Podcasts by Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

Are Cicadas The Only Ones Having a Hawt Gurl Summer? with Dr. Jessica Ware from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.453683

On this week’s Getting Curious, Jonathan is taking the creepy out of crawly with entomologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Jessica Ware. We’re talking periodical cicadas, cockroaches, dragonfl...

Are We Hearing A Crescendo of Anti-Racism in Classical Music? with Dr. Kira Thurman and Ashleigh Gordon from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.399685

This week on Getting Curious, Dr. Kira Thurman and Ashleigh Gordon join Jonathan to discuss the remarkable work of Black classical composers and musicians through history and today.

Dr. Th...

Am I A Self-Karen? with Ashlee Marie Preston from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.376162

Do you know where your donor dollars and time are actually going? Activist, thought leader, and founder of the social impact campaign YouAreEssential Ashlee Marie Preston joins Jonathan to discu...

Are Unions A Good Bargain? with Professor Rebecca Givan from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.361816

In the lead-up to Labor Day, Getting Curious is working it! We're re-releasing an episode from 2018 with Rebecca Givan, an associate professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutger...

How Can We Take Charge Of Our Lives? with Dr. Edith Eger from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.359104

One of the lessons in Dr. Edith Eger’s latest book The Gift is that love equals time. And on this week’s Getting Curious, Dr. Eger is joining Jonathan for an hour of love, compassion, and...

Can Comedy Save Us All? with Samantha Bee from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.333973

Look, we already know the answer to this question. But we can dream! We’re sending you into Election Day with an early release of this week’s Getting Curious, featuring a conversation with the i...

Can I Sing My Way Through the Holidays? with Meghan Trainor from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.290697

You know when you have a song stuck in your head and the only way you can get it out is to play it? Well, Jonathan has a similar feeling: he can’t shake the idea that he needs to sing a song. Li...

What Is Civil Asset Forfeiture? with Professor Saleema Snow from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.286961

If you’re a close listener of Getting Curious, you’ll know that today’s conversation with Professor Saleema Snow, all about the practice known as civil asset forfeiture, is a long time coming. C...

Who Gave Ancient Egyptians Permission To Be So Advanced? with Dr. Kathryn Howley from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.276490

New year, old curiosity: this week on Getting Curious, we’re traveling back in time to ancient Egypt with Dr. Kathryn Howley. She and Jonathan discuss what life might have looked like for ancien...

How Can We Honor Black Motherhood? with Anna Malaika Tubbs from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.257591

This week on Getting Curious, we’re learning about three women who shaped the movement for civil rights in the United States—Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin—but whose stories hav...

How Did You Become Such An Amazing Artist? with A’Driane Nieves from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.245307

We read your Instagram comments. We saw your clamoring for more information on the stunning painting behind Jonathan’s couch—and the artist behind the work. This week, we’re satisfying your curi...

What’s On Animals’ Minds? with Eva Meijer from 2022-03-07T04:02:24.187705

This week’s Getting Curious is going to the dogs—and the cats and the cows and the crocodiles! Philosopher and writer Eva Meijer joins Jonathan for a conversation about how non-human animals com...

Hair Variation, What’s Her Story? with Dr. Tina Lasisi from 2022-02-23T05:00

What do you get when a biological anthropologist studying hair and a hairstylist compare notes? A stunning new episode of Getting Curious. Join Dr. Tina Lasisi and Jonathan as they explore the e...

What’s It Like To Get Curious? with Jonathan Van Ness from 2022-02-16T05:00

This week on Getting Curious, Jonathan’s in the guest seat! You submitted your questions for Jonathan on social media—and we have answers. We’re talking Getting Curious the podcast and Netflix s...

How Major Are Volcanoes? with Professor Chris Jackson from 2022-01-26T05:00

Since 1997, Jonathan has been haunted by a question: could a volcano erupt a la Dante’s Peak and turn a local creek into a river of hot acid? This week, Professor Chris Jackson answers al...

What’s Indigenous Science? with Dr. Jessica Hernandez from 2022-01-19T05:00

Indigenous peoples represent about five percent of the world’s population—and sustain nearly 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity. This week, Dr. Jessica Hernandez joins Jonathan to discuss th...

Can Figure Skaters Defy Gravity? with Dr. Deborah King from 2022-01-12T05:00

What happens when you add JVN to E = mc²? You get an episode of Getting Curious all about physics, explored throug...

What’s The Soundtrack To Your Life? with Brandi Carlile from 2021-12-29T05:00

We’re ending this year on a high note with none other than Brandi Carlile! She and Jonathan talk Brandi’s incredible music career, queer faith, and Dolly Parton—and Jonathan asks hard-hitting qu...

How Much History Is In A Burrito? with Pati Jinich from 2021-12-22T05:00

This week’s episode is as nourishing as they get, as chef Pati Jinich joins Jonathan to discuss cuisines along the US-Mexico border, holiday foods she associates with growing up in Mexic...

What’s It Like To Be An Ex-Nun? with Kelli Dunham and Mary Johnson from 2021-12-15T05:00

If you’re a regular listener of Getting Curious, you know how much Jonathan loves the Sister Act films. But how realistic were they? This week, former nuns Kelli Dunham and Mary Johnson share wh...

How Expansive Is Oregon Trail History? with Professor Margaret Huettl from 2021-11-24T05:00

Can you map out the Oregon Trail? If you just flashed back to playing The Oregon Trail video game in your sixth grade computer lab, get ready for a journey. Jonathan and Professor Margaret Huett...

What’s The Deal With Tear Gas? with Professor Anna Feigenbaum from 2021-11-17T05:00

You may have seen tear gas marketed as a “non-lethal” or “less lethal” weapon. The truth is more dangerous. This week, Professor Anna Feigenbaum breaks down what’s in tear gas, who manufactures ...

How Can We Put The “I” In LGBTQIA+? with Alicia Roth Weigel from 2021-11-10T05:00

Have you ever met a redhead? Someone with green eyes? Someone with intersex traits? 

If you answered yes to the first two questions, you can likely answer yes to the third: being intersex ...

Are Dams Cute… Or Not So Cute? with Heather Randell from 2021-10-27T04:00

Dams, what’s their story? Are they scenic sites? Harmful structures? This week, Professor Heather Randell and Jonathan go on a journey through dam history, ecology, and sociology. Listen in to l...

How Do You Make Me LOL So Hard? with Amanda Seales from 2021-10-20T04:00

You know those hangout episodes of your favorite TV shows? This episode’s like that, but in podcast form. Grab a seat and spend an hour with Jonathan and comedian, producer, writer, actor (and m...

What’s It Like To Survive An Earthquake? with Ashly Cabas from 2021-10-13T04:00

Even the best earthquake early warning systems will give you only five to eight seconds of notice before you experience ground shaking. This week, Jonathan and geotechnical engineer Ashly Cabas ...

Has Our Medicine System Expired? with Priti Krishtel from 2021-09-29T04:00

America’s first medical patents date back to the 1790s—and patents still inform our every prescription, vaccine, and pharmacy run. This week on Getting Curious, Priti Krishtel joins Jonathan to ...

Is This What Harmony Sounds Like? with Demi Lovato from 2021-09-22T04:00

This week, Demi Lovato joins Jonathan to discuss the difference between accomplishment and joy, finding serenity off stage, and Dolly Parton’s tour bus.

You can follow Demi on Listen

What’s Chemistry Got To Do With Haircare? with Ramya Viswanathan from 2021-09-15T04:00

Some of us have our best ideas in the shower. Others have the best ideas for how to shampoo and condition while we’re taking those showers. This week, Jonathan sits down (in person!) with Ramya ...

Ready For Another Round? with Getting Curious LIVE! from 2021-08-25T04:00

Refresh your beach playlist with a second serving of Getting Curious LIVE! For our last episode of the summer season, we’re giving you a taste of some top-shelf interviews recorded on Kesha's We...

How Hot Is This Episode? with Getting Curious LIVE! from 2021-08-18T04:00

We’re celebrating the dog days of summer with two weeks’ worth of our favorite Getting Curious tapings from festivals, tour stops, and even a cruise. This week, cool down with interviews recorde...

Who Was Keeping It Real In Ancient Mesoamerica? with James Doyle from 2021-08-11T04:00

Join Jonathan and archaeologist James Doyle as they explore early Mesoamerican arts, cultures, and communities on this week’s Getting Curious. Listen in to learn about the numeral and writing sy...

What’s The Cost Of Intimate Partner Violence? with Sonya Passi from 2021-07-28T04:00

One in four women and one in two trans people will experience intimate partner violence in the United States, and the primary obstacle to safety for survivors is financial security. Sonya Passi ...

What Were The Very First Olympics Like? with Professors Sarah E. Bond and Joel Christensen from 2021-07-21T04:00

On the eve of the Tokyo Olympics, we’re turning our attention to another era of athletic competitions: the ancient Olympics. Professors Sarah E. Bond and Joel Christensen join Jonathan to discus...

What Does Justice Look Like For Farmworkers? with Mónica Ramírez from 2021-07-14T04:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re going from table to farm to learn more about where our food comes from, and who is producing it. Activist and lawyer Mónica Ramírez joins Jonathan to discuss ...

What Does Pride Mean To You? with Ashlee Marie Preston from 2021-06-30T04:00

Last June, LGBTQIA+ activist, journalist, and media personality Ashlee Marie Preston joined Jonathan on Instagram Live for a conversation about Pride, racial justice, and everyday acts of resist...

Do Beauty Standards Need A Glow Up? with David Yi from 2021-06-23T04:00

This week on Getting Curious, Jonathan and David Yi explore the history of beauty beyond the gender binary. Listen in to learn about Neanderthals who used highlighters, Korean warriors who inven...

Who Was Doing The Most In Early China? with Professor Jue Guo from 2021-06-16T04:00

This week, Professor Jue Guo returns to Getting Curious, which means we are returning to Early China! She and Jonathan discuss what a week in the life might look like for a royal hairdresser, a ...

Are Cicadas Partying Like It’s 2004? with Dr. Jessica Ware from 2021-05-26T04:00

Grab your Ugg boots and mini skirts and give three cheers for each of Carly Patterson's Olympic medals because this week on Getting Curious, 2004 is back in style. As billions of Brood X cicadas...

We’re Being Watched. Now What? with Meredith Broussard from 2021-05-19T04:00

It’s no secret that we rely on technology in our daily lives. So it shouldn’t be a secret how that technology works, who is developing it, and just how biased it can be. This week on Getting Cur...

How Did You Develop Such Amazing Taste? with Sohla El-Waylly from 2021-05-12T04:00

This week’s episode of Getting Curious isn’t a snack, it’s a whole meal. Culinary creator, writer, and video host Sohla El-Waylly joins Jonathan to discuss cooking basics, ancient recipes, and t...

How Much Do We ? Arlo? an Arlo The Alligator Boy Roundtable from 2021-04-21T06:00

This week on Getting Curious, Jonathan sits down with the creators and cast of Netflix’s new animated musical movie Arlo The Alligator Boy. Joining the discussion is director and writer Ryan Crego;...

How Can We Find Clarity Through Art? with Lanecia Rouse from 2021-04-14T04:00

This week on Getting Curious, multidisciplinary visual artist Lanecia Rouse joins Jonathan to discuss how creative expression can help us make sense of our lives. Lanecia shares how she sources ...

What’s Astrology All About? with Diana Rose from 2021-03-31T04:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re wishing Jonathan many happy returns with an extra special birthday edition of the show. Diana Rose joins Jonathan to discuss astrology, tarot, and other heali...

Are Plants Literal Geniuses? with Professor Beronda Montgomery from 2021-03-24T04:00

This week on Getting Curious, Professor Beronda Montgomery joins Jonathan to discuss plant behavior, adaptation, and communication—plus, the question on everyone’s minds: will Jonathan’s lantana...

Does Sun Protection Have That “It” Factor? with Dr. Emily Newsom from 2021-03-17T04:00

Spring is on its way, the sun is shining, and we want to make sure you’re prepared to bask in the warm weather—even with your masks on! This week on Getting Curious, we’re re-releasing an episod...

Can You Set The Scene For Early China? with Professor Jue Guo from 2021-03-10T05:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re traveling back to Early China with Professor Jue Guo. She and Jonathan discuss dynasties, empires, early instances of written language, and so much more. And ...

Does This Episode Need Its Own Royal Title? with Emerald Fennell from 2021-02-24T05:00

We love going off script for Getting Curious, but we’re staying on it with this week’s guest: the Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated writer, director, actress, and author Emerald Fennell. She and J...

How Do You Persevere, Mars Rover? with Christina Hernandez from 2021-02-17T05:00

Put on your finest loungewear and raise your favorite coffee mug because this week’s episode of Getting Curious is an EVENT! After six years of incredible work, NASA’s Perseverance rover is now ...

Can You Even Believe It’s Our 200th Episode? from 2021-02-10T05:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re celebrating 200 episodes and five years of the show with a look back at some of our favorite segments on empowerment, advocacy, and exploration. We’re so grat...

How Can We Raise The Bar On Trans Rights? with Lui Asquith from 2021-01-27T05:00

In December 2020, the UK High Court determined that trans, non-binary, and gender diverse young people in the UK must have legal approval before they can start puberty blockers—even if these you...

How Can We Show Up For Mutual Aid? with Dean Spade from 2021-01-20T05:00

This week on Getting Curious, the writer, activist, and educator Dean Spade joins Jonathan to discuss how we can meet our neighbors’ survival needs through mutual aid, and better understand the ...

How Fair is Banking? with Professor Mehrsa Baradaran from 2021-01-13T05:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re following the money to better understand banking in America and the history of the country’s racial wealth gap. Professor Mehrsa Baradaran joins Jonathan to d...

How Does Figure Skating Give Us Life? with Michelle Kwan and Eliot Halverson from 2020-12-30T05:00

We’re gliding into the new year with the re-release of an episode from February 2019 with figure skating’s finest: Michelle Kwan and Eliot Halverson. Michelle and Eliot join Jonathan to talk all...

What’s It Like To Make Triple Axel History? with Mirai Nagasu from 2020-12-23T05:00

This holiday break, we’re re-releasing two of our favorite episodes, with three of our favorite experts, about one of our favorite topics: figure skating.

First up is an episode from April...

How Can Local Politics Be More Gender Inclusive? with Jesse Pierce and Samy Nemir Olivares from 2020-12-16T05:00

Did you know that if you want to represent your block in Brooklyn as a local elected official, you have to mark a gender designation—and the only options are “male” and “female”? This week on Ge...

How Grateful Are We To Live Beyond The Gender Binary? with ALOK from 2020-11-25T05:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re re-releasing an episode from June 2019 that we hold dear, with the performance artist and writer ALOK. ALOK and Jonathan discuss their experiences embracing l...

How Can We Get To Cloud Nine? with Professor Kristen Rasmussen from 2020-11-18T05:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re getting the down low on what’s up in the sky with Professor Kristen Rasmussen, an Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University and ...

How Can We Get To Cloud Nine? with Kristen Rasmussen from 2020-11-18T05:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re getting the down low on what’s up in the sky with Professor Kristen Rasmussen, an Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University and an ...

Are We Imagining A Better Future Into Existence? with adrienne maree brown from 2020-11-11T05:00

Election Day is behind us, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more work ahead. Consider this week’s Getting Curious a chance to reflect and recharge, as Jonathan speaks with the writer, editor, a...

Is Deep Canvassing The Serum America Needs? with George Goehl from 2020-10-28T04:00

Are you phone banking, leafleting, and heading to the polls early this election season and still feeling like you need a boost? Then it might be time to introduce deep canvassing to your routine...

Why Are Domestic Workers’ Rights Essential? with Alicia Garza from 2020-10-21T04:00

There are more than 2.5 million care workers, nannies, and house cleaners across the United States. They are skilled professionals. Their labor is essential. So are their rights.

Alicia Ga...

How Are Contemporary Native Americans Thriving? with Dr. Elizabeth Rule from 2020-10-14T04:00

On this week’s Getting Curious, Dr. Elizabeth Rule joins Jonathan to discuss contemporary Native American rights and representation. She and Jonathan cover reproductive justice, tribal sovereign...

Would I Have Been The Toast of the Ancient Mediterranean? with Dr. Sarah E. Bond from 2020-10-07T04:00

Raise a glass (or an amphora!) to this week’s episode of Getting Curious, all about ancient Mediterranean drinking cultures. Associate Professor of History at the University of Iowa Dr. Sarah E. Bo...

Are You Getting Every Word of This? with Erin Brockovich from 2020-09-30T06:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’ve got numbers coming out of our ears. For instance: two. Two? Yeah. That’s how many times the clean water activist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich has now ap...

How Can I Be A Better Cat Parent? with Jackson Galaxy from 2020-09-23T04:00

This week on Getting Curious, we’re carrying ourselves with confidence, our heads are held high, and we’re comfortable in our environment—we’re feeling big time cat parent mojo!

Jackson Ga...

Can A House Divided Stand? with Sec. Julián Castro from 2020-09-16T04:00

There are fewer than 50 days until the 2020 United States elections, and over at Getting Curious, we’re feeling a little… shaky. To lay the foundation for this final stretch of election season, ...

Is Guaranteed Income America’s Next Top Model? with Mayor Michael Tubbs from 2020-08-26T04:00

Since Stockton, California, Mayor Michael Tubbs was elected in November 2016, he’s launched an innovative Guaranteed Income pilot program and created a runway for his city’s success.

Mayor...

Why Do We Need A Green New Deal? with Senator Ed Markey from 2020-08-19T04:00

This week on Getting Curious, Jonathan is learning about the power of clean energy with a clean energy powerhouse: Massachusetts representative and co-author of the Green New Deal bill, Senator ...

What’s It Like To Live On The Edge? with Astronaut&Oceanographer Kathy Sullivan from 2020-08-12T04:00

Earth to listeners! This week’s Getting Curious is serving an adventure like no other, because Jonathan is talking with astronaut, oceanographer, and geologist Kathy Sullivan. She’s the first US...

Am I Your Favorite Non-Binary Gardener / Gymnast? with Aly Raisman from 2020-07-29T04:00

This episode is an All-Around winner, because Jonathan is talking with six-time Olympic medalist and captain of the Fierce Five and Final Five gymnastics teams, Aly Raisman. This isn’t a Level 1...

How Can We Give the Theater World a Revival? with Audra McDonald from 2020-07-22T04:00

This week's Getting Curious is a show like no other, since Jonathan is joined by the iconic Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award winner Audra McDonald. She and Jonathan discuss the critical work she's d...

How Can Progressives Stick The 2020 Election Landing? with Ben O’Keefe from 2020-07-15T04:00

The 2020 election season has been anything but routine. To coach us through all the ways we can help flip seats, add balance to any check on our democracy, and win big on election day, Jonathan ...

Are Cicadas The Only Ones Having a Hawt Gurl Summer? with Entomologist Dr. Jessica Ware from 2020-07-01T04:00

On this week’s Getting Curious, Jonathan is taking the creepy out of crawly with entomologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Jessica Ware. We’re talking periodical cicadas, cockroaches, dragonflies...

How Can We Shablam on Voter Suppression? with Stacey Abrams from 2020-06-24T04:00

Voting rights activist, author, lawyer, and politician Stacey Abrams joins Jonathan to discuss the history of voting rights in the United States, the current state of voter suppression, and how ...

Is Trump An Autocratic Basic B? with Masha Gessen from 2020-06-17T04:00

In Masha Gessen’s return to Getting Curious, the journalist and staff writer at The New Yorker speaks with Jonathan about their new book Surviving Autocracy. They discuss the ways in whic...

How Can Democrats Be Anti-Racist? with Alicia Garza from 2020-06-10T04:00

In this re-release of an episode first recorded in July 2019, Jonathan sits down with Alicia Garza, Co-founder of Black Lives Matter and Director of Strategy & Partnerships for National Domestic...

What Was Poppin’ In Prehistoric America? with Dr. Julia Clarke from 2020-05-27T04:00

On this episode of Getting Curious, we’re digging deep with Dr. Julia Clarke, Wilson Professor of Paleontology at The University of Texas at Austin and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. ...

How Did You Become So F*#%!ng Fierce? with Christian Siriano from 2020-05-20T04:00

You're invited to a very special episode of Getting Curious, and the dress code is whatever makes you feel stunning! The guest of honor is the CFDA designer Christian Siriano, who launched his b...

When Did We Start to Demonize Poverty? with Mary O'Hara from 2020-05-13T04:00

Journalist and author Mary O'Hara returns to Getting Curious to discuss her reporting on poverty, her new book The Shame Game: Overturning the Toxic Poverty Narrative, and her work reimagining how ...

What Happened After WW2? with Professor Pascale R. Bos (Part Two) from 2020-04-29T04:00

Professor Pascale R. Bos joins Jonathan to discuss the Holocaust and WW2. In part two of their conversation, Jonathan and Dr. Bos explore how the US became involved in the war, the Berlin Wall, ...

Do We Understand How the Holocaust Happened? with Professor Pascale R. Bos (Part One) from 2020-04-22T04:00

Professor Pascale R. Bos joins Jonathan to discuss the Holocaust and WW2. In part one of our first ever two-part episode, Jonathan and Professor Bos discuss how the term Holocaust came to be, the a...

How Funny Are You, Queen?! With Mawaan Rizwan from 2020-04-08T04:00

Comedian Mawaan Rizwan got his start creating YouTube sketches that turned his mother into a Bollywood Star. Now as an established writer and actor, he has written for Netflix’s “Sex Education” and...

What Happened to the Racist F***ing A**hole Dick Officials of the Confederacy After the End of the American Civil War? with Robert Icenhauer-Ramirez from 2020-04-01T04:00

Lawyer, Historian, and Author Robert Icenhauer-Ramirez’s book, “Treason on Trial: United States v. Jefferson Davis.” exposes the legality behind why no one was held accountable for starting the Civ...

What Happened to the Racist F***ing A**hole Dick Officials of the Confederacy After the End of the American Civil War? With Robert Icenhauer-Ramirez Ph.D. from 2020-04-01T04:00

Lawyer, Historian, and Author Robert Icenhauer-Ramirez’s book, “Treason on Trial: United States v. Jefferson Davis.” exposes the legality behind why no one was held accountable for starting the Civ...

What Happened to the Racist F***ing A**hole Dick Officials of the Confederacy After the End of the American Civil War? with Professor Robert Icenhauer-Ramirez from 2020-04-01T04:00

Lawyer, historian, and author Robert Icenhauer-Ramirez sits down with Jonathan to discuss the Civil War and its aftermath, including what happened to confederate officials, the process of abolishin...

What is Ableism and How Does it Affect Your Life? With Carson Tueller from 2020-03-11T04:00

Carson Tueller is an LGBTQ+ and Disability Advocate. His life changed in 2013 when an accident left him paralyzed. Through his journey, he’s brought to light many issues the Disabled community face...

How Do Firefighters Fight Bushfires? with Fiona Macken from 2020-02-26T05:00

CONTENT WARNING: This conversation contains details about scenes that emergency first responders encounter, including car accidents, suicide, house fires, and bushfires.

Fiona Macken is a...

How Do the Legacies of Slavery and Jim Crow Laws Still Affect Americans Today? With Deborah N. Archer from 2020-02-19T05:00

Deborah N. Archer received her JD from Yale Law School where she was also awarded the Charles G. Albom Prize. She’s held several esteemed titles throughout her career, and New York Law Journal has ...

What's The Difference Between The Gender Pay Gap And The Wealth Gap? With Sallie Krawcheck from 2020-02-12T05:00

Sallie Krawcheck is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ellevest, a company working to help close the gender pay gap by “redefining investing for women.” She joined Jonathan in the studio to discuss the gend...

What’s It Like To Be A Booked And Busy Irish Queen? With Actress Nicola Coughlan from 2020-02-05T05:00

Nicola Coughlan was born in Galway Ireland where she started acting at a young age. She made her screen debut in a 2004 Irish short film and went on to attend the Oxford School of Drama and Birming...

How Do You Do An Inward 2 ½ Twist Off A 10 Meter Diving Board And Not Shit Your Pants? with Tom Daley from 2020-01-29T05:00

Tom Daley began diving at a very young age, gaining notoriety at nine years old. In 2008, at 14, he represented Great Britain as their youngest competitor in the Beijing Summer Olympics. He wen...

How Do Plants Get Their Freak On? with Dr. Alex Monro from 2020-01-22T05:00

Dr. Alex Monro is a botanist and research leader at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the Americas Team of the Identification and Naming Department. After watching The Jungle Book at a young age...

What's A Filibuster? with Wendy Davis from 2020-01-15T05:00

Wendy Davis came into the spotlight in 2013 when she took to the Texas Senate floor to perform a 13-hour filibuster to block a bill that would severely impact abortion rights. She received her d...

What Does Inequality Have To Do With HIV? With Dr. Celeste Watkins-Hayes Professor of Sociology and African American Studies from 2020-01-01T05:00

Dr. Celeste Watkins-Hayes received her M.A. and Ph.D in Sociology from Harvard and is a Professor of Sociology and African American Studies and Faculty Fellow at Northwestern University. Her first ...

What's the Difference Between Sunni and Shia and Why Don't They Love Each Other? with Dr. James L. Gelvin from 2019-12-25T05:00

In December of 2015, Dr. James L. Gelvin joined Jonathan in the studio to discuss the relationship between Shia and Sunni Islam and to record the very first episode of Getting Curious...the rest is...

How Can We Get In This Fight? with Senator Elizabeth Warren from 2019-12-18T05:00

Senator Elizabeth Warren was a professor of law for over 30 years at several esteemed universities including Harvard. In 2015 she became the first female Senator elected from Massachusetts and c...

How Did You Create The Internal Family Systems Model And How Does It Work? with Dr. Richard Schwartz from 2019-12-11T05:00

CONTENT WARNING: This conversation contains details about addiction, eating disorders and mental health disorders.

Dr. Richard Schwartz earned his PH.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy fr...

How Are Turtles Doing These Days And Are They The Same Thing As Tortoises? with Dr. Charles J. Innis from 2019-11-27T05:00

Dr. Charles J. Innis is the Director of Animal Health at the New England Aquarium and co-editor and author of “Sea Turtle Health and Rehabilitation,” which covers sea turtle husbandry, medicine,...

How Are Turtles Doing These Days And Are They The Same Thing As Tortoises? With Dr. Charles J. Innis Director of Animal Health at the New England Aquarium from 2019-11-27T05:00

Dr. Charles J. Innis is the Director of Animal Health at the New England Aquarium and co-editor/author of “Sea Turtle Health and Rehabilitation” which covers sea turtle husbandry, medicine, and sur...

Are You My Tanny Bananny? with Tan France from 2019-11-20T05:07

Tan France is the host of Netflix’s upcoming show Next in Fashion and Dressing Funny on Netflix is a Joke and co-host of Queer Eye. He sits down with Jonathan in a Listen

Is Our Reliance On Technology Turning Our Brains Into Mush? with Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee from 2019-11-13T05:00

Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee is a psychologist, speaker, and the award-winning author of “Deviced! Balancing Life and Technology in a Digital World.” She joins Jonathan to discuss how reliant on tech...

Why Isn’t Terrorism Defined Equally in the United States? with Dr. Erroll Southers from 2019-10-30T04:00

Dr. Erroll Southers joins Jonathan to discuss the threat domestic terrorism, how that term is applied on a federal level, and how to survive a mass shooting situation. Dr. Southers is a recipien...

Why Isn’t Terrorism Defined Equally in the United States? with Dr. Erroll Southers, Director of the Safe Communities Institute and Homegrown Violent Extremism Studies at USC from 2019-10-30T04:00

Dr. Erroll Southers joins Jonathan to discuss the threat domestic terrorism, how that term is applied on a federal level, and how to survive a mass shooting situation. Dr. Southers is a recipient o...

How Did You Win Great British Bake Off? with Nancy Birtwhistle, Winner of Great British Bake Off Series 5 from 2019-10-23T04:00

Jonathan is joined by Nancy Birtwhistle. The two discuss all things Great British Bake Off and how she followed the recipe of her heart to become an international baking icon. 

Follow Nanc...

How Did You Win Great British Bake Off? with Nancy Birtwhistle from 2019-10-23T04:00

Jonathan is joined by Nancy Birtwhistle, winner of Great British Bake Off Series 5. The two discuss all things Great British Bake Off and how she followed the recipe of her heart to become an in...

How Did Family Separation Affect Your Life? with Diane Guerrero from 2019-10-16T04:00

Actor, activist, and author Diane Guerrero joins Jonathan to blow their mind and open our eyes to something many Americans have experienced but isn't talked about enough.

Diane is an outs...

Is There An Insulin Crisis Happening in the U.S.? with Elizabeth Pfiester from 2019-10-02T04:00

Elizabeth Pfiester is the founder and director of T1International, a non-profit run by people with and impacted by type 1 diabetes that does not take funding from the pharmaceutical industry. Eliza...

What does Planned Parenthood Do To Keep Us Safe? with Alexis McGill Johnson from 2019-09-25T04:00

Planned Parenthood's Alexis McGill Johnson joins Jonathan to discuss the current state of reproductive rights, the politics of health care, and just, what is her day even like?

You can fol...

How Can We Twerk On Climate Change? with Bill Nye The Science Guy from 2019-09-18T04:00

Jonathan is joined by climate advocate, TV personality, and Science Guy Bill Nye. The two discuss an array of topics, including green algae, renewable energy, and how to make climate change a ma...

How Many Cats Am I Allowed To Foster Before It’s Illegal? with Hannah Shaw from 2019-09-11T04:00

Hannah Shaw is a kitten rescuer, humane educator, author, and unwavering animal advocate who has dedicated her life to finding innovative ways to protect animals. She sits down with Jonathan to ...

What is Techno-Chauvinism and Are We Relying Too Much on Unconscious Biased Systems? with Meredith Broussard from 2019-08-21T04:00

NYU Associate Professor, data journalist, AI researcher and author Meredith Broussard joins Jonathan to discuss her book, “Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World” where sh...

What Was Early America Like Around the Revolutionary War? with Dr. Jessica Roney from 2019-08-14T04:00

How did we come to be the United States of America? What was life like in Philadelphia and Boston leading up to the Revolutionary War? Jonathan sits down with Dr. Jessica Roney, Associate Profes...

How Has the US Disrupted Native American Food Sources? with Dr. Brittany Wenniserí:iostha Jock from 2019-08-07T04:00

Brittany Jock a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Dr. Jock joins Jonathan to discuss her research, which combines epidemiology with social and behavioral science to respon...

Is It Possible That I’m The Most Gorgeous Hypochondriac That Has Ever Lived? with Dr. Adam Ratner from 2019-07-31T04:00

Adam Ratner, MD, MPH is the Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital and New York University School of Medicine.

Dr. Ratner and Jonatha...

How Did You Learn to Write Pop Music? with Kim Petras from 2019-07-24T04:00

Singer-songwriter and incredible badass Kim Petras joins Jonathan to talk about her writing process and how her work is reshaping how people are listening to pop music.

Follow Kim on Twitt...

Can We Make it the Magnificent 8? with Shannon Miller from 2019-07-03T04:00

Jonathan does his best not to cry as he is joined by seven time olympic medalist, two-time gold medalist, and absolute icon Shannon Miller. The two discuss Shannon’s journey as a decorated gymnast,...

How Fierce Is Erin Brockovich? with Erin Brockovich from 2019-06-12T04:00

Erin Brockovich is an American legal clerk, consumer advocate, environmental activist who was instrumental in building a case against The Pacific Gas and Electric Company of California. She join...

How Did You Get So Dope Queen? with Phoebe Robinson from 2019-05-29T04:00

Phoebe Robinson is a comedian, writer, podcaster, and ½ of Two Dope Queens. She joins Jonathan to breakdown their theories on Game of Thrones, the creation of Two Dope Queens, Phoebe’s early days i...

Would You Make Over the US Constitution? with Heidi Schreck from 2019-05-22T04:00

Playwright, actor, and two-time Tony Award nominee Heidi Schreck joins Jonathan to discuss her play “What the Constitution Means to Me,” in which she breathes new life into our Constitution and ima...

Should I Be Terrified of Snakes… and What are They Going Through These Days Anyway? with Dr. Sara Ruane from 2019-05-15T05:16:42

Dr. Sara Ruane is a herpetologist & assistant professor at Rutgers University-Newark who joins Jonathan to breakdown all things snakes! She covers their environmental benefits, the differences betw...

What The Heck Is EMILY’s List, Anyway? with Stephanie Schriock from 2019-04-24T04:00

Stephanie Schriock is an American political strategist and president of EMILY's List, the nation’s largest organization for women in politics. She joins Jonathan to talk the formation of EMILY’s...

Who Gave You Permission to Create Queer Eye, David Collins? from 2019-04-17T04:00

David Collins is a three-time Emmy Award winning producer and is the creator and Executive Producer of Queer Eye. He joins Jonathan to talk the inspiration of the original Queer Eye for the Str...

What Do District Attorneys Do? with District Attorney Rachael Rollins from 2019-04-10T04:00

Rachael Rollins is the first woman of color to be elected as a district attorney in Massachusetts. She joins Jonathan to discuss what the day-to-day life of a DA looks like, the struggles transi...

How Do We Find Our Voice? with Tammy Baldwin from 2019-03-13T04:00

Tammy Baldwin is the Junior US Senator from Wisconsin & was the first openly gay woman to be elected to Congress. She joins Jonathan to talk about her involvement in American politics; being the...

What Is Toxic Stress and Why Is She So Bad? with Dr. Caroline Leaf from 2019-02-27T05:00

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a cognitive neuroscientist with a PhD in Communication Pathology and a BSc in Logopedics and Audiology, specializing in metacognitive and cognitive neuropsychology.

S...

How Do You Ignore Haters&Learn to Love Yourself? with Jameela Jamil from 2019-01-30T05:00

Jameela Jamil is an actress, activist, and host who joins Jonathan to talk about a wide array of topics, including how she landed the role of Tahani on The Good Place, the importance of loving y...

How Do We Treat Our Skin Like the Gorgeous Organ She Is? with Victoria Tsai from 2019-01-23T05:00

Victoria Tsai is the founder & CEO of skin care company Tatcha. She joins Jonathan to talk all things skin; starting a skincare company, how we can take care of our own skin, why it's important ...

How Can You Turn Marginalization Into Activism? with Noor Tagouri from 2019-01-16T05:00

Noor Tagouri is a Libyan-American journalist, activist, motivational speaker, producer, and host of the podcast series “Sold in America: Inside Our Nation's Sex Trade.” She sits down with Jonath...

What’s Really Going On With Recycling, Hunny? with Beth Porter from 2018-12-19T05:00

Beth Porter is Green America’s Climate & Recycling Director, as well as the author of "Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine: Sorting Out the Recycling System." She joins Jonathan to talk all things recyclin...

What’s The Cutest Way To Fight Climate Change? with Anastasia Khoo from 2018-12-12T05:00

Anastasia Khoo is Chief Marketing Officer of Conservation International. She has led ground-breaking campaigns around critical moments in America’s history, including the repeal of “Don’t Ask, D...

How to Know When You’ve Made it in Music? with Bishop Briggs from 2018-12-05T05:00

Bishop Briggs is a British musician and singer-songwriter. She joins Jonathan to discuss how she broke onto the music scene, growing up in Asia, the importance of being an ally & using your voice f...

What Do Trade Unions Actually Do? with Professor Rebecca Givan from 2018-11-28T05:00

Rebecca Givan is an Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University. She joins Jonathan to discuss the ins and outs of trade unions: what they are, how they...

How Do We Know What Words Mean? with Dr. Jessica Rett from 2018-11-21T05:00

Dr. Jessica Rett is an Associate Professor in UCLA's Linguistics Department who joins Jonathan to discuss the power and nuances of words, breaks down the concepts of what "dog whistles" are, cod...

What Is Medical Marijuana and How Does It Work? with Dr. Jeff Chen from 2018-11-14T05:00

Dr. Jeff Chen is the head of UCLA’s new Cannabis Research Initiative. He joins Jonathan to break down the numerous medicinal properties of THC, how it works, its effect on the mind and body, new...

What Are Emoluments? with Attorney General Karl Racine from 2018-10-31T04:24

Karl Racine is Attorney General for the District of Columbia - the only Attorney General in Trump’s backyard. He is the first elected AG in the District of Columbia, the co-chair of the Democrat...

What are Emoluments, How Important are Attorneys General & Why is Trump Getting Sued? with Karl Racine. from 2018-10-31T04:24

Karl Racine is Attorney General for the District of Columbia - the only Attorney General in Trump’s backyard. He is the first elected AG in the District of Columbia, the co-chair of the Democratic ...

How Do We Flip Red States Blue In The Midterms? with Gaby Goldstein from 2018-10-24T04:00

Gaby Goldstein is co-founder and Political Director of the Sister District Project, a grassroots organization of over 30,000 volunteers that supports Democratic candidates. She joins Jonathan to...

What’s it Like Being a Woman in NASCAR? w/ Julia Landauer from 2018-10-17T04:00

Julia Landauer is an American professional stock car driver who joins Jonathan to discuss being one of the few professional female drivers, the physical demands of driving, navigating a predomin...

How Does Global Health Affect Everything? with Dr. Laura Ferguson from 2018-10-10T05:21

Dr. Laura Ferguson is an assistant professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California and the associate director of the Program on Global Health & Human Rights at the USC ...

How Could Virtual Reality Help Recover Memories? with Dr. Nanthia Suthana from 2018-09-26T04:00

Dr. Nanthia Suthana is a neuroscientist from UCLA who joins Jonathan to discuss memories, how the brain works, epilepsy, new breakthroughs in medical technologies, how virtual reality is used in...

How Are You Bridging Social Media&Lady-Entrepreneurship? with Reese Witherspoon from 2018-09-19T04:00

Reese Witherspoon is an actress, producer, entrepreneur, and author of the newly released Whiskey in a Teacup, who joins Jonathan to talk British Baking Challenge, the work-life balance of socia...

What's It Like Being a Fierce Woman in Comedy? with Nicole Byer & Erin Gibson from 2018-09-12T04:53

Nicole Byer is a comedian, writer, and host of Netflix’s Nailed It as well as the Why Won’t You Date Me? podcast. Erin Gibson is a comedian, director/writer, creator of Gay of Thrones and the host ...

Why Are There So Many Questions? with Justin Theroux from 2018-08-29T04:00

Justin Theroux is an actor, producer, screenwriter, and director who joins Jonathan to talk about early days living and traveling in China, landing his first major acting role, his outlook on li...

Why Is Abstinence Still Being Used To Treat Addiction? with Dr. Adi Jaffe from 2018-08-15T04:00

Dr. Adi Jaffe is a specialist in mental health, addiction, and shame who has spoken at multiple TEDx events and has a doctorate in psychology from UCLA. He joins Jonathan to discuss addiction an...

What's Your Origin Story? with Bobby Berk from 2018-07-25T04:00

Bobby Berk is an interior designer & fellow Queer Eye cast member who joins Jonathan to talk growing up closeted in the Midwest, emancipating himself from his parents as a teen, landing the role...

How Does Traumatic Family Separation Affect Children? with Dr. Elizabeth Barnert from 2018-07-18T00:40

Dr. Elizabeth Barnert joins Jonathan to talk about the toxic effects that separating families can have on a child’s physical and mental state, the process of family reunification, and how to hel...

Did Social Media Make Artists Need to be Business People Too? with Austyn Weiner from 2018-07-11T05:13

Austyn Weiner is a renowned photographer and artist extraordinaire who, at 28 years old, has worked with the likes of Cara Delevingne and Gigi Hadid and exhibited at Art Basel.

Jonathan t...

How Can We Cut Suicide Rates Among LGBTQ Youth? with Amit Paley from 2018-06-27T05:09

Amit Paley is the CEO of the Trevor Project and joins Jonathan to talk about the suicide rates among LGBTQ youth, destigmatizing the conversations around suicide & mental illness, and the import...

Who Are You, Tan? with Tan France from 2018-06-18T22:17

Tan France is the fashion expert for Queer Eye and joins Jonathan to talk about growing up in Yorkshire, getting a Barbie collection from his dad, and when he realized he wanted to marr...

British English And American English: What’s The Diff? with Helen Zaltzman from 2018-06-13T04:00

Helen Zaltzman hosts The Allusionist podcast and joins Jonathan to talk about the current and historical differences between British English and American English. It doesn’t take long for the co...

What's It Like To Be An Egg Donor? with Amy Throckmorton and Elizabeth Gaba from 2018-05-23T04:01

Nineteen years ago, Amy Throckmorton donated an egg. Eighteen years later, she was contacted out of the blue by Gaba, whose life she helped create.

Amy and Gaba met, and discovered that G...

Who Was the Beyoncé of Renaissance Art? with Professor Lisa Boutin Vitela from 2018-05-16T04:00

Lisa Boutin Vitela is Assistant Professor of Art History at Cerritos College. In Jonathan’s words, she’s “most professory about the gorgeous Renaissance,” so she comes by to talk about the Ninja...

Who Gave You Permission to be So Cute? with Karamo Brown. from 2018-05-09T04:01

Karamo Brown joins Jonathan to talk about his childhood, gay rights, school shootings, The Real World, make-up, self improvement, working for Oprah, and their shared experiences on Queer Eye. Find ...

What’s it Like to Do a Triple Axel? with Mirai Nagasu from 2018-04-30T04:08

Mirai Nagasu was the first American female figure skater to land a triple axel at the Olympics, securing a bronze medal at PyeongChang 2018. Jonathan chokes back tears of love and joy to get dee...

How Can We Be Less Rude To Bees? with Professor James Nieh from 2018-04-18T07:03

Professor James Nieh answers Jonathan’s questions about the diseases that are killing off our bees, explains the role bees play in bringing us almonds, and outlines the hierarchies and communica...

What Makes A Cult A Cult? with Dr. Natalie Feinblatt from 2018-04-11T07:20

Dr Natalie Feinblatt explains the four criteria an organization needs to meet to be called a cult and looks at how the term can be used and misused in relationship to religions and rehabilitatio...

Why’s the Bail System Such a Hot Mess? with Tim Molina from 2018-03-22T14:45

Tim Molina, Political Director at Courage Campaign, explains why he’s currently focusing on California bail reform and what exactly he's hoping to change. Tim’s on Twitter @TMMolina and Courage ...

Why Does It Hurt So Bad? with Professor Catherine Cahill from 2018-02-14T05:25

Catherine Cahill is an opioid neuropharmacologist and a professor in UCLA’s Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Studies, specializing in chronic pain. In honor of Valentine’s Day, Jonatha...

What Do White People Need to Know About Racism? with Andrew Ti from 2018-01-18T02:17

Andrew Ti, host of the podcast Yo, Is This Racist?, talks to Jonathan about how Trump’s America isn’t necessarily more racist than Obama’s, and about why we should be challenging ourselves and o...

What Are You Up To, Lizzo? from 2017-01-11T20:37

Jonathan sits down with singer, songwriter, recording artist extraordinaire Lizzo to talk about having her heart broken, getting an album named one of the Top 20 of 2016, who she's obsessed with...

What The T Over At Marie Claire? with Wanyi Jiang from 2016-11-16T19:20

This week, Jonathan sits down with Wanyi Jiang, Design Director at Marie Claire. They talk about Wanyi's path to design, what 1990s TV drama is inspiring today's fashion, and the real problem w...

What's It Like Modeling In Today's Fashion Industry? with Denise Bidot from 2016-09-21T16:49

Jonathan sits down with model Denise Bidot to talk about the modeling industry, New York Fashion Week, and how to truly embrace your body, curves and all. Plus, Denise tells us how to deal with ...

Mass Extinction: What's Her Story? with Dr. Leryn Gorlitsky from 2016-08-24T18:10

Jonathan sits down with evolutionary biologist Dr. Leryn Gorlitsky to discuss the many mass extinctions that have happened through Earth’s lifetime, why some species survive and why others die, ...

What's Going On In HIV Research? with Kayla McLaughlin from 2016-08-10T18:15

Jonathan sits down with Physician Assistant and PrEP Research Clinician Kayla McLaughlin to talk about what PrEP is, how far HIV research has gotten since the 1980s, and why HIV is so hard to cu...

What Is Gun Control And Everytown? with Andrei Berman and Taylor Maxwell from 2016-07-13T18:45

This week on Getting Curious, Jonathan is joined by Editorial Manager Andrei Berman and Deputy Press Secretary Taylor Maxwell of Everytown for Gun Safety to talk about the second amendment, the ...

What Are Gravitational Waves And LIGO For Dummies? with Professor Alan Weinstein from 2016-06-15T15:50

Jonathan sits down with physics professor Alan Weinstein to discuss gravitational waves, Einstein's theory of relativity, and his work for LIGO. Plus, Jonathan and Alan try to imitate the sound ...

What is Gender Identity? with Ian Harvie from 2016-04-20T00:00

Jonathan is joined by comedian and actor Ian Harvie to talk about moving to Los Angeles, Transparent, and what it means to truly be comfortable with your gender identity.

Find out what to...

What Constitutes An Eating Disorder? from 2016-03-23T01:31

Jonathan is joined by Ilona Varo, a marriage and family therapist intern specializing in eating disorders.

Learn more about Ilona's work at www.ilonav...

What's It Like to be a Comedic Legend? With Margaret Cho from 2016-03-16T01:16

Margaret Cho joins Jonathan to get curious about comedy, dogs, charity and cannabis. 

Find out what today’s guest and former guests are up to by following us on Instagram and Twitter @Curi...

What's a Menstrual Cup? with Sullivan Oakley from 2016-01-20T23:00

Jonathan is joined by Sullivan Oakley to discuss menstrual cups, the stigma attached to periods, and helping women in poverty-stricken areas around the world.

Find out what today’s guest...

Find Full Archive of Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness on Stitcher Premium from 2015-12-01T08:00

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