canadian cannabis company that creates products like ashtrays and rolling trays that are beautiful works of art. Lauren Miller Rogen is a screenwriter, director, producer, and philanthropist. She starred in, co-wrote, and produced For A Good Time Call, and directed the film Like Father. Lauren has served as the Alzheimer’s patient advocate on the board of California’s Institute of Regenerative Medicine, sits on the California Alzheimer’s Task Force, and the Steering Committee of the Milken Institute’s Alliance to Improve Dementia Care. In 2012, Lauren and Seth co-founded Hilarity for Charity, a national non-profit organization on a mission to care for families impacted by Alzheimer's disease, activate the next generation of Alzheimer's advocates, and be a leader in brain health education. You can find Hilarity for Charity on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn @wearehfc. Seth is on X & Instagram @sethrogen and Lauren on X @IamLaurenMillerRogen & Instagram @laurenmillerrogen. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Start filling the tub and light a candle! This week, we’re talking all about Pursoma’s specialty bath soaks and body treatments with founder and CEO, Shannon Vaughn. Jonathan and Shannon go deep on the importance of ritual bathing and digital detox, the process of salt harvesting, and how baths can improve our sleep. Shannon Vaughn is the founder and CEO of Pursoma, a wellness company that aims to help you live a healthier life by creating products like bath soaks and body oils, designed to detoxify and rejuvenate your body and mind. Pursoma is on Instagram @pursoma and online at pursomalife.com. Follow Shannon on Instagram @shannonvaughn_. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know that in ancient Greece, the stereotype that women were “overly emotional” came from the false idea of a “wandering womb?” Neither did we! Dr. Karen Tang joins Jonathan to go deep on the long history of stigma and shame around gynecological care, and to answer all our questions about what it even is. Plus we talk about the state of gynecological care in this election year, draw out the connection between the attacks against abortion care and trans affirming health care, and how to advocate for better care for yourself and your loved ones. Dr. Karen Tang is a board-certified gynecologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon who is an internationally recognized leader in reproductive health. She reaches millions of viewers each month with her educational videos about period health, pelvic pain, and reproductive rights. Dr. Tang has been featured in The Washington Post, Self, Glamour, NBC.com, and NPR, among other media outlets. Her new book, It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told), is out on May 7th! You can follow Dr. Tang on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Threads @karentangmd Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder who makes Laverne Cox’s hair look so good? It’s none other than this week’s guest, Dee TrannyBear! Dee tells Jonathan all about their incredible origin story: they started off working in German salons as a high school student and eventually came to America where they found queer community. Then Dee and Jonathan talk shop about all things wigs: which ones to buy, tips for installing, and how much you can expect to pay if you want an expert’s touch. Plus, Dee teases a MAJOR new project. Dee TrannyBear is a master wigologist and haircolorist. Having grown up in Germany, Dee recently came to the U.S. and has taken the industry by storm. They frequently work with celebrities such as Laverne Cox, Alok Vaid-Menon, internationally acclaimed painter Kehinde Wiley, and many other influential leaders across industries. Dee is on Instagram at @deetrannybear. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. 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, Curious People! To celebrate, we’re inviting research scientist Marcus Eriksen from 5 Gyres to the pod. Marcus tells us about his 88 day journey from California to Hawaii sailing on a raft made from 15,000 plastic bottles to research microplastics in the ocean and raise awareness about plastic pollution. Then Marcus answers all our questions like: how did plastic become so popular in the first place, why is so little of our plastic recycled, and what can we do on an individual and systemic level to create stronger policies and more robust solutions? Plus, Jonathan and Marcus go deep on the ongoing Global Plastics Treaty negotiations. Marcus has led expeditions around the world to research plastic pollution and used that research to drive solutions. He co-published the first global estimate of marine plastic pollution and the discovery of plastic microbeads in the Great Lakes, which led to the federal Microbead-free Waters Act of 2015. He and his wife Anna founded 5 Gyres with an 88-day journey from California to Hawaii on a Junk Raft that they built from 15,000 plastic bottles. Now, Marcus and 5 Gyres continue to lead with scientific research to drive upstream solutions through education, advocacy, and community building. You can follow 5 Gyres on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter at @5gyres, or on their website where you can find more ways to get involved. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. 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, Keeks Reid tells us all about how she followed her passion for beauty all the way Cosmopolitan U.K.! We learn all about the impact of social media on beauty journalism, the difference between micro trends and trends with staying power, and how to find your personal style. Plus, Keeks shares about her exciting next chapter with Jonathan: she’s going to cosmetology school to take her love for hair to the next level! Keeks Reid started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as an Editorial Assistant for Blackhair and Hair magazine. She worked her way up to Acting Editor of Blackhair at just 23 years old. Now she is the Contributing Beauty Director of Cosmopolitan UK, and works with a range of companies, from consumer and trade magazines and websites, to beauty brands and salons. Keeks is on Instagram and TikTok @keeksreid. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editory & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You probably learned about the Founding Fathers in school…or maybe you had a deep Hamilton phase like the rest of us, but what about the lesser known figures like John Hancock? Historian Dr. Brooke Barbier joins Jonathan to fill us in on the man behind the famous signature. From his willingness to publicly change his mind, his ability to find the middle ground, and his talent for throwing a killer party to bring all kinds of people together, Brooke illuminates the lessons we can learn from the so-called “King Hancock” of 1775 Boston. Brooke Barbier is a public historian who received her PhD in American history from Boston College, specifically researching Boston’s social and cultural life during and after the American Revolution. Two of Brooke's favorite things are history and beer, so in 2013 she founded Ye Olde Tavern Tours, which offers tours of Boston’s historic sites and taverns (beer is included!). She is the author of two books about revolutionary Boston including “King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father” and she’s been interviewed by the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and the Boston Herald. You can follow Brooke on Instagram and TikTok @yeoldetaverntours. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LA Beautologist, Nayamka Roberts-Smith, joins Jonathan to go deep on skincare…literally! Nayamka brings her expertise as an award-winning esthetician to the table to teach us all about our skin and what treatments we can seek out to stay healthy and glowing. Plus, should you brush your teeth before or after you wash your face? Nayamka Roberts-Smith is an award winning esthetician, acclaimed skincare educator, and all-around fountain of knowledge on beauty culture. She’s an internationally known speaker on beauty and women’s issues, and has amassed an audience of over 1 million followers across her social media platforms. Nayamka’s been recognized as the most influential esthetician on Twitter by Sprinklr in 2020. And she’s created ad campaigns for Sephora, Target, Glossier and the U.S. Department of Health. Nayamka is on Instagram and TikTok @labeautyologist. You can find more information about her Masterclasses here. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So much of our news consumption these days comes from social media and cable news, but whatever happened to local newspapers? Journalist, author, and educator Meg Heckan joins Jonathan to answer that very question. We learn about the history of newspapers, how communities are impacted when their local paper folds, and what we can do to cultivate a stronger news ecosystem that’s more reflective of our society. Plus, we dive deep into what’s at stake for our democracy when local journalism suffers and what the future of the field might look like. Meg Heckman is a journalist, author and educator focused on building a news ecosystem that is robust, diverse and equipped to serve all segments of society. She is the author of “Political Godmother: Nackey Scripps Loeb and the Newspaper That Shook the Republican Party,” and her work has appeared in a variety of periodicals including the Columbia Journalism Review, USA Today, Poynter.org and The Conversation, as well as scholarly publications such as the Newspaper Research Journal and Teaching Journalism and Mass Communication. She is an associate professor at Northeastern University’s School of Journalism and Media Innovation. You can follow Meg on LinkedIn and learn more about Northeastern’s School of Journalism on their website. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. 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’s guest needs NO introduction because you’ve definitely seen her all over your FYP! Mikayla Nogueira joins Jonathan for a conversation all about makeup and social media. From how she fell in love with makeup to her favorite budget-friendly products, we get ALL the tips and tricks for flawless makeup application. Plus, we finally learn what under-painting is and how we can use it to make our makeup look amazing in photos! Mikayla Nogueira is a makeup artist and one of the largest beauty creators in the industry with over 17 million followers across her platforms. She’s worked with brands like Charlotte Tilbury, L'Oreal and CVS. She won the American Influencer Award for Emerging Makeup Artist of the Year in 2020 and a Streamy Award for Beauty in 2023. Mikayla is on Instagram @mikaylajmakeup and TikTok @mikaylanogueira. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices