Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

What does the separation of church and state actually protect, and why does it matter to all of us? This week, Jonathan sits down with Americans United President & CEO Rachel Laser (who somehow balances leading one of the country’s foremost constitutional advocacy organizations while teaching yoga on the side) for a conversation about one of the most important (and often misunderstood) principles...

This week is all about your listener questions! We’re talking: asking for what you need up front, finding people to co-sign your BS, advice for young queer folk, work trip rendezvous, the Maine senate race, being left out, being a narcissist, loose skin, and some spelling advice!  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on...

The U.S. Constitution can feel intimidating—but what if understanding it is one of the most empowering things you can do? This week, JVN sits down with constitutional law professor, legal scholar, and Strict Scrutiny co-host Melissa Murray to unpack what the Constitution actually says, how it’s evolved over time, and what it does to shape our daily lives here in the U.S. Together, they break down...

This week, we’re talking: Liza Meownelli Updates, Pride 2026, posture, AC, allergies, caffeine decreasing, workout faces, Carly Rae Jepsen’s new era, earthquakes, Janet Jackson, American Spelling Bee, the Supreme Court’s ruling on Damon Landor’s locks, anti-ICE protesters, Sunscreen Advice, Diet Cherry Coke, and Jordyn Woods' Bag.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour he...

This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down with actress, activist, performer, and NYC Pride Grand Marshal Peppermint for a conversation about the energy, joy, resilience, and community that make Pride so powerful. From starring in Survival of the Thickest to leading one of the world’s most iconic Pride celebrations, Peppermint shares what Pride means to her today, how the movement has evolved, and...

This week, we’re talking: Liza the Cat Updates, why the World Cup is low-key tea, hazards of cruising, Diet Coke erasure, JVN’s cannabis break, PRIDE Spelling Bee, the cage fight & the peeling reflection pool, sunscreen advice, a shoutout to JVN’s husband Mark, and the gay bat.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on Yo...

Can we get a hallelujah? Maren Morris is here! This week, JVN sits down with Grammy-winning artist Maren Morris to celebrate the 10th anniversary of HERO and explore the lessons she’s learned about growth, courage, and staying curious along the way. From navigating difficult conversations across political divides to finding the confidence to speak up when it matters, Maren shares how using her voi...

This week, we’re talking: hair content around the world, shopping in Seoul, more Midwest comedy dates, updates on Liza the cat, skin treatments in South Korea, Gemini season, riding the waves of weed sobriety, closing my rings on the Apple Watch, streak fixations, sitting with discomfort, blueberry smoothies, “mother” on TikTok who doesn’t use butter or olive oil when cooking, TikToker Denise, Mus...

“Y’all, let’s make a mug. Tap in.”  As we continue to thrive during Pride Month, JVN sits down with TikTok superstar Kaden Rowland, aka the “Staples Baddie,” to talk all things office supplies, retail life, and internet fame. From the joy of a perfectly stocked stationery aisle to the story behind her viral success, Kaden shares how her love of pens, planners, and customer service won over million...

This week, we're talking: Thoughts on the recent Queer Eyes news, an update on our Pet family, talking about trauma without becoming our trauma, getting better at grief, exciting developments in the JVN Hair camp, JVN & Mark’s Anniversary, TikTok roundup, JVN & Beyonce on bikes, our Office Supplies Spelling Bee Todd Blanch & the 1.776 Billion slush fund, CBS News, giving fade haircuts, “Best of th...

Happy Pride Month!  This week on Getting Better, we’re heading backstage on Broadway for a dazzling deep dive into the artistry, creativity, and sheer magic that brings iconic productions to life. Jonathan sits down with the Hair & Makeup team behind the 9-Time Tony Nominated production of CATS: The Jellicle Ball: Makeup Designer Rania Zohny & Tony Award Winning Hair Designer, Nikiya Mathis. Toget...

This week, we’re talking: JVN’s U.K. Tour, seaweed pressed scarfs, visits with grandparents & friends abroad, JVN Hair Wave Spray, Nando’s Peri Peri, “The Crash,” CATS Spelling Bee, over-packing, hot yoga, Obsession, stretching, January 6th rioters, alone time, and our hot bitch of the week! Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Ed...

A lot of us have a complicated relationship with movement - blamed, shamed, or stuck in routines that don’t truly serve us. But what if movement wasn’t about perfection, punishment, or performance? What if it was a powerful tool for connection, self-care, and resilience? This week, we’re diving deep into the psychology behind group fitness and movement’s ability to heal, empower, and transform liv...

Best selling author Anna Malaika Tubbs stops by to tell us all about her book, Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us and helps us hone in on real time examples of our Patriarchy is being weaponized today. Anna unpacks how the United States has constructed a unique - and often invisible - gendered hierarchy, one that is inextricably linked to whiteness and a deeply flawed binary syste...

Giving birth is a MAJOR medical event, and we're learning about how to get the best possible experience for YOU with Jen Hamilton, the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Birth Vibes . From birth plans and building the right support team to navigating fear, nursing, and the reality of “bad” birth stories online, Jen shares practical advice and compassionate insight for every kind of parent-to-...

This week, we’re talking: Morning routine optimization, TikTok controversy analysis, Jen Hamilton's bestselling journey, The Sopranos, Lost, Lincoln Memorial Swimming Pool, Time travelers, and our Hot B*tch of the Week.  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bo...

We’re unpacking the mindset of money with Mrs. Dow Jones (Haley Sacks)! What money mindsets will set you up for the most success? Why is "girl math" low-key not great? What is treat culture and a "money date?" What role does money play as a proxy for security, status, and self-worth? We're gonna figure out and get better money habits together! You don’t need to have everything figured out  - you j...

This week, we’re talking: JVN’s UK tour, Sally Field lore, crossed wires over wifi, scarf game, Swedish Death Cleaning, Edie Beale, South Korea & Japan travel, a financial-themed Spelling Bee, “How My Mom Tried To Kill Me Pt. 4”, more True Crime, Hantavirus, HIV funding, Irish curls, Mother’s Day, and coffee!  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.    Catch Getting B...

2026 will be BIG astrologically speaking… Discover how astrology is shaping the year's biggest shifts, both personally and globally, with renowned astrologer Aliza Kelly. From planetary movements to understanding your unique birth chart, explore practical ways astrology can guide you through 2026's transformative energies. Aliza Kelly is a renowned celebrity astrologer, author, columnist, and host...

Today we’re talking: JVN’s West Coast tour, last minute hotel switches, scalp treatments, an astrological spelling bee, LOUISIANA v. CALLAIS, our White House Instagram feature, lipstick setting, and AG8! Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and...

Bienvenue a FRENCH KITTY CORNER! This week - we're giving you a sampling of our gorgeous Patreon show, FRENCH KITTY CORNER! Join  JVN & French Kitty (aka the beloved cat cookie jar "co-host" on the set of GETTING BETTER) for a Golden Girls style compilation of "FKC" - and don't forget to subscribe to our Patreon for all this PLUS BTS vlogs, house tours, city adventures, JVN Hair photoshoots - the...

This week, we’re talking: JVN on the West Coast, responding vs. reacting, self diagnosing from TikTok, the cocaine salmon, gifting etiquette, a very French spelling bee, and of course - our HBOTW!  Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube!  Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more!...

Happy Earth Day! This week on Getting Better, Jonathan sits down with plant biologist, author, and educator Dr. Beronda Montgomery for a grounding conversation about nature’s healing power and America’s Black botanical legacy. Together, they explore why reconnecting with green spaces can be so transformative for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being, and how practices like urban gardening...

Today we’re talking: JetSet Pilates, JVN & Michelle Kwan Take Paris, Ulta Beauty World, Tina Knowles sightings, being triggered by Britney Spears mics, seeing folks from the Pretty Curious era, New York sized bees, what we’re getting better at this week, JVN’s continued worked on perfectionism, speaking on vocal fry, Alex v. Alix, 4/20 Spelling Bee letting go of friendships, HBOTW’s - French Pharm...

Disagreements are everywhere right now - and let’s be honest, they can get messy fast. But what if arguing didn’t have to wreck your relationships… or your nervous system? This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down with Dr. Julia Minson, a Harvard decision scientist and leading expert on disagreements, to unpack why we clash, how we can do it better, and the small shifts that make a huge differenc...