Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

Beauty, Botox, and the Battle Against Microspending—in this episode of Pretty Curious, Jonathan Van Ness and producer Chris McClure dive into everything from winter skincare updates to political anxieties. Jonathan spills the tea on their latest dermatology adventure—trying Sculptra for the first time—and how/why they low-key tricked their husband into getting Botox. Plus! They break down the art...

JVN sits down with Kati Morton, a licensed therapist and bestselling author, to dive deep into the world of people-pleasing. Together, they unpack why people-pleasing isn’t just about being nice—it’s about discomfort with other people’s discomfort, and why it leaves so many of us feeling invisible, drained, and resentful. Kati shares her expert tips on breaking free from the cycle, including pract...

Beauty, politics, and Grammy predictions—oh my! In this episode of Pretty Curious, Jonathan Van Ness is answering listener questions and talking all things winter skincare to Hollywood hair theories. Need to save your dry, chapped hands this season? JVN offers a three-step moisturizing hack that’ll have your hands softer than ever. Plus! Jonathan’s Hot and Healed tour is kicking off soon! They tal...

Trust—it’s a five-letter word that makes the world go 'round. In this episode, JVN sits down with Rachel Botsman, a leading expert on trust in the modern world, to explore the role trust plays in our relationships, decisions, and even society at large. Together, they dive into why trust isn’t just a feeling but a belief, how impulsivity and unmet expectations erode it, and how to rebuild trust wit...

Winter skin woes, Pilates breakthroughs, and a whole lot of beauty tea!  JVN is diving into all things skincare for the coldest months this side of the globe, from must-have moisturizers to whether that fancy face oil is really working for you. Plus! JVN spills on their latest pilates journey and the return to group fitness. But it’s not all glow-ups and gym gains—JVN also gets real about the high...

Friendship breakups. Knowing when to hold on—and when to let go. JVN sits down with friendship coach Danielle Bayard Jackson to unpack the complexities of platonic relationships and why they can be just as emotionally charged as romantic ones. They dive into the signs that a friendship may have run its course, how to end things with integrity, and whether “friendship should be easy” is really just...

Golden Globes glamour, behind-the-scenes intel, and a whole lot of feels—this episode has layers, and we’re not talking about a haircut. JVN takes us inside their first-ever Golden Globes red carpet, from jaw-dropping fashion moments (Emma Stone’s pixie! Andrew Scott’s suit!) to mingling with Hollywood icons at the after-parties. Plus! BTS from the red carpet, handling the chaos of live interviews...

GLP-1 medications are everywhere—on your FYPs, on the evening news, and, as JVN shares, in your own weekly routine. But what do these drugs really do? In this no-holds-barred conversation with Dr. Terry Simpson, a surgeon and culinary medicine expert, JVN dives deep into the science, the side effects, and the cultural firestorm surrounding GLP-1s like Ozempic. Are they the future of weight loss an...

New year, new realizations! We are so back to kick off 2025 with a deep dive into  joy reclamation, breaking free from negative feedback loops, and embracing joy without guilt. Plus! JVN spills the tea on the look they’re wearing to their first ever Golden Globes gig (Christian Siriano is involved, so you know it’s major), dishes on beauty holy grails you actually need in 2025, and answers listene...

Happy New Year, Curious People! It’s 2025! Kick off the New Year with a truly transformative conversation with Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy! In this episode, we dive into what it means to leave behind “Old Happy”—the toxic pursuit of perfection, individualism, and relentless achievement—and embrace “New Happy,” a philosophy rooted in connection, self-compassion, and contributing to...

Reporting to all you curious people from the liminal week between Christmas and New  Year’s —JVN and their iconic mom, Mary Oaks, are bringing us a festive kiki straight from Austin, Texas! Recorded mid-Christmas revelry, this episode is brimming with family vibes, advice for trusting your aesthetic instinct, and some mic drops about life in small town America. Whether you’re here for the holiday...

ICYMI: This week we’re answering all of the money questions you have always wanted answered. What the heck is a Roth IRA? How should you approach spending money? What’s a high-yield savings account and should I have one? Internationally recognized money expert Tori Dunlap joins Jonathan to answer all these questions and more to teach us how we can all save our money. Tori Dunlap is an internationa...

Mariah, Lindsay, Sabrina, Jennifer, Hailey…what do all those gorgeous ladies have in common? Two words. One Name. Danielle Priano. When we tell you that we’re excited to have Danille on today’s episode - that’s an understatement - we’re OVER THE MOON! She is a hair icon, a legend, and the most sought after hair stylist in the game. We’re talking life in the industry, tips for the perfect slicked b...

In da clerb, we all fam - and we’re so thrilled to welcome Ilana Glazer to “clerb Curious” this week. Ilana stopped by to talk about her upcoming sophomore special, Human Magic, streaming on Hulu this Friday, December 20th! We’re talking about how she developed her new special, the inspiration for her comedy these days, and how she stays plugged into humanity in a dehumanizing world… Ilana Glazer...

I know you’re all getting your holiday shopping ON, honey. It’s that time of year, and while it’s not the reason for the season - it is one of the main events. So today, we’re coming to you with a very special episode… Move over, Nonsense Christmas! Get outta town, Barry Manilow’s Very Barry Christmas - It’s time for the Pretty Curious Holiday Gift Guide episode. We’re giving you the Top 5 JVN App...

Who’s that?! Why, it’s the newest member of the Fab 5, Jeremiah Brent! Jeremiah stopped by on a very special day: the season drop for Queer Eye Season 9 - out now on Netflix. Jeremiah and JVN talk Queer Eye behind-the-scenes, Jeremiah’s design process and ethos, and some science fiction thrown in for good measure. You do NOT want to miss this… Jeremiah Brent is an interior designer, television per...

We’re going under the metaphorical scalpel today on Pretty Curious with Dr. Anthony Youn! We’re tackling everything from upper and lower eyelid surgery (or upper blephs & lower blephs as we refer to them in this episode) to the importance of diet and giving the body the opportunity to “autojuvenate” before going under the knife for substantial plastic surgery. We’re also talking about regional pla...

Hot flashes, brain fog, sleepless nights—menopause is often shrouded in mystery and stigma. But what if it didn’t have to be? In this episode, we’re joined by, Dr. Louise Newson, a trailblazing GP and menopause specialist who’s work is transforming how the world understands this pivotal life stage. Menopause care is a fundamental healthcare issue, and Dr. Newson brings both science and empathy to...

We’ve all been there - we’ve all experienced doubt, uncertainty, not knowing when to tune out the outside opinions. But! This week’s guest, Darcei Giles (one of the original YouTube beauty queens), learned how to bet on herself and built an online beauty empire all her own. Lucky for us, she’s here to inspire us all to do the same! Whether you’re a young entrepreneur, a blossoming beauty influence...

This year we’re thankful for you, curious people! It’s the holiday season - a time for office parties, family get-togethers, and friendsgivings. To help us figure out how to make the most scrumptious spread and host the best holiday party with unbeatable vibes, we’re bringing in chef extraordinaire, Sohla El-Waylly! We’re talking turduckens, mac ‘n cheese, hot toddies…are your mouths watering yet?...

Emma Stone, Rashida Jones, Pippi Longstocking… what do all these ladies have in common? FRECKLES. They all have freckles. Well honey, freckles got launched into the zeitgeist this fall when Taylor Swift was photographed wearing glitter freckles to a Kansas City game. Yes. GLI-TTER FRE-CKLES. So, just like the rest of the world, we wanted to learn more! That’s why today on the pod, we are welcoming...

It’s fall, it’s cuffing season, and maybe you’re looking for a way to extend that new, cozy relationship to a love for all seasons… Dating can be a mystery to some, but to our guest expert - it’s a scientific method! Today, we have Logan Ury from the new Netflix show The Later Daters talking to us all about how to become a better dater - at any age - and how we can say “f*ck the spark!” once and f...

This week, we have an unbeatable cosmetic chemistry duo - Perry Romanowski & Valerie George from The Beauty Brains Podcast! We’re coming to you today with the 411 on a fundamental element of any skin care routine: cleanser. But what’s the deal with cleanser anyhow? How many kinds of cleansers are there? What are the differences between them? What are they doing on a microscopic level? What kinds o...

It’s been a week since Trump won the 2024 election, and we’re still processing...everything? We’re processing what the future will bring for so many of our hard fought victories and protections. Gender-affirming care is heavy on our minds here on the Curious pods, and to help us parse out what’s to come, we’re bringing back the amazing ACLU lawyer/icon, Chase Strangio. JVN and Chase break down wha...

Makeup, Prosthetics, and Hair..oh my! Fellow Ozians! We’ve got more to share from our conversation with the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics designer of Wicked, Frances Hannon! We had so much fun talking to Frances, there was no possible way we could fit everything we talked about into one little (green) baby episode. Today, we’re talking more about Elphaba’s HMU, the nuts and bolts of Ozian body dou...