The JV Club with Janet Varney

JV sits down with her first Boy of Summer! It’s comedian, writer, actor and Emmy Award-winning producer Dwayne Kennedy (United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell), who talks about his own experience growing up in the Chicago area, a love of illustrations and comics, and a bit about what it’s like to be a veteran writer for shows that have long had the same kinds of unflinching conversations the nation is having with itself right now about race in America. You can get Dwayne’s new comedy LP “Who The Hell is Dwayne Kennedy” HERE!

In order to both address issues very much in our country’s focus this week, as well as to honor Breonna Taylor’s birthday (last Friday June 5th- she would have been 27), JV gets the opportunity to talk with the wonderful Colin Miller (Undisclosed podcast), a lawyer and professor who is working with Breonna’s family’s legal team to address the No-Knock Warrant aspect of the case. It’s a super impassioned, informative and hopefully ultimately useful conversation- thanks for listening!

Amid everything happening this week, Janet decided not to post a new show as regularly scheduled.

It’s a special three-hander! Six-hander? Triple header? Whether any of that accurately describes this week’s episode in slang, JV welcomes both Kaitlin Huwe and Stephanie Erb ( the duo behind the Therapy With Pami podcast) for a chat about growing up in one place vs. moving all over, and all the things that come with both. Top hats! Frizzles! Bread, bread, bread!

Dig into a delicious bowl of pasta for this L.A.-to-Chicago convo this week with super cool “Divergent” series author Veronica Roth (and her latest- Chosen Ones), as she and JV talk music: Emo! Christian metal!; teen brains: Depression! Anxiety!; and oodles more.

Palate expanders! Herbst appliances! Malocclusions! All this and more (including things that aren’t orthodontist related!) in this week’s episode with the awesome Lauren Lapkus (Netflix’s The Wrong Missy) whose high school in Evanston surely missed the boat when it left Lauren out of the school plays. Vengeance!

Across-the-Pond alert! JV has the pleasure of conversing with the delightful Sinéad Burke (As Me with Sinéad) for a chat spanning ye olde Atlantic ocean, with topics including activism and the fashion world, the glory of a gyoza, and the imagination-activating wonders of the Hammer Museum.

This week’s winner of “person JV would most like to hug if hugging were a thing” is this week’s podcast guest, the wonderful Amy Dallen ("The DC Daily" on the DC Universe service), whose teenage self navigated her high school years at a “boarding school for nerds.” Celebrate the joy of comic books and anime and a hat-tip to one of Christmas’ weirdest candies!

JV does some mild geeking out on one of her podcast heroes, Amber Hunt (from the show "Accused"), which mostly manifests itself in JV’s meandering non-questions in an in-the-moment attempt to make herself sound smart. But because Amber is gracious and awesome, turns out, this conversation is dope!

This week JV e-visits with acclaimed novelist and poet Rebecca Dinerstein Knight (“Hex”) for a chat about envy, love, eyebrows, mac and cheese, and the myth of living large in the West Village. Be well and be kind to yourselves, wonderfuls!

It’s the other charming half of the delightful Max Fun pod “Can I Pet Your Dog?”, Renee Colvert! With a chew about catching up with stay-at-home technology, screaming and crying in musicals, and being mad at the thing you loved. Stay safe out there, Janetors!

Major Surprise Kindred Spirit Alert! JV and Houston-based actor, author, activist and podcaster Stephanie Wittels Wachs (Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful: A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love, and Loss) meet for the first time and drill down into some deep sh*t without wasting any time whatsoever. What follows is an intense, funny, emotional and honest gab between two new friends.

As another week of shelter-in-placing passes, JV has a long-distance couch hang with the very cool musician and human being Patrice Pike (Sister 7, Pike & Sutton) to talk art, music, her rad non-profit Step Onward, and the perfect hot fudge sundae! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s an Arizona-thon! Sedona-native Alexis Preston (from the "Can I Pet Your Dog?" podcast on the Max Fun Network) and Tucson-native JV swap tales of two cities and a few others besides, each from the quarantined safety of their couches, complete with occasional dog-terruptions. Sending love in these strange times and hoping this episode makes you smile! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

After the obligatory “are you going to infect me with coronavirus but seriously what is happening in the world right now” opening conversation, JV and the truly awesome comedian Atsuko Okatsuka discuss being uprooted from Tokyo to West LA without knowing you’re never going back, the power of ranch dressing, and #garagelife. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

In honor of the 8th anniversary of the JV Club, it's a rerun of the first episode! Christina Hendricks chats about small towns, the fierce passion of Celine Dion, and the importance of special effects in high school stage productions of Agnes of God.

This week, JV and comedian and writer Ellington Wells do some tarantula performance art, talk about what constitutes a “thin” town, how to make your own creativity Absolutely Fabulous. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Take a deep dive into underwater civilizations… and into the adventurous life of the very talented actor/comedian/writer Nalini Sharma! Find out if gemstones protect you from harm! Think about what belongings you’d save from a fire! Find out that you might surprise yourself if you actually had to do just that! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Put down that Stephen King book and enjoy to this episode of The JV Club with the awesome Keisha Zollar (Netflix’s “Astronomy Club”), whose history of multiple moves and a challenging health situation in her teens made her the badass she is today! Plus! Find out what the one and only Abraham Lincoln had to say to Keisha during their in-depth conversation! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Maybe a record-breaking length for a single episode? And this conversation with comedian Nori Reed is worth every minute! Join Nori and JV for a deep-dive into subjects from the silly to the heartbreaking, with lots and LOTS of g-o-l-d GOLD! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Make some room at your lunch table for comedian Helen Hong (Go Fact Yourself) and delight in stories of potato knishes, disappearing rabbits, and someone who actually loves “Cats." Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

The delightful Jamie Loftus (The Bechdel Cast) joins JV to talk real-life SORTING HOUSES (!), band instrument hierarchy, Algebra-Hacky Sack-Juggalos. Also, I had to look up how to spell “hacky sack” but already knew how to spell “juggalo,” which means something but who knows what. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Allie Goertz, the other half of the Round Springfield podcast, joins JV for a chat about regional accents that aren’t what they seem, cheddar cheese powder, and what it’s like to move all the way to “LA City!” Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Today! Discover the one time you should trust strangers with candy (okay, yes, we are talking about the tv show) in this episode with Max Fun friend and podcaster, Julia Prescott! (From the "Round Springfield" podcast) Plus: Hot Topic Goth, Ska and much more! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Doughnuts, Cigarettes, and Hot Sauce, Oh My! It’s a rerun of the episode with Emily Gordon (The Indoor Kids), chock-full of fond remembrances of first kisses, My So Called Life, and the once-pervasive Manic Panic hair dye, the use of which apparently makes you a communist. This week’s bonus: Theories on how hot dogs got their name. This episode first aired in 2013. Hosted by Janet Varney. Produced by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun

Hello Calga-reeeee! Find out what that last sentence means, as well as how comedian and writer Amanda Brooke Perin handles JV’s oh-so-personal, prying questions about the weather in Alberta, on this tell-all episode of The JV Club! Hosted by Janet Varney. Produced by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Get out your Rydell High letterman/woman’s jacket and/or pomade up your hair for this chat with author and storyteller Courtenay Hameister (Author of the new book Okay Fine Whatever: The Year I Went from Being Afraid of Everything to Only Being Afraid of Most Things) who be-bopped all across these United States and even over the Pacific Ocean for a childhood of Army-Bratting… with plenty of energy left over to experience some juicy panic and anxiety in her adult years! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun

Tensions are high as the final two contestants of Burning Love (Janet and Abigail Spencer) face off to discuss counterculture of surfing, discovering Barbra Streisand, the rush of a flea market find, and the emotional magnetism of the City of Angels. This interview originally was originally published in 2017. Abigail's new show "Reprisal" is now streaming on Hulu. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s a podcast spanning the whooooole wooooooorld! JV lolls on her bed on the phone, staring at the ceiling like a proper teen, with guest Alice Fraser (“Savage”) who cover female friendships in all their highs and lows and much much more! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s a healing of old wounds as Rizzo and Sandy come together at last in the spirit of forgiveness. Or, it’s JV’s dear friend, actor and writer Danielle Weeks (“Baby Love”), who comes over to reminisce about their shared junior high experiences in Tucson, complete with a certain musical they performed in the school cafeteria. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Surely this is the most mime-and-clowning-heavy episode of The JV Club to date, thanks to award-winning comedian DeAnne Smith, who gamely humors JV’s ongoing enthusiasm for the subject. Plus! Jodie and Joni worship, surprise cherry pie, and much more. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s not just anyone who gets featured in an Amy Grant music video, y’all. So load up your baked potato and delight in the joy that is Susan Yeagley (“Parks and Rec”) and her tales of the wonders of Nashville and surrounding areas. Including an upside-down country music legend! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun

FINALLY! A conversation about the Winchester Mystery House. But there’s more! The charming Sarah Enni (who you can also hear on the “First Draft with Sarah Enni” podcast) and her fellow chatterbox JV rove all over topics including staying interested in life, the deliciousness of cheese, and JV’s nickname for sheep in New Zealand. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun

This week on the podcast the luminous Lillie Mae, musician extraordinaire, is freshly back from her tour with Robert Plant (yes, that Robert Plant!) and sits down with JV to talk mobile homes in the truest sense, pet deer and pigs, and the beautiful simplicity of the perfect potato. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Water towers! Grain elevators! Hair bands! Surprise and delight await you in this week’s episode of the podcast, as the simply wonderful Kari Wahlgren ("Rick and Morty," a million other things) hikes up a dirt mound and claims her place in the world! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

From ballet slippers to leather studs, this week’s guest Rebecca Knox (“Orange is the New Black”) has deep teenage roots in music… in part thanks to crying when she couldn’t get into a concert. So treat mouth to a crunchy salad and your ears to this episode! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Comedian Katie Compa ("Hard Pass”) joins JV for a chew about Swedish culture, “mean girl” friendships and the mysterious spelling of “Bamf.” Hosted by Janet Varney Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

If you could cram a sleepover into an hour and change, you’d have this episode of The JV Club featuring Jennie Pierson (Showtime’s ‘Kidding”), whose wonderful imagination should surely be put to use in the realm of theme park design. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

This week: JV welcomes musician Tatum Lynn! Put on your tap shoes and tap, tap, tap your way through a world of non-glitzy pageants, playing on an all-boy basketball team, and impromptu PA performances at department stores. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

This week: Two Ladies, Two Couches. JV is tickled pink to chat with her podcast crush, Rebecca LaVoie (Crime Writers On; These Are There Stories) as Rebecca recovers from leg surgery (Folks- she’s doing great!) and reflects back on the general embarrassment of high school, the deep truth of “it gets better," and her too-perfect photo mate, the mysterious Lisa N! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

This week JV is delighted to welcome her dear friend, the uber-talented and hilarious Kit Pongetti (“Scrubs”), for a conversation consisting of 50% JV laughter! Plus! Falling in love at first strum and the special thrill of a good old fashioned stakeout. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

It’s a last Boy of Summer post Labor Day! How scandalous! Indulge yourself with the delightful Mexican-American-Queer-Writer-Illustrator Terry Blas, whose experiences growing up Mormon in both Boise, ID and various places in Mexico make for quite a journey. Happy listening…. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

Enjoy this multimedia festival of conversation and pre-loaded sound effects on this week’s episode with Boy of Summer Justin McElroy! And wait— what’s that in the air? It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Politically Incorrect Musical! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

This special Boys of Summer episode with Michael Rosenbaum (“Smallville” and oh-so-much-more) features the very first (and possibly only?) time JV gets a lesson in how to do a Walken impression. Enjoy Michael’s talent as much as you enjoy JV flailing! Plus: it’s never too late to become the person you’re meant to be. We mean it! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains a discussion of Scott Thompson's experience surviving a school shooting from 23:22 to 37:38 The sketch comedy legend that is Scott Thompson joins JV this week as a spectacularly fascinating and funny Boy of Summer, including a JV-jaw-dropping-moment after a disclosure by Scott that left her temporarily speechless. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Throw on your merit badge tape up that racket for this conversational mosey with the delightful Chris Sullivan (“This is Us”), who may or may not be the secret son of a certain California “Governator!” Plus! Taking chances in music, life, love, and podcasting. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

In a rare and exciting twist, this week’s accomplished Boy of Summer Seamus Dever (“Castle") also happens to be an old college chum of JV! Enjoy a reminiscence about Flagstaff Arizona, nerding out on Shakespeare, getting schooled on the wonders of Tom Waits, and what 90’s Moscow has to offer a college-aged American. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s a very special Boys of Summer with the audio from January's SF Sketchfest Tribute to Neil Patrick Harris, in conversation with your good pal JV. Magic, Muppets and More! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Join Boy of Summer Johnathan Fernandez (“Lethal Weapon”) for one of the most shocking revelations to ever occur on The JV Club… about the film Dirty Dancing. Plus! Sunday night braid sessions, secret beaches, and a new pastime we like to call Canoe-dling. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Chris and Steven, the delightful gents from the Is This Adulting? podcast, have a phone tree with JV and talk cargo pants, undershirts, evangelical youth camps and the natural disasters of North Carolina in episode 331 of the podcast as Boys of Summer saunters on! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.