Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

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 Butcher Game, is out now! Ash Kelley is the beauty-astrology-obsessed co-host of the podcast Morbid. Ash grew up enamored with her big sister Alaina’s love for horror and storytelling and it did not take long for her to become a storyteller herself. After completing her training, Ash spent many years as a hairdresser in her hometown in Massachusetts. Ash currently lives in Boston with her incredible husband Drew and their amazing 3 cats, Remi, Lux and Franklin. She is a proud gemini and mega fan of Lady Gaga and Harry Styles. You can find Morbid on Instagram @morbidpodcast. Alaina Urquart is on Instagram @alainatothemax. Ash Kelley is on Instagram @AshKell83 Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 backpacking and raised awareness about the ongoing environmental crisis through their film projects like Won't Give Up, Birds Tell Us & Everything to Lose. In 2024, Pattie was named in OUT MAGAZINE’s OUT 100 PEOPLE. Pattie’s drag itself is a personal journey of self identity, sustainability, and queering traditional masculine outdoor narratives to explore the natural world. You can follow Pattie Gonia is on Instagram @pattiegonia on TikTok @pattiegonia and also on their website. 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 @ElizabethWarren. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 conserving as much of their original teeth. Dr. Dumanian specializes in providing lifelike veneers to her patients using smile design principles and utilizing the latest advancements in photography and digital technology. She subsequently works with a select group of master ceramists, true craftsmen, to deliver aesthetic perfection. You can follow Park 60 Lex & Dr. Stephanie Dumanian is on Instagram @parklex60dental 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 now. You can find Osamah on X @Osamah_Khalil. You can find more information about his first book, America’s Dream Palace, here. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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, loved and appreciated by directors and actors alike for her rigorous research. She won an Oscar for her work on Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, and has worked on major blockbusters like World War Z, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and most recently…Wicked. Frances Hannon is on Instagram @frances_hannon_official  and you can follow the Wicked Movie @wickedmovie 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Orphan Kitten Club, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization saving the lives of neonatal kittens throughout the nation. She lives in California with her husband, Andrew Marttila, their cats, and an endless rotation of foster kittens. Andrew Marttila is a professional animal photographer specializing in cats. Over the years he’s taken millions of photos of our feline overlords, which have been used in worldwide media in both digital and print—from the cover of National Geographic to Good Morning America. He is the creator of several books including Shop Cats of New York, Cats on Catnip, and How to Take Awesome Photos of Cats. He is also a board member of Orphan Kitten Club, and has hand-raised hundreds of rescued kittens along with his wife, Hannah Shaw. Hannah & Andrew’s new book, Cats of the World, is out now! You can follow Hannah Shaw on Instagram @kittenxlady You can follow Andrew Marttila on Instagram @thecatphotographer  You can follow Orphan Kitten Club on Instagram @orphankittenclub Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 to any wardrobe, perfect for those who appreciate sustainable fashion infused with artistry. Tiffany strives to create representation and pride in her heritage in every project she starts. Tiffany Briseno is on Instagram @tiffbrisenostylist  and Everyday Lords @everydaylords 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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, professor of sociology, and an Anti-Racism Collaborative research and community impact fellow.  Jenna Bednar is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy and serves in the provost’s office as the inaugural faculty director of UMICH Votes and Democratic Engagement.  She leads the campus’s voting infrastructure and is co-chair of the Year of Democracy and Civic Engagement, a campus-wide collaborative effort to elevate democracy-related research, curriculum, and engagement as part of the launch of the university’s next capital campaign. Professor Bednar’s research focuses on how collective action builds social goods and the role that institutions play in making that collaboration possible. Hillary Poudeu-Tchokothe, Co-President of Turn Up Turnout, is graduating in the Class of 2026 double majoring in Political Science and History. Maurielle Courtois, Co-President of Turn Up Turnout, is a political Science major with a minor in Law, Justice, and Social Change graduating in 2025. This club is the perfect intersection of my interest in voting rights and politics. You can follow Ford School on Instagram @fordschool You can follow Celeste Watkins-Hayes on Instagram @celestewatkinshayes  You can follow Turn Up Turnout on Instagram @umturnout Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 their dreams of owning their own business which led the much sought-after brow maven to teach her sold-out masterclasses for the last 10 years, she continues to add new classes worldwide which enables other salons and stylists to use her techniques and carry her exemplary products. She has been featured in such publications as VOGUE, INSTYLE, and PEOPLE and has done numerous television appearances involving her brand including Good Morning America. Kelley Baker is on Instagram @kelleybakerbrows 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“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 is the chair of the Creative Writing department at the University of California. His latest novel, “The Sons of El Rey” came out earlier this year. You can follow Alex on Instagram @ae_espinoza and on his website. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.  Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode of Getting Curious, we’ve got one of the HBICs of Betches Media - Sami Sage! As we anxiously countdown to the U.S. Presidential Election this November, we know we’re going to need to laugh a little along the way…enter Betches: Betches Media has been giving us the intel we need with an extra few dashes of humor for years, and as online momentum grows for the Harris/Walz campaign we wanted to know from Sami - an original meme queen - can memes pave the road to Presidential victory? Sami Sage is the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Betches Media, one of the earliest digitally native media and entertainment companies founded and led by women, and the most influential female-focused humor brand in the market today. Since 2011, the Betches founders have earned spots on The New York Times Bestseller List and Forbes 30 Under 30, and today, Betches offers entertainment, information, and a sense of community to millions of passionate millennial and Gen Z fans. In 2015, Sami helmed the creation of the company’s award-winning news and activism vertical Betches News, and in 2021 she debuted her award-winning daily news podcast the Morning Announcements. Recently, Sami co-authored the New York Times Bestseller Democracy in Retrograde ahead of a historic US presidential election. Alongside her co-founders, Sami also co-hosts the weekly pop culture podcast @Betches. You can follow Sami Sage on Instagram @sami and Betches on Instagram @betches. You can follow Betches News on Instagram @betches_news Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have the incredible hosts of the Breaking Beauty Podcast on Pretty Curious today - Jill Dunn & Carlene Higgins! We’re going all in on the behemoth, the almighty…TikTok Shop. Plus - they dropped some some amaaaaazing #DamnGood product recommendations you won’t want to miss. Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins, are two longtime beauty editors who have seen it all and swatched it all, and they’re here to tell you what’s good. Whether you’re searching for the latest insider-fave foundation, building a gimmick-free skincare routine, or interested in exploring culture through a beauty lens, tune in Breaking Beauty every Wednesday for epic guests like Makeup By Mario, Dr. Pimple Popper and Jonathan Van Ness. Breaking Beauty Podcast is on Instagram @breakingbeautypodcast Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins are also on Instagram @jilldunbeauty and @carlenehiggins Listen to Breaking Beauty Podcast here.  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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve ever picked up a National Geographic and skimmed across the gorgeous images that cover those pages - you’ve probably come across the work of our guest experts. This week, we’re coming to you with a LIVE! Getting Curious episode with THE preeminent nature photographers in the game about the risk and reward of their art, their conservation efforts, and how they support each other in the process like the power couple they are! Cristina "Mitty" Mittermeier, a visionary photographer, marine biologist, and avid conservationist, stands as a formidable force in the realm of environmental advocacy. In 2014 she, alongside her partner Paul Nicklen, co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a healthy and abundant ocean through powerful storytelling and impactful visual media. Through her lens, she conveys the delicate balance of natural ecosystems and the urgency to preserve these habitats that sustain a myriad of life. Her art, driven by a desire to make a difference, serves as a compelling call to action, illustrating the transformative power of photography in raising awareness and inspiring change. Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist who has documented the beauty and plight of our planet for more than thirty years. Through the power of the image and, just as importantly, emotion and raw power, his work has been singled out for creating a unique connection between image and viewer by featuring wild subjects in some of the most extreme conditions known on Earth. Nicklen is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and aligns with Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative on collaborative efforts to preserve the natural World. Nicklen has won more than 30 of conservation and photography’s most prestigious awards, including the BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the World Press Photo for Photojournalism. In 2019, Mr Nicklen became the youngest person inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame (IPHF). You can follow Cristina Mittermeier on Instagram @mitty and Paul Nicklen on Instagram @paulnicklen. For more information on SeaLegacy- check out their Instagram @SeaLegacy. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think Gilded Age hair is super 19th century? Uhhh - think again! The hairstyling practices and salon culture that we’ve come to know today draw major inspiration from the American salons of the Gilded Age (which of course drew inspiration from the French salons across the pond…vive la France)! What mysteries are hiding underneath the pompadour poofs of Gilded Age hair? Well wonder no more, because we’ve got a brilliant guest for you today to break it all down - Elizabeth Block! It’s giving history of hairdressing, Encyclopedia Beau-tannica vibes. Elizabeth Block, is an art historian and a Senior Editor in the Publications and Editorial Department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She holds a PhD in art history from The Graduate Center at the City University of New York, and a Masters in American Studies from Columbia University. She is the author of “Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion” and her new book “Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing” came out September 10th! Elizabeth Block is on Instagram @elizabethlblock and on TikTok at @elizabethlblock_author 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Destiny’s Child of constitutional law (aka Strict Scrutiny) is back on Getting Curious to help us digest and dissect all the wack-a-doodle nonsense that is: Project 2025. Leah Litman & Kate Shaw from the hit podcast Strict Scrutiny sat down with JVN to really parse out the MAGA manifesto. We’re talking all about Project 2025’s hallmark proposals, the key players involved, as well as tossing in some Supreme Court, Alito/Thomas updates for good measure. Leah Litman is an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School. She clerked for Judge Sutton on the Sixth Circuit and Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court. Leah researches and writes about constitutional law and federal courts. She also maintains an active pro bono practice (and she loves reality television). Kate Shaw is a Professor of Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in NYC. She teaches Constitutional Law, Legislation, Administrative Law, and a seminar on the Supreme Court, and writes about executive power, the law of democracy, and reproductive rights and justice. Before becoming a law professor she worked in the Obama White House Counsel’s Office, and before that was a clerk to Justice Stevens and Judge Posner. You can follow Strict Scrutiny on Twitter @StrictScrutiny_ and on Instagram @strictscrutinypodcast. For more information, check out crooked.com. Leah is on Twitter @LeahLitman and Instagram @profleahlitman. Kate is on Twitter @Kateashaw1 and Instagram @kateashaw. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Caroline Hirons, arguably the most important figure in British beauty, stopped by this week’s Pretty Curious and is holding serious court, babes. Caroline gives the best skin in the biz, and she’s breaking down all the goodness she’s got going on over at her skincare brand, Skin Rocks. Plus! We’re talking Gen Alpha skincare, English breakfasts, and just exactly how the “Caroline effect” has taken over the British beauty space. Caroline grew up around the beauty industry, as both her mother and grandmother worked in the industry. From her first day on the counter in Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, Caroline fell in love with skincare in particular and went on to qualify in beauty therapy, leaving the shop floor for more senior roles in 2001. After gaining a wealth of experience across all departments in the previous 10 years, Caroline moved to consulting for brands and retailers in 2008, working with and advising some of the top names in the industry. Launching her blog back in 2010, she quickly amassed the eyes and ears of millions. She's utilized all her knowledge to launch her own brand, which includes her Limited-Edition Kits of recommended products which sell out in hours as well as the Skin Rocks brand, which consists of the award winning skincare line and app. She’s also the host of the new beauty podcast, Glad We Had This Chat - which just wrapped up its first season! Caroline Hirons is on Instagram @carolinehirons and you can follow Skin Rocks @skinrocks 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie  Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re looking for a man in politics. Thick thighs. 6’4”. Blue eyes. Abraham Lincoln, course - or as we’re lovingly referring to him on this episode: GAY-braham Lincoln. That’s right - today we’re exploring whether or not  “America’s best president” was also a soft-top zaddy! And to do that - we’re bringing in experts from the upcoming film, Lover of Men. We’ve got Shaun Peterson (the director) and Thomas Balcerski (one of the film’s historians) joining JVN to give us the receipts, proof, timelines, screenshots, f*cking everything to figure out if President Lincoln was a little…ya know… Thomas Balcerski is a scholar of early American history. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. from SUNY Stony Brook, and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. He is author of Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King (Oxford University Press, 2019). Thomas is also one of the most cited Abraham Lincoln historians, and is featured in the new documentary: Lover of Men.  Shaun Peterson got a B.A. in Film Production and Theater Arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Peterson has worked as an editor for MTV, VH1, and A&E. He directed his first feature film, Living In Missouri in 1999. He then started directing music videos for bands such as Train, Team Sleep, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Vendetta Red, and Low. Shaun is the director of the new documentary Lover of Men, Out September 6th. You can follow the Lover of Men on Instagram @loverofmenfilm or on loverofmen.com Lover of Men is proud to partner with The Human Rights Campaign. A portion of ticket sales from Lover of Men will directly benefit HRC when moviegoers use HRC’s custom ticket purchase link. Lover of Men is in theaters September 6th, 2024. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Buckle in, sweetie - we’re getting hot & steamy and going behind the paywall for a very special preview of our Apple Podcast Subscription show, “Ask JVN”! What’s Ask JVN, you ask? Well babes, it’s our scintillating little show where we talk about sex - and other things too. It’s giving Talk Sex With Sue Johanson. JVN & Chris (Producer on the Curious Pods), talk current events, TikToks that make us LOL, and answer all the burning questions you submit on Instagram & AskJVN.com. Is it rude to call your hookup a car when you want them to leave? How loud is too loud during sex? Am I delulu for wanting to hookup with my high school boyfriend? Tune in to find out…And if you have a burning question - you can always submit on Instagram & AskJVN.com. The lines are open! 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 Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices