The JV Club with Janet Varney

Get a jump on space travel with the extraordinary Zelda Williams (Legend of Korra) and her incredibly awesome voice. Tales of private school, voice acting, and the puzzles of social media lead up to one of Janet’s worst MASH categories ever, which Zelda navigates like a champ.

Episode 147 welcomes Alison Haislip (Attack of the Show) for a deep dive into some pretty important issues. Of course we’re talking about hair color, psychics, and dessert for breakfast. Kick the soccer ball of conversation around with us for an hour, won’t you?

I’ll just say it: Episode 146 is one of the most inspiring to date. Way to go, Erin Fitzgerald (Chie from Persona 4)! From the far reaches of Ottawa, Ontario through the lovely Victoria, British Columbia, Los Angeles has the good fortune to be called home by this shining star, who knows a good chocolate croissant when she tastes one.

Get naked (just remember to tape up!) with the wickedly funny Paula Marshall (Californication) in this episode covering all the basics: Sex, Politics, Religion, and, of course, Ghosts.

Are you an alligator or a turtle? Do some Animal work (and find out what that even means) with the sparkling Molly Quinn (Castle) in episode 144 of The JV Club, which also includes discussion of some other A-words: Adulthood, Affection, and Amaretto sours.

This week’s guest — comedian Janine Brito — comes to you direct from Los Angeles via New York via San Francisco via Alabama with a bunch of other exotic locales in between. Along the way: Icelandic grandmothers, British schools, SNL obsessions and a couple of pretty remarkable early-life curveballs.

Episode 142 welcomes “Skepchick” Rebecca Watson, who reminds us that every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven. And speaking of heaven, turns out there may not be one. A look at atheism and secular humanism with a sprinkling of Christianity is supplemented with plenty of R.E.M. and the scientific discovery that humans have two different stomachs! You heard it here first!

It’s comedian Cameron Esposito (Put Your Hands Together) and SHE! IS! GREAT! There’s nothing like a story about a medical semi-crisis in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language to get the old podcast blood flowing. But it doesn’t stop there… because who doesn’t love talking to their parents about sex? NOTE: the prior two references are NOT RELATED.

Things get groovy with the luminous Seychelle Gabriel (The Legend of Korra) with rhapsodic waxing on the brilliant Jimi Hendrix, song-and-dance numbers featuring high school teens and Toto classics, and Korra fans, don’t worry… some chatting about Korrasami.

Janet falls into the lull of the hypnotic Amber Benson (The Witches of Echo Park) yet somehow also manages to talk faster than she maybe ever has. This may be an episode where even more conversations are begun and never finished than usual, and that’s really saying a lot. AND, you have the chance to win a signed book from Amber! Now go win it!

This is an episode that can only be described as second to nun. [insert 100 groans here] But really! It’s the amazing and wonderful Maureen Johnson (The Name of the Star) and talk of metaphorical time traveling via one strict Catholic high school (shhhh… don’t tell anyone she was a Protestant!). Advisory: This episode may be habit-forming. “Habit" forming. Get it? Nuns? Habits? [slams door in own face]

Following the old adage “Write what you know,” episode 137’s guest could have her very own One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest! Janet welcomes author (and woodworker!) Marci Crestani (Halfway to Dead) for a deep-dive into expanding your social horizons, whether empathy is a blessing or a curse, and of course, whether paintings can be “evil."

If you’ve been worried that there hasn’t been quite enough talk about being a teenage goth lately, worry not! Sarah Burns (Enlightened) brings her A game with just the right amount of Skinny Puppy and Bauhuas. Plus a brand-new MASH question submitted by a listener finds much success!

What do you get when you cross a Renaissance Faire with Disney World, add a dose of psychopathy, and throw a few wigs and fake nails and a bedazzled sweater or two? Why, you get Episode 135 of the JV Club with Jamie Denbo (The Heat), of course! Meet the Beverly to Jessica Chaffin’s (ep 143) Ronna. Spoiler: She’s a dream!

SPOILER ALERT! You are cleared to listen to this episode if you are A. All caught up with the Serial podcast or B. Totally not interested in the Serial podcast. If B, Jessica Chaffin (Ronna and Beverly) and Janet apologize for talking so much about it. But not to worry- they also discuss several other disturbing events. SECOND SPOILER ALERT: Jessica Chaffin is terrific.

This week’s guest, the extraordinary Sarah Thyre, answers possibly the most pressing question facing Americans today: Where can you go to practice walking in high heels on cobblestone before your trip to Europe? And perhaps just as vital: How have Playboy boobs changed over the decades? Also, guess what? Sarah’s awesome!

Janet finds a new way to make peace with spiders thanks to Episode 132’s guest, the wise and wonderful Shadi Petosky. This sage advice and more stories of nature’s bounteous forests, lakes and guitar by the campfire. And as if that weren’t enough, get ready for some frank, fascinating and important talk about how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.

Put on your best 60’s dress and grab a book, because you’re probably not going to get to watch much television tonight in the world of the disarming Jenny Wade’s childhood. If you’re a young woman without many resources on how the body works, get ready to get REALLY informed! Everyone else… saddle up!

Things aren't always what they seem with Episode 130's guest, the lovely Noureen DeWulf (Anger Management, Burning Love). Tips on how to get out of the house to the movies, the pizza place, and oh-so-much-more, even when your parents forbid it. Espionage!

Pull on your sequined unitard and clip in your feathered headdress for the Dance Drill of podcast episodes with Annie Savage (Thrilling Adventure Hour). It’s raining tap shoes, airsickness bags, and actual rain in episode 128, where the especially important factoid of where Janet and Annie clean out their purses is finally revealed (no one cares).

The JV Club went live at the LA Podfest with special guests Kether Donohue (You’re the Worst) and musicians Ben Jaffe and Suzanne Santo, otherwise known as Honeyhoney, and what ensued was an afternoon of music, cookies, fake tattoos, and a double M.A.S.H. with Kether and Janet both finding out their 100% guaranteed fictional futures. Saddle up!

The first regular episode back after the Boys of Summer series finds the hilarious Erin Foley (Sports Without Balls) discussing the satisfaction of a good sweat vs. a good beachside lazy layabout. ALSO! Braving the minefields of adolescent romance, the perfection of good Thai food, and living and dying for the Bee Gees.

Live from SDCC 2014, it's the Nerdist Podcast Super Panel with Matt Mira (Nerdist, James Bonding), Jonah Ray (Nerdist, Jonah Raydio), Janet Varney (The JV Club), Cole Stratton (Pop My Culture), Gil Letelier (The Mutant Season), Ben Blacker (Nerdist Writers Panel, Nerdist Comics Panel, Thrilling Adventure Hour), Ben Acker (Thrilling Adventure Hour), Sandra Daugherty (Sex Nerd Sandra) and Dave Ross (Terrified)!

Episode 126 marks the last of the Boys of Summer series, and who better to class up the podcast than Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele)? Dog talk and tapeworm talk eventually give way to exploring identity as it relates to being adopted, how to get along with (almost) everybody, and the appeal of a really great plate of chili cheese fries.

Post-Labor Day = not technically Summer anymore, but gotta get out this great ep with the delightful Dave Holmes (International Waters) as he delves into the things we do to fit in, exploring literal and metaphorical uniforms, and coming out to your Catholic parents— whee!

The last duo of Boys of Summer: the insanely talented and terrific Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the minds behind "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Legend of Korra.” Art! Music! Travel! Adventure! And of course, squirrel suits. PLUS! A VERY, VERY special rendition of “Boys of Summer” from Paul and Storm!

Surf’s up! Guest Graham Elwood (Comedy Film Nerds) puzzles over moralistic quandaries, zen and control, sports and feelings, and (gulp) the gluttony of a good buffet

Now entering Sklarbro Country! Jason and Randy Sklar make JV Club history as the first (and let’s face it, possibly only) twins to appear. Applaud their patience as Janet asks what are probably twin-related questions that the boys have been forced to answer their entire lives (and somehow still make it entertaining and fresh).

How’s your summah? It’s about to get a bit brighter with the delightful Howard Kremer (Who Charted?) whose stories of non-caped crusading, rocks from the Boss, and the changing phases of his erstwhile band do not disappoint. What would YOUR superhero name be?

It's back-to-back duos! This week welcomes The Thrilling Adventure Hour's Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, with tales of suburban east coastery, unrequited crushery, and odd coincidencery, plus possibly more made up words!

The Boys of Summer return in the corporeal forms of Paul and Storm, in town on their way to Comic Con! The gents try to explain D & D to Janet even though neither of them were really that into it, until she finally lets it drop and they move on to other equally delightfully nerdy subjects. w00t w00t!

Taking a brief break from the Boys of Summer series while Janet's out of town, it's the live episode from Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, Oregon with Carrie Brownstein!

The lightning-quick-minded Paul Gilmartin reunites with his Dinner and a Movie co-host for a frank discussion about the good and bad that shapes us, finding humor in darkness, and... Chaka Kahn.

Oh no- not ANOTHER Polish-Indian-silly-wonderful-trail-running-twin-fathering-Community-castmember. Wait... There's only ONE Danny Pudi. And he's the guest of episode 116- as the Boys of Summer rolls on!

This week with the always wonderful Paul F. Tompkins: build a snow tunnel, sing a few piano tunes, or recite Edgar Allen Poe in the place where his macabre work truly shines: a brightly lit classroom. Boys of Summer continues!

You knew this Boys of Summer episode was inevitable… so SWEATER UP! It’s the just-plain-awesome Greg Behrendt and his rugby-playing, alt-rock-discovering, girl-crazy younger self, all wrapped up in a quality cardigan and a good pair of Purcells.

Spend an hour and change with erstwhile Young Drunk Punk Bruce McCulloch (Kids in the Hall) as he class-clowns, competitive-weightlifts, and rock-and-rolls his way through his teens in Calgary and Edmonton. Yes, those are both places in Canada. C'mon guys. We knew that.

Get soothed by the dulcet tones of the charming and absurdly talented Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Mad TV) as he channels Bogart, Poitier... and even Winkler. Plus: Discover the sci-fi plots of books he really should write, courtesy of the M.A.S.H. game!

Cross over the Rainbow Bridge for a listen to some of Boys of Summer guest Jimmy Pardo's (Never Not Funny) Greatest Hits. Now imagine Jimmy rolling his eyes when he reads this description, and you've got a sense of this episodic gem!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The “it” in question being, amongst other things, guest and Pop My Culture Podcast co-host Cole Stratton’s job at the local newspaper. What other adventures did this moxie-laden self-starter have while the rest of us were eating multiple hot fudge sundaes after school (okay, maybe that was just Janet.)? Find out in Episode 110, otherwise known as the third installment of the Boys of Summer series!

Things you will know A LOT about after you finish this episode with the simply delightful Oscar Nunez (The Office): Hot dogs! Dental Technology! And the entire history of Castro’s dictatorship in Cuba! And heads-up- this might be the most giggly Janet has ever been on the podcast. You’ve been warned!

Military-schooled Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Program) is the guest for the premiere of the "Boys of Summer" series on the JV Club! Tools you may find useful: rock-climbing gear, headphones, a Trans-Am and a bottle of Boone's.

It's Episode 107 with comedian Joselyn Hughes! First up: hair, hair hair. Plus: 311! Everclear! No Doubt! And later... a deeper dive... into snorkeling.

In this very special episode, Janet podcasts her very own DAUGHTER! ...Well, at least someone who played her daughter in a thing. It’s the terrific Jennette McCurdy (“Sam and Cat”) and a sitting-on-the-rug hangout, covering such topics as feminism, faith, and becoming a real life Ghostbuster.

Put on your safety googles and fire up the furnace with this week's guest, the handy and hilarious Suzy Nakamura (Bad Teacher). Take a tour of pizza shop and comic book-basement-vacations-- but don't fall asleep or you'll miss your train stop!

It’s a deep-delving discussion of ethics and morality (science fiction nerds welcome!) with the inimitable Aisha Tyler, otherwise known as a video gaming champ of her local laundromat. Plus: enough rad book recommendations to last you for weeks!

Will Episode 103 cut the mustard? Join Janet and guest Sarah Tapscott (Kroll Show) on a verrrrrry long adventure where, if you’re lucky— or unlucky— you may even be given your own horse. Plus: More Creepy Emma Thompson worship!

This episode comes with a collectible set of apologies for all of the apologies from the apologizing team of Pilar Alessandra (On the Page). Plus: a houseful of grandparents, a dad with a perm, and marrying Bugs Bunny.

Finally, the ALL-ALMONDS episode you've been waiting for! Sympathize with awesome guest Ginger Gonzaga (ABC's Mixology) as she patiently discusses almonds with Janet for almost the entire hour.* Oh, and a little bit about debate teams, hallucinogenic teas, and a "free-farting" flute teacher. *Extreme exaggeration

Our very first live episode video-streamed with the amazing Busy Philipps (Cougartown) and MANY OF YOU! Thanks to everyone who tuned in and commented and asked awesome questions. And thanks to the guys at Cogo for hosting! Happy 100th episode!