Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness

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 the table. Whether you’re navigating menopause, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how to advocate for better healthcare - we’ve got the episode for you. Dr. Louise Newson is a physician, menopause specialist and member of the UK Government’s Menopause Taskforce. She is also an award-winning doctor, educator, and author, committed to increasing awareness and knowledge of perimenopause and menopause. Described as the “medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution”, she has empowered a generation of women to have a greater understanding, choice and control over their treatment, bodies and mind. She

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 influencer, or on the cusp of the next chapter in the adventure of your life, Darcei and JVN suss out how we can all put utmost faith in ourselves and stay (and slay) the course. Darcei Giles, known as MissDarcei, captivates viewers with her vibrant personality and unique perspective on everything from trending makeup looks to discussions on cultural appropriation. With a deep interest in Korean culture, Darcei brings her audience a blend of K-beauty, K-fashion, and K-pop insights, making her a go-to for fans of the genre. Her popular series “Black Girl Tries” has played a key role in her rise, showcasing her fresh and oft

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? Plus - Sohla’s favorite holiday memories! Sohla El Waylly is a culinary innovator and passionate food educator known for her vibrant approach to cooking and her ability to bridge cultural flavors with creativity. With a background in both restaurant kitchens and digital media, Sohla has captivated audiences through her engaging videos and thoughtful recipes, emphasizing the joy and accessibility of diverse cuisines. A former line cook turned culinary star, she champions the idea that food is not just sustenance but a powerful medium for connection and expression. Whether sharing her latest culinary adventures or

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 the co-founders of Fazit Beauty: Nina LaBruna & Aliett Buttelman! Fazit Beauty is best known for their innovative skin patches that address common skin issues with an approach centered in loving your skin in any condition. AND… they make the glitter freckles! Fazit Beauty is on Instagram @fazitbeauty and on TikTok @fazitbeauty Nina is on TikTok @nina_beautyfounder Aliett is on TikTok @alliettbutts Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and P

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 for all. Plus! We’re covering the latest Hinge data, ethical non-monogamy, and “other significant others.” Logan Ury is a behavioral scientist turned dating coach and the author of the bestselling book How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love. She’s the dating coach on the new Netflix series — The Later Daters — from executive producer Michelle Obama. She works as Hinge’s Director of Relationship Science, conducting research on modern dating. She also writes the popular weekly newsletter — Logan's Love Letter. She studied psychology at Harvard and ran Google’s behavioral science tea

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 of conditions do we need to be aware of when selecting a cleanser? We’re getting into all of that - and much, much more - with Perry & Valerie! Perry Romanowski is a writer, cosmetic chemist, Inventor, scientist, instructor, futurologist, and thought leader. He’s also the founder of Chemists Corner blog and training program. He also has the longest running streak done while joggling. Valerie George is a cosmetic chemist, science communicator, educator, leader and avid proponent of transparency in the beauty industry. She works on the latest research in hair color and hair care as Vice President of Research & Dev

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 what paths of protection and recourse there are and talk all about the landmark, historic argument Chase will be making on December 4th as the first openly transgender lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court.  Chase Strangio is Co-Director for Transgender Justice with the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project and a nationally recognized expert on transgender rights. Chase’s work includes impact litigation, as well as legislative and administrative advocacy, on behalf of LGBTQ people and people living with HIV across the United States. You can follow ACLU on Instagram @aclu_nationwide and ACLU Tennessee on Instagram @aclu_ten

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 doubles & stand-ins, and which collaboration left Frances starstruck. Let’s go down to the Ozdust ballroom…. Famous in the entertainment industry for her ability to transform any face, makeup and hair designer Frances Hannon first entered the realm of film and TV with a job working on the British sketch comedy series "The Kenny Everett Television Show" (on the BBC, 1981-88). Cut to her ongoing collaboration with Wes Anderson which began with 1998’s : “Rushmore.” Hannon quickly became one of the most sought after makeup and hair designers in Hollywood, loved and appreciated by directors and actors alike for her rigoro

It’s the day after the 2024 election, and we could all use a little detour of the mind- enter the hosts of the Morbid podcast, Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley! JVN, Alaina, and Ash take a trip back in time - 1100 years or so - to a Roman empire riddled with scandal and political unrest (sound familiar?). This morbid tale has it all: Popes. Murder. Magic. Corpses… Alaina Urquhart is the science-loving co-host of the podcast Morbid. As an autopsy technician by trade, paired with her degrees in Criminal Justice, Psychology and Biology, she offers a unique perspective from deep inside the morgue.  Alaina hails from Boston where she lives with her wonderful husband, John, their three amazing daughters,a ghost puggle named “Bailey” and two Labs Sidney Prescott and Blanche Devereaux. She is about 75% coffee and truly believes she and Agent Clarice Starling could be friends. In September 2022, Urquhart published her first ever novel, the best selling psychological thriller, The Butcher and The Wren. Her new book, The

Grab your high-heel hiking boots, babes - we have the QUEEN of the outdoors, Pattie Gonia! JVN & Pattie sit down for a good ole pre-election kiki to talk all about the queer the outdoors, Pattie’s drag origin story, and the sad but true degree of separation - their surprising duo appearance in a Trump campaign advertisement. Y’all, you have to hear it to believe it! Pattie Gonia is a critically acclaimed drag queen, environmentalist and musician. To date, Pattie’s community is more than 1,000,000 people strong. Pattie is also the co-founder of the Outdoorist Oath- a non-profit that gets BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and femmes into the outdoors through community and education. Recently, Pattie founded the Queer Outdoor and Environmental Job Board - a free tool queer individuals can use to get hired and therefore diversify the fields. Together with her community, they’ve collectively fundraised over $2.5 million dollars for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC and environmental non-profits, completed thousands of miles of hiking and backpack

It’s a very special day on the pod, we have a returning guest and U.S. Senator from Massachusetts- Senator Elizabeth Warren! She’s joining us fresh from a tour around the midwest talking to folks on the ground about the issues that matter to them this election cycle. We’re in the final week before the 2024 Presidential election and we’re breaking down what’s left to consider before you cast your vote on November 5th. Your vote matters, and it’s critical to turn out. And not just that: donations, volunteering, anything you can do to support and help MATTERS in this final stretch. Elizabeth Warren, a fearless consumer advocate who has made her life's work the fight for middle class families, was re-elected to the United States Senate for a second term on November 6, 2018, by the people of Massachusetts. Elizabeth is one of the nation's leading progressive voices, fighting for big structural change that would transform our economy and rebuild the middle class. You can find Senator Warren on Instagram @Elizab

You know what they say: You’re never fully dressed without a smile! This week on Pretty Curious, we’re talking all things dentistry with an iconic dental practitioner, Park 60 Lex’s Dr. Stephanie Dumanian! We’re talking gingivitis, halitosis, teeth whitening, flossing, fluoride - this list goes ON! Plus - more rapid fire favorites & some splurge and budget cleanser recommendations, and the differences between East Coast & West Coast smiles. Now, say cheese! Dr. Stephanie Dumanian experienced the transformative power of dentistry at a very young age when a dentist, who thought outside of the box, restored her smile by correcting a dental trauma. The self-confidence which resulted from this treatment changed her life and inspired her to help others. In early 2019, Dr. Dumanian became a partner in Park Lex 60. She took over the practice shortly thereafter and built a loyal following by focusing on aesthetics and function to ensure that her patients can maintain a healthy and harmonious smile, all the while co

Getting Curious superstar, Dr. Osamah Khalil, is back for the third installment of our series covering U.S. Foreign Policy from 1945 to 2024. If you haven’t caught those first two installments, no sweat! You can jump in here, or go back and take the whole course from the top - the choice is yours. In this episode, Dr. Khalil paints a picture of what the early days of the Global war on terror looked like from behind the closed doors of the Bush administration. and how many of the policies and political events of the early/mid-2000s perpetuated the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and set the stage for the events of Oct. 7th. Dr. Osamah Khalil is a historian of U.S. foreign relations and chair of the international relations program at Syracuse University. He’s a frequent media commentator and contributor for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, NPR, USA Today, PBS Newshour, The Hill, and Al Jazeera. His new book “A World of Enemies: America’s Wars at Home and Abroad from Kennedy to Biden” is available n

Something has changed within us, curious people, something is not the same. We’ll never know a world without our episode speaking with Oscar winner, Frances Hannon, who just so happens to be the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics designer for the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked. We’re talking all about the alchemy Frances used to find the perfect shade of green for Elphaba, how Cynthia Erivo incorporated her own nail game into her character, and which of Ariana Grande’s R.E.M. products made the final cut. Plus - blue horses???  It’s all too much for our gay bones! Famous in the entertainment industry for her ability to transform any face, makeup and hair designer Frances Hannon first entered the realm of film and TV with a job working on the British sketch comedy series "The Kenny Everett Television Show" (on the BBC, 1981-88). Cut to her ongoing collaboration with Wes Anderson which began with 1998’s : “Rushmore.” Hannon quickly became one of the most sought after makeup and hair designers in Hollywood, lov

Alright, curious people, we’re getting frisky with one of our favorite topics - CATS! No, not the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical fantasia phenomenon…we’re talking to Hannah Shaw (aka the Kitten Lady) and her hubby Andrew Marttila (aka the Cat Photographer) all about their mission to photograph and tell the stories of cats all around the world. In their new book, Cats of the World, Hannah and Andrew explore the ways different countries take care of their community cats - and how western culture really needs to step it up. And what’s more -  they stopped by the pod to tell us all about it! Hannah Shaw, also known as Kitten Lady, is an award-winning kitten rescuer, humane educator, and unwavering animal advocate who has dedicated her life to innovating kitten care and protecting the most vulnerable felines. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Tiny But Mighty, Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens, Kitten Lady’s CATivity Book, and the Adventures in Fosterland series. She is also the founder of Orph

Is your wardrobe in need of a revamp? Do you feel like you're missing some fundamental pieces? Can't figure out what fashion trends to incorporate in your everyday wardrobe to begin a “style evolution?” We’re here to help answer all those questions and more with stylist extraordinaire- Tiffany Briseno! We’re talking all about the accessories you should start wearing yesterday, the pair of jeans that can’t be beat, and we're learning all about her collaboration with music superstar, Shawn Mendes! Tiffany Briseno is a Mexican-Canadian celebrity stylist who has successfully made a name for herself in Hollywood. She’s worked with clients like Shawn Mendes, Kane Brown, Angus Cloud, Catherine O’Hara, and more. Tiffany is part of the team behind Shawn Mendes’ reputation as one of the leading men in fashion, effectively ditching his flannel era. In addition, Tiffany is the founder of the luxury upcycling brand Everyday Lords  - a bespoke upcycling brand whose styles are not just garments; they are unique additions

Do you want to know what’s happening on college campuses this election cycle? Then look no further, because JVN went to the heart of the matter in 2024 swing state, Michigan, at the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy. JVN got to talk to returning guest and Getting Curious MVP, Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Political Science Professor (and Icon) Jenna Bednar, as well as two student leaders from the non-partisan voting organization Turn Up Turnout (TUT). TUT’s Co-Presidents, Hillary Poudeu-Tchokothe and Maurielle Courtois, break down what TUT's mission is on the University of Michigan campus, and how the university supports student voting efforts. Celeste Watkins-Hayes is the Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of Public Policy at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and founding director of the school's Center for Racial Justice. Watkins-Hayes is also the Jean E. Fairfax Collegiate Professor of Public Policy, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, pro

You know what they say: eyebrows are sisters, not twins - but that doesn’t mean they can’t be stunning! And if you trust in this week’s expert, your brows are about to get the glow-up of the century. This week on PrettyCurious, we have world renowned brow expert Kelley Baker! We learn all about her stunning product line, Kelley Baker Brows, debunk face shape/brow shape myths, and a word of caution to anyone seeking that thin 90s brow… Kelley Baker is a world-renowned brow expert and visionary with two decades of experience and a celebrity clientele that include Kim, Khloe, Kourtney Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, Amal Clooney, Megan Fox, Karol G, HER, Shay Mitchell and Bebe Rexha to name a few. Over the last two decades she has built not only a celebrity clientele but also a successful product line. Her engaging social media posts and presence provides tips and tutorials as to how to use her products and explains how brows frame the face. Kelley saw the need to empower other artists across the globe to follow

“Everybody's doing it, but nobody's talking about it because it's so secretive.” Alrighty, curious people, we’re getting spicy & kicking off Queer History Month with a smash (not a pass) - it’s all about gay cruising this week with professor & author, Alex Espinoza. We’re asking hard hitting questions like: Where was the first gloryhole? Were gays cruising during the Renaissance? Can U host? JK - but we do also talk about what apps like Grindr have done to this age old practice, and why the taboo of a sexual gathering space has been “a thing” all throughout history. Alex Espinoza is a queer writer born in Tijuana, Mexico and raised in Southern California. He is the author of “Cruising: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime” and has written essays, reviews, and stories for the New York Times Sunday Magazine, Virginia Quarterly Review, the Los Angeles Times, LitHub, and NPR. He is also the recipient of awards and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Macdowell Foundation. Alex i

Is seasonal hair loss actually a thing? We’re about to find out with trichologist & cosmetic chemist Angela Onuoa! JVN and Angela debunk some common misconceptions about hair loss, break down proven hair restoration methods, and figure out once and for all if red light helmets really are all that.  Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…including your hairline. Angela is one of the most established and well-known trichologist and cosmetic chemist within the creator space. Her advocation for diversity has made her a true force for good within the beauty industry.Angela isn’t just an influencer, she is an educator who is leading input into efficacious formulations and the importance of natural ingredients. She is working with the globe’s leading hair care brands, advising on product diversity and launching new innovations through her own channels. Angela Onuoha is on Instagram @curlbellaa and on YouTube @Curlbellaa & on TikTok @angela.onuoha Follow us on Instagra