V Interesting with V Spehar

Alison Teal was literally born into a life of adventure. Raised by professional explorers, she’s lived in some of the most remote and tropical places on the planet, befriending monkeys and geckos along the way. Armed with a pink surfboard made from recycled trash, Alison now sets off to teach people about plastic pollution and to motivate change. V and Alison discuss everything from sustainability...

Beyond candidate races, the midterms were a battle of ballot questions. V breaks down the impact these results will have on communities across the country, from capping power in the highest courts to consolidating law enforcement in local counties. Plus, are you frustrated about all the fees you pay when you buy concert tickets? You’re not alone — your president’s fed up, too. Then, V is joined by...

Imagine getting pulled over because your car’s tail light is out or your window tint is too dark. For millions of people each year, the price of one traffic ticket creates a never-ending cycle of punishment and poverty, keeping adults and juveniles tethered to the U.S. criminal justice system through predatory fines. V sits down with Miranda Sheffield and Joanna Weiss, two advocates who work direc...

It’s midterm Tuesday, people! Did you know polling places used to have alcohol onsite? And that future elections could be controlled by fewer and fewer people? V’s talking everything voting — past, present, and future. They’ll also turn an eye to the Supreme Court, which was down one justice in a recent case. Then, V is joined by Negin Farsad, comedian and host of the podcast Fake the Nation. With...

“Don’t have sex. You will get pregnant — and die.” This line was delivered by a fictional high school coach in the movie Mean Girls, but it alludes to a real problem within the education system: that the vast majority of U.S. states don’t teach medically accurate or inclusive sex education. Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, an OBGYN and author, is trying to change that. Instead of scaring or shaming people, s...

That’s right — the White House invited V back! They recap their experience in D.C., where it was made clear that TikTokers continue to be central to education and engagement. V also breaks down the business of Girl Scouts, plus why retailers are embracing the holidays even earlier this year. Then, they chat with a guest who’s right on the money: TikTok’s “Rich BFF” Vivian Tu! Boasting credentials...

What are some nostalgic things you remember doing at the mall? For V, it was working their first job at Bath and Body Works, buying CDs from Radio Shack, and watching people take glamour shots at JCPenney. The mall was once poppin’, and it used to be the hottest place to build. What happened? Architecture critic and author Alexandra Lange joins V to talk about the inside history of the mall, from...

The U.S. midterm elections always shake up politics, and this year is no exception. V breaks down how races all over the country have gotten competitive in unexpected ways, making voter turnout all the more critical. Plus, the science of how Halloween works its magic on us — yes, there’s a specific reason why eerie smiles are scary. Then, V shares a powerful conversation with Wilfred Labiosa, the...

In this fun past episode of V Interesting, V chats with Hank Green, the founder of VidCon and a true Renaissance man. Hank is a familiar voice to everyone who watched Crash Course educational YouTube videos in school, and he’s also well known for energizing a brigade of Nerdfighters, vlogging with his brother, writing books, and TikToking up a storm. Hank, who's been a content machine since the ea...

This week, V is slinging history lessons. They unpack how recent executive orders from President Biden stand in stark contrast to the “chastity laws” of the past, which made everyday sexual activities a federal offense. Plus, V highlights the hidden historical gems in the new movie Amsterdam — beyond TSwift’s period attire, of course. They’re then joined by multihyphenate medical provider Dr. René...

When V thinks back to their childhood, they remember rushing home from school to watch the Ricki Lake Show. That's where they learned about diverse relationships, how to stand up to bullies, and that wearing blazers is cool. Now, V’s talking to the show’s iconic star about how she went from starring in Hairspray to being the youngest talk show host that audiences had seen to producing documentarie...

When it comes to special-edition McDonald’s products, employees aren’t lovin’ it. V explains how adult Happy Meals are just one recent example of nostalgia and fandom drawing crowds and putting pressure on workers. V also breaks down the different levels of holidays, as the nation splits between Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. Then, V sits down with Dr. Sidhbh Gallagher, the surgeon know...

What’s the first thing you look for on dating apps? Nowadays, the kids are checking for height and…political affiliation? As we learn this week from Maddie Medved and Samantha Kanter, hosts of the podcast Girl and the Gov, politics has become personal. Civics class didn’t prepare us for this! With midterm elections just around the corner, they share with V all the issues that are inspiring young v...

Halloween isn’t the only spooky thing happening this fall. In Italy, the newly elected prime minister is unearthing some concerning politics of the country’s past, and many people have eyes on the U.S. Supreme Court to see if they might do the same — their newest term starts this week, and a lot of consequential cases are on the docket. But not all is dark! V shares how the government is engaging...

It’s officially fall! Time to bust out the Halloween decorations, order an overpriced latte, and curl up with a spooky story. Lemonada’s Book Club powered by Penguin Random House is sure to help you get your ghoul on: this month’s pick is none other than the debut novel by Crime Junkie host Ashley Flowers, called “All Good People Here.” V welcomes Ashley on the show to talk about how she went from...

It’s been more than a week since the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman who was killed while in police custody for wearing her headscarf too loose. Today, V catches us up on the raging protests happening in Iran and abroad in support of bodily autonomy. They’ll also explain how the U.S. government would respond to a (hypothetical) nuclear attack, then shine a light on a poet's call to...

When offenders cause people harm, the criminal legal system is quick to cause more harm. The incarceration system is unforgiving and cruel, but as we learn this week, there’s a more humane approach to getting justice that also puts survivors first. V invites restorative justice experts Cymone Fuller and Danielle Sered on to talk about their work in this field. We’ll hear about how the length of a...

Last week, you might have heard that the railroad strike was averted, but as V tells us, that's actually just a tentative deal. There's more that needs to happen to make it official. Next up, we all know money makes the world go round... and apparently it also gives you the clearance to solve public health crises? V explains how billionaire Bill Gates is using his clout to control global vaccinati...

Coming out as a person seeking therapy to your partner, parents, or friends can be difficult, and sometimes even dangerous. Sometimes the people who are supposed to love us most are the first to hold us back, or we feel guilty for “leaving them behind” as we grow through various seasons of our lives. You’re not alone in your journey — in fact, millions follow clinical counselor Shani Tran for her...

This week, V’s digging into how federal judges are chosen and how the Federalist Society plays a significant part in the decision-making process. They’ll explain why this once student-led organization has become one of the most influential legal groups ever. We’ll also hear about a prestigious Ivy League university offering some students free tuition, and V breaks down the concept of learning loss...

This week, V’s opening up about something very personal that has shaped the last seven years of their life. Through this tragedy, V found comfort and support in Lemonada’s mission to help “make life suck less” and decided to leave their dream job to pursue a higher purpose. At a time when V didn’t have all the answers, they leaned on one of the most stabilizing forces in their life to help make se...

Today, V invites comedian and co-host of I’m Sorry, Hoja Lopez, to chat about how CNN is shifting the way it covers news to mirror a right-wing media outlet. And how far would you go to get a blue checkmark on Instagram? We’ll hear about a verification scheme that cost users thousands of dollars. V and Hoja also weigh how effective some protesting tactics are – like wearing Handmaid’s Tales costum...

When you think of a union job, do you imagine a blue collar worker in a hard hat with a lunch pail? The reality is that the labor movement belongs to a lot of people, and its history is different from what you probably learned in school. This Labor Day weekend, V talks to journalist and activist Kim Kelly about her book "Fight Like Hell." Kim is a third-generation union member who tells us about t...

Today, V is trying something new by bringing on stand-up comedian Trae Crowder to go over some interesting headlines together. Because V gets kind of lonely over here! Speaking of, a recent article in Psychology Today claims men are lonelier than ever. Turns out trolling women on the internet and waiting three days to text back doesn't translate to matches. Good news though! You are better than th...

Most people grow up in a home with their loved ones. But very rarely do people grow up in a funeral home with a stranger's deceased loved ones. This week, V chats with their favorite mortuary director, Eileen Hollis, about growing up around death and helping her dad run the family business. Eileen uses her TikTok account to demystify death and answer questions everyone’s dying to know like can you...