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 th...
Nov 25, 2024•46 min•Ep 460•Transcript available on Metacast 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 oth...
Nov 20, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 459•Transcript available on Metacast 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 - a...
Nov 18, 2024•38 min•Ep 458•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Chas...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep 457•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ballr...
Nov 11, 2024•38 min•Ep 456•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Crimin...
Nov 06, 2024•46 min•Ep 455•Transcript available on Metacast 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 1,000,00...
Nov 04, 2024•44 min•Ep 454•Transcript available on Metacast 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,...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 453•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Oct 28, 2024•41 min•Ep 452•Transcript available on Metacast 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 pol...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep 451•Transcript available on Metacast 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 fi...
Oct 21, 2024•58 min•Ep 450•Transcript available on Metacast 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 real...
Oct 16, 2024•59 min•Ep 449•Transcript available on Metacast 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!...
Oct 14, 2024•41 min•Ep 448•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Oct 09, 2024•58 min•Ep 447•Transcript available on Metacast 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 wi...
Oct 07, 2024•39 min•Ep 446•Transcript available on Metacast “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 tabo...
Oct 02, 2024•58 min•Ep 445•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Sep 30, 2024•43 min•Ep 444•Transcript available on Metacast 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? Sa...
Sep 25, 2024•50 min•Ep 443•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Sep 23, 2024•46 min•Ep 442•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep 441•Transcript available on Metacast 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 histo...
Sep 16, 2024•38 min•Ep 440•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep 439•Transcript available on Metacast 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 g...
Sep 09, 2024•35 min•Ep 438•Transcript available on Metacast 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, timeline...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep 437•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Sep 02, 2024•35 min•Ep 436•Transcript available on Metacast There’s a group of far right influencers lurking on your social media feeds. They post organic recipes, millennial mom advice, and #glowups. And they’re using this content to promote white supremacist ideas. This week, Dr. Eviane Leidig joins us to discuss who these women are and how they’re spreading hate on social media. Dr. Eviane Leidig is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellow at Tilburg University. Her research specializes in the global far-right, gender, and online radicalization, r...
Aug 28, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 435•Transcript available on Metacast Fumiko Takatsu, creator of the Face Yoga Method, stopped by Pretty Curious to help JVN find some easy, physiological, and fun ways we can keep our faces looking and feeling hot- at any age! Fumiko gave us amazing insight into what it takes to be a leader in the field, and how she’s inspired and helped so many people with her techniques! For nearly two decades, Fumiko Takatsu’s Face Yoga Method has used her proven combination of breath, mindset, and Face Yoga Poses to revolutionize the way people...
Aug 26, 2024•36 min•Ep 434•Transcript available on Metacast Do you ever feel the need to “gather” someone online? Or maybe someone in your life? It’s perfectly human! But maybe we should think twice about how we go about making that correction - and how we can make it in the most loving way possible. To help you and us do that, we’ve got adrienne maree brown back on the pod! Following her 2020 visit to Getting Curious, adrienne is here to talk all about the ideas in her new book, Loving Corrections, and help all of us give and receive feedback better! ad...
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 433•Transcript available on Metacast We’re not a little bit obsessed with Nécessaire, we’re big-BIG time obsessed with Nécessaire and its co-founder, Randi Christiansen! Bodycare, one of the more niche corners of the beauty industry, is beyond important to our wellbeing. After all, as Randi says, “skin doesn’t stop at the neck!” Plus, we’ve got a JVN Hair Update, a word to the wise for all of you extension girlies about the scalp damage you could be facing, and the 411 on heatless rollers! Randi Christiansen is the CEO and co-found...
Aug 19, 2024•44 min•Ep 432•Transcript available on Metacast We’re telling the truth, the HOLE truth, and nothing BUTT the truth this week. It’s all about anal health today on the pod, and we’re sitting down with one of the most esteemed butt doctors in the biz: Dr. Evan Goldstein - or as we call him “the Robin Hood of anal.” Dr. Goldstein is here to get us together and answer all the burning questions - literally. How do we wipe? What is the scoop on fiber? And what is a fistula? Asking for a friend… Dr. Goldstein is the founder and CEO of Bespoke Surgic...
Aug 14, 2024•59 min•Ep 431•Transcript available on Metacast 
