Coming out as a person seeking therapy to your partner, parents, or friends can be difficult, and sometimes even dangerous. Sometimes the people who are supposed to love us most are the first to hold us back, or we feel guilty for “leaving them behind” as we grow through various seasons of our lives. You’re not alone in your journey — in fact, millions follow clinical counselor Shani Tran for her candid takes on therapy, and this week she chats with V about who can benefit most from therapy and ...
Sep 16, 2022•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, V’s digging into how federal judges are chosen and how the Federalist Society plays a significant part in the decision-making process. They’ll explain why this once student-led organization has become one of the most influential legal groups ever. We’ll also hear about a prestigious Ivy League university offering some students free tuition, and V breaks down the concept of learning loss and what we can do to help kids catch up academically. Later, they’ll share how having dyslexia has...
Sep 13, 2022•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, V’s opening up about something very personal that has shaped the last seven years of their life. Through this tragedy, V found comfort and support in Lemonada’s mission to help “make life suck less” and decided to leave their dream job to pursue a higher purpose. At a time when V didn’t have all the answers, they leaned on one of the most stabilizing forces in their life to help make sense of a loss. In this powerful and insightful conversation, V meets with Lemonada co-founder and La...
Sep 09, 2022•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V invites comedian and co-host of I’m Sorry, Hoja Lopez, to chat about how CNN is shifting the way it covers news to mirror a right-wing media outlet. And how far would you go to get a blue checkmark on Instagram? We’ll hear about a verification scheme that cost users thousands of dollars. V and Hoja also weigh how effective some protesting tactics are – like wearing Handmaid’s Tales costumes and using coat hanger iconography – when fighting for reproductive rights. Plus, resources on how...
Sep 06, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast When you think of a union job, do you imagine a blue collar worker in a hard hat with a lunch pail? The reality is that the labor movement belongs to a lot of people, and its history is different from what you probably learned in school. This Labor Day weekend, V talks to journalist and activist Kim Kelly about her book "Fight Like Hell." Kim is a third-generation union member who tells us about the lesser-known groups that helped fuel the movement. We’ll hear about how there’s power in collecti...
Sep 02, 2022•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V is trying something new by bringing on stand-up comedian Trae Crowder to go over some interesting headlines together. Because V gets kind of lonely over here! Speaking of, a recent article in Psychology Today claims men are lonelier than ever. Turns out trolling women on the internet and waiting three days to text back doesn't translate to matches. Good news though! You are better than that, and we'll talk you through leaving toxicity behind. Trae gives us his trademark "liberal redneck...
Aug 30, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Most people grow up in a home with their loved ones. But very rarely do people grow up in a funeral home with a stranger's deceased loved ones. This week, V chats with their favorite mortuary director, Eileen Hollis, about growing up around death and helping her dad run the family business. Eileen uses her TikTok account to demystify death and answer questions everyone’s dying to know like can you be buried naked? And do dead people really sit up? We’ll hear about her job of embalming and beauti...
Aug 27, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast V got to talk to the actual Secretary of Education about student loans - and we’ve got the exact notes on the 3-part effort to manage student debt. There’s a ton of misinformation, disinformation, wishes, hopes, and dreams out there right now - so we’re giving you only and exactly what is most true as of this moment. In today’s mini episode, V breaks down how to identify yourself to the Department of Education for forgiveness and how to re-apply for the public service loan forgiveness program, e...
Aug 25, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V’s putting your information literacy skills to the test by taking a look at recent news that didn’t happen but received a lot of attention. Sometimes the truth doesn’t make for an interesting story, so people spice it up with lies in the hopes of getting clicks. And in these cases, it worked. V debunks rumors including New York City’s water being contaminated with polio, the IRS hiring for armed jobs, and Denmark banning kids from getting vaccinated. So, how do we spot false news and mak...
Aug 23, 2022•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast When most people think of home economics they imagine women baking muffins and caring for practice babies. But this week, we’re learning that the field was much more than just “stitching and stirring.” It was an empowering way for women to gain respect and recognition. Journalist and author Danielle Dreilinger joins V for a look back at the history of home economics and how it shaped American culture. We’ll hear about the personal lives of home economics women who decided to either stay at home ...
Aug 19, 2022•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast They determine our financial livelihood. They use our past against us so we can’t move forward. And no matter how hard we try, they never make us feel creditworthy. Today, V’s talking about the outdated and scammy credit score system, and how it’s disproportionately affecting women and communities of color. Equifax? More like Equifake! We’ll also hear about why the FBI is busy handling investigations against Trump and branches of the Southern Baptist Convention. Plus, how one of V’s favorite pol...
Aug 16, 2022•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Comedy Central writer and comedian Rose Kelso joins V for lots of laughs. Rose uses her Long Island upbringing and Jewish background to connect with viewers both on professional stages and social media platforms. We’ll hear about writing jokes for different audiences, dealing with hecklers and criticism, and staying rooted in compassion even when she’s firing people up. Plus, what inspired some of her hit musical comedies like Boomer Stoop and European Boys. Follow Rose at @longisland...
Aug 12, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V looks into how a married couple from Hawaii stole the identities of two deceased children from Texas to escape their past. Also, why are so many countries angry at America right now? Valid, but not a great look. Then we’ll give an update on how Roe v Wade is affecting abortion rights across the country about a month after the ruling was overturned. And while many people are still streaming movies from the comfort of their homes, a record number of us are buying movie tickets and hitting...
Aug 09, 2022•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week is special because it’s V’s birthday episode! As a gift to their listeners, V invited one of their favorite comedians, Adam Conover, on the show to talk about his new Netflix special, The G Word. Adam went from ruining everything from weddings to airlines, to investigating the U.S. government. He’ll talk about getting access to some of the most guarded government buildings and taking viewers behind the scenes to build trust. We’ll hear about how the country regulates food and why we’re...
Aug 05, 2022•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V explains the new Florida law that allows military veterans to skip the university and certification requirements to teach school in the state. How do you know when your political advocacy is unwise or even ungodly? There are 5 questions Christians claim you need to ask yourself to guard against false prophets, is it working? We’ll also take a SWING at Pickleball, the hottest new sport with roots to the pro-choice movement of the 1970s, good for grandma then, good for grandma now! Then, ...
Aug 02, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you're seeing this podcast, the universe has a message for you! Don't ignore this sign! Do you talk to the dead? Hit up the tarot deck? Keep crystals in your pockets? Does your spirit guide manifest in a cape? Well you might be a Spiritualist, or at least, might be interested in learning more about this uniquely American religion started in the mid 1840's by two teen girls the night before April Fools Day. Part parlor trick, part grief therapy sesh, part star spangled - if you describe yourse...
Jul 29, 2022•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V breaks down the Respect for Marriage Act, because we all deserve the joy of sharing a bed bath and beyond with the person of our choosing and no Republican divorcée congressman is gonna stop us! We’ll also find out how green became the international color of abortion rights. (Spoiler: we didn't start it). Then, V puts our media literacy skills to the test by showing listeners what’s actual news versus clickbait. Later, V chats with the head of the largest flight attendants’ union, Sara ...
Jul 26, 2022•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Monkeypox has the potential to infect anyone, regardless of age, gender or race; in cases where pregnant women are infected, the virus can even travel to the fetus. Scientific analysis of the virus is severely lacking, but we do know one thing: folks are not “more at risk” purely because of their gender, race, geographic location or even line of work. That said, there is one demographic being the most vocal and forthcoming about their experiences: gay and bisexual men. This week, V chats with tw...
Jul 22, 2022•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s not every day that a big-budget Hollywood book-to-movie adaptation sparks an IRL murder investigation. Today, V looks into why the author of the bestselling novel Where the Crawdads Sing is wanted for questioning in a deadly shooting. V also digs into some companies like Netflix and BMW, who are trying to stay relevant and gain customers by launching pointless subscription services, and runs through a list of political backstabs, including who’s the latest to be trashing Trump and his false...
Jul 19, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, V is talking money, money, money, money - MON-AYYY - with gal pals Jannese Torres-Rodriguez of the Yo Quiero Dinero podcast and First Gen Living financial coach Maria Melchor. At a time when there’s a lot of recession chatter - we will sort out what’s worth worrying about, where you can have fun on a dime, and the “boss babes” MLM schemes to watch out for. They’ll give us advice on what to do when the economy slows down, and why even folks ballin’ on a budget can diversify their incom...
Jul 15, 2022•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V finds out how some far-right leaders are using tactics of political terrorism to establish a system of government based on religious law. Then, we'll get smart about basic firearm terms you should know before getting into conversations about mass shootings or gun control. We’ll also hear about how Elon Musk has lost interest in pretending to buy Twitter and why the social media giant is planning to pursue legal action against him. Speaking of billionaires, what is their infatuation with...
Jul 12, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast The new generation of activists is very tech-savvy and isn't afraid to call out what they believe is wrong. This week, V is talking to Gen-Z For Change activists, who utilize social media to educate their generation, encourage and mobilize civic participation. V sits down with leaders Victoria Hammett, Olivia Julianna and Harry Sisson from the organization to talk about how they’re deploying TikTok armies, posting political thirst traps, shutting down tiplines and planning other clever ways to s...
Jul 08, 2022•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, V talks to chef and activist Adrian Lipscombe about how she’s helping reclaim the narrative of where food in this country started by empowering people in the fields. Adrian also runs the 40 Acres and A Mule Project, an initiative aimed at preserving the legacy of Black farmers and Black foodways. We’ll hear about what’s causing the dwindling population of Black farmers, why we're at risk of losing some key elements of Black culture, and how that’s affecting food independence. Follow C...
Jul 05, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast For many young people, especially after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, joining the military isn't necessarily top of mind when they consider their future. This week, V is interested in learning about what factors drive people to enter the military today and why modern recruitment efforts look nothing like the patriotic messaging used in the past. Marine veteran Nicholas Miranowski and Navy Lieutenant Alexis Travis tell V about the unique paths people can pursue that don't include fighting on ...
Jul 01, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast How are you coping with the recent news from the Supreme Court? Not well? Today, V asks grief expert Claire Bidwell Smith how to effectively manage our feelings in light of the verdict that has sent many of us into an emotional tailspin. Claire discusses the relationship between anxiety and grief, shares tips on how to practice self-care, and offers advice on how to turn feelings of anger and despair into action. V also explains the most important recent decisions from the Court, including the c...
Jun 28, 2022•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast VidCon is this week, and V is there -- along with every other creator on the Internet. So this week they are chatting with Hank Green, the founder of VidCon, who is a familiar voice to those who remember watching Crash Course educational YouTube videos in school and also is well known for energizing a brigade of Nerdfighters, vlogging with his brother, writing books, and TikToking up a storm. Hank, who's been a content machine since the early 90s, talks about his successful online journey of mak...
Jun 24, 2022•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V starts off with giving snaps to Houston, Texas. They dig into how the city has decreased the number of unhoused residents by more than half, what Houston is doing to reduce the rate of gun violence, and what H-town native Beyoncé has in store for us next month. Also, V offers an interesting update on beauty giant Revlon’s financial situation, and they spill the tea on some WWE drama. Then, V is joined by queer theologian Jason Steidl to take a closer look at deconstructing religion. We’...
Jun 21, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, we’re taking a closer look at what’s on the agenda – the Gay Agenda. Plus, it's Pride Month, which means it’s the perfect time to give you a lesson on queer history. So take out a pen and paper, because you can’t find this information in your high school textbooks. V sits down with RuPaul's Drag Race queen Mrs. Kasha Davis aka Edward Popil and queer public relations icon Cathy Renna to discuss crucial past events that shaped anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. They&rsqu...
Jun 17, 2022•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, V breaks down the implications of doctors' testimony about the Uvalde victims and why it could be a turning point to promote change in gun safety regulations. They also take a look at what the current Jan. 6 hearings related to Insurrection Day at the Capitol could mean for Trump's future. And they uncover how the U.S. government’s space agency is forming a task force to find out more about potential extraterrestrial life. Then, stay tuned for an in-depth conversation with one of th...
Jun 14, 2022•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this deep-dive interview, V takes a closer look at one of their favorite social media outlets, TikTok, and why the popular platform has left Twitter and Instagram in the dust as it has risen to fame. V brings on TikTok personalities Lamar Dawson and Jon Kung to talk about how they’ve found community online in the culinary and music spaces. We’ll hear about what opportunities the platform has opened up for them, what it’s really like behind the scenes of producing a video and...
Jun 10, 2022•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
