The JV Club with Janet Varney

Boys of Summer 2016 hums along with considerably more relaxed ease than you’d feel if you had to drive a double-decker, British-steering-wheel-on-the-right-side bus through Savannah with Clint Eastwood counting on you. Luckily if you’re Gary Anthony Williams ( The Boondocks, Rick & Morty ), you navigate everything with grace, humor, and killer improv chops.

Tune up your singing voice— or at least your talk-singing voice for this delightful conversation with Boy of Summer Jim O’Heir (Parks and Rec), who has surprised his teen-era friends by becoming an actor, so don’t expect any 16-year-old Jims playing Harold Hill. But there’s still time! For now, grab some Spanish croquettes and listen in!

It’s our great honor to welcome one of the most unique Wicked Witches in the history of Oz! It’s the great Michael Hitchcock (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), who defiantly takes us from Ohio and springs us into Illinois (these puns will make more sense after you listen, but they probably won’t be any funnier). This episode is an instant Boys of Summer Classic!

Saddle up for an early ride on the internet — OG Pokemon fans, anyone? — with our delightful Boy of Summer Ryan Copple (Go listen " Voyage To The Stars!" , who also takes us on a catfishing journey with a moral at the end, and so much more. So dive into that ramen, and let’s umami!

Get ready to see and be seen at a cool kids PL near you (c’mon- surely you know “PL” stands for “parking lot!”) with this week’s Boy of Summer, Adam Macias (Go listen to the " That Was Wild " podcast!), who takes us to the suburbs of Sacramento for teen bands, local acronyms, and dollar scoops!

Move over, Gilbert and Sullivan: it’s Malina and Varney! This week JV sits down with the great Joshua Malina (Scandal, The West Wing) to yak about theatre, summer camp, and pranks, pranks, pranks! So do NOT get on that rocket ship thinking you’re about to receive an award!

It’s an episode long overdue… with Boy of Summer and producer/host/Max Fun co-owner Julian Burrell ! So put on your feathered hat, grab your leather pouch, and head the Ren Faire in the hot Corona sun! Those turkey legs aren’t going to eat themselves...

His name is Greg Levine, he’s a Boy of Summer, he’s got a fantastic podcast of his own ( Parks and Recollection ) recalling episodes and hijnx working as a writer on "Parks and Rec," and he’s (as evidenced in his teen pic) super! So grab a sleeve of Double Stufs and get in here!

Prepare to be dazzled by this fabulous *QUEEN* of Summer! JV welcomes the truly wonderful Robin Fierce ("RuPaul’s Drag Race") for this inspiring conversation covering family, fashion, compassion, and passion, to name but a few! So comb that fabulous mane and let’s GO, ThunderCats!

It’s your Boy of Summer, comedian and pal Josh Gondelman ! From high school halls in Massachusetts to comedy clubs in Boston at a fresh-faced nineteen, we defy you not to fall in love (or a little bit more in love) with this delightful human being! So grab your summery iced coffee and a great croissant, and dig in!

There are so many reasons to listen to the delightful Ruth Gamble (Listen to her new podcast serial "Hobo Code" !), including stories of singing for non-singers, tackling people-pleasing, and the sublime person that is Bill Pullman (who happens to be featured in Ruth’s new project!). So lean into the perfect smell of rain and dig into that lasagna!

Hey! Stop copying your friend's math homework and grab a slice for this chat with comedian Rachel Feinstein (Catch her special "Big Guy" on Netflix now!), who takes you from the suburbs of Maryland to the streets of NYC, possibly in a poodle skirt. Now if we can just find all of those special guests we promised Rachel...

Head down from Queens to catch a Broadway show with teen-era Gillian Pensavalle (The Hamilcast, TCO), where the Rockette *might* even wink at you! But save a little time for some foggy witchy forest elf-time and a nibble or two of devil’s food chocolate crumb doughnuts (OG spelling, y’all)!

Unwrap that See’s Candy and get ready to savor the deliciousness of this conversation with Juliet Landau (The film A Place Among The Dead ; Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe including Audibles: " Slayers: a Buffyverse Story ") as she and JV talk ballet, M.A.S.H. time travel, and making art that helps people not only feel seen, but inspired to take action!  

Please bid a warm welcome to the fantastic Rebecca Delgado Smith (From the podcast " The Alarmist "), for this chat that takes you to Puerto Rico, Florida, Donner Pass, and even aboard the luxurious but ill-fated ocean liner of legend, all with a healthy dose of school (theatrical) spirit!

Come listen to this hug of a conversation with the darling and wildly talented Daphne Overbeck , who talks family, self-discovery, compassion and art… all the while being simply hilarious and inclusive! So go ahead, sink into that tiramisu! 

Do not hesitate to jump into this listen with human delight and comedian Ellie Hino (Her special " Soft Bones " is available now!), who helps JV fully comprehend the world of water parks in the Wisconsin Dells, plus lots of teen-times overlap between these new fast friends. Oh, and Ellie is just the right amount of flamboyant (see episode for details)!!

Attention all Punk Rock Girls and Dead Milkmen (youngsters— it’s a band)! Settle in with the fantastic author and podcaster Mur Lafferty ( Chaos Termina l,  I Should Be Writing ) for a chat with JV covering sci-fi storytelling, zero dating, and the icing-est part of a cake!

Grab your best bean pie and your Giggle Gloss for this chat with the supremely delightful Dulcé Sloan (Author of the book Hello Friends! Stories of Dating, Destiny and Day Jobs ), who talks teen times in the Atlanta area and gives some tantalizing tidbits around her brand new book, plus some SUPERB M.A.S.H. action! 

Author, teacher, and longtime listener Katherine Finstuen (author of the book Dearly Befuddled ) hops on podcast this week to talk “useless” degrees (no such thing!), peddling ice cream, and reading, reading, reading! Plus: a delightful hippo blast from the past!

Grab your favorite potion and pull up a broomstick with soul sisters Lane Moore (author of the book You Will Find Your People ) & JV as they get Practical with their Magic! Forests? Check. Trust issues due to childhood crap? Check. A love of altos? Check. And so much more!

This romp of an episode brings you the out-and-out awesome Biz Ellis , from the beloved Max Fun  One Bad Mother  pod! So get ready for a high school the size of a small metropolis, an utter lack of dating, and our second week of the crucial and delightful Max Fun Drive!

It's part two of JV's chat with Katie, including perspective on family tragedy and the much anticipated MASH future.

This podcast is part of the #MaxFunDrive! If you love this show and want it to continue, consider becoming a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you can help this show continue and get great gifts in the process. And if you are already a member, consider upgrading your membership to a higher level or even boosting for as little as an extra dollar a month.  Find out more at maximumfun.org/j...

As part of the #MaxFunDrive, this is a special preview of several episodes of the JV Club -- the full versions of which are available EXCLUSIVELY for MaxFun Members! Conversations with Tatiana Maslany, Evanna Lynch, D'Arcy Cardon, and a very special exchange of journal passages with Carrie Poppy.  Only the best for our members! When you go to maximumfun.org/join , you get access to these and hundr...