Grab your passport and get ready to dazzle French crowds with your voice, just as this week’s guest, Ethio-Jazz Singer-Songwriter Meklit Hadero did! This revelation leads to some very fun parallel-lives moments with JV and Meklit, who both went to France between their jr. and sr. years of H.S.— though Meklit’s experience was decidedly more cosmopolitan!

Janet Varney has a new podcast with John Hodgman! Every episode they'll showcase a new state and explore its iconography-- especially it's often complicated, pretentious and latin motto.Their first stop on their tour of every state, commonwealth and territory in the United States is Connecticut. Why Connecticut first? They’ll explain.Hear more about its legendary rich, sandy loam, the grape-filled seal, and its many attempts to create a state motto that sticks.Plus, Janet speaks with Amy Holden Jones, creator of the film Mystic Pizza. Amy will tell us about how her movie was directly inspired by Connecticut… and give her own suggestions for a new state motto.Produced by Julian Burrell.Senior Producer at MaxFun is Laura Swisher.Find E Pluribus Motto on Instagram and TikTok.And send us a voice memo, message or photo about an upcoming state to [email protected].

Are you there God? It’s our guest, Jen Kober! Take a saunter from the bayous of Louisiana and end up with Cirque du Soleil— yes, Cirque de Soleil!! — with this charismatic and hilarious comedian. (No wonder she won all those student council elections!) 

This week we’re very excited to take you to the island of Mauritius, where LAZOU (Nuances podcast) spent her teenage years! So fill a bowl with mouth-watering lychees, throw on a lab coat, and get ready for a thoughtful, fun, and yes, we’ll say it— nuanced conversation with LAZOU!

Hearken back to a time when you were expected to know your athlete bf’s bench press number with the fantastic Stephanie Kerbis (tons of stuff including the show she did with JV, Your Daily Horoscope), who’s ready for the best kind of street pizza— and knows there’s a musical out there for everyone!

Polish up on your Russian with the amazing Sarah Natochenny (Pokemon), who joins JV for an IN-PERSON chat (Y’all, it’s been awhile!) touching on the caché of being a freshman singing with the seniors, Broadway taking a backseat to voiceover and a whole career in editing, and much more! So grab some cheesy balls and let’s do this! 

Settle into this conversation with the ever-well-spoken and delightful Boy of Summer James Urbaniak (The Venture Brothers), who will emphatically set the record straight about his high school dating life! So grab that bag of potato chips and let’s dig in!

You don’t have to have your pilot’s license to fly high into this conversation with JV and Boy of Summer Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital), who talks NYC improv, poltergeists, and the awkwardness of puppet bath time. So slick that hair back and throw those Wayfarers on!

It’s the legendary Jenette Goldstein (Aliens, Titanic, T2) who graces us with her presence on this week’s ep! From doing theatre at the storied Beverly Hills High, to a move to England that changed everything, to her current amazing and delightful creations (where the alphabet starts at “D!”), Jenette might just be the humblest icon around!

Boys of Summer 2016 hums along with considerably more relaxed ease than you’d feel if you had to drive a double-decker, British-steering-wheel-on-the-right-side bus through Savannah with Clint Eastwood counting on you. Luckily if you’re Gary Anthony Williams (The Boondocks, Rick & Morty), you navigate everything with grace, humor, and killer improv chops.

Tune up your singing voice— or at least your talk-singing voice for this delightful conversation with Boy of Summer Jim O’Heir (Parks and Rec), who has surprised his teen-era friends by becoming an actor, so don’t expect any 16-year-old Jims playing Harold Hill. But there’s still time! For now, grab some Spanish croquettes and listen in!

It’s our great honor to welcome one of the most unique Wicked Witches in the history of Oz! It’s the great Michael Hitchcock (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), who defiantly takes us from Ohio and springs us into Illinois (these puns will make more sense after you listen, but they probably won’t be any funnier). This episode is an instant Boys of Summer Classic!

Saddle up for an early ride on the internet — OG Pokemon fans, anyone? — with our delightful Boy of Summer Ryan Copple (Go listen "Voyage To The Stars!", who also takes us on a catfishing journey with a moral at the end, and so much more. So dive into that ramen, and let’s umami!

Get ready to see and be seen at a cool kids PL near you (c’mon- surely you know “PL” stands for “parking lot!”) with this week’s Boy of Summer, Adam Macias (Go listen to the "That Was Wild" podcast!), who takes us to the suburbs of Sacramento for teen bands, local acronyms, and dollar scoops!

Move over, Gilbert and Sullivan: it’s Malina and Varney! This week JV sits down with the great Joshua Malina (Scandal, The West Wing) to yak about theatre, summer camp, and pranks, pranks, pranks! So do NOT get on that rocket ship thinking you’re about to receive an award!

Move over, Gilbert and Sullivan: it’s Malina and Varney! This week JV sits down with the great Joshua Malina (Scandal, The West Wing) to yak about theatre, summer camp, and pranks, pranks, pranks! So do NOT get on that rocket ship thinking you’re about to receive an award!

It’s an episode long overdue… with Boy of Summer and producer/host/Max Fun co-owner Julian Burrell! So put on your feathered hat, grab your leather pouch, and head the Ren Faire in the hot Corona sun! Those turkey legs aren’t going to eat themselves...

His name is Greg Levine, he’s a Boy of Summer, he’s got a fantastic podcast of his own (Parks and Recollection) recalling episodes and hijnx working as a writer on "Parks and Rec," and he’s (as evidenced in his teen pic) super! So grab a sleeve of Double Stufs and get in here!

Prepare to be dazzled by this fabulous *QUEEN* of Summer! JV welcomes the truly wonderful Robin Fierce ("RuPaul’s Drag Race") for this inspiring conversation covering family, fashion, compassion, and passion, to name but a few! So comb that fabulous mane and let’s GO, ThunderCats!

It’s your Boy of Summer, comedian and pal Josh Gondelman! From high school halls in Massachusetts to comedy clubs in Boston at a fresh-faced nineteen, we defy you not to fall in love (or a little bit more in love) with this delightful human being! So grab your summery iced coffee and a great croissant, and dig in!

There are so many reasons to listen to the delightful Ruth Gamble (Listen to her new podcast serial "Hobo Code"!), including stories of singing for non-singers, tackling people-pleasing, and the sublime person that is Bill Pullman (who happens to be featured in Ruth’s new project!). So lean into the perfect smell of rain and dig into that lasagna!

Hey! Stop copying your friend's math homework and grab a slice for this chat with comedian Rachel Feinstein (Catch her special "Big Guy" on Netflix now!), who takes you from the suburbs of Maryland to the streets of NYC, possibly in a poodle skirt. Now if we can just find all of those special guests we promised Rachel...

Head down from Queens to catch a Broadway show with teen-era Gillian Pensavalle (The Hamilcast, TCO), where the Rockette *might* even wink at you! But save a little time for some foggy witchy forest elf-time and a nibble or two of devil’s food chocolate crumb doughnuts (OG spelling, y’all)!

Unwrap that See’s Candy and get ready to savor the deliciousness of this conversation with Juliet Landau (The film A Place Among The Dead; Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe including Audibles: "Slayers: a Buffyverse Story") as she and JV talk ballet, M.A.S.H. time travel, and making art that helps people not only feel seen, but inspired to take action! 

Please bid a warm welcome to the fantastic Rebecca Delgado Smith (From the podcast "The Alarmist"), for this chat that takes you to Puerto Rico, Florida, Donner Pass, and even aboard the luxurious but ill-fated ocean liner of legend, all with a healthy dose of school (theatrical) spirit!

Come listen to this hug of a conversation with the darling and wildly talented Daphne Overbeck, who talks family, self-discovery, compassion and art… all the while being simply hilarious and inclusive! So go ahead, sink into that tiramisu! 

Do not hesitate to jump into this listen with human delight and comedian Ellie Hino (Her special "Soft Bones" is available now!), who helps JV fully comprehend the world of water parks in the Wisconsin Dells, plus lots of teen-times overlap between these new fast friends. Oh, and Ellie is just the right amount of flamboyant (see episode for details)!!

Attention all Punk Rock Girls and Dead Milkmen (youngsters— it’s a band)! Settle in with the fantastic author and podcaster Mur Lafferty (Chaos Terminal, I Should Be Writing) for a chat with JV covering sci-fi storytelling, zero dating, and the icing-est part of a cake!

Grab your best bean pie and your Giggle Gloss for this chat with the supremely delightful Dulcé Sloan (Author of the book Hello Friends! Stories of Dating, Destiny and Day Jobs), who talks teen times in the Atlanta area and gives some tantalizing tidbits around her brand new book, plus some SUPERB M.A.S.H. action! 

Author, teacher, and longtime listener Katherine Finstuen (author of the book Dearly Befuddled) hops on podcast this week to talk “useless” degrees (no such thing!), peddling ice cream, and reading, reading, reading! Plus: a delightful hippo blast from the past!

Grab your favorite potion and pull up a broomstick with soul sisters Lane Moore (author of the book You Will Find Your People) & JV as they get Practical with their Magic! Forests? Check. Trust issues due to childhood crap? Check. A love of altos? Check. And so much more!

This romp of an episode brings you the out-and-out awesome Biz Ellis, from the beloved Max Fun One Bad Mother pod! So get ready for a high school the size of a small metropolis, an utter lack of dating, and our second week of the crucial and delightful Max Fun Drive!

It's part two of JV's chat with Katie, including perspective on family tragedy and the much anticipated MASH future.

This podcast is part of the #MaxFunDrive! If you love this show and want it to continue, consider becoming a MaxFun Member. For as little as $5 a month, you can help this show continue and get great gifts in the process. And if you are already a member, consider upgrading your membership to a higher level or even boosting for as little as an extra dollar a month.  Find out more at maximumfun.org/join.In honor of the #MaxFunDrive, JV is proud to welcome fellow MaxFunster Katie Goldin to the show. Katie is the host of Secretly Incredibly Fascinating and has so much to say about birds, high school, hermit crab adoption and how she came to understand her mental health.

As part of the #MaxFunDrive, this is a special preview of several episodes of the JV Club -- the full versions of which are available EXCLUSIVELY for MaxFun Members!Conversations with Tatiana Maslany, Evanna Lynch, D'Arcy Cardon, and a very special exchange of journal passages with Carrie Poppy.  Only the best for our members!When you go to maximumfun.org/join, you get access to these and hundreds of hours of podcasts across the entire MaxFun Network. It costs as little as $5 a month to set up your recurring monthly contribution. If you're already a member, you can upgrade to higher levels of membership to earn even more gifts or boost your contribution by as little as one dollar more a moth. 

Come for the science, stay for the theatre! This week’s guest, author, actor, and game designer Kate Welch blows JV away with news about her BOARDING public high school and all of the delightful mischief those mostly-unsupervised teens got up to. Plus plenty of love for sci-fi, brewskis, and a VERY close look inside one of their mutual buddies.

Okay pals! Grab your megaphone, throw on your camo, and head to the nearest fast food drive-through for nerdy hijinx with the truly wonderful writer, performer and caregiver Beth Lisick (NYT bestselling author of the book Everybody Into the Pool; host of "The Electronic Lover" podcast). This ep brings you laughter and goofiness coupled by heartfelt conversation about JV’s mom and other dear folks grappling with dementia. It’s a very special convo!

What’s happening in this episode of The JV Club? Oh, just a couple of Korras hanging out together, talking about letting go of “the cool kids” and finding your RPG and “Pride and Prejudice” crew! It’s Jacqueline Grace Lopez (Korra in Nick All Star Brawl 2; General Hospital), and she’s kicking ass on and offscreen (with a little time to play in the Pony-verse thrown in for good measure).  

It’s the other half of the fabulous Reading Glasses pod! Mallory and JV extol the virtues of hobbitry, sublime Providence, and the evergreen perfection of the werewolf-as-puberty motif. So howl your way with us from Massachusetts to (via Brooklyn & LA) the sleepy sweet town of Idyllwild… which might only be improved upon with a werewolf sighting or two.

Today's movie takes on the guise of a weird '80s teen comedy, then adds in some supernatural phenomena and some axes. So we consult THE JV CLUB's Janet Varney on the peculiarities of Lisa's high school experience, and then make up some Monster Mash-up movies of our own.What’s GoodAlonso - RO-TEL DipJanet - Mochi Muffins from Third Culture BakeryDrea - Chocolate-dipped TwinkiesITIDICThe Oscars Are Adding a New Category: Best Casting2023 Sundance Darling FANCY DANCE Finally Finds a HomeCrunchyroll Merges with Funimation…Now Funimation Digital Downloads Will DisappearStaff PicksAlonso - Perfect DaysJanet - HouseboundDrea - Players

Julian Burrell- producer and editor of the JV Club- has a quick update regarding this weeks' episode.

Max Fun Crossover Alert! It's the amazing Brea Grant from the Reading Glasses podcast! JV and Brea get deep into movies, books, punk and emo, with yes, a healthy helping of Fox Robin Hood to boot. So shave your head and grab your drumsticks... and let's goooooooo!

This week with the always wonderful Paul F. Tompkins: build a snow tunnel, sing a few piano tunes, or recite Edgar Allen Poe in the place where his macabre work truly shines, a brightly lit classroom. Boys of Summer continues!

Kerri Kenney-Silver (Wanderlust, The State) hunkers down on Janet’s floor to charm and delight with the classics: poorly-received cheerleader tryouts, inevitable class clownism, and accidentally forming a band that ended up touring with Neil Young.

Episode 21 of The JV Club finds Janet and guest Alison Brie (Community, Mad Men) spontaneously writing a movie pitch, discussing the bathroom-centric challenges of leotards, and even catching a few cooties with a fan-made cootie catcher. If you don’t know what that is, it’s not what it sounds like.

Finally, a conversation that covers two of the most seminal influences on contemporary culture: playwright George Bernard Shaw and the oft-overlooked screen gem Mannequin Two: On the Move. All this and more with Gillian Jacobs, who turned heads as a child with an impressive array of homemade Halloween costumes long before she graced Community’s collegiate hallways.

Ring in the New Year with a JV Club - Journos Crossover! This week, JV has a funny, informative and mind-boggling conversation with Brandon and Stephen about theories of what it means to be a conscious being. Seriously! We even asked scientists! 

When should parents start letting their children pour their own cereal? Could an addiction to My Little Ponies be Kentucky Derby-related? Can anyone really BELONG to thunder? Another hard-hitting episode of The JV Club explores the the mind and memories of this week’s guest, the marvelous Maggie Lawson (Psych).

Seasons Greetings from JV and her Boy of Winter, Josh Hallmark (Studio Both/And)! With some real life-overlap between these two fairly newly-minted friends, get ready for a healthy dose of teen angst, LDS chitchat, secret hideout places, and yes, true crime quandaries. 

It’s December, so cast your mind back into the aughts for the glorious era of Brad Pitt & his unbuttoned white shirt on the December cover of Vanity Fair magazine... as your gateway into this entertaining chat with Liza Treyger (the other half of the great That’s Messed Up pod). From the tough love of the high school theater teacher to a fabulous M.A.S.H. future, inspiration runs high!

Join JV and this week’s guest, Adrien Behn (Strangers Abroad pod) for a spirited convo covering glorious travel - both Adrien’s and the historic & competitive 1889 journeys of Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland around the world! Plus! Musicals, tacos, and a Gouda awakening! 

This one goes out to all you Mr. Darcy lovers out there! But all, of course, are welcome to this delightful chat with comedian Jessica Sele (whose Weird Vibes album you should totally check out now) who also talks lighthouses, musical enthusiasm, and JV’s new favorite “Disneyland ride turns real” answers!

This episode was originally published in 2016It’s a classic JV Club train of thought that leaves the station at about 60 miles per hour, thanks to the bright light that is the mind and heart of one Kristen Bell (The Good Place), otherwise known as one of the world’s preeminent dog petting scientists. KB and JV cheerily talk failure, murder, and the incredible power of a good Sondheim refrain.

Settle in this week for gem of a human being, comedian, actor and writer Leah Rudick (check out her special Spiraling!), who brings stories of growing up in Cincinnati, where— and we can’t be any more clear on this— there is a perfectly average insect population. Plus! beheadings, tone deafness, and beaaaautiful beaded gowns.

This one goes out to all the really tall gals with big, beautiful feet! Get ready for a lively chat with comedy legend Judy Gold this week on The JV Club, where parents muddle their way through their kids’ sexuality, coffee ice cream reigns supreme (with augmentation!), and we can’t get enough of Barbara Eden in a certain iconic tv costume.

Grab your ballpark hot dog and gather up all your unnecessarily detailed historical baseball stats for this delightful chat with Sarah D. Bunting (Best Evidence), in which we head to New Jersey, jam to Top 40, dig into Mom’s meatloaf, and heaps more. In fact, JV and SDB gabbed so much, they didn’t even talk about this book Sarah co-wrote to guide you through every episode of “Beverly Hills, 90210!"

From a shared mutual love of the “Miss Chevious” detective novels to the perennial -- if scary -- appeal of an old diving suit, JV and this week’s Boy of Summer Jordan Morris (Jordan Jesse, Go!) cover a lot of ground in both the real and thoroughly made-up worlds of Earth, Earth 2, veiny comic book characters, and maybe the best name ever for a turn-of-the-century baseball team.(This episode was published in 2018)

This week we bring you the delightful Olivia Flood-Wylie (check out her comedy special Half & Half here!) and tales of Amsterdam, Los Angeles, the mean girls high school experience, and maybe the most some of us have ever talked or heard about the Tinkerbell movies!

It’s almost time to start assembling your facial tissue Christmas tree! Not sure what that means or where to begin? You’re in luck! This week’s amazing guest, Vicki Peterson of the LEGENDARY band The Bangles, is a seasoned expert. Plus! Find out what it takes to put together great music and great people from the tender teenage years all the way into adulthood-- with this brilliant artist!

Get ready to balance your high school budget with this week’s guest, Treasurer extraordinaire Kara Klenk, who also now happens to co-host the Law & Order: SVU podcast That’s Messed Up. This is the kind of rad project you could only hope for from someone whose entire family gets on board for a good crime docu-binge!

We’re elated to welcome the dynamic actor Alisha Wainwright, who tells of her Jamaican & Haitian roots, her teen years in the Sunshine State, wrapping our heads around dark matter, and her new podcast, the very cool When Science Finds a Way! 

Quick! Get yourself to the best bathroom graffiti you can find and celebrate it with Caitlin Cook, who takes us from the streets of mid-city LA and some classically catty high school girls (not Caitlin!) to an off-Broadway theatre for her amazing one-woman musical. Plus! A healthy M.A.S.H. scoop of lion love!

Celebrate living in the moment– which in this case includes “moments” devoted to excessive cheek blush, dead teeth, and the raw sexual power of Night Court and Three’s Company– from one of the creators and stars of NBC’s Best Friends Forever, Jessica St. Clair. This episode also requires audience participation, via several non-rhetorical questions for the listener!

Heads-up! This is a very special episode of The JV Club! In which we welcome Max Fun’s own Tom Lum (Let’s Learn Everything!), who may or may not have listened to The JV Club as a teen himself and is now a guest on it talking about his teen years. Which may or may not move JV to tears. We bet you can guess on that one. So dig into your Eggs Benedict and let’s go!

It’s been a rough summer for the planet, friends! So take this opportunity to smile at delightful Boy of Summer Matt Apodaca (Get Played pod) and his SoCal class clownery. So get those double jumps and hot wings queued up for a summery good time!This show was edited with help from Daniel Schroeder

Hop into your time machine to hit the message boards in small-town Maine with this week’s divine Boy of Summer, Alex Steed (You Are Good podcast)! Journey with Alex for rides to the mall… and stay with him for the ecosystem of friendships therein!

This week brings you terrific Boy of Summer Eric Silver of Multitude, who brings tales of teen life in Jersey, including a couple of years of not-so-great football (and the coaches who really do seem hatched right out of an 80’s comedy), a couple of years of much-better Drama, and what it means when your mom dresses you and your twin alike... to prove how UN-identical you are! 

We’re taking a week off of Boys of Summer to bring you producer, musician and creative maven Carolyn Kendrick! So grab your fiddle and a bowl o’ noodles for this chat about podcasting (You’re Wrong About and more!), how to sweet-talk yourself into any band, and more! 

Can’t say enough good things about this week’s Boy of Summer, Carl Tart (Gossip Kings)! Sit in on this conversation about becoming a 12 year-old Caddy driver, the discovery of where “home” is and how that evolves, and for gods’ sake don’t forget your Bluebell Banana Pudding ice cream!!

Hope everybody’s having a fun-- if sizzling— summer! We’re delighted to have our pal Doug Benson (Doug Loves Movies) regale us with teen stories coming out of sunny San Diego. Plus! riding in elevators at The Oscars... in both real and M.A.S.H. life!   

It’s JV’s delightful Truth & Justice co-host, Zaq Weaver! Bundle up and head to the edge of the lake for this chat about doodling, shooting hoops, tattooing, and any other words with two o’s that we’re not thinking of at the moment. Plus! Could Zaq’s M.A.S.H. be predicting a real-life resolution to a decades-old true crime case?

It’s the simply fantastic Max Mittleman as our latest Boy of Summer! If you’re an anime fan or a gamer, you will know his delightful tones as he and JV mosey through his teen years in the Los Angeles Valley, dodging bullies (heavy sigh) and crushing on a certain fantastic actress… whom he may or may not end up with in his M.A.S.H. future!

Get your art on, friends! Whatever form it takes! And while you’re at it, feast your ears on this episode with Boy of Summer Video Dave  who talks crafting, family histories, music and way more, of course! So grab that mac and cheese and puppet up!

Grab your overnight bag, because we’re all sleeping at Shai’s! Join this week’s guest Shai Korman (Friday Night Movie) takes us from the streets of Montreal to a family house by the lake, along with some summer camp joy for good measure. Plus: a trip into the… Couplesretreataverse?

We’re gleaming the cube with comedian and delight Kyle Kinane, who talks Chicago teenagerness featuring wry remarks and maybe not-so-great punk band experiences (experiences great = band itself, maybe not so great?). Grab a gyro, and surf’s up!

It’s Julia Schifini from the Spirits podcast, upon which JV made a recent appearance! Find out about Julia’s high school passions, including some more JV Club Ellen Ripley and Wolverine love, musicals and dream roles, and a certain shark-adjacent island. Extra points for Julia’s teen pic actually BEING in a classroom!a

Spend this episode of The JV Club with the terrific graphic novelist and illustrator Melissa Capriglione (Basil and Oregano), whose journey from self-publishing to finding a wonderful partner in Dark Horse also parallels finding… other right kinds of partners, both in real life and in the M.A.S.H.verse (wink)! 

What better way to celebrate a MaxFun Crossover than with one of the Maxiest, Funniest, Crossoveriest(?) people around, Mr. John Hodgman? It’s a smorgasbord of topics and delight in this special episode. This episode was originally published in 2021.

This week we’re elated to welcome the brilliant author and producer Kendra James (Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School) for a venture into the elite world of a world-famous college prep high school and all of the speed bumps and landmines that come along with it. So throw on your ice skates and get ready to ice-dance with an icon!

Time to leave that military base for the new digs of Prattville, Alabama! Hang out with the teen version of the marvelous Gennifer Hutchison (“Better Call Saul,” “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”) and follow her to the hills of San Francisco. Fall in love with writing! Mangez des crêpes! Sing in the rain!

Break that old cd in half and make yourself some killer homespun earrings with the fantastic Jeffrey Elizabeth Copeland (Quarandream!), who talks Georgia, The Big Apple, treasuring-but-maybe-also-questioning that daring teenage style phase some of us had, and much more! Including giant steampunk spiders!

Get up early, throw on your crew visor and hit the water with comedian, writer, and awesome human Alison Leiby (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), who talks fashion, cat rooms and much more, including what it’s been like to tour a one-person show about abortion in our zany world of today!

This week’s ep brings you longtime listener and friend of the show, teaching artist and activist Cait Mullan (they/them)! A San Francisco native, Cait shares their empathy, humor, and first-hand experiences of growing up in a famously liberal city… but nestled in a surprisingly non-liberal enclave... and all the hijinx which inevitably ensue! We love, love, love this ep and know you will, too!

It’s the other half of the fantastic Coming Out pod, Nicole Pacent! Nicole brings tales of Gomez and Mortitia’s love affair, Queen Ani DeFranco, and stretching wings in more narrow-minded places until you find your communities. Note this ep does include specifics about mental health and losing people we love (and hope it’s helpful for some of you processing your own losses).This episode was edited with help from Daniel Zafran.

Spend a little time with creator and CEO of Multitude, podcaster and writer Amanda McLoughlin, who talks artistic community, world-building, and great pottery throw-downs with JV in this delightful romp that might even take you all the way back to Cleopatra’s parade!

In what might qualify as the biggest “no-brainer” in the history of The JV Club, we’re thrilled to welcome superstars Tegan and Sara, whose fantastic multi-media memoir “High School” is about to be followed up with their take on “Junior High.” Feast your ears on this convo— we DARE you not to relate to their experience!

This episode is part of the #MaxFunDrive! To directly help this show for as little as $5 a month, you can join, upgrade or boost your membership just by visiting maximumfun.org/join. There’s TONS of bonus content, gifts and MORE! It’s the final week of Max Fun Drive and we’re celebrating with the divine Ella McLeod ("Comfort Creatures" pod!)! Ella was born and lives in London, and this is one of our favorite convos about “where we come from” and “who we are” and “how we reconcile conflicting realities” of all time! She’s the perfect guest to celebrate everything that’s uniquely special about all of the hosts and podcasts on Maximum Fun, and why we’re all so proud to be a part of this diverse and joyful community. Of which YOU are a huge part!This show was edited with help from Daniel Zafran.

This is a special preview of a bonus episode of The JV Club. To hear the full episode, go sign up to become a MaxFun Member at maximumfun.org/join! For as little as $5 a month, you can help this podcast continue and earn access to tons of other members-only episodes of the show. JV is joined by familiar face Carrie Poppy from the "Oh No, Ross and Carrie!" podcast to open up their high school diaries. They'll discover such long-forgotten secrets like Carrie's hilarious list of “favorites," Janet's (topless??) trips with friends, the age of self-discovery and so much more!

This episode is part of the #MaxFunDrive! To directly help this show for as little as $5 a month, you can join, upgrade or boost your membership just by visiting maximumfun.org/join. There’s TONS of bonus content, gifts and MORE! #MaxFunDrive 2023 kicks off with a MaxFun pod crossover! It’s Maddy Myers of Triple Click  hanging with JV for a chew about video games, early fan fic, Massachusetts pride, and the mystical M.A.S.H. power of the grapevine! Thanks for making The JV Club possible with your support, Wonderfuls! 

It’s the legendary Annette O’Toole! JV is thrilled to welcome Annette to talk about her migration from Texas to LA just in time for adolescence, her early love of dance and music, and her prodigious and inspiring career (Smallville! Halt and Catch Fire! Virgin River! So much more!). The ladies also reminisce about Annette’s performances at the most recent SF Sketchfest, including a performance of two songs she and husband Michael McKean wrote for A Mighty Wind. This show was edited by Daniel Zafran with help from Julian Burrell

JV and her buddy, filmmaker/writer/actor Christine Weatherup sit down to chat about canine adventures during the Northridge earthquake, the inspiring Ms. Foster, and Christine’s film (that JV is in, and YOU can watch), See You Next Christmas!

Catch and release those sewer crawdads and pop into your yurt for this chat with FOGO s creator and host, Ivy Le! Ivy dishes on her 5,000-person high school in Dallas, her distrust of the outdoors (hence her hit podcast), and crushes on the folks in Band. Plus! What if you could sniff out the danger of, say, snakes?

Grab your late-night pop tart and get ready to DIG DEEP with JV and her scrumptious guest, Holly Laurent of the fabulous MEGA podcast! Seriously, Wonderfuls, this is an emotional, philosophical, and deeply sincere episode that also MAY OR MAY NOT BE RIGHT ABOUT GREYHOUNDS. From moms to Jesus to “What About Bob,” we GO THERE. 

Load up your San Francisco burrito and hit the beach for some shark-adjacent surfing! Or maybe just one of those things! It’s the great Sarah Lane, who hosts the  Daily Tech News Show and Have Such a Good Day, among other cool stuff. From only child bonding with JV to apple orchards and books, there’s plenty of No-Cal love to go around in this week’s ep! 

The dynamic and awesome Margo Donohue, author of Filmed in Brooklyn and host of several sweet pods including Book Vs. Movie, talks with JV about great horror villains, the white witch (Stevie Nicks!), and her own teen years filled with so many familiar teen feels. If you love movies, books, or can relate to being a human, this episode is a must! 

Settle in for this great conversation with awesome guest Cristen Conger, creator and co-host of the Webby Award-winning podcast "Unladylike" (you might also know her from the podcast "Stuff Mom Never Told You")! From the Athens, GA music scene to dreams of patisseries and "ER"-era Clooney, Cristen delights with a series of conversational gems!

It’s The JV Club’s 500th episode! We did it, everybody! And to celebrate this landmark, JV is joined by the Journos podcast’s Stephen Jackson and Brandon R. Reynolds to talk about some bigger picture teenage stuff. We get philosophical! We get scientific! We get silly! All this, PLUS some very special messages from some very special folks celebrating JV’s 500th ep. Happy Birthday, kind of!If you want to hear more from Brandon and Stephen, listen to the episode of "The Journos" where they spoke with Mark Gagliardi and Hal Lulblin.

This episode was originally published in 2013.Hear her on The JV Club before she rises to the top of the arm-wrestling world! It’s Edi Patterson (The Groundlings), who bonds with Janet over the appeal of the celluloid “horndog,” pygmy unicorns, and being the good girl.

Blue Sunsets! Runescapes! Cinnabon! This week’s guest, the wonderful Joalda Morancy (author of Aliens: Join the Scientists Searching Space for Extraterrestrial Life) brings teenage years of curiosity and dedication, humor and more. You too will want to watch the sun go down from Mars!

We hope you’re in the mood to start 2023 with the shining gem that is Amy Nicholson, who in addition to being a New York Times and Variety Film Critic also happens to have a fabulous podcast — Unspooled — with Mr. Paul Scheer. Ring in the New Year with JV, Amy, Rhett, Danny, and Jimmy strolling on the San Antonio River Walk.

THIS EPISODE ORIGINALLY AIRED IN JUNE 2013Janet and guest Kristen Schaal (The Bob's Burgers Movie) put the “cyst” back in “sisterhood” with tales of OB-GYN terror, Twin Peaks-themed shopping malls, and good boys, bad boys, and no boys at all. Want more? How about the non-revelation of how delicious cereal is?This episode was reproduced with help from Marissa Flaxbart

THIS EPISODE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN APRIL 2014In this very special episode, Janet podcasts her very own DAUGHTER! … Well, at least someone who played her daughter in a thing. It’s the terrific Jennette McCurdy (Sam and Cat) and a sitting-on-the-rug hangout, covering such topics as feminism, faith, and becoming a real life Ghostbuster.You can read Jenette's new book I'm Glad My Mom Died now.This podcast was reproduced with assistance from Brian Bulman

JV was simply delighted to be joined by a very special Boy of Winter, Max Fun’s own John Moe (Depresh Mode)!! in celebration of the paperback release of John’s wonderful book, “The Hilarious World of Depression,” these two “let’s be honest and maybe giggle about mental health, but in a loving way” pals turn their conversation north towards Norway and maybe even… moonward?

This week JV welcomes her new and awesome friend from the Coming Out With Lauren and Nicole Pod, Lauren Flans! This conversation is delicious, candid, silly and great, because Lauren is all of those things! So grab your bag of sour candy and your Joni Mitchell albums and settle in for a cozy, giggly chat.

How would you respond if your well-intentioned mom told you a psychic predicted a future she might not approve of? Find out how Subhah Agarwal (“Dog Show”) handled it, along with stories -- teen and otherwise -- from the suburbs of Chicago to her current NY/LA existence. And speaking of existence… will Subhah get a chance to find out that “… there is no spoon…”? Find out, M.A.S.H.-style! 

Give Thanks that human person (who might also be part magical creature) Erika Ishii (Critical Role, Apex Legends) exists, and what a bonus that she’s this week’s guest on The JV Club! This conversation confirms that she is brilliant, delightful, humble and candid, and will live a splendid life scooting around London on a Vespa, if M.A.S.H. has anything to say about it!

All the way from a sojourn Colombia (the country!), the fabulous Ashley Ray (Stitcher’s TV I Say) acquaints JV with her hometown’s roots, and how its history led her to some of her own life adventures. It almost compares with the EPIC alternate-universe M.A.S.H. life in store for her… complete with two of the best things in the world: pasta, and Reggie Watts! 

That’s right! It’s Claire Fallon, the other half of the beloved reality dating show-themed podcast, Love to See It. Claire and JV reminisce about their New York and Los Angeles overlap at The Huffington Post, bond over happy-sad bands they both love, and find out if Claire Can Has Cheeseburger!

It’s the terrific Emma Gray, one half of the beloved reality dating show-themed podcast, Love to See It! Emma and Janet talk field hockey, the enduring appeal of Darcy, and exploring the nature of womanhood by way of a rambling story from JV about dog attacks. Plus! Mouth-scrapeless sour candy? Yes please!!

Is it easy to go from the bustling streets of Jakarta to the country roads of Archer City with a little Dallas in between? Don’t miss this rare opportunity to find out what “wall bangs” are, how to con your way into an internship on a popular talk show, and maybe even learn a little Indonesian… all courtesy of Angela Kinsey from NBC’s The Office.This conversation was originally published in 2012

The great Danielle Perez (Actor! Comedian! Writer!) joins JV to talk school musicals, standup styles, and the scientific (kinda) factors that go into establishing who those elusive top tier popular kids are, and why! Plus — the sweet sweet world of television comedy classic “Living Single!”

A big JV Club welcome to New Jersey native and current Baltimore resident, comedian Blaire Postman, who pinballs conversation topics with JV like a champ, including chatting about doing in musicals with a back brace, the misery of too many footnotes, and the lightbulb moment of an ADHD diagnosis, among other things! 

Oh my oh my oh my! What a joy to have podcast legend Lulu Miller (Radiolab, Invisibilia and the amazing new TERRESTRIALS!) as our guest this week. Lulu and JV climb into the special secret hideout of their conversation to talk childhood and adulthood wonder and awe, making stuff with your hands, and the ingredients for great metaphorical and real-life salsa.

With the triumphant blare of a high school band trumpet and a twirl of a flag, this week we welcome comedian Mo Welch (Come Out, Come out pod, Blair comic strip) for a chat with JV covering Mo’s teen years in Illinois, discovering improv and standup, and a M.A.S.H. collaboration with a certain pro basketballer that we’re dying to see made real

This week brings you the inimitable multi-talented writer & more, Laura Krafft ("The Colbert Report," "The Harper House”), whose family tree and sibling dynamics make for perfect JV Club material. Plus! Some of JV’s favorite “movies you’d jump into” unexpected choices in the history of the podcast! 

It doesn’t take an armchair detective to understand what drew JV and the charming Kerri Doherty (The Goldbergs; Out On The Lanai podcast) to each other, but it DID take an awesome investigator to make their worlds collide. Now the two new friends discuss Girls who are Golden, Truth and Justice, and how Goonies never say die.

This will be one of our shorter episode descriptions, and here’s why: you simply MUST listen to this episode with Rose Abdoo ("Gilmore Girls!" “Hacks!" “Reboot!" More more more!), because you will be missing too much joy otherwise. Truly!

Pour this bit of sunshine into your ears (which sounds weirder than we meant it to) with the dear and inspiring Cricket Leigh (MAI in AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER!), whose own stories of teenage insecurity mixed with bravery and ambition make for a classic episode for what The JV Club is all about! 

Get a gorgeous mountain range in view and savor that green chile omelette with Migizi Pensoneau (“Reservation Dogs”), who takes us from Minnesota to New Mexico to Connecticut to… well, just get ready to travel. And bring your love of 80’s/90’s absurdist comedies with you! Plus: more love for "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and the scrumptiously watchable “Barkskins!"

This week asks the hard-hitting question: why? WHY can’t Janet stop saying “Shaker” when she means “Quaker?” Her dreamy Boy of Summer Abe Forman-Greenwald (Netflix’s "Big Mouth”) endeavors to figure it out, while also sharing tales of small-town Pennsylvania  youth and the gift of sitting in silence, even when someone’s making you do it! 

Stop the presses! Remember when we said we’d collected the entire Hey Riddle Riddle crew? NOT SO FAST! This week brings you delightful Boy of Summer, Arne Parrott, the talent behind the truly delicious various and sundry themes/songs/la-la-las to one of JV’s favorite podcasts. So put on your Ren Faire best and a wad of crabcake… it’s ON!

Grab your lobster roll and your trash juice for this week’s Boy of Summer, the wonderful Desmin Borges (You’re The Worst, Utopia)! JV and Dez talk contemporary adventures: losing your sense of taste and smell and finding it again through the wonder of an avocado; they talk past adventures: sports! Theatre! Da Bears!; and of course, they talk about their happy days playing often-miserable characters on You’re The Worst.

This week brings you novelist, podcaster and Boy of Summer Toby Ball (Crimewriters On, Strange Arrivals), whose addition to The JV Club completes the Crimewriters On collection! In this episode you’ll not only learn about Toby’s teens and twenties, you’ll also hear him rescue JV from her own politics-and-media existential quagmire! So grab your favorite album and treat yourself to some ice cream as summer rolls on...

The Hey Riddle Riddle Collector’s Set is complete! JV is delighted to welcome the ridiculously fast and funny JPC as this week’s Boy of Summer, along with a conversation about Catholic school Religion classes, early-onset improv magic syndrome (a term we just now made up), and what we can confidently say is one of The JV Club’s all-time-greatest “Boys of Summer” covers. And for all you HRR lovers out there, the end of this description takes you all the way to... Jupiter! 

Dive into this conversation with Boy of Summer - Boy of Star Wars - Boy of San Diego, Hector Navarro, who describes the delicate balance of being a well-behaved hooligan in those important teen formative years, how honest parental communication has its pros and cons, and how to jump into fandoms when you can’t celebrate your birthday! Plus: Oh M.J. Watson… how we love you! 

Venture into the magical world of Piff The Magic Dragon, who rose to fame from high school hijinx to local magic shows to Edinburgh to Penn & Teller to America’s Got Talent to his own show in Vegas! It’s enough to inspire any fledgling dragon! Or magician! This Boy of Summer reminds us that there are so many different ways and roads to take to become the thing you are, with plenty of Piff’s signature dryly hilarious delivery along the way. 

Delight in this week’s Boy of Summer, Manolo Moreno! Whom you might already know and love from Max Fun’s own Dr. Gameshow! Hear about Manolo’s teenage humanoid adventures, and what to do when you might be the Edward Scissorhands of… emotions. Then get your creative brain ready to write to the soothing sounds of water, and lasagna up! 

We’re pressing “pause” on our Boys of Summer series for this week so that we can bring you the brilliant Michaela Jill Murphy! If you’re an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan, you might know her also as “Jessie Flowers,” the professional acting name she gave herself as a kiddo. Which might be the most delightful thing ever. This conversation is the perfect companion piece to the shorter, more Toph-centric conversation with Michaela soon to come on the ATLA podcast I host with Dante Basco, Braving the Elements! 

It’s time for the simply terrific Boy of Summer Matt Walsh (VEEP) and the many laughs that his delightful brain supplies… as JV goes DEEPLY PSYCHOLOGICALLY ANALYTICAL in this hard-hitting (not that hard-hitting) episode. So dip some crab legs in butter, uncork or unscrew some red wine, and check out Matt’s indie film Unplugging!

Give yourself the gift of listening to the divine James Sie (also known as the Cabbage Merchant from ATLA, btw!) talk about perennial teenage years and his new novel, All Kinds of Other, and get ready for a LOT of love for the book from JV! It’s a YA novel that anyone of any age can and should read, and it’s the perfect book to celebrate on during Pride Month with our sublime first June Boy of Summer. Plus! Which Avatar character would James bring into our world to have as a buddy?

Whether you love her as Cindy Brady in the Brady Bunch reboot movies, as Ty Lee in Avatar: the Last Airbender, or one of her other amazing endeavors, there is just a whole lot to be enjoyed about and with the fabulous Olivia Hack! A frank and very cool insider talk on Livin’ the “Dream” in LA from a young age, how to be in the moment and travel the world, and of course, mashed potatoes. 

This week brings you a very dynamic and impassioned conversation with Gina Viola, an activist/small business owner/mom/all-around great person who is also very much in the running for Mayor of Los Angeles! But the conversation stretches far outside the realm of Los Angeles, or California- and dives into some of the more complicated issues facing US culture today, as well as some really exciting and inspiring ways to make a difference. A Beautiful Struggle!

It’s our first Boy of Summer, pre-summer! Enjoy this summer teaser with the one and only Hal Sparks, who brings his energy, advice and fast-as-lightning humor to this conversation with JV. Covering topics like not being a dating dud! Confidence vs. arrogance! Ribeyes!

This week JV hangs with incredibly funny and cool comedian Amy Miller, who brings her light and humor to a wide range of subjects including, of course, one of JV’s own faves: being a teen in organized religion! And maybe even more enticing: Cool Rock Music Church! Plus: find out which M.A.S.H. alternate universe profession has Amy asking “…Was this your card?” (Wait- did that give too much away?)

Janet Varney joins her best pals Hal Lublin and Mark Gagliardi in a special #MaxFunDrive fueled crossover of "The JV Club" and "We Got This!" podcasts! The reason for this amazing crossover? To officially determine the best high school movie.This podcast was a special stretch goal that was reached with new MaxFun Members who pledged their support to both shows monthly contributions.If you love and support either- or both!- "The JV Club" or "We Got This!" you can go to maximumfun.org/join and contribute as little as $5 a month. It goes directly to the shows you listen to and helps ensure they continue.

This podcast is made possible by the generous contributions of our MaxFun Members! As part of the #MaxFunDrive, you can join the community for as little as $5 a month to ensure that The JV Club with Janet Varney continues. Plus, you'll learn all sorts of great gifts, including special bonus episodes of this podcast and many more. For more information and to sign up, go to Maximumfun.org/joinIt’s the final week of #MaxFunDrive, and we’re celebrating with the one and only Rabia Chaudry!! As millions of folks know, Rabia brought the case of Adnan Syed to Sarah Koenig, leading to the Serial podcast. In the years since, Rabia has essentially become JV’s hero, and having her on The JV Club is truly a dream come true. So order up some New York-style pizza, show some love to a tree, and support The JV Club as a Maximum Fun Member!

Let’s kickoff #MaxFunDrive with a no-brainer crossover with the marvelous Moujan Zolfaghari (Mission to Zyxx)! JV and Moujan are back in the podcastin’ saddle after a data-corrupted attempt in 2021. They’re yakking about cats and dogs! About X Files! About Portugal! It’s all waiting for you in this glorious episode!This episode is part of the annual #MaxFunDrive, a celebration of our beloved MaxFun Members. To find out how you can directly support The JV Club with contributions starting at $5 a month (and earn great gifts in the process!) go to Maximumfun.org/join

We’re throwing extracurricular activities into hyperdrive for this chat with the super cool Ali Griffin Vingiano (Apple TV’s The Morning Show), who celebrates the gorgeous hot mess of a teenage bedroom with JV, as the two trade stories about how they littered their walls with their dreams and crushes. Plus! Evviva for Ali's Italy-heavy M.A.S.H.!Music from this show's promo provided by Incompetech.

This week brings you the multifaceted gem that is rapper/singer/writer Dessa, who by the way also happens to host the great podcast Deeply Human! From seasick-stage-surfing to teenage-mood-surfing to creative-outlet-surfing, Dessa brings frank introspection, wisdom and humor to this convo, just as she does in her work… and manages to get some herstorical tidbits out of JV in the process!

Get that cold pizza out of the fridge and keep your hands off Milton’s stapler for this podtacular evidence of the awesomeness of Kelly Landry (@kellylandrylive), with whom JV worked on one of her fave cartoons through 2020 - quarantine-style! Hear about Kelly’s teen-in-rural-Maine adventures between JV and KL telling each other how delightful they are. That’s friendship, baby!

This just in: Bridget Todd is wonderful! Revel in this uplifting chat including academia vs. “real life” joys and experiences, the good in lifting each other up, and the sublime coolness of Downtown Julie Brown! Check out Bridget’s There Are No Girls on the Internet while you’re at it!

This week JV welcomes the extremely cool Rebekah Sebastian, who, in an episode recorded before JV left town, preempted the latest legislative convo about time zones with her very own M.A.S.H. game! She also digs into the dichotomies and attractions of high school, criminology, and Shame & Spirituality!

The JV Club celebrated its 10th anniversary aboard the JoCo Cruise ship last week, with very special guests Aimee Mann and Shalewa Sharpe! Featuring music by the delightful Jim Boggia. Hear Jim’s fantastic cover of “Back Before We Were Brittle” and another M.A.S.H.-related gem; learn about Shalewa’s love of a certain off-brand Mtv local channel, and Aimee’s impressive work as a sizemologist. Happy Birthday, JV Club!

The podcast’s first listener-generated interview! You asked (most) of the questions, and Jen Kirkman was up for the task. Find out what she and Janet have to say about Judy Blume, making out in basements, ironic greeting cards and more in Episode 10 of The JV Club.

One of the most perfectly-suited guests for The JV Club maybe ever! JV welcomes writer and performer Laura Leigh Abby, whose podcast "Seventeen" is a conversation with her teenage self, with diary entries from her teenage years read by Leia Immanuel. Listen in to this episode for a fantastic peek at the kinds of stuff she explores in her own show, a killer M.A.S.H. game, and some love aimed at The Boss.

Creator and Founder of the famed live alt-comedy LA-based show The Uncabaret, Beth Lapides, joins JV this week to talk about her brand new star-filled audiobook, So You Need to Decide  and much more! Such as: breaking comedy conventions and glass ceilings, the perfect Cobb salad, and the yet more perfect sex appeal of Mulder and Scully!

Sit in on this chuckle-filled, giggle-infused, laughter-packed episode with the utterly magnificent Georgia King (“Vice Principals”), who patiently discusses with JV what makes a British accent “posh,” and plenty of other things that are far more worth discussing, including the gals bonding over many a gangly-and-bumbling-tall-blonde-kid memory, the glory of tap-dancing, and her upcoming podcast! 

JV is thrilled to chat with the wonderful Halle Stanford, who’s living what many of us could consider a dream job: as President of Television at The Jim Henson Company! Hear about Halle’s proud nerdy beginnings in San Diego, including a very memorable and thoroughly delightful tale of her stint as the school mascot. And listen in on a conversation about how to keep evolving and growing stories for kids in a swiftly-changing world! All this and much more in this must-listen! 

Why not treat yourself to the human joy that is Hey Riddle Riddle’s Erin Keif? If you don’t yet know this hilarious, kind, incredibly talented improviser and actor, you should! Find out about her teenventures, her dear friend Wizzie, and her brand-new podcast. Plus! You’ll have the chance to ask yourself… what would be in YOUR library of magical objects?

Unbox your 18th century-era pink powdered wig and throw on your ripped collarless Flashdance sweatshirt for this time-bending chat with the sublime Sarah Marshall (You Are Good, You’re Wrong About pods), who delivers her signature thoughtfulness and wit as she and JV talk Oregon, Max Headroom (!), and solving a centuries-old mystery!

It’s Jennie Kwan (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”)! This week, Jennie and JV dig into Jennie’s teenage years in the LA area (& their mutual obsession with the history of LA overall), the “runner’s high,” and the Titanic... without so much of the sinking part. If you’re an ATLA fan and you loved hearing from Jennie Kwan (“Suki”) on the Braving the Elements pod, get ready for this embarrassment of riches!

This week JV is joined by Dani Green, a member of the fantastic Nashville-based band, Birdtalker! Among many things, Dani chats about the communal, emotional benefits of live music in a time when that’s been challenging. And she and JV celebrate certain of life’s delights, including the mighty avocado, the movie Willow, and the marvelous Dev Patel!

No better way to start the New Year off right than with the simply dynamite Bonnie Gordon (Star Trek: Prodigy)! JV and Bonnie do some serious bonding over the joy and anxiety of escape rooms, as well as a little something we all know as “imposter syndrome!” Plus! Bonnie's Peter Pan crush, the adventure of growing up in the bayou, and a M.A.S.H.-generated apartment building of misfit geniuses!

From the recent live show at LA Podfest, Janet is joined by a couple of great beards and the wonderful men sporting them: Charles “Chuck” Bryant (Stuff You Should Know) and Timothy Omundson (Galavant, Psych), and one spectacular woman who happens to ALSO look great with a beard: Natalie Morales (Parks and Rec). Settle in and nibble on your candy necklace for an hour of stories and songs!This episode was originally published in 2016

Put on your 70’s platform shoes! And then take them right back off again because those things are PAINFUL! From the ‘burbs of New Jersey to the busy streets of New York City, it’s the most wonderful P.J. Byrne (“The Legend of Korra,” “Big Little Lies”), who talks Bolin, voting, and so much more!

What a vibrant, funny, unique and awesome person to have in your ears! It’s Jordan Crucchiola, who peps JV up with talk about her many cool podcasts, including Maximum Fun’s very own “Feeling Seen,” along with tales of all the different kinds of relationships - and different types of intimacy -  we can have with the people we care about. Plus! Bake those tomatoes! Wonder at those years! Saus that Lito! 

It’s summer in December with this week’s dynamic guest, Australian TV host, producer and book author Serena DC (“Hollywood Disclosure”), who talks highs, rock bottoms, and living life between and beyond the peaks and valleys. Plus! Serena takes credit for the invention of cheese (that’s the beauty of M.A.S.H.)!

It’s the wonderful Lexie Henning (Ancient Office Hours podcast) this week on the JV Club, bringing with her some really nuanced, really great conversation and thoughts about her own family history and her passion for Ancient Worlds! So get ready to bend some elements and travel into the past, friends! 

Breakdance your way through Episode 157 with one of the busiest and coolest guys around, Dante Basco (Hook, Avatar: The Last Airbender), who reminds us that family, curiosity, and the occasional all-night conversation with friends can yield rich rewards. And find out what it means to “know what you know” (then you’ll know)! This episode was originally published on June 4th 2017

This week we welcome the hilarious, bold, candid and great Fielding Edlow (“Bojack Horseman”), who digs deep into the Whit Stillman-y world of upwardly mobile teens on the island of Manhattan, and marital public honesty in the form of “Bitter Homes and Gardens.” PLUS! BONUS! Hear the Podsongs tune written by Frances Luke Accord inspired by their conversation with JV!

Look out, Lizzy Bennet! The terrific Stephanie Katherine Grant (“The Goldbergs”) is headed your way, and she may just sweep up Darcy in the process! Enjoy this delightful conversation about the reverse storytelling of documentary filmmaking, the business of family, and the temptation of Southern-cooked ribs.

Welcome in the marvelous Merk Nguyen (Ooh You're in Trouble)who chats with JV about the wilds of Washington, the hijinx of Hotel Transylvania, and the dynamic dreaminess of Dragon World, and much more, of course!

Cat Baab-Muguira and JV discuss the high of obsession as a teen when you find an artist (musician, writer, etc!) whose work changes your life… and how that can happen as a depressed adult! Case in point: Cat’s fantastic new book, Poe For Your Problems!

It’s the much-loved-on-Max-Fun-Podcasts comedian Maeve Higgins! The perfect way to celebrate the 2nd week of the Max Fun Block Party — and the release of Season 2 of the delightful series Dinette (watch now!)? Surely. And if you don’t enjoy this episode, which includes peanut butter cakes and New Zealand getaways, you can always email Maeve and JV at "janet@club."

It's a Block Party! Hosts James Arthur from Minority Korner, Renee Colvert  Host of Can I Pet Your Dog? and Janet Varney Host of The JV Club Podcast celebrate The Max Fun Block party with a Spooktacular BBQ! They may have misunderstood the assignment but will leave you feeling full on things we’re ready to dish! We answer burning questions like Why is Janet wearing fangs?Is Dean Cain a liberal? Is this gluten free? Listen now wherever you podcast! Check out Can I pet your Dog, Minority Korner and The JV club all on Max fun! You can also watch this podcast on YouTube to see Janet's sweet sweet drac fangs!

It’s Maximum Fun’s Block Party Week, y’all! Listen in as JV continues her quest to complete her "Crimewriters On Collection” with the delightful Lara Bricker, who in addition to co-hosting one of JV’s favorite podcasts, is also celebrating the release of her first cozy mystery novel, “Dead on Deadline!” So crank up the generator and put the horses back in the stable to give your full attention to this East Coast deep dive! 

This week, JV catches up with her “Legend of Korra” castmate, Darcy Rose Byrnes (“Ikki”), and the conversation ping-pongs delightfully from Shakespeare to soap operas and from Dorothy Parker to The Doctor, showing off this multi-threat’s many passions and gifts!

This week’s episode welcomes the inspiring comedian and entrepreneur Natasha Pearl Hansen (www.nphcomedy.com) who amps JV up about endings and beginnings, creating, building, and not being afraid to ask questions! Plus: A healthy dose of habanero hummus, The Sweetest Thing, and oh, those adorable Backstreet Boys.

ATTN! If you’re reading this or listening to our ep with powerhouse Lizz Winstead (co-creator of The Daily Show & much more!) THURSDAY, SEPT. 23rd, you can still watch “Do Re #MeToo” TONIGHT! And in this ep, Lizz & JV talk Minneapolis, piano bars, reproductive rights, and heaps more! 

Our return from Boys of Summer brings us the comedy legend and powerhouse Paula Poundstone! Listen in on some pretty incredible stories about other luminaries, marvel in the living delight that is Julie Andrews, and learn about a really surprising (and not recommended) way to get some sleep on the road!

Our final Boy of Summer is author/musician/actor Zach Selwyn (Zachariah & The Lobos Riders) also happens to be JV’s prom date and her first… well, you’ll just have to listen to the episode! Dance your way through Bar Mitzvah “fasties,” Dire Straits ballads, summer camp cults and more in this very special episode!

This episode was originally published in 2017Military-schooled Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Program) is the guest for the premiere of the “Boys of Summer” series on The JV Club! Tools you may find useful: rock-climbing gear, headphones, a Trans-Am and a bottle of Boone’s.

This week JV catches up with her old pal, the very busy and very wonderful Randall Park (“Wandavision," "Fresh Off The Boat”)! This delightful and humble Boy of Summer contemplates shyness, celebrates a certain special television neighborhood, and reveals his penchant for a hair trim and pleasant conversation. 

Be completely delighted by Boy of Summer, Comedian Gastor Almonte (Immigrant Made), who will make you hungry for amazing Brooklyn bodega sandwiches, friendly Nashville bars, and more great conversations with Gastor like this one. Now go fix that boiler!

It’s Boy of Summer Jack De Sena! Known by many of you as “Sokka” from Avatar: The Last Airbender! Having recently had Jack on an episode of her podcast Braving The Elements, JV dives deeper into Jack’s teen years, from his success at completely avoiding arson (no firebending here!) to the “summer camp” of All That. And! Find out which animal genetics Jack would most like to add to his everyday life!

This week JV gets to sit down (Zoomily speaking) with her major talent and friendship crush, Mike Geier, a person we will call the… Consiglieri… of Puddles the Clown. From the creative vein flowing through Richmond to the pronunciation of certain spanakopitas, Mike’s soothing baritone alone will soothe your soul, while this Boy of Summer's humor and humility will inspire you to go for it! Whatever “it” is for you!

The delightful Séan Devlin brings his Boy-of-Summerness to the JV Club with thrills (Fangs!), chills (Muggings!), and spills (Street Luging!). Plus: An Anna Cox episode flashback — to the town of Guelph, Ontario, y’all! 

This week’s Boy of Summer and prolific podcaster Dan Cummins ("Timesuck," "Scared to Death," "Is We Dumb?") digs into the maze of awkward social etiquettes with customer service folks, neighbors, and cops, along with jawing with JV about getting some final answers to some lingering much-debated mysteries!

The sublime Jarrett Hill (FANTI podcast) is our latest Boy of Summer, and with him comes further tales of Fairfield, CA (no cow-tipping here!) the glorious mystique of Prince, the importance of reflection and analysis, and N-A-C-H-O-S!

Another information-rich episode of the podcast as Boys of Summer continues with wrestler/author/podcaster Colt Cabana (Wrestling Anonymous), who turns the jock stereotype inside out, takes JV on a magical journey to the rainbow’s end, and goes totally Over the Top. 

I mean, it’s Chris Gethard, y’all! This Jersey-proud, deeply funny and deeply honest Boy of Summer talks high school, hot dogs, highs and lows, and so much more in this glorious episode.

Podcast Crossover! JV has one of the hosts from one of her own fave podcasts, Crimewriters On!  It’s author/journalist/umpire (& past guest Rebecca Lavoie’s true love) Kevin Flynn! Like a sundae from Friendly’s, this Boy of Summer ep is , has a lot going on, is full of sweet bits, and, of course, refreshing on a summer’s day.

It’s no surprise that this episode with Boy of Summer and Minority Korner (Max Fun’s own!) James Arthur M. is a love-fest (BTW, Happy Pride Month, friends!), but also a laugh-fest and a gab-fest. From Reese in “Election” to Tyra’s smize, there’s plenty to dig into and savor like a gorgeous piece of cake.

This week Boy of Summer and fellow only child Brandon Collins (Drunk Black History) takes JV from high school nautical arts to the fine streets of Manhattan and beyond, inspiring and delighting along the way!

Our first official Boy of Summer is JV’s wonderful and dear lifelong (from 4th grade onward!) friend, author Torran Anderson (His book Piñata Moon is available now!). Hear about the amazing work Torran is doing in partnership with the Navajo nation, and of course, memories that Torran and JV share from their own teen years in Tucson, AZ! 

It’s one of those trip-on-a-plastic-bag, fall-on-your-face, lose-a-tooth good times with the fantastic Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), who shares the soft underbelly horrors of adolescence with JV with such humility and humor, you’ll want to marry her immediately. Now let’s go find a dumpster of leftovers to celebrate!This episode was originally published in 2017.

Another awesome Max Fun podcast crossover! It’s Drea Clark, from the currently accurately-named “Untitled Drea, Ify and Alonso Project!” Dive into some Jane Austen love, some Jill Scott worship, and the strange and wonderful gift of crawling inside the right Guillermo del Toro masterpiece! 

It’s week 2 of Max Fun Drive! And what could be better than a backyard reenactment of “Death Becomes Her” starring this week’s guest, the hilarious Jo Firestone (Max Fun’s own Dr. Gameshow) and JV as “Mad” and “Hel”? NOTHING! But since they couldn’t make it happen (yet), enjoy this delightful episode of chatter about breads (the elusive potato and dutch crunch kinds), “Grease” conspiracy theories, and the weirdest romantic M.A.S.H. pairing yet. Support The JV Club and all of Max Fun’s wonderful creators by heading to maximumfun.org/join! 

Janet chats with MaxFun podcast Dead Pilots Society producer Ben Blacker. JV Club fans will enjoy Dead Pilots Society for the in-depth interviews with the writers, behind-the-scenes look at the TV-making process, and the fun celebrity guests!Don't forget to check the boxes for The JV Club and Dead Pilots Society when you become a MaxFun member! Please help support the little shows that can and do!Dead Pilots Society shared with us: "Big" by Mike Royce (One Day at a Time) and Kevin Biegel (co-creator, Cougar Town)An adaptation of the Tom Hanks movie written by Gary Ross and Annie Spielberg, the TV version of Big stars Jason Ritter as Will, Janet Varney as Phoebe, Frankie Shaw as Norma, Steve Agee as Kyle, Felicia Day as Voice on Phone/Mom in Crowd, Natalie Morales as Tricia, Bruce McCulloch as Dr. Paul, Khary Payton as Zoltar's Caretaker/Narrator/Trevor, Jenny Wade as Teary Mom, Mark McConville as Voice Over/Bud Driver/Kid, and Mike Royce with Stage directions. Then, Ben Blacker interviews Mike Royce (Everybody Loves Raymond, Men of a Certain Age, One Day at a Time) and Kevin Biegel (Cougar Town, Scrubs) about the process of developing but not making Big.For more Dead Pilot Society episodes, please subscribe to the podcast! Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram @DeadPilotsSociety, on twitter @deadpilotspod, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com. 

What better way to celebrate #MaxFunDrive than with one of the Maxiest, Funniest, Driviest (?) people around, Mr. John Hodgman? It’s a smorgasbord of topics and delight in this special episode. But note! There’s more where this came from! The full, extra funtastic episode with over 45 minutes of extra conversation(!!!!) is available as a Thank You to Max Fun members, along with all the other amazing bonus content  from ALL Max Fun podcasts, available to Members for as little as $5 a month. Visit maximumfun.org/join to heap goodies onto your podcast plate!

It’s a Boy of Summer teaser with the fantastic, funny, 3rd generation Los Angeleno-native Eric Balfour ("Country Comfort” and OH MY HEAVENS SO MUCH MORE) and a conversation too good to be missed (so what are you waiting for, buddies?)!

Fireflies! Phosphorescence! Mattresses! Glide into this chat with the wonderful Angela Lewis (“Snowfall” on FX) as she and JV revisit NYC blackouts, great teachers, and a moment in cinema that may have actually stopped time itself!Here's where you can find additional information on some of the organizations JV and Angela discussed:Black Mamas Matter AllianceNational Birth Equity CollaborativeKindred Space LA

It’s Country Comfort’s creator, the marvelous Caryn Lucas! The gals talk Judy Garland, Family Feud, and the gorgeous power of laughing and crying in close succession. Plus! Being a woman in a traditionally male part of the biz. Inspiring!Contribute to our upcoming fan-curated episode! To be a part of this episode- which will be exclusively available to Max Fun members- record a 30 second to 1 minute voice memo telling us which JV Club episode or guest really stuck with you and why. Then send it to producer Julian’s email, which is  [email protected] with the subject line “Max Fun JV Club.”Tell the network what our show means to you. Email [email protected] with either a written message or a voice memo OR call (323) 601-8719.

In this week’s instantly-forged friendship, find out why JV finds herself sincerely sighing “Gosh.” It’s thanks to the luminous Anna LaMadrid, whose nomadic teen years took her to Germany and back again, with lots of moving in between. And check out Anna’s live stage-and-streaming show, The Oxy Complex! Max Fun Drive is coming! Here’s two ways we’d love you to get involved:Contribute to our upcoming fan-curated episode! To be a part of this episode- which will be exclusively available to Max Fun members- record a 30 second to 1 minute voice memo telling us which JV Club episode or guest really stuck with you and why. Then send it to producer Julian’s email, which is  [email protected] with the subject line “Max Fun JV Club.”Tell the network what our show means to you. Email [email protected] with either a written message or a voice memo OR call (323) 601-8719.

It’s a veritable smorgasbord of other worlds and literary wonderlands with this week’s guest, bestselling YA author Victoria Aveyard  (The "Red Queen" series), who so enchants JV with her M.A.S.H. answers, JV actually FORGETS TO DO THE THREE FOODS category! Enjoy this scandal and a peek into Victoria’s new book series, Realm Breaker!Max Fun Drive is coming! Here’s two ways we’d love you to get involved:Contribute to our upcoming fan-curated episode! To be a part of this episode- which will be exclusively available to Max Fun members- record a 30 second to 1 minute voice memo telling us which JV Club episode or guest really stuck with you and why. Then send it to producer Julian’s email, which is  [email protected] with the subject line “Max Fun JV Club.”Tell the network what our show means to you. Email [email protected] with either a written message or a voice memo OR call (323) 601-8719.

Following the premiere of “Country Comfort” on Netflix, JV welcomes writer and actor Julia Fowler, who brought all of her Southern charm and humor to the writing of the show. From childhood pageantry to an adolescence of headgear and being bullied, Julia makes an adventure of it all, with plenty of— dare we say it— true grit.Max Fun Drive is coming and there's two ways we'd love you to get involved:Contribute to our upcoming fan-curated episode! To be a part of this episode- which will be exclusively available to Max Fun members- record a 30 second to 1 minute voice memo telling us which JV Club episode or guest really stuck with you and why. Then send it to producer Julian's email, which is  [email protected] with the subject line "Max Fun JV Club." Tell the network what our show means to you. Email [email protected] with either a written message or a voice memo OR call (323) 601-8719. 

If you’ve been longing for JV’s Bruce Springsteen singing impression, this is the episode for you. This week the funny, honest and charming Jenn Welch (LadyHD: A Podcast for Distractible Women)  celebrates the sisterhood of busy minds and busy hands, factory towns, and the allure of other peoples’ discarded tissues.  

Just a couple of folks celebrating being bad at being goth. JV is joined by the simply marvelous Diona Reasonover (“Periodic Talks” podcast) and her love of board games (yay!) and train rides (double yay!). This, friends, is the episode where the world’s biggest smallest mystery is solved... involving cakey cookies!

A very exciting rerun of the divine Kristina Rodgers, who drops by to bond with JV over Siouxsie Sioux, the Electrical Light Parade, Pottery Barn and oh-so much more!

Join JV and this week’s awesome guest, Kate Willett (Dirtbag Anthropology) as they rock the world with a new kind of Show Choir extravaganza— for adults with adult problems! Plus: roller coaster makeouts. Forgiving yourself. Area codes. More!Kate Willett's Audible Original, Dirtbag Anthropology is now available at audible.com/dirtbag.

Get musical! Middle Earth-style! With this week’s bright and shiny guest, author and journalist Alexandra Petri (The Washington Post). Social clumping at dances! Star Wars Prequel apologists! And a good old-fashioned Narnia closet.

If your neighbors in Florida were The Bee Gees and your neighbor in NYC was Joey Ramone, you might be this week’s guest, Annabelle Gurwitch (Known for her upcoming book “You’re Leaving When?” and the new Max Fun “Tiny Victories” podcast)! Flimflams, cults-that-might-not-be-cults and Dinners and Movies abound in this episode. Plus! More Ancient Egypt!

JV shares a personal update.

A M.A.S.H. game mind-meld gets this week’s guest, the radiant Arden Myrin literally up on her feet with excitement! It’s all about breaking the plaid mold, embracing humiliation, and snow, snow, SNOW!Arden's new book Little Miss Little Compton is out now.

Mummies! Mitochondrial DNA! Austrian crystals! All these treasures and more in this week’s episode with Afiya Augustine (Adult-ish podcast), whose muse is most decidedly back in town.Note: We had some minor audio difficulties in this recording. We did our best to remove every pop and distortion from the recording but there may be a few that slipped through. Thanks for listening!

Dance your way into a shoe commercial with this week’s fantastic Amy Okuda (“Atypical" on Netflix), who also talks pandemic-livestreams, being a Non-Tryer (a term we just made up), and how fascinating and scary it would be to get a close-up look at the deep ocean’s most f***ed-up fish! 

Experience the conversation that JV must describe as “a little slice of heaven” with this week’s guest, the terrific comedian/author Sara Schaefer! Hear about Sara’s marvelous new book, “Grand,” the problematic-hair-yet-nostalgic-appeal of Counting Crows, and dollhouses, Dollhouses, DOLLHOUSES!

It’s the other half of the charming What Are Friends For podcast, Gabrielle Ruiz ("Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”), who sang, danced, and counted down her teen years in Texas as she readied herself for the Big Apple. This is a very talented woman who knows the value of a good beef stew!

It’s JV’s first guest who has had— and fully recovered from, yay! — the thing that’s keeping us all on our toes this year. Celebrate the good news with Pallavi Sastry ("What Are Friends For podcast"), who expounds on many fascinating subjects both heavy and light on this almost-the-end-of-2020 JV Club episode!

Twin Peaks! Black Dahlias! Breakfast burritos! This week JV geeks out with one of her podcast host crushes, Dr. Shiloh (LA Not So Confidential), who talks police reform, psychology, cheerleading, LA noir, and generally proves that she’s every bit as cool as JV suspected she would be!

If you don’t already adore this week’s guest, Negin Farsad (Fake the Nation), YOU WILL BY THE END OF THIS EPISODE! Dish on the coolest uncool Palm Springs local hangs! Rummage vintage in Tennessee and end up answering questions about 9/11! A conversation about current political divides that is actually upbeat! It’s all right here for YOU.

This week marks the 400th new episode of The JV Club! To celebrate the occasion, JV was incredibly excited to be joined by someone who was a huge inspiration during her late teens (and beyond, to today!): singer/songwriter/playwright Jonatha Brooke. This episode also includes a duet of Jonatha’s song (as the band The Story) “So Much Mine" that she graciously sang with JV, which is also viewable as a video!

Blogging at work, Flagging at school, and how to carefully pick which horror movies you jump into during a rousing game of M.A.S.H. with this week’s guest, comedian/writer/actor/podcaster Halle Kiefer!

Samantha! Heidi! The Girls Next Door! This week JV reconnects with her audition buddy, comedian and actor Melinda Hill (“Inappropriate”), who chats about lifehacks for the kid who moves a lot, does Siouxsie Sioux impressions, and relishes a good doughnut.

If you like your thrills in the form of chewing gum (called, you guessed it, “Thrills”), you might be Canadian, and you might like the taste of soap! This wisdom and so many other important lessons come this week from comedian Jess Salomon (The El-Salomons), who talks cilantro, triathlons, and Quebec City and so much more.

It’s time for a chat with award-winning comedy writer, artist, and games producer Libby Ward, who talks Tucson deserts with a very excited JV, but more importantly shares her values of inclusion, diversity, teamwork and love. And a little crayon-illustrated book called “Luchador Mice!"

This week brings us the talented Nashville-based musician Eloise Alterman, who chats with JV about the glorious Stevie Nicks, the perfect vanilla sheet cake, and being just grown-up enough to know you’re just young enough to make big moves.

This week’s episode welcomes the utterly delightful Becca Scott (Good Time Society), whose intelligence, humor and compassion will somehow make you believe in all of humanity! Plus, a dip into Victorian times, partially in honor of the RPG where JV and BS first met… as tiny British orphans.

The luminous Daralyse Lyons (the Demystifying Diversity podcast) joins JV and brings with her an honest, reflective, and delightful conversation about “otherness,” the ways we try to be in charge of ourselves, the appeal of some really good Narnia-based witchcraft!

This week is very special guest, author Anna Cox (I Keep My Worries in My Teeth), whose wonderful, strange, funny and poignant new novel is also available as an audiobook… and JV was honored to read one of the characters in it! Anna and JV talk about the book, Anna’s teenage years in curlers and more!

JV and delightful YA author Maurene Goo (“I Believe in a Thing Called Love") chat about the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, growing up first generation Korean American, being an expectant mom in during the pandemic, and why “Supernatural” is pretty delicious. 

This week on The JV Club, JV has the pleasure of speaking with reporter Amelia McDonnell-Parry, whose remarkable work in Baltimore covering cases like those of Freddie Gray and Keith Davis, Jr. (UNDISCLOSED podcast) has been inspiring JV for years! From her teenagerhood in California to her artwork and current focus in criminal justice reform, this ep is a gem!

It’s the sublime Naomi Ekperigin (the fantastic Couples Therapy podcast, "Broad City”) on this week’s ep of the podcast (episode 389 if you’re keeping track! Zowie!), who reveals her continued perfection as one of the funniest people around. 

This week brings you a virtual hang with the talented and inspiring Nashville-based musician Zoë Nutt (“How Does it Feel”), who fills JV in on the benefits of a great coach, great family, and great BBQ. Plus! The secret to enjoying a certain marshmallow Easter confection!

It’s no surprise that JV is once again delighted to have a guest who brings back a conversation to the weird, special dynamic of San Francisco adolescence, in this case with Boy of Summer Josh Levine (Rebel Radio podcast). From teens behaving badly in private ravines to early hiphop, this is a juicy ep not to be missed!Hosted by Janet Varney.Edited by Julian Burrell

The simply wonderful Nore Davis (Live From the Comedy Trap House) joins JV for The JV Club’s most epic M.A.S.H. game to date! Plus! Nore talks Yonkers, badass aunts, kickass brothers, and what it’s like to record a comedy album over Zoom in the middle of a quarantine. Oh— and if you don’t like listening to JV telling someone how brilliant they are, this episode may not be for you. What are you, nuts? Of COURSE this episode is for you!

Put this episode somewhere safe, because it’s going to be worth a lot of money someday! To find out why (and in what way this show description is teasing our delightful guest), sit down with the wonderful Ify Nwadiwe to find out about seven-purpose pans, yearbook messages, the many problems of “Candyman" and more!

It’s the dynamic force that is Baron Vaughn this week on The JV Club! This Boy of Summer talks performing arts high schools at the nation’s Theatre capital… Las Vegas?? Plus! The significant value of a juicy walk-on role and much more!

If you like this show and would like to support it for as little as $5 a month, go to Maximumfun.org/join and become a Max Fun Member! You’ll earn great gifts, including special bonus episodes of The JV Club.Attention would-be marine biologists! It’s the amazingly funny Colin Mochrie (Whose Line is it, Anyway?), who talks killer whales and kayaks, hypnotism and improv, and a familial silver lining during a tough time. PLUS! Find out who “THE OTHER” is!

If you love this show and want to support it, visit Maximumfun.org/join to become a member for as little as $5 a month! You’ll earn tons of great rewards including special never-before-heard BONUS episodes of The JV Club!Deviated septums! Pierced septums! Why so much talk about septums? All this and a BUNCH of non-septum-related conversation with the wonderful Adal Rifai (Hello From the Magic Tavern, Hey Riddle Riddle), who continues the “I moved all over the country” trend of recent guests with tales of Circus Circus, Columbus Columbus, and Kewanee Kewanee.

If you like this show and would like to support it for as little as $5 a month, go to Maximumfun.org/join and become a Max Fun Member! You'll earn great gifts, including special bonus episodes of The JV Club.This week JV is super honored to interview one of her comedy heroes, the wonderful, humble and hilarious Alan Zweibel (“Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier”), who was a writer on the first (and subsequent) seasons of "Saturday Night Live," co-creator of “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” co-writer of “700 Sundays” with Billy Crystal, and much more! 

Finish up your homework and treat yourself to this week’s episode with our latest Boy of Summer, Open Mike Eagle (What Had Happened Was), who talks with JV about freestyling, endless schoolbus rides, dusty cities and more! If you love this show and want to support it, visit Maximumfun.org/join to become a member for as little as $5 a month! You'll earn tons of great rewards including special never-before-heard BONUS episodes of The JV Club!

Attention, astronauts! Or at least chorale competition-hopefuls who visit the Kennedy Space Center! Pull up an earbud for this chat with the delightful Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”), and find out just what makes Harvey so delightful… and what historical mystery his M.A.S.H. game allows him to solve for us all!

From a recording made in early May, it’s our latest Boy of Summer, Andy Daly! One of the nicest and funniest folks in comedy chats with JV about beautiful beignets, hilarious hawkeyes, and his new album ‘Four More Sweaters: Monsters Take Your Questions’… and oh yes, MORE!

Max Fun Podcast Crossover Alert! It’s the delightful Tre’vell Anderson (Fanti), who indulges JV’s Model U.N. fascination, talks current events (wow, what a month June has been!), and about finding your way to yourself.

JV sits down with her first Boy of Summer! It’s comedian, writer, actor and Emmy Award-winning producer Dwayne Kennedy (United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell), who talks about his own experience growing up in the Chicago area, a love of illustrations and comics, and a bit about what it’s like to be a veteran writer for shows that have long had the same kinds of unflinching conversations the nation is having with itself right now about race in America. You can get Dwayne’s new comedy LP “Who The Hell is Dwayne Kennedy” HERE! 

In order to both address issues very much in our country’s focus this week, as well as to honor Breonna Taylor’s birthday (last Friday June 5th- she would have been 27), JV gets the opportunity to talk with the wonderful Colin Miller (Undisclosed podcast), a lawyer and professor who is working with Breonna’s family’s legal team to address the No-Knock Warrant aspect of the case. It’s a super impassioned, informative and hopefully ultimately useful conversation- thanks for listening! 

Amid everything happening this week, Janet decided not to post a new show as regularly scheduled.

It’s a special three-hander! Six-hander? Triple header? Whether any of that accurately describes this week’s episode in slang, JV welcomes both Kaitlin Huwe and Stephanie Erb ( the duo behind the Therapy With Pami podcast) for a chat about growing up in one place vs. moving all over, and all the things that come with both. Top hats! Frizzles! Bread, bread, bread!

Dig into a delicious bowl of pasta for this L.A.-to-Chicago convo this week with super cool “Divergent” series author Veronica Roth (and her latest- Chosen Ones), as she and JV talk music: Emo! Christian metal!; teen brains: Depression! Anxiety!; and oodles more.

Palate expanders! Herbst appliances! Malocclusions! All this and more (including things that aren’t orthodontist related!) in this week’s episode with the awesome Lauren Lapkus (Netflix’s The Wrong Missy) whose high school in Evanston surely missed the boat when it left Lauren out of the school plays. Vengeance!

Across-the-Pond alert! JV has the pleasure of conversing with the delightful Sinéad Burke (As Me with Sinéad) for a chat spanning ye olde Atlantic ocean, with topics including activism and the fashion world, the glory of a gyoza, and the imagination-activating wonders of the Hammer Museum.

This week’s winner of “person JV would most like to hug if hugging were a thing” is this week’s podcast guest, the wonderful Amy Dallen ("The DC Daily" on the DC Universe service), whose teenage self navigated her high school years at a “boarding school for nerds.” Celebrate the joy of comic books and anime and a hat-tip to one of Christmas’ weirdest candies!

JV does some mild geeking out on one of her podcast heroes, Amber Hunt (from the show "Accused"), which mostly manifests itself in JV’s meandering non-questions in an in-the-moment attempt to make herself sound smart. But because Amber is gracious and awesome, turns out, this conversation is dope! 

This week JV e-visits with acclaimed novelist and poet Rebecca Dinerstein Knight (“Hex”) for a chat about envy, love, eyebrows, mac and cheese, and the myth of living large in the West Village. Be well and be kind to yourselves, wonderfuls!

It’s the other charming half of the delightful Max Fun pod “Can I Pet Your Dog?”, Renee Colvert! With a chew about catching up with stay-at-home technology, screaming and crying in musicals, and being mad at the thing you loved. Stay safe out there, Janetors! 

Major Surprise Kindred Spirit Alert! JV and Houston-based actor, author, activist and podcaster Stephanie Wittels Wachs (Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful: A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love, and Loss) meet for the first time and drill down into some deep sh*t without wasting any time whatsoever. What follows is an intense, funny, emotional and honest gab between two new friends.

As another week of shelter-in-placing passes, JV has a long-distance couch hang with the very cool musician and human being Patrice Pike (Sister 7, Pike & Sutton) to talk art, music, her rad non-profit Step Onward, and the perfect hot fudge sundae! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s an Arizona-thon! Sedona-native Alexis Preston (from the "Can I Pet Your Dog?" podcast on the Max Fun Network) and Tucson-native JV swap tales of two cities and a few others besides, each from the quarantined safety of their couches, complete with occasional dog-terruptions. Sending love in these strange times and hoping this episode makes you smile! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

After the obligatory “are you going to infect me with coronavirus but seriously what is happening in the world right now” opening conversation, JV and the truly awesome comedian Atsuko Okatsuka discuss being uprooted from Tokyo to West LA without knowing you’re never going back, the power of ranch dressing, and #garagelife. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

In honor of the 8th anniversary of the JV Club, it's a rerun of the first episode! Christina Hendricks chats about small towns, the fierce passion of Celine Dion, and the importance of special effects in high school stage productions of Agnes of God.

This week, JV and comedian and writer Ellington Wells do some tarantula performance art, talk about what constitutes a “thin” town, how to make your own creativity Absolutely Fabulous. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.  

Take a deep dive into underwater civilizations… and into the adventurous life of the very talented actor/comedian/writer Nalini Sharma! Find out if gemstones protect you from harm! Think about what belongings you’d save from a fire! Find out that you might surprise yourself if you actually had to do just that! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Put down that Stephen King book and enjoy to this episode of The JV Club with the awesome Keisha Zollar (Netflix’s “Astronomy Club”), whose history of multiple moves and a challenging health situation in her teens made her the badass she is today! Plus! Find out what the one and only Abraham Lincoln had to say to Keisha during their in-depth conversation!  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Maybe a record-breaking length for a single episode? And this conversation with comedian Nori Reed is worth every minute! Join Nori and JV for a deep-dive into subjects from the silly to the heartbreaking, with lots and LOTS of g-o-l-d GOLD! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Make some room at your lunch table for comedian Helen Hong (Go Fact Yourself) and delight in stories of potato knishes, disappearing rabbits, and someone who actually loves “Cats." Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

The delightful Jamie Loftus (The Bechdel Cast) joins JV to talk real-life SORTING HOUSES (!), band instrument hierarchy, Algebra-Hacky Sack-Juggalos. Also, I had to look up how to spell “hacky sack” but already knew how to spell “juggalo,” which means something but who knows what. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Allie Goertz, the other half of the Round Springfield podcast, joins JV for a chat about regional accents that aren’t what they seem, cheddar cheese powder, and what it’s like to move all the way to “LA City!” Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Today! Discover the one time you should trust strangers with candy (okay, yes, we are talking about the tv show) in this episode with Max Fun friend and podcaster, Julia Prescott! (From the "Round Springfield" podcast) Plus: Hot Topic Goth, Ska and much more! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Doughnuts, Cigarettes, and Hot Sauce, Oh My! It’s a rerun of the episode with Emily Gordon (The Indoor Kids), chock-full of fond remembrances of first kisses, My So Called Life, and the once-pervasive Manic Panic hair dye, the use of which apparently makes you a communist. This week’s bonus: Theories on how hot dogs got their name. This episode first aired in 2013. Hosted by Janet Varney. Produced by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun

Hello Calga-reeeee! Find out what that last sentence means, as well as how comedian and writer Amanda Brooke Perin handles JV’s oh-so-personal, prying questions about the weather in Alberta, on this tell-all episode of The JV Club! Hosted by Janet Varney. Produced by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Get out your Rydell High letterman/woman’s jacket and/or pomade up your hair for this chat with author and storyteller Courtenay Hameister (Author of the new book Okay Fine Whatever: The Year I Went from Being Afraid of Everything to Only Being Afraid of Most Things) who be-bopped all across these United States and even over the Pacific Ocean for a childhood of Army-Bratting… with plenty of energy left over to experience some juicy panic and anxiety in her adult years! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun

Tensions are high as the final two contestants of Burning Love (Janet and Abigail Spencer) face off to discuss counterculture of surfing, discovering Barbra Streisand, the rush of a flea market find, and the emotional magnetism of the City of Angels. This interview originally was originally published in 2017. Abigail's new show "Reprisal" is now streaming on Hulu. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s a podcast spanning the whooooole wooooooorld! JV lolls on her bed on the phone, staring at the ceiling like a proper teen, with guest  Alice Fraser (“Savage”) who cover female friendships in all their highs and lows and much much more! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s a healing of old wounds as Rizzo and Sandy come together at last in the spirit of forgiveness. Or, it’s JV’s dear friend, actor and writer Danielle Weeks (“Baby Love”), who comes over to reminisce about their shared junior high experiences in Tucson, complete with a certain musical they performed in the school cafeteria. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Surely this is the most mime-and-clowning-heavy episode of The JV Club to date, thanks to award-winning comedian DeAnne Smith, who gamely humors JV’s ongoing enthusiasm for the subject. Plus! Jodie and Joni worship, surprise cherry pie, and much more. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s not just anyone who gets featured in an Amy Grant music video, y’all. So load up your baked potato and delight in the joy that is Susan Yeagley (“Parks and Rec”) and her tales of the wonders of Nashville and surrounding areas. Including an upside-down country music legend! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun

FINALLY! A conversation about the Winchester Mystery House. But there’s more! The charming Sarah Enni (who you can also hear on the “First Draft with Sarah Enni” podcast) and her fellow chatterbox JV rove all over topics including staying interested in life, the deliciousness of cheese, and JV’s nickname for sheep in New Zealand. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun

This week on the podcast the luminous Lillie Mae, musician extraordinaire, is freshly back from her tour with Robert Plant (yes, that Robert Plant!) and sits down with JV to talk mobile homes in the truest sense, pet deer and pigs, and the beautiful simplicity of the perfect potato.  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Water towers! Grain elevators! Hair bands! Surprise and delight await you in this week’s episode of the podcast, as the simply wonderful Kari Wahlgren ("Rick and Morty," a million other things) hikes up a dirt mound and claims her place in the world! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.  

From ballet slippers to leather studs, this week’s guest Rebecca Knox (“Orange is the New Black”) has deep teenage roots in music… in part thanks to crying when she couldn’t get into a concert. So treat mouth to a crunchy salad and your ears to this episode! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Comedian Katie Compa ("Hard Pass”) joins JV for a chew about Swedish culture, “mean girl” friendships and the mysterious spelling of “Bamf.” Hosted by Janet Varney Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

 If you could cram a sleepover into an hour and change, you’d have this episode of The JV Club featuring Jennie Pierson (Showtime’s ‘Kidding”), whose wonderful imagination should surely be put to use in the realm of theme park design. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

This week: JV welcomes musician Tatum Lynn! Put on your tap shoes and tap, tap, tap your way through a world of non-glitzy pageants, playing on an all-boy basketball team, and impromptu PA performances at department stores. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

This week: Two Ladies, Two Couches. JV is tickled pink to chat with her podcast crush, Rebecca LaVoie (Crime Writers On; These Are There Stories) as Rebecca recovers from leg surgery (Folks- she’s doing great!) and reflects back on the general embarrassment of high school, the deep truth of “it gets better," and her too-perfect photo mate, the mysterious Lisa N! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

This week JV is delighted to welcome her dear friend, the uber-talented and hilarious Kit Pongetti (“Scrubs”), for a conversation consisting of 50% JV laughter! Plus! Falling in love at first strum and the special thrill of a good old fashioned stakeout. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

It’s a last Boy of Summer post Labor Day! How scandalous! Indulge yourself with the delightful Mexican-American-Queer-Writer-Illustrator Terry Blas, whose experiences growing up Mormon in both Boise, ID and various places in Mexico make for quite a journey. Happy listening…. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

Enjoy this multimedia festival of conversation and pre-loaded sound effects on this week’s episode with Boy of Summer Justin McElroy! And wait— what’s that in the air? It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Politically Incorrect Musical! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. The JV Club will be LIVE at the Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Wednesday Oct. 9th! Details and tickets are available now.

This special Boys of Summer episode with Michael Rosenbaum (“Smallville” and oh-so-much-more) features the very first (and possibly only?) time JV gets a lesson in how to do a Walken impression. Enjoy Michael’s talent as much as you enjoy JV flailing! Plus: it’s never too late to become the person you’re meant to be. We mean it! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains a discussion of Scott Thompson's experience surviving a school shooting from 23:22 to 37:38 The sketch comedy legend that is Scott Thompson joins JV this week as a spectacularly fascinating and funny Boy of Summer, including a JV-jaw-dropping-moment after a disclosure by Scott that left her temporarily speechless. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Throw on your merit badge tape up that racket for this conversational mosey with the delightful Chris Sullivan (“This is Us”), who may or may not be the secret son of a certain California “Governator!” Plus! Taking chances in music, life, love, and podcasting. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

In a rare and exciting twist, this week’s accomplished Boy of Summer Seamus Dever (“Castle") also happens to be an old college chum of JV! Enjoy a reminiscence about Flagstaff Arizona, nerding out on Shakespeare, getting schooled on the wonders of Tom Waits, and what 90’s Moscow has to offer a college-aged American. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s a very special Boys of Summer with the audio from January's SF Sketchfest Tribute to Neil Patrick Harris, in conversation with your good pal JV. Magic, Muppets and More! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Join Boy of Summer Johnathan Fernandez (“Lethal Weapon”) for one of the most shocking revelations to ever occur on The JV Club… about the film Dirty Dancing. Plus! Sunday night braid sessions, secret beaches, and a new pastime we like to call Canoe-dling. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Chris and Steven, the delightful gents from the Is This Adulting? podcast, have a phone tree with JV and talk cargo pants, undershirts, evangelical youth camps and the natural disasters of North Carolina in episode 331 of the podcast as Boys of Summer saunters on! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Heads up! It’s another Voyage to the Stars cohort, the delightful human being that is Steve Berg! (You also probably know him from tons of other stuff, too.)   JV and SB goof around and talk river cities, football dustups, and late night college radio dj action in this latest episode bringing you Boys of Summer!   Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

This week JV sits down with Boy of Summer and Voyage to the Stars co-star Colton Dunn (“Superstore”) for a conversation about Michael Jordan t-shirts, hipster video stores, and what it means to be an “Act-lete." Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Boys of Summer rolls on as JV sits down with her friend and Stan Against Evil co-star John C. McGinley to yak about lazy susans and big families, endurance in sports and Broadway, and much more, including insight and information on Down Syndrome and the amazing Global Down Syndrome Foundation, which you can check out and support via this link! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

This week's episode was recorded in front of a live audience at POD X in Nashville, Tennessee. JV takes a one-week break form the boys of Summer series to chat with attorney and podcaster Susan Simpson! In addition to being one of Janet's all time favorite people that she's admired from afar, Susan's got tons of stories about being a sporty high schooler and childhood dismemberment at Chuck E. Cheese (yes, really!) Plus: live musical performances from JV Club alum Jenny Tolman!

Boys of Summer begins with a heart-surgeon-turned-controversial-Egyptian-ex-pat: the fascinating and funny Bassem Youssef! From high school biology to cardiology, from watching Jon Stewart to becoming what some call Stewart’s Middle Eastern counterpart, episode 326 should leave you inspired! Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Mind your shmanners, because this week’s guest is the delightful and talented Teresa McElroy! Learn about the follies of high school ID badges, the triumph of speech state competitions, and the guilty pleasure of a good old American hot dog. Come see Janet at PodX in Nashville from May 31 to June 2!  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.  

Clear backpacks, gator-laden bayous, and an absolutely extraordinary story of Hurricane Katrina come to you this week courtesy of the radiant Ciera Payton (“She’s Gotta Have It”), whose teenaged medical knowledge was of the “Anaconda” variety. Come see Janet at PodX in Nashville from May 31 to June 2!  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s part TWO of JV's chat with entrepreneur and fellow Post-Mormon, Tresa Edmunds.They continue to with stories about her teenage years and Latter Day Saints atrocities before getting to happier times with the MASH game! Come see Janet at PodX in Nashville from May 31 to June 2!  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

It’s part one of a two-parter with advocate, entrepreneur and fellow Post-Mormon, Tresa Edmunds. Interwoven stories of Tresa’s unconventional (to say the least) teenage years and “big picture” Latter Day Saints atrocities in this we-had-to-talk-for-almost-three-hours conversation with JV! Come see Janet at PodX in Nashville from May 31 to June 2!  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Meet the delightful singer/songwriter responsible for creating the opening song Jeff Bridges sang at Lebowski Fest! Nashville native Jenny Tolman hangs with JV in LA and these new gal pals talk Dolly and Burt, the glory of creative collaboration, and even some classroom panic attacks— you know, just to spice things up and get in touch with their true grit.  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Episode 320 welcomes the terrific and talented Irene Koh, illustrator extraordinaire of, among many other things, the Legend of Korra: Turf Wars books! Join JV and Irene as they dish on inspiring anime, old-timey Connecticut fruit stands, and complicated girl crushes, and oodles more. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Atlanta, Atlantis, and other words that begin with an “A,” like Amber Nash! This week’s guest, perhaps most famous for her role on “Archer” (now in its TENTH season), regales JV with tales of Peruvian love, historic strip clubs and so much more. Come see Janet at PodX in Nashville from May 31 to June 2!  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Enjoy this episode with this real-life Attendant-to-the-Queen, Bridget Nelson (MST3K, Rifftrax) as she expounds with JV upon the marvels and dangers of thick shag carpet, grecian statues, and the kind of name-pun you can expect from a Tennessee Williams-loving singing group. Come see Janet at PodX in Nashville from May 31 to June 2!  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Put on your tank top and suuuuuuper baggy jeans for a visit with Lilan Bowden (known for her role in the Disney Channel show "Andi Mack"), and don’t let the Usher poster on her teenage wall fool you. From early improv to wall collages, this episode is a potpourri of creativity. Come see Janet at PodX in Nashville from May 31 to June 2!  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

The nearly nonstop Max Fun Crossovers continue! Try out your best Mid-Atlantic accent for this chat with Danielle Radford (who you may have heard on the Max Fun podcast Tights and Fights or on Screen Junkies), who shows us the nefarious side of choir with surreptitious cigarettes and how a certain Little Woman can clarify your dreams... Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun. This show is directly funded by our Maximum Fun Members. As part of the annual #MaxFunDrive, you can sign up for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/donate to help support this and other Max Fun shows you listen to AND earn great gifts in the process!

Put on your sequined vest and don’t let the band kids snub you— you’re show choir royalty with this week’s guest, Sydnee McElroy (Sawbones)! It’s all about singing, the raggle taggle delights of high school theatre, and the long road to figuring out that it doesn’t take dress slacks and a pair of heels to prove you’re a grown up.   Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

This is what teenage Alison Becker (Star of the Maximum Fun podcast "Bubble!") might refer to as “a really great episode, eh?” Join her as she takes JV for a trip from the firefly-laden woods of New Jersey across the globe to the mountains of Switzerland. By the way, do you pronounce the “T” in mountains? Tweet us about it. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Did your hometown have its own urban legend about a mine-slag-monster-man? If so, you may be from a village in Northern Britain, just like this week’s wonderful guest, author (and wrestling aficionado) Lindsey Kelk! Plus: Logans vs. Troys, Oasis vs. Trance, and Dolphin vs. Dolphin. Suit up! You can hear Lindsey on the Maximum Fun wrestling podcast Tights and Fights and on the make-up and beauty podcast Full Coverage. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Swing set Millennium Falcons! Giant Tinker Toys! Band bus makeouts! All this and oodles more with this week’s enchanting guest, Kara Morgan ("Fortune Rookie," "The Kara Morgan Show"). Reach for the stars with us and dare , yes dare, to dream the ultimate Impossible Dream: to intern on a yogurt farm.     Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

This week’s inspiring guest Erika De La Cruz (creator of the TV & Personal Development Conference Passion 2 Paycheck) goes deep with JV about controversial tildes, NoCal and SoCal surprises, Lords and Rings, and the heartbreak and unexpected gifts of losing your home at nineteen.  Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Calling all giant-cross-necklace owners and cross-legged sitters! If you’ve been waiting for a very niche episode of The JV Club made just for you, this episode with the wonderful Carrie Poppy (Host of the podcasts "Oh No Ross & Carrie" and "Hidden Mickeys") is it. Everyone else: never fear! There’s also plenty of whale-watching-out-for, summer camp revelations, and everyone’s favorite, pig dressage. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Get ready to cut some alarm wires, escape your apartment and sneak on over for some teenage tales of literature devouring, lakeside sulking, and blue hair dying with musician Vera Sola, and find out who King Solomon was (no, not that King Solomon) and the mysterious fate that befell him. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

This special episode recorded live at SF Sketchfest has a little something for everyone. Thrills! (Pneumatic high school theatre orchestra pits!) Chills! (Is Aparna a biter?) Spills! (Okay, maybe no spills. But aren’t you glad there weren’t any wet messes to mop up?). Join JV and marvelous guests Scott Adsit, Aparna Nancherla and musician/dreamboat Matt Nathanson for a double M.A.S.H. game unexpectedly featuring worms. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Comedian Emily Catalano joins JV mid-Sketchfest for a hotel room hang covering very controversial topics like earring backings, family card games, and comfy sweatshirts. But fear not! There’s also plenty of lighter fare, like heartbreak and religion. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

JV’s old chum Sonita Henry (who's been seen in shows like Luther and Krypton) pops over from across the pond to indulge JV’s interest in regional accents, Guyanese cooking, and Sonita’s adorable boyish alter ego Giuseppi. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

Join us this week for a very exciting guessing game of “Which Instrument Did You Play in the Marching Band” and much, much more with the simply delightful (and Janet's fellow only child) Rachel McElroy, who, it’s probably safe to say, had one of the most original and exciting dollhouse inhabitant dynamics of the late 20th century. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.

The very funny, very candid and very present Carly Jibson talks Broadway grinds, Tinder surprises and something wonderful called “Poopy Chicken,” all the while reminding us it’s possible to be vulnerable at the same time you’re being a complete badass. Hosted by Janet Varney. Edited by Julian Burrell for Maximum Fun.  

It’s a foamy almond milk latte of an episode with the delightful Alicia Witt, who talks Nashville, Bill Shakes, and the simple elegance of a tv show title when it’s as self-explanatory as “That’s Incredible!”

Janet Varney indulges her most recent lady crush with this week’s guest, the immensely talented Breeda Wool. She's known for her role in the Audience Network TV series Mr. Mercedes. Breeda tells Janet about how her precociousness combined with life in a sleepy college town created a perfect storm of pre-teen wildness. Plus! Homemade clothes, campfire witches, and breast-exposing ballgowns!

Semper ubi sub ubi, everyone! This former New Jersey native and Latin Club superstar Grace Helbig joins Janet Varney for a stroll down their mutual in-state scholarship experiences, a Halloween costume quid pro quo, and camping out in your teacher’s backyard.

To celebrate the 300th episode of The JV Club, JV is joined by Say Hi’s Eric Elbogen! Eric, of course, is the reason for the very existence of The JV Club’s theme song, “Back Before We Were Brittle!” Before some excessive mutual fawning (don’t worry- it’s at the VERY END), Eric and JV talk living rooms, first guitars, and the indignities of class team presentations in this special 300th Episode Non-Boy-of-Summer!  

Great news, janitors! The JV Club will have a brand new home on Maximum Fun. Listen to find out when our 300th episode will debut on Maximum Fun. 

Originally Aired 3/2/2012 It’s the first episode of The JV Club with Janet Varney! Throw on your tunic and Birkenstocks for a chat about small towns, the fierce passion of Celine Dion, and the importance of special effects in high school stage productions of Agnes of God.

Special Post-Labor Day Boy of Summer Cedric Yarbrough talks JV through the adventures of faking a bath, using a wall for your flattop, and having a secret college theatre identity. Oh, and it’s SEE-Dric.

Put on your rollerblades and stay OFF your bike while this week’s Boy of Summer Justin Willman (Netflix’s "Magic for Humans") indulges JV’s endless questions that somehow combine teen era trivia with magic-centric interrogation for this deep-dive into broken arms, sleights of hand, and an eco-burial cameo. 

The wonderful, self-effacing yet let’s-face-it-multi-award-nominated Jonathan Coulton joins JV as the latest Boy of Summer with a cross-continental chat covering parties and guitars, the fierce competition of flavored chips, and what it takes to cultivate a Professor X / Magneto friendship, Old Chum.

The most important takeaway of this special episode with musician and Boy of Summer Mondo Cozmo/Josh Ostrander is that HE HURT HIS HAND PUNCHING A SHARK IN THE NOSE (self defense)! But you’ll also hear about basement-band-eavesdropping, math-class-stressing, and what can happen to a baseball player when he hears the music that changes his path. 

This week’s Boy of Summer is the extremely cool Michael Irby, star of the upcoming highly anticipated “Sons of Anarchy” spinoff, “Mayans,” and he brings with him tales of growing up Palm Springs-adjacent, the necessary amnesia of a good soccer player, and the satisfaction of a good karaoke jam. But remember… don’t name your fish! Or turtles!

Originally aired 7/16/2015 It’s the badass creator of You’re the Worst, Stephen Falk! Episode 162 lets you straddle the disparate high school worlds of theatre, jazz band, and sports, and then fall in love with the new girl in school, who naturally drives a stick-shift pick-up truck. Swoon!

Boy of Summer and author/screenwriter Jonathan Ames (“You Were Never Really Here,” “Blunt Talk”) joins JV for some satisfying deep-dives into mind, ego, body, aging and, of course, the appeal of a really cool mime. 

This week, SNL and Groundlings alum (and creator of The Black Version!) Jordan Black graces Boys of Summer with tales of Kankakee, Illinois in all its small-town glory… inspiring such topics as the perfect Bruce Springsteen song, a badass mom with an impressive approach to raising 4 boys, and the right way to wear a fringe vest.

This week JV geeks out over the latest Boy of Summer: Undisclosed’s Colin Miller! From debate club to huevos rancheros; from long-distance running to a film club with a name that sounds like a funny-yet-unpleasant diagnosis (sorry Colin!), this law professor and true crime/legal podcast dynamo does not disappoint!

This week’s Boy of Summer is the delightful, uke-strumming, movie-riffing, dog-paw-admiring, nose-fluting Kevin Murphy ("Mystery Science Theatre 3000"; Rifftrax), who regales JV with tales of abruptly-ending football “careers,” sibling album-borrowing, and how a certain summer song can accidentally transition into a “Flashdance" favorite. 

Originally aired 6/26/14   This week with the always wonderful Paul F. Tompkins: build a snow tunnel, sing a few piano tunes, or recite Edgar Allen Poe in the place where his macabre work truly shines, a brightly lit classroom. Boys of Summer continues!

From a shared mutual love of the “Miss Chevious” detective novels to the perennial -- if scary -- appeal of an old diving suit, JV and this week’s Boy of Summer Jordan Morris (Jordan Jesse, Go!) cover a lot of ground in both the real and thoroughly made-up worlds of Earth, Earth 2, veiny comic book characters, and maybe the best name ever for a turn-of-the-century baseball team.

Originally Aired 6/11/2015 Hey, everybody — it’s the sublime Marc Evan Jackson! The latest Boys of Summer episode will reveal some compelling and charming new things about the man you may also know as Sparks Nevada from Thrilling Adventure Hour. Addendum: you will not be asked to sign a pledge to abstain from drinking, smoking, sex, or dancing during the consumption of this episode. We are not the boss of you.

This year’s first Boy of Summer and longtime JV pal Tony Hale ("Veep”) relives the fond and not-so-fond memories of his youth... but for goodness’ sake DO NOT ASK HIM ABOUT ANYTHING pre-7th grade! Plus: Asthma, cigarettes, and unfortunately artfully dodging being the Artful Dodger. 

Calling all witches! Head up to a wild and lovely mountain outside of Santa Barbara for this magical yet utterly grounded visit with “Unreal” creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, who completely inspires JV with her honesty, humor, and particular and surprising fierceness that comes along with skiing to Enya!

A chance airport encounter finally yields this episode with the charming Marla Sokoloff (“Fuller House”) who patiently indulges Janet’s love of “The Practice” and pontificates with JV on relativity, dry mouth sounds, music-making and the clown in A Christmas Carol(!).

Put in your nose ring and pull on your long skirt for a meander through the delightful misadventures of teenaged Gaby Dunn (Bad With Money Pod). Plus, Gaby and JV bask in some mutual crime/murder/justice television and podcasting love, and discuss the phenomenon of listening to other people listen to Phish.

Tidy up your closet fort and put a new coat of wax on your race car bed for this Seattle-centric chat with Eddie-Veddered-hair Tarin Anderson (Take My Wife). See you in the darkroom, shutterbugs!

The stars aligned this week and very fortuitously brought us the stars of the new film Duck Butter, Alia Shawkat (who also co-wrote and co-produced) and Laia Costa (who co-produced) for a chat about basketball, double lives, and the discovery of maybe the most charming pronunciation of an American cartoon ever. 

The fabulous Bree Essrig talks boarding school magic, construction-site hook-ups, and the times in your life when wearing your bra on the outside of your shirt just feels right. Strap on your aviator hat and all hands on deck for Commander Crazy!

Attention Dillards shoppers: Episode 282 with Rachael O’Brien (Be Here For A While podcast) brings lots of embarrassing tidbits about both Rachael and JV’s earlier years, though Rachael arguably walks away with more dignity overall! This episode could aptly be enjoyed on a long walk through Los Angeles, if you’re in the neighborhood.

Put on your grown-up glasses and fire up your self-walking dog for this visit with comedian and author Laurie Kilmartin (Dead People Suck: A Guide for Survivors of the Newly Departed) as she and JV talk swimming breakthroughs, sadistic teachers, and chewing-not-swallowing in Episode 281 of the podcast!

Throw on your best speakeasy togs or your plaid school uniform for this chat with the brilliant delight that is musician Jill Sobule, who meanders with JV along topics like mountains vs. ocean views, metaphorical circuitry-exploding friend crushes, and the wonders of the short-lived Viva magazine.

Actress Nicki Micheaux (Lowlife, Animal Kingdom) blows JV away with an immediate name-drop of Prescott, Arizona, and what follows is a spirited chat ranging from the criminal justice system to the super-heroism of parenting to the appeal of a good vampire. 

The delightful Maria Blasucci (Drunk History, The Big Ones podcast) comes by for a heart-to-heart with JV that includes both birds and bees, but maybe not how you’d think. Plus, a lot of love for Manor House and its sister shows… and some fantastic ideas for new ones, if we do say so ourselves, PBS!

Janet gets swept up by the ethereal Kimmy Robertson (Twin Peaks) and a pondering of mango yogurt, serendipitous events, curling toes and the new envy theme of the podcast (not actually the new theme).

Nerdist worlds collide with this week’s delightful guest, Alicia Lutes (Fangirling). After JV appeared on Alicia’s show yesterday (Wed. 2/28), Alicia stopped by to dig into lots of juicy high school-era stuff and the perils of feeling so much! Otherwise known as so many feels.

Crack open your Nancy Drew mysteries and take it easy on that white wine— it’s the marvelous Mo Collins on this week’s episode of the podcast! JV and Mo talk oil painting, a bit of light dorm-defacing, and throw a big salute to some of the “first ladies of rock" (We’re looking at YOU, Pat Benatar!). 

This week on the Episode 274 of The JV Club, Baskets’ Martha Kelly and JV talk about getting punched by kids, what happens when your dog may or may not be drugging you, and the appeal of a good old fashioned general store. 

The marvelous Nyima Funk (The Black Version) comes over for a chat with JV about the offstage wonders of improv, musical Skype ringtones, and looking back to look forward. Turkey sausage all round!

Episode 272 is a break from tradition! Janet, freshly home from SF Sketchfest, welcomes back guest Eliza Skinner for a conversation about - gasp- current events! Seriously everybody- there isn’t even a M.A.S.H. game. But there IS a lot of honest chewing on various confusing and important issues if we do say so ourselves. Enjoy!

SF Sketchfest staple Irene Tu sits down with JV for a debrief on having smarts, breaking hearts, basketballs, and pink walls in this episode that definitely does not rhyme the way parts of this description for some reason did. Happy Sketchfest everyone!

It’s a JV Club re-release with comedian Cameron Esposito (Put Your Hands Together) and SHE! IS! GREAT! There’s nothing like a story about a medical semi-crisis in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language to get the old podcast blood flowing. But it doesn’t stop there… because who doesn’t love talking to their parents about sex? NOTE: The prior two references are NOT RELATED.

Get your doughnut craving ready for the pink pastry box of podcast episodes with Lili Mirojnick (SyFy’s “Happy”), whose soccer cleats got hung up for a career in theatre after many a post-game glazed binge. Plus, M.A.S.H. brings about reflections on 90’s era Leo and JV startles herself remembering last night’s dream about a certain teen idol of her own!

Find out why this week’s guest Tara Sands' (Pokemon and a million other things) favorite quote from “Tootsie” is a hundred times better than JV’s; what really goes on inside (and after) the Jelly Belly factory tour; and how many words with double o’s can be jammed into one game of M.A.S.H!

Strap on your character shoes and let’s get this show choir going! Friends and co-creators of TV Land’s “Teachers” Katy Colloton and Katie O’Brien pop over to JV’s for an intimate (we’re talking shared microphone) chat about statement jackets, midwest values, and collapsing lungs.  

It's a JV Club re-release! Get a jump on space travel with the extraordinary Zelda Williams (Legend of Korra) and her incredibly awesome voice. Tales of private school, voice acting, and the puzzles of social media lead up to one of Janet’s worst MASH categories ever, which Zelda navigates like a champ.

JV has a long distance chat from Tucson to Portland with the creator and star of “The Benefits of Gusbandry,” Alicia J. Rose and Brooke Totman, whose teen years in L.A. and southern Oregon both led to stops in San Francisco before settling in Portland, home of the artisanal everything! 

The JV Club wishes you a wonderful holiday break this week, and invites you to spend part of your Thursday with the charming and delightful Arden Rose, who barely gets a chance to talk about her teenage years thanks to JV’s extra-rambly ramblings about all other topics great and small. This episode includes plenty of Cate Blanchett worship!

It’s one of those trip-on-a-plastic-bag, fall-on-your-face, lose-a-tooth good times with the fantastic Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), who shares the soft underbelly horrors of adolescence with JV with such humility and humor, you’ll want to marry her immediately. Now let’s go find a dumpster of leftovers to celebrate!

Escape rooms! Scary dreams and movies! Raccoons! Tap Dancing! The list (and exclamation points) could go on forever, but suffice it to say, this week’s guest Yael Grobglas (Jane the Virgin) made JV’s day. Now she can make yours!

In this JV Club re-release, Janet creates a cinematic picture for the teen years of this week’s sublime guest, Deborah Baker, Jr. (Stan Against Evil), which essentially places her in New England of the early 1950’s. But who can help it, with images of Mona Lisa Smile pushing their way in at every turn? Also, talking horses and endless popovers.

It’s the delightful Shulie Cowen (Spontaneanation), bringing tales of choir, half-perms, and adorable lazy eyes. Yes, adorable! And one more piece of advice coming all the way from 1957 - “Think Pink!”

Pack up your records and head to the local radio station to commemorate the super cool teenage DJ this week’s guest Lisa Loeb was at 15! Just don’t expect JV of Lisa to be able to help you too much when it comes to American geography… although a recent wall map may change all that in Lisa’s household. Plus! Skater hair! Ankle boots! Not-quite-lime-green baggy pants!

This is one of The JV Club’s most coincidence-or-is-it, two-total-strangers-instantly-bonding-on-a-kind-of-ridiculously-deep-level episodes to date, thanks to Jenny Jaffe (Big Hero 6, Project UROK)! Abiding Hugh Laurie crushes! “Someone finally understands me” rushes! Love of British Comedy gushes! Nothing rhymes with depersonalization displacement - ushes!

The warm, articulate, beautiful, self-proclaimed Type A Kelsey Scott (Fear the Walking Dead: Passage) comes by for a look back at her teen years in Atlanta along with discussions about chivalry, feminism, conflict resolution, and the languages of love. Plus: bread pudding!

This week, a guest whose teenage years are VERY fresh in her mind… because she’s 17! Author and comedian Ruby Karp (Earth Hates Me) talks air conditioning, profiling lizards, perils of social media and lots more in this yes, very special episode of the podcast!

What a delight! And a joy! Nicole Parker (Mad TV) shares the couch with ole “sore neck” JV and enchants her with tales of senior perms- senior CITIZEN, that is, enormous glasses, and a very robust appreciation of the soundtrack from Scent of a Woman. HOO-AH!

The Double Clicks’ Angela Webber comes over for a chat about stuff like church (bell choirs, anyone?), D & D, endless (but with an ending) adolescent love, and more… including some pretty amazing RPGs invented for M.A.S.H., thanks to Angela’s rad brain!

Episode 256 brings us author, documentarian and screenwriter (and a bunch of other great stuff) Anna Fields, whose encyclopedic knowledge of the history of women in comedy causes JV to ask her to create an online class… but for now you can settle for her wonderful book and upcoming documentary film, “The Girl in the Show.” Plus: Neuroscience! Constitutional Law! Mac and Cheese!

This week’s Boy of Summer is the esteemed non-doctor, Jonathan Katz (Dr. Katz), whose new Audible show promises to be as sublime as his much-beloved cartoon series! Hear about 4-track original teenage sad songs by a small and shy young man raised in The Big Apple in this special episode marking the end of Boys of Summer. 

This episode with Boy of Summer Andy Richter has every necessary ingredient to make you wish you got to work with him every day, or at least take him to a Dodgers game once in awhile! Includes an epilogue in which JV unabashedly implies that he and Conan are maybe responsible for her career…?

This week’s Boy of Summer interview with Jesse Thorn (Maximum Fun)? Oh, it’s just two former San Franciscans jawin’ ‘bout high school drama pragmatism and underwater science is all. And sure, there’s probably some pretty groovy info about how important it is to collaborate with the right folks to make your work happen. Oh, and modern medicine. Plus interviewing interviewers and something we’ll call the chocolate ice cream umbrella. 

Unofficial high school drama teacher Travis McElroy (My Brother, My Brother and Me) educates JV on summer porch tea and cookies, the signs of narcissism, and the particular joy of boxed chocolates in this long-distance episode of the podcast that includes a rousing vocal remix of “Boys of Summer!”

Get out your spray paint can and mentally tag to your heart’s content but for heaven’s sake DON’T ACTUALLY GO OUT AND GRAFFITI (is that a verb?) unless your heart tells you that you must. Just like some people’s hearts tell them to be actors or priests. And some priests tell people to be actors. This will all make more sense after you enjoy the charming and hilarious Eugene Cordero (Kong: Skull Island) as Boys of Summer sizzles onward!

The utterly marvelous Eban Schletter (Spontaneanation) sits down for a chat with JV about the wonders of Ennio Morricone, high school societal bummers of Piedmont, CA, and the gods’ gift to ice cream known as Fenton’s. Plus torn t-shirts, movie soundtracks o’plenty, and the snowy arctic climes of THE THING!!

It's a JV Club re-release with Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele)! Dog talk and tapeworm talk eventually give way to exploring identity as it relates to being adopted, how to get along with (almost) everybody, and the appeal of a really great plate of chili cheese fries.

Wocka wocka wocka! JV heads over to Casa Phirman to hang out with the delightful Mike (Hard ’n Phirm) and his pun-tacular brain. Sample boards, sushi chefs, single skis and more! This episode also contains one of the most complete yet least articulated versions of "Boys of Summer" yet!

True Crime podcast fans (“Serial” lovers, I’m looking at you in particular) alert! Boy of Summer Bob Ruff is not only smart as hell, charming, and determined to change our criminal justice system for the better, he also had a hand in post-Serial developments for Adnan Syed. This is big stuff, people! Join JV and Truth and the Justice podcast creator and host for a look back at how Bob arrived at this decidedly unexpected and totally awesome place in his life and career as Boys of Summer continues!

Guess what? Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder, West Wing Weekly) is more wonderful than you already thought he was! Join Hrishi and Janet as they explore — or should we say “explode?” — his formative years at a co-ed boarding school, his love of a good film auteur or two, and the unending delight at finding true love.

Polish your volleyball (and then realize you didn’t need to polish a volleyball) while you enjoy this Alberta-scented memory-ramble with the extremely cool Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead and every other cool show on tv right now) as his attention is repeatedly diverted by a heavy rainstorm. Boys of Summer continues!

Atten-HUT! Charming Boy of Summer and "Orphan Black" co-star Kristian Bruun has some amazing stories to tell about his high school years at Valley Forge Academy, where he triumphed on the trumpet, squared off all his corners, and most decidedly did NOT get to ride the military motorcycles. All this and more as Boys of Summer continues!

It’s the fabulous Zeke Nicholson (Comedy Bang Bang, Take My Wife) and his musings on the not-so-grueling responsibilities of being track captain, a rich appreciation for the town of Smallville, and the estimable value of a good late night run to McDonald’s.

It’s delight and joy personified with Boy of Summer Jon Heder, whose dedication and generosity as an Eagle Scout extended all the way to trying to fix Janet’s broken computer a few weeks ago. Find out how he and his twin brother Dan spent their teen years in Oregon, Jon’s mission in Japan, and then find out which imaginary creature his M.A.S.H. future holds!

Janet shares her live panel from the University of Chicago’s Sex Week.

Fresh from her debut as Mark’s guest co-host on Pistol Shrimps radio, it’s the divine Kristina Rodgers, who drops by to bond with JV over Siouxsie Sioux, the Electrical Light Parade, Pottery Barn and oh-so much more in episode 241 of the JV Club!

For friends and fans of Spontaneanation, you may know her as one of its frequent guests and brilliant improvisers! Others may know her best as Flo, easily the coolest and most watchable commercial personality thanks to good old Progressive. Here on the podcast you will come to know her as a lover of truffle butter, a “Shirley Temple,” and a onetime France resident who bought jeans by the pound.

Episode 239 brings you the first Boy of Summer, just a touch early, to celebrate the release of Jonah’s FANTASTIC Seeso show, “Hidden America with Jonah Ray!” Hear JV and JR chat about drum therapy, impressing our little kid selves, and oh-so-delicious SPAM.

Slip on your palazzo pants for a chat with the terrific Christine Lennon, whose new book “The Drifter” has coincidentally somehow combined three of JV’s faves: deep, complex friendships among women, origin stories/teen years, and murder. Hooray! Plus, a lot of Joans and a lot of jets!

Vintage Space’s Amy Shira Teitel brings her astounding knowledge of space travel history, her extremely chic style, and much more to this episode of The JV Club, where body casts, beer, and yes, Anne of Green Gables make appearances.

It's a JV Club re-release with the endlessly awesome and prolific Felicia Day (Geek and Sundry). Learn the pros and cons of spending your high school years outside of high school proper, where you have the chance to become as weird and as wonderful as you like. And! One of the swiftest and most satisfying sets of M.A.S.H. answers you could dare to dream for!

Where do we start? The inspiring and awesome Linda Park (a million things including this upcoming season of “Bosch”) sits down for a conversation about becoming our mothers and/or superheroes, taking possession of a certain Maggie, and cheese, cheese, cheese.

Put simply, Giulia Rozzi (True Love; Hopefully We Don’t Break Up) is a pure delight, and the various and sundry topics discussed in this episode of The JV Club do not disappoint. Benny Hill, Mrs. Roper and John Laroquette share space with sustainable fashion, poetry, and depression in a conversation canvassing the silly and sincere.

Episode 234 brings you not just the delightful Alice Lowe (“Prevenge”), but her cooing daughter Della, whose mastery of rattle-wielding and blueberry-arranging is without equal. Learn impressively little about Alice’s teen years but a whole lot about lots of other fun stuff!

Recorded from the high seas off the Baja strait, this live JV Club episode features fellow JoCo cruise guests Jean Grae, Gail Simone and Rebecca Sugar, who are all just too wonderful to be described in a humble episode description. Follow @janetvarney and @jvclubpodcast on Twitter!

This week’s guest, the marvelous Alice Wetterlund (People of Earth), only increases Janet’s love of all things Minnesotan. Join them for a discussion that includes important topics like unicorns, Alice in Chains, and the unique grief of eating too many Reese’s Pieces. 

It's a JV Club re-release! Melanie Lynskey gracefully navigates Janet's extreme doting, a dog bark or two, and way too many questions about the film "Heavenly Creatures" in Episode 16's foray into life in New Zealand, crushing on Beck, and whether freezing in place creates magical invisibility.

Throw your hair in some springy red braids and jump on your spotted horse for a mosey down memory lane with the super cool Ever Carradine (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” Marvel’s "Runaways”), including a love of a certain house on a certain prairie, reflections on the Waldorf method, and a thorough appreciation of the perfection of chips and guac.

Meditation! Norwegians! Jesus! All this and more with the delightful Laura House on this week’s episode of the podcast. Plus: Vince Gilligan’s new show about the real Edna Garrett*! *Yes, we know this reference will mean nothing to anyone born after 1985.

While this week’s episode with the fantastic Jena Friedman (The Daily Show) is one of the least teen-years-focused JV Club episodes of all time, there’s a pretty compelling reason for that: Jena’s experience and thoughts about today’s challenging climate, are provocative and inspiring. She’s a badass!

This special live episode recorded at the 16th annual SF Sketchfest, presented by Audible, brings you the wit, charm, and considerable heavyweight talent of Rachel Dratch, Jon Hamm, and “Musical Director” Matt Nathanson!

This week, the inspiring and super cool author, activist, and founder of Spacehack.org, Ariel Waldman reassures Janet that you don’t need to have a PhD in science to get involved in the space program! Plus: raves, horses, mac and cheese, and how it feels to be named after a cartoon character. No, not that cartoon character.

It's a re-release of Jen Kirkman! The podcast's first listener-generated interview! You asked (most) of the questions, and Jen Kirkman was up for the task. Find out what she and Janet have to say about Judy Blume, making out in basements, ironic greeting cards and more in Episode 10 of The JV Club.

Get paleontological with the fantastic Lyric Lewis (“Mad TV”) in episode 226 of the JV Club, where you can revel in the wonder of “Jurassic Park,” appreciate the vibrance of New Orleans and the blue ribbon public schools of St. Paul, Minnesota, and even gain an extra special new month of the calendar year!

It’s a live episode of the JV Club from chilly Portland, Oregon with rapper DaRealWordSound, “Warm Bodies” author Isaac Marion, and anime voiceover star Cristina Vee! Tolerate the slightly poor recording quality to hear adorable tales of teenagerhood from these sublime guests!

No, this isn’t the beginning of a long run of “winter boys” for The JV Club- it’s a special circumstance that merits the special episode title. IT’s also an episode that includes numerous references to penises. For realz. Be forewarned! You’ll also hear plenty about being a white teen in Hawaii, a secret inventor, and a Star Trek: TNG fantasizer.

It's a JV Club re-release! It's tough to beat New York City in the 1980's, as this week's guest Zandy Hartig (Childrens Hospital) proves with memories of museums, clubs, and a very special classroom. Plus: Sting!

Surf’s up! Learn a thing or two about determination from NBC “Superstore” co-star Nichole Bloom, whose love of acting hit her at an early age and she hasn’t slowed down since. Well, except to revel in some sweet Emo grooves.

JV Club guest Yvette Nicole Brown rounds out the ladies of the beloved NBC series with a gab about bidding farewell to the snowstorms of Ohio, the undeniable genius of The Golden Girls, and the heart-swelling lyrics of DeBarge.

Janet creates a cinematic picture for the teen years of this week’s sublime guest, Deborah Baker, Jr. (Stan Against Evil), which essentially places her in New England of the early 1950’s. But who can help it, with images of Mona Lisa Smile pushing their way in at every turn? Also, talking horses and endless popovers.

This week’s wonderful guest Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds) maps out the mere 25 mile-apart-yet-wildly-different-worlds of her teen years at Cerritos High and her LA life today, along with all of those juicy feelings that somehow remain unchanged inside. The bottom line is this: Janet falls in platonic love over the course of this episode.

They finally did it! Janet and the magnificent Riki Lindhome (Another Period, Garfunkel and Oates) rug-sits with JV on a warm October evening and talks Hitchcock movies, clarinet reed germs, and the under-appreciated 70’s bikini tan.

From the recent live show at LA Podfest, Janet is joined by a couple of great beards and the wonderful men sporting them: Charles “Chuck” Bryant (Stuff You Should Know) and Timothy Omundson (Galavant, Psych), and one spectacular woman who happens to ALSO look great with a beard: Natalie Morales (Parks and Rec). Settle in and nibble on your candy necklace for an hour of stories and songs!

What happens when a Brooklynite gets uprooted to the Texas suburbs with her mom and her mom's female partner and spends her teenage years academically overachieving and keeping secrets that make her sick? Why, she grows up to be an amazing comedian and author of her very own novel (Vow of Celibacy), of course. Erin Judge discusses all this and more this week on the podcast!

It’s a classic JV Club train of thought that leaves the station at about 60 miles per hour, thanks to the bright light that is the mind and heart of one Kristen Bell (The Good Place), otherwise known as one of the world’s preeminent dog petting scientists. KB and JV cheerily talk failure, murder, and the incredible power of a good Sondheim refrain.

Let’s jam this in before the end of September, anyway! Janet and her onscreen husband Todd Anderson (You’re the Worst) put together the most Frankensteined JV Club episode to date- ranging multiple locations and dates. But no need to fear- there’s still plenty of M.A.S.H., tales of high school horror and movie chat, just maybe not in the order you’d expect!

Nova Scotia native (and fantastic comic artist/writer/awesome person) Kate Leth patiently sits through Janet freaking out about Anne of Green Gables, moving on to other topics such as utterly cool moms and tattoos, the power of black lipstick and the suspension of time aboard a lengthy flight.

This week it’s a story of stuff (life stuff! Not clutter stuff!) with Annie Leonard (The Story of Stuff, Greenpeace), who talks about how experiences in the margins of high school can be liberating, the joy of optimism (and worms!), and the satisfaction of a really great opera cake.  

Get ready for an “exciting" exploration into the Polar Caves and so much more (including, perhaps, destinations slightly less disappointing when viewed in person) with the delightful Mary Roach (author of bestsellers Grunt, Packing for Mars, and a bunch more!), whose humor, curiosity and general awesomeness are an inspiration to fellow geeks everywhere.

It’s time to make that excruciating decision: which sax do I play - alto or tenor - while I listen to Episode 212 with the brilliant Craig Cackowski (Drunk History, Spontaneanation)? Once you’ve decided, get into your Lincoln Continental and cruise around to the tales of an overnight baritone with a penchant for movie lists.

Tell your mom to keep the motor running while you stop in for a chat with Bar Mitzvah superstar and Boy of Summer Samm Levine (Inglorious Basterds, Freaks and Geeks), whose 15 year-old standup comedy set will make you blush (well, at least the first joke). But don’t worry- it made him blush, too.

It’s time to dig out that sleeveless Def Leppard concert tee and grow your hair out to “regularly-mistaken-for-a-girl” length for Boy of Summer Henry Phillips (so much stuff to list, just visit henryphillips.com!), whose cred even includes running into a Brady Bunch Brady on a train. THAT IS A BIG DEAL, EVERYBODY!

Episode 209 welcomes the immensely talented Justin Kirk (Weeds), who forgoes his usual Los Angeles walkabout to sip his gas station coffee on JV’s sofa, handling her barrage of invasively personal questions with aplomb. And the photo is from a Children’s Miracle Network fundraiser, not a video dating ad, as JV had hoped.

Move over, Phil Collins and Don Henley! Boy of Summer Andrew Burlinson (Just Add Magic) will give you a run for your drumming-while-singing money. Plus, this new dad is ready to armor up and do some knight-type stuff— I’m looking at you, Jamie Lannister.

Imagine this is a song that Boy of Summer Mark Gagliardi (Workjuice Player, We Got This podcast) wrote just for you. And for you, and you, and also for you. You’re one of a kind, after all! Plus, you’ll get to hear about sexy Catholic retreats (well, kind of sexy?) and drama club hedonism. Isn’t Gags just the best?

The nearly All-Wisconsinite Boys of Summer trend shockingly continues! This time it’s the just wonderful Nate Mooney, JV’s co-star on the Dana Gould-created IFC series Stan Against Evil, coming to you this fall! Until then, whet your appetite with stories of aerospace engineering, Top Gunnery, and surely the first Boy of Summer to go deep on miniatures!

Take off your shoes and put on your best white suit because it’s time for Mr. Chris Tallman (Spontaneanation, The Thundermans) to school you in the ways of improv, tuba, and how "Fantasy Island" and Victorian England deserve one another, as Boys of Summer continues its mighty roar!

GUYS, MARK MCCONVILLE (Superego, Pistol Shrimps) WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO SIT ON JANET’S NEW COUCH. That’s a big deal! But sure, yes, lots of other things happen on episode 202 as Boys of Summer motors along, including talk of Mark’s parents finished basement (hello ladies!), his “meh” hockey career, and of course, his gorgeous mullet.  

Boys of Summer 2016 hums along with considerably more relaxed ease than you’d feel if you had to drive a double-decker, British-steering-wheel-on-the-right-side bus through Savannah with Clint Eastwood counting on you. Luckily if you’re Gary Anthony Williams (Boondocks, Rick & Morty), you navigate everything with grace, humor, and killer improv chops.

It’s time to get the band back together. Or find yourself in a new band every week, if you’re Boys of Summer guest comedian, author, and This American Life contributor Dave Hill (new book! Dave Hill Doesn’t Live Here Anymore). Celebrate hearty loves of multi-genre guitar shreds, the class act that is Dick Cavett, and making the stuff YOU like instead of trying to conform.

Get ready to hurl that pristine-white toilet paper roll over a nearby tree, because it’s wonderful Boy of Summer Matt Gourley’s (Superego) time to shine in all his most-of-high-school 5-foot glory. Hear about Matt’s command of Spanish curse words, love of cookies, and the house that haunts him to this day… every time he gets a haircut.

(Pretentious Trumpets Blaring) It’s the 200th episode of The JV Club, starring YOU! To celebrate, this episode features recordings by listeners as well as some listener emails read by JV. And it also features a M.A.S.H. game with questions from listeners, as conducted and answered jointly by April Richardson and Janet! Hear JV stumble through M.A.S.H. less gracefully than any past guests. #SpoilerAlertNightCourt

It's a re-release of Maria Bamford! The JV Club defies you to find another podcast that covers ALL of these conversation essentials: stationery hewn from elephant poo; a fear of what we'll call "Plastic Man arms;" and using blood to secure a first class airplane ticket. These popular topics and much more -- with the wonderful Maria Bamford, no less!

Condition your softball glove and make sure to stretch before this conversation with comedian and author Amber Tozer (Sober Stick Figure), whose Pueblo, Colorado roots are showing… in a great way. Oh, and good luck out-lettering her varsity status!

Hip-Hop, math, musicals, tiny unicorns, and Playgirl magazine: a crib sheet guide to this episode with the extremely cool Eliza Skinner (Totally Biased, Late Late Show), whose various and sundry, all-around-awesome talents make up their own comedy multiverse.

It’s a Boys of Summer Preview with Hutch Harris! Celebrate the release of the new album We Disappear by The Thermals with this special almost-summer-but-not-quite episode with Hutch, which includes a song from the new album at the end of the podcast!

Saddle up! It’s the marvelous Tawny Newsome (Bajillion Dollar Properties), an amazing improviser and actor who might be just as at home in a rodeo competition or in a Pixies lip-synching contest. Oh, and Mandy Patinkin… LOOK OUT!

We know what you’re thinking- “Did Janet start a new All Dogs All the Time podcast? No, but JV and awesome guest, writer and standup Melissa Stephens (“Key and Peele”) go long and deep into canine biz early on in the episode, eventually begrudgingly opening up the conversation to other vital matters such as being a girl on the boys’ baseball team and coping with rejection when all you want is a clammy hand to hold.

Comedian and You’re the Worst writer Alison Bennett comes over for a sexily-lit evening of dissecting the strange magnetism of true crime, the wilds of rural Pennsylvania, and the appeal of a jacuzzi filled with chocolate pudding in episode 194 of the podcast. And watch out, Cyndi Lauper! You’ve got competition!

Get that myriad of plates spinning and put on all of your hats to keep up with the multi-faceted Tamara Krinsky (Marvel’s West Coast Correspondent), with tales of sleep-away camp, classical theatre and the wonders of science!

It’s time for the copious talents of Molly Lewis, who knows what it feels like to blow up the internet and suddenly find yourself in the company of your heroes. While, I might add,  handling it all with the grace and modesty of a total pro (which, of course, she has long since become). So tune your uke and sing along!* *It’s possible that no actual singing happens

We’re going to use this description as an opportunity to express deep regret that we did not ask the wonderful Jessica McKenna (Party Over Here) what she meant when she said “Lucky the Leprechaun knocks on your door" during the Irish Pride portion of the podcast. That may require a Part Two! In the meantime, throw on your matte black unitard and get dancing to Flogging Molly, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

It’s the charming and delightful Amanda Lund, everybody! What can you expect from this episode? Some free association: wigs and corn mazes, princesses and guacamole,  ballet and boob-touching. In other words, the things that matter in life.

Enjoy the gentle rocking of this special live episode, recorded for the first time ever on a boat. Janet is joined by the immeasurably talented Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel, Pretty Deadly) and cellist Zoe Keating (Manhattan, The Returned), who are so filled with sound advice and inspiring ideas, you’ll inevitably finish the episode and create your best work ever!

Release of Carla Gallo! It's an embarrassment of riches... or maybe just an embarrassment of embarrassments in episode 50 (Wow! We made it to 50!) with ridiculously fun guest Carla Gallo (Bones) - complete with revealing stories about prom nights gone awry, blooming late, and... um... cat lockets.

Get schooled on the sizable merits of ska by Lady to Lady podcast’s Brandie Posey in episode 188. And not to oversimplify Brandie’s amazing life stories, but I think she would approve of me saying there are some doozies to devour. Bon Appetit!

Janet marvels at the high school debate prowess of episode 188’s guest, Emily Heller (Baby Geniuses), the social politics of which office you run for in student council, and circus camp, circus camp, circus camp.

It's a special re-release of Kathleen Rose Perkins! The charming Kathleen Rose Perkins (Episodes) recounts the joys and challenges of being a certified bird-owner, being heard in a family of boys, and what we’re really doing when we’re eating eggs. Want more? Find out where Kathleen’s future home is, courtesy of another glorious game of M.A.S.H.!

Recorded in a cozy hotel room at SF Sketchfest, Janet and Janeane Garofalo sit wedged between the wall and the bed, following whatever tangent might present  itself. Does Janet get left in the dust in matters intellectual, political and otherwise? Sure. Is that okay? It’s going to have to be, because Janeane is smart, fast, and fantastic.

In a shocking and exciting break from tradition, Janet’s friend crush Charles W. “Chuck” Bryant from the beloved Stuff You Should Know podcast joins his fellow guest, the fiercely smart and funny Veronica Belmont as the first non-Boy of Summer in this live episode from SF Sketchfest! They’re joined by the sublime Matt Nathanson, who had everyone onstage and in the audience in love with him by the end of the show.

Janet is joined by the President of the American chapter of SWOP: Sex Workers Outreach Project and professional dominatrix Savannah Sly for a rapid-fire discussion of perception, experience, misconception and politics in this goes-by-way-too-quickly-and-could-have-been-three-hours-long episode. Thankfully there’s still time to talk about a mutual favorite female X-Men character and a good chance that JV and Savannah will end up neighbors on a magic mountain.

Get ready for a San Francisco-style hair-buzzing with one of the shining stars of You’re the Worst, Aya Cash, as we dash from Buddhism to dental care jewelry (yep) to the startling discovery of youth that not every citizen is a Bay Area liberal in this final episode of 2015! Happy New Year!

All-around badass journalist (and former sex/dating columnist) Jessica Ogilvie drops by, and the tangents are nothing if not feverishly robust and tendril-like. What can we say? She’s fascinating, brave, and funny… and she took her written M.A.S.H. results home to frame.

Not unlike making lemonade from lemons, learn how to make the best of learning to play the clarinet when your heart called out for a flute from  terrific guest Collette Wolfe (“You’re the Worst”). The woods of Virginia, a friend who tells you when your fashion’s bad, and Janet’s seeming inability to stop talking about post-Feminist Feminism also punctuate Episode 181.  

The absolutely splendid Ingrid Oliver ("Doctor Who”) can breeze seamlessly from evocative quandaries about politics to the wonders of a Whopper Junior in Episode 180 of the podcast, where the Janet-New-Friend-Swoon-O-Meter (previously not actually a thing, now very much a thing) goes off the charts.

Heads-up! We did things a little differently this week for a podcast mashup! Carla interviews Janet about doing improv as a teaser for Carla’s new improv podcast, Improv Yak… until the proverbial tables are turned and Janet gets back to the place she feels most comfortable: asking people about their weird teen habits.

Guys, it’s just two gals from Tucson, Arizona, talkin’ shop. A teenaged Kate Walsh (Private Practice) body-paints, yearbook staffs, and drama clubs her way through a couple of high schools, including the one Janet attended! Are these two connected by a magical Arizonan connection? Or is it a Vonnegut-esque granfalloon? Either way, they’re both in love with their new web series, Everyone’s Crazy But Us.

Throw on your band uniform and pick up that flute for a march with Mary Holland (Blunt Talk), whose people-pleasing teenage spirit went from a small bluegrassy town to the sexy seclusion of a boarding school in Episode 177, where Janet’s middling detective skills are put to the test.

It’s a Portland-tastic live episode from the delightful All Jane Comedy Festival in Oregon, featuring the brilliant talents of Sarah Mirk (Bitch Media), Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), and musical guest Hutch Harris (The Thermals)!

Heads up, Akron! The simply superb Rhea Butcher arrives armed and ready for Episode 175 with a killer hairstyle, insightful thoughts on teenage sexuality and skateboarding, and a justified robust admiration of Claire Huxtable.

Show off your grungiest snowman with Episode 174’s guest, voice actor-virtuouso and author Tara Platt, who didn’t always rise to the top of the popularity heap in her youth as a practical atheist during her family’s many ramblings. Figure out where your own safety nets lie as Tara and Janet trapeze through fear, change, stability and a good  spoonful of harissa, which may or may not be the thing we thought we were talking about. Mysteries!

Climb into your co-ed dorm’s shower and have a good laugh/cry with the fantastic Jessica Merizan (don’t worry, she knows you think it’s “marzipan”) as she and Janet slip and slide all over about 30 different tangents at once, including mafia (the game, not the crime syndicate) and Guillermo del Toro’s wonderful monsters. And! Janet finds out what Xanga is, which until this moment she didn’t even know started with the letter “x."  

Episode 171 brings the extraordinary you-have-to-hear-it-to-believe it story of actress and comedian Lisa Kate David, who has become a bit of an expert on dating in LA with no nipples. And that’s just part of what has been the mother of all roller coasters of a life. So pull your fresh baked bread out of the oven and huddle in!  

Have you said hello to your bottom teeth lately? Check in with the lovely set of Joy Osmanski (Grey’s Anatomy, The Loop) in Episode 171, where you’ll also find genetic mysteries, late night television, and the commonalities between Anne of Green Gables and Laura Ashley.

Come see Janet this weekend at LA Podfest, www.lapodfest.com

With the Boys of Summer gone but not forgotten, Episode 170’s guest Kelly Carlin shares stories of adventurous ropes courses, making it alive through the high times of Los Angeles in the 70’s-80’s, and how her art/work informed her bond with her legendary father, comedian George Carlin. Plus: the endless virtues of peanut butter!

Episode 169 brings us to the end of Boys of Summer, and better way to go than with the one and only Dana Gould (Full disclosure, no search was done to determine whether there are other Dana Goulds out there)? It’s an episode replete with tangents, including defining nostalgia, a Simpsons episode origin story, and two people hurtling uncomfortably forward into a conversation about body hair and sex.

Fathers of the late ’80’s early ’90’s, protect your daughters! Protect them… from THE PROMINATOR. There’s more to be said about this episode with the multi talented and hilarious Christopher Sabat (Dragonball Z), but it’s really, really tough to follow something as horribly wonderful as THE PROMINATOR. So discover yourself with a listen, why don’t you?

It’s a party of Janetors and Adventurkateers with episode 167 and Boy of Summer Hal Lublin (The Thrilling Adventure Hour). Will someone please help Hal find his lost plush Pluto doll? Or at bare minimum, make him a t-shirt like the one he describes on the podcast? These are pressing human issues.

Eat your heart out, Billy Idol! Janet and Boys of Summer guest, the simply wonderful Ron Funches (Undateable) ignore hits like "Eyes Without a Face” from the semi-comfort of a dressing room at Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco. And in an unprecedented turn of events, Ron spends the entire podcast lying down. Friendship!

Turn that baseball cap around for Episode 165, because it’s tennis in Texas with the deeply awesome James Roday (Psych)! Peel the oniony layers of a man who knows the immense value of emotive singer/songwriters, a heaping plate of Mexican food, and a puffy vest.

Look out! Episode 164 in the Boys of Summer series brings you Janet’s first boyfriend, the talented and possibly-too-handsome Barrett Kime, also known as the Prince Charming to her clunky, pumpkin-toothed Snow White in their first grade musical. And it was pretty much all downhill from there for the next decade, with rock-throwing, surreptitious smooching, petty jealousies and everything else that comes along with young, young, YOUNG love.

It’s the badass creator of You’re the Worst, Stephen Falk! Episode 162 lets you straddle the disparate high school worlds of theatre, jazz band and sports, and then fall in love with the new girl in school, who naturally drives a stick-shift pick-up truck. Swoon!

Swoon over the delight that is musician Rhett Miller (Old 97’s) as Boys of Summer rocks on, with a robust list of awesome and embarrassing erstwhile band names, tales of the Lone Star state, and a tip of the hat to Seventeen magazine. No episode has ever been groovier.

Who ain’t afraid of no ghosts? Depends on which version of episode 161’s guest, Gabriel Diani (The Selling), we’re talking about. So crack open your favorite comic book (ours is Mondo Man) and throw on some oldies to get yourself in the mood for this podcast treasure.

Enjoy Janet’s stumble through the early part of Episode 160 with the insanely funny John Ross Bowie (Big Bang Theory) as he does his very best to be gracious about a common misconception. Then! Stick around for a look at New York’s Hell’s Kitchen in the 80’s… or at least one city block of it. And get your straight edge on!

Bing Bong! It’s time for another Boys of Summer episode of The JV Club with comedian and actor Amir Talai. So! Reflect on your Mindset- are you open to failing to become better at something? Have you spit into a cup to find out your origin story? And vitally important: when was the last time you watched Man on Fire?

Hey Everybody— it’s the sublime Marc Evan Jackson! The latest Boys of Summer episode will reveal some compelling and charming new things about the man you may also know as Sparks Nevada from Thrilling Adventure Hour. Addendum: you will not be asked to sign a pledge to abstain from drinking, smoking, sex, or dancing during the consumption of this episode. We are not the boss of you.

Breakdance your way through Episode 157 with one of the busiest and coolest guys around, Dante Basco (Hook, Avatar: The Last Airbender), who reminds us that family, curiosity, and the occasional all-night conversation with friends can yield rich rewards. And find out what it means to “know what you know” (then you’ll know)!

The JV Club’s Boys of Summer returns with gusto, courtesy the wonderful Colin Hanks! Sink into episode 156 where you’ll marvel at the benefits of a multi-purpose room and, perhaps most importantly, learn how to say two VERY useful phrases in everyone’s favorite dead language, Latin.

Episode 155 finds artist, writer and educator Kimberly Brooks popping over to share her boundless insights in an exploration of too many things to list… but here are a few anyway: Art! Feminism! Physics! Fearlessness! Eggs Florentine!

Welcome Episode 154’s hilarious guest Colleen Smith (No You Shut Up!), who patiently puts up with Janet’s attempts to force her into writing a children’s book based on her experiences as a lanky redhead in the beautiful state of Hawaii. Aloha!

It’s Episode 153 with the endlessly awesome and prolific Felicia Day (Geek and Sundry). Learn the pros and cons of spending your high school years outside of high school proper, where you have the chance to become as weird and as wonderful as you like. And! One of the swiftest and most satisfying sets of M.A.S.H. answers you could dare to dream for!

Meet the high school thespian who wasn’t afraid to tuck her giant 80’s bangs under her babushka for the most authentic Fiddler on the Roof performance in Episode 152 of The JV Club, with the inimitable Mary Birdsong (Reno 911). You’ll also find out more about the origin story of her delightful last name, celebrate unaffordable horses, and learn the surprising way Mary’s mom got her to Paris.

Saddle up, because episode 151 with Jennifer Hale (Bioshock, Mass Effect, Halo) is a whirlwind of slipping through the timestream, listening to your gut, and lessons only a horse can teach you. NOTE! Regardless of your age, you will want to be Jennifer Hale when you grow up.

It’s the 150th Episode of The JV Club, and how better to celebrate than with one JV chit-chatting with another JV (the simply fantastic Jean Villepique)? With stories from a tall girl with big dreams from a small town in New Jersey, it’s an episode Bruce Springsteen could (and should!) write a song about.

There’s just something about people from New Mexico that makes them special. That’s certainly true of Episode 149’s guest, the huge-hearted Natalie Garcia (MaeDay Rescue), who is a veritable renaissance woman with a love of vintage attire, singing music, and saving pups.

Get a jump on space travel with the extraordinary Zelda Williams (Legend of Korra) and her incredibly awesome voice. Tales of private school, voice acting, and the puzzles of social media lead up to one of Janet’s worst MASH categories ever, which Zelda navigates like a champ.

Episode 147 welcomes Alison Haislip (Attack of the Show) for a deep dive into some pretty important issues. Of course we’re talking about hair color, psychics, and dessert for breakfast. Kick the soccer ball of conversation around with us for an hour, won’t you?

I’ll just say it: Episode 146 is one of the most inspiring to date. Way to go, Erin Fitzgerald (Chie from Persona 4)! From the far reaches of Ottawa, Ontario through the lovely Victoria, British Columbia, Los Angeles has the good fortune to be called home by this shining star, who knows a good chocolate croissant when she tastes one.

Get naked (just remember to tape up!) with the wickedly funny Paula Marshall (Californication) in this episode covering all the basics: Sex, Politics, Religion, and, of course, Ghosts.

Are you an alligator or a turtle? Do some Animal work (and find out what that even means) with the sparkling Molly Quinn (Castle) in episode 144 of The JV Club, which also includes discussion of some other A-words: Adulthood, Affection, and Amaretto sours.

This week’s guest — comedian Janine Brito — comes to you direct from Los Angeles via New York via San Francisco via Alabama with a bunch of other exotic locales in between. Along the way: Icelandic grandmothers, British schools, SNL obsessions and a couple of pretty remarkable early-life curveballs.

Episode 142 welcomes “Skepchick” Rebecca Watson, who reminds us that every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven. And speaking of heaven, turns out there may not be one. A look at atheism and secular humanism with a sprinkling of Christianity is supplemented with plenty of R.E.M. and the scientific discovery that humans have two different stomachs! You heard it here first!

It’s comedian Cameron Esposito (Put Your Hands Together) and SHE! IS! GREAT! There’s nothing like a story about a medical semi-crisis in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language to get the old podcast blood flowing. But it doesn’t stop there… because who doesn’t love talking to their parents about sex? NOTE: the prior two references are NOT RELATED.

Things get groovy with the luminous Seychelle Gabriel (The Legend of Korra) with rhapsodic waxing on the brilliant Jimi Hendrix, song-and-dance numbers featuring high school teens and Toto classics, and Korra fans, don’t worry… some chatting about Korrasami.

Janet falls into the lull of the hypnotic Amber Benson (The Witches of Echo Park) yet somehow also manages to talk faster than she maybe ever has. This may be an episode where even more conversations are begun and never finished than usual, and that’s really saying a lot. AND, you have the chance to win a signed book from Amber! Now go win it!

This is an episode that can only be described as second to nun. [insert 100 groans here] But really! It’s the amazing and wonderful Maureen Johnson (The Name of the Star) and talk of metaphorical time traveling via one strict Catholic high school (shhhh… don’t tell anyone she was a Protestant!). Advisory: This episode may be habit-forming. “Habit" forming. Get it? Nuns? Habits? [slams door in own face]

Following the old adage “Write what you know,” episode 137’s guest could have her very own One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest! Janet welcomes author (and woodworker!) Marci Crestani (Halfway to Dead) for a deep-dive into expanding your social horizons, whether empathy is a blessing or a curse, and of course, whether paintings can be “evil."

If you’ve been worried that there hasn’t been quite enough talk about being a teenage goth lately, worry not! Sarah Burns (Enlightened) brings her A game with just the right amount of Skinny Puppy and Bauhuas. Plus a brand-new MASH question submitted by a listener finds much success!

What do you get when you cross a Renaissance Faire with Disney World, add a dose of psychopathy,  and throw a few wigs and fake nails and a bedazzled sweater or two? Why, you get Episode 135 of the JV Club with Jamie Denbo (The Heat), of course! Meet the Beverly to Jessica Chaffin’s (ep 143) Ronna. Spoiler: She’s a dream!

SPOILER ALERT! You are cleared to listen to this episode if you are A. All caught up with the Serial podcast or B. Totally not interested in the Serial podcast. If B, Jessica Chaffin (Ronna and Beverly) and Janet apologize for talking so much about it. But not to worry- they also discuss several other disturbing events. SECOND SPOILER ALERT: Jessica Chaffin is terrific.

This week’s guest, the extraordinary Sarah Thyre, answers possibly the most pressing question facing Americans today: Where can you go to practice walking in high heels on cobblestone before your trip to Europe? And perhaps just as vital: How have Playboy boobs changed over the decades? Also, guess what? Sarah’s awesome!

Janet finds a new way to make peace with spiders thanks to Episode 132’s guest, the wise and wonderful Shadi Petosky. This sage advice and more stories of nature’s bounteous forests, lakes and guitar by the campfire. And as if that weren’t enough, get ready for some frank, fascinating and important talk about how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.

Put on your best 60’s dress and grab a book, because you’re probably not going to get to watch much television tonight in the world of the disarming Jenny Wade’s childhood. If you’re a young woman without many resources on how the body works, get ready to get REALLY informed! Everyone else… saddle up!

Things aren't always what they seem with Episode 130's guest, the lovely Noureen DeWulf (Anger Management, Burning Love). Tips on how to get out of the house to the movies, the pizza place, and oh-so-much-more, even when your parents forbid it. Espionage!

Pull on your sequined unitard and clip in your feathered headdress for the Dance Drill of podcast episodes with Annie Savage (Thrilling Adventure Hour). It’s raining tap shoes, airsickness bags, and actual rain in episode 128, where the especially important factoid of where Janet and Annie clean out their purses is finally revealed (no one cares).

The JV Club went live at the LA Podfest with special guests Kether Donohue (You’re the Worst) and musicians Ben Jaffe and Suzanne Santo, otherwise known as Honeyhoney, and what ensued was an afternoon of music, cookies, fake tattoos, and a double M.A.S.H. with Kether and Janet both finding out their 100% guaranteed fictional futures. Saddle up!

The first regular episode back after the Boys of Summer series finds the hilarious Erin Foley (Sports Without Balls) discussing the satisfaction of a good sweat vs. a good beachside lazy layabout. ALSO! Braving the minefields of adolescent romance, the perfection of good Thai food, and living and dying for the Bee Gees.

Live from SDCC 2014, it's the Nerdist Podcast Super Panel with Matt Mira (Nerdist, James Bonding), Jonah Ray (Nerdist, Jonah Raydio), Janet Varney (The JV Club), Cole Stratton (Pop My Culture), Gil Letelier (The Mutant Season), Ben Blacker (Nerdist Writers Panel, Nerdist Comics Panel, Thrilling Adventure Hour), Ben Acker (Thrilling Adventure Hour), Sandra Daugherty (Sex Nerd Sandra) and Dave Ross (Terrified)!

Episode 126 marks the last of the Boys of Summer series, and who better to class up the podcast than Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele)? Dog talk and tapeworm talk eventually give way to exploring identity as it relates to being adopted, how to get along with (almost) everybody, and the appeal of a really great plate of chili cheese fries.

Post-Labor Day = not technically Summer anymore, but gotta get out this great ep with the delightful Dave Holmes (International Waters) as he delves into the things we do to fit in, exploring literal and metaphorical uniforms, and coming out to your Catholic parents— whee!

The last duo of Boys of Summer: the insanely talented and terrific Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the minds behind "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Legend of Korra.” Art! Music! Travel! Adventure! And of course, squirrel suits. PLUS! A VERY, VERY special rendition of “Boys of Summer” from Paul and Storm!

Surf’s up! Guest Graham Elwood (Comedy Film Nerds) puzzles over moralistic quandaries, zen and control, sports and feelings, and (gulp) the gluttony of a good buffet

Now entering Sklarbro Country! Jason and Randy Sklar make JV Club history as the first (and let’s face it, possibly only) twins to appear. Applaud their patience as Janet asks what are probably twin-related questions that the boys have been forced to answer their entire lives (and somehow still make it entertaining and fresh).

How’s your summah? It’s about to get a bit brighter with the delightful Howard Kremer (Who Charted?) whose stories of non-caped crusading, rocks from the Boss, and the changing phases of his erstwhile band do not disappoint. What would YOUR superhero name be?

It's back-to-back duos! This week welcomes The Thrilling Adventure Hour's Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, with tales of suburban east coastery, unrequited crushery, and odd coincidencery, plus possibly more made up words!

The Boys of Summer return in the corporeal forms of Paul and Storm, in town on their way to Comic Con! The gents try to explain D & D to Janet even though neither of them were really that into it, until she finally lets it drop and they move on to other equally delightfully nerdy subjects. w00t w00t!

Taking a brief break from the Boys of Summer series while Janet's out of town, it's the live episode from Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, Oregon with Carrie Brownstein!

The lightning-quick-minded Paul Gilmartin reunites with his Dinner and a Movie co-host for a frank discussion about the good and bad that shapes us, finding humor in darkness, and... Chaka Kahn.

Oh no- not ANOTHER Polish-Indian-silly-wonderful-trail-running-twin-fathering-Community-castmember. Wait... There's only ONE Danny Pudi. And he's the guest of episode 116- as the Boys of Summer rolls on!

This week with the always wonderful Paul F. Tompkins: build a snow tunnel, sing a few piano tunes, or recite Edgar Allen Poe in the place where his macabre work truly shines: a brightly lit classroom. Boys of Summer continues!

You knew this Boys of Summer episode was inevitable… so SWEATER UP! It’s the just-plain-awesome Greg Behrendt and his rugby-playing, alt-rock-discovering, girl-crazy younger self, all wrapped up in a quality cardigan and a good pair of Purcells.

Spend an hour and change with erstwhile Young Drunk Punk Bruce McCulloch (Kids in the Hall) as he class-clowns, competitive-weightlifts, and rock-and-rolls his way through his teens in Calgary and Edmonton. Yes, those are both places in Canada. C'mon guys. We knew that.

Get soothed by the dulcet tones of the charming and absurdly talented Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Mad TV) as he channels Bogart, Poitier... and even Winkler. Plus: Discover the sci-fi plots of books he really should write, courtesy of the M.A.S.H. game!

Cross over the Rainbow Bridge for a listen to some of Boys of Summer guest Jimmy Pardo's (Never Not Funny) Greatest Hits. Now imagine Jimmy rolling his eyes when he reads this description, and you've got a sense of this episodic gem!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The “it” in question being, amongst other things, guest and Pop My Culture Podcast co-host Cole Stratton’s job at the local newspaper. What other adventures did this moxie-laden self-starter have while the rest of us were eating multiple hot fudge sundaes after school (okay, maybe that was just Janet.)? Find out in Episode 110, otherwise known as the third installment of the Boys of Summer series!

Things you will know A LOT about after you finish this episode with the simply delightful Oscar Nunez (The Office): Hot dogs! Dental Technology! And the entire history of Castro’s dictatorship in Cuba! And heads-up- this might be the most giggly Janet has ever been on the podcast. You’ve been warned!

Military-schooled Steve Agee (The Sarah Silverman Program) is the guest for the premiere of the "Boys of Summer" series on the JV Club! Tools you may find useful: rock-climbing gear, headphones, a Trans-Am and a bottle of Boone's.

It's Episode 107 with comedian Joselyn Hughes! First up: hair, hair hair. Plus: 311! Everclear! No Doubt! And later... a deeper dive... into snorkeling.

In this very special episode, Janet podcasts her very own DAUGHTER! ...Well, at least someone who played her daughter in a thing. It’s the terrific Jennette McCurdy (“Sam and Cat”) and a sitting-on-the-rug hangout, covering such topics as feminism, faith, and becoming a real life Ghostbuster.

Put on your safety googles and fire up the furnace with this week's guest, the handy and hilarious Suzy Nakamura (Bad Teacher). Take a tour of pizza shop and comic book-basement-vacations-- but don't fall asleep or you'll miss your train stop!

It’s a deep-delving discussion of ethics and morality (science fiction nerds welcome!) with the inimitable Aisha Tyler, otherwise known as a video gaming champ of her local laundromat. Plus: enough rad book recommendations to last you for weeks!

Will Episode 103 cut the mustard? Join Janet and guest Sarah Tapscott (Kroll Show) on a verrrrrry long adventure where, if you’re lucky— or unlucky— you may even be given your own horse. Plus: More Creepy Emma Thompson worship!

This episode comes with a collectible set of apologies for all of the apologies from the apologizing team of Pilar Alessandra (On the Page). Plus: a houseful of grandparents, a dad with a perm, and marrying Bugs Bunny.

Finally, the ALL-ALMONDS episode you've been waiting for! Sympathize with awesome guest Ginger Gonzaga (ABC's Mixology) as she patiently discusses almonds with Janet for almost the entire hour.* Oh, and a little bit about debate teams, hallucinogenic teas, and a "free-farting" flute teacher. *Extreme exaggeration

Our very first live episode video-streamed with the amazing Busy Philipps (Cougartown) and MANY OF YOU! Thanks to everyone who tuned in and commented and asked awesome questions. And thanks to the guys at Cogo for hosting! Happy 100th episode!

A special announcement from Janet about the LIVE 100th episode streaming March 13th at 4pm PST on https://www.cogo.tv/jvclub!

Feel it all! Lean into every bit of Episode 99 with the inspiring Heidi Rose Robbins, who celebrates the delight of a great poem, the magic of children’s books, and the extraordinary appeal of a little something called midnight moon cheese!

Come hang out in the principal's office with the hilarious and talented Daniele Gaither (MadTV), read up on your Mary Higgins Clark, and if you're lucky, you might even become a member of the elite club the Rumbling Knights.

It's tough to beat New York City in the 1980's, as this week's guest Zandy Hartig (Childrens Hospital) proves with memories of museums, clubs, and a very special classroom. Plus: Sting!

One of the Bay Area's shiniest stars, comedian and writer Caitlin Gill takes a break from her 7,000 Sketchfest appearances to hang out in Janet's hotel room and jaw about buffalos, Murphy Brown, and livin' tall in Episode 96, as we draw ever closer to the threat of Episode 100.

Walk into the light - or follow the smell of toast- for a morningtime chat with the splendid Maria Thayer (Eagleheart) about bee farms, how flunking art leads to art school, and the delight of watching garden things grow in Episode 95 ("95, Feel Alive!") of this podcast, also known as The JV Club.

This week's guest, the incredibly bright and hilarious Kathryn Borel (Corked: A Memoir) does not need another copy of the children's book Eloise. Find out why, and while you're at it, learn about the random anarchy of the universe, the unexpected ways we connect to other humans, and of course (of course??), French clowns.

Jigsaw Puzzles! Eating the bread basket! Cutting your hair! Find out about all of these metaphorical meanings in this in-depth mind-meld with episode 93’s guest Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt (It’s Just a F*ing Date), fresh from teaching her "Oprah Life Class" with Ms. Winfrey herself!

Put on your fluffiest cat tail and your Elizabethan collar for this episode with special guest pirate-princess-trombonist Kimmy Gatewood (The Apple Sisters), whose teenage Garth Halloween costume puts Dana Carvey to shame. To shame!

Just hear those sleigh bells jinglin', ring-ting tinglin’ with guest Annie Lapin, whose paintings involve descriptions by others such as "obfuscating figuration through a remarkable language of painterly abstraction.” You may still not know what that means by the end of this episode, but you WILL know how Annie ruined Christmas.

Slip on your long prairie skirt and straw ribboned hat for Episode 90’s chat with writer and comedian Danielle Koenig, who may or may not end up with a Goodfellas actor, an rare and endangered pet, and a fictional father figure from a beloved 80’s sitcom.

It’s a post-Thanksgiving feast of non-sequitors and tangents with the fantastic Beth Littleford (The Daily Show), with a parade of bad perms, bad boys, and good friends to save us from ourselves.

Episode 88’s guests Hilda Rasula and Lorelei Butters join Janet to talk about the new Mortified Nation documentary, boys in black lipstick, the perfection of avocados, and storyboarding to make your dreams come true. Plus, Jeremy Irons? Really?

A M.A.S.H. game mind-meld gets this week’s guest, the radiant Arden Myrin (Chelsea Lately) literally up on her feet with excitement in Episode 86, where it’s all about breaking the plaid mold, embracing humiliation, and snow, snow, SNOW!

Jump into your station wagon and buckle up for a ramble through the mind of the fantastic Kate Flannery (The Office) as she and Janet discuss flight simulators, the luck o’ the Irish, and the monumentally profound and dangerous influence of... the musical Annie.

It's a laser lightshow of joy with the delightful Lennon Parham (Accidentally on Purpose, BFFs) as she and Janet marching-band their way through memories of snare drums, choir, and late blooming. Oh, and Happy Halloween!

Two very special guests join Janet for this episode: the amazing Starlee Kine (This American Life), and her amazing dog, Oh Papa. Richard Nixon! Child Stardom! Gravity spoilers! Seriously, don't listen to this if you haven't seen Gravity yet but you want to. Otherwise, treat your ears to one of the coolest writers around, New York-style.

Hear her on The JV Club before she rises to the top of the arm-wrestling world! It's Edi Patterson (The Groundlings), who bonds with Janet over the appeal of the celluloid "horndog," pygmy unicorns, and being the good girl.

Take a break from sneaking out to New York dance clubs long enough to enjoy the delightful Chemda (Keith and The Girl podcast) as she and Janet explore some VERY frank talk about teenage sex, the generation gap between emigrant parents and their kids, and what to do if you get a bump in your ponytail.

Come for advice on the best music to clean a shower by, stay for the volleyball tips. Or just drop in for the occasional rave and Del Taco parking lot hang. It's Christine Woods (HBO's Hello Ladies) and her tiny dragon in Episode 81!

Trom-bone up on your knowledge of marching bands, polar bears, and Peter Panning your way into adulthood with the simply delightful Kate Micucci in Episode 80 of The JV Club. BYOP (Bring your own paintbrush)!

The secrets to perfect skin-- or at least a mother who tells you that you don't have it-- are revealed in Episode 79 with the insanely funny Gillian Vigman (the Hangover trilogy) as she extolls the virtues of managing a football team, frequently being mistaken for a boy, and dating someone named "Spooge."

Pull off those white gloves and get down and dirty with cotillionairess Lauren Ashley Bishop (#nitTWITS) while she and Janet discuss the butterfly feeling of "limerence," playing it safe (or boring?), and when real intimacy is created. If you're not making out with someone to the tearjerker Last of The Mohicans by the time you finish this episode, we haven't done our jobs.

What becomes of an eight year-old who masters the LA public transit system, is the subject of an angry petition at school, and has imperfect feet? Find out with the lovely Ursula Whittaker, who schools Janet on the secrets of parental forgiveness and marrying a charming and hilarious Cuban.

You'll want to laminate Episode 76 of The JV Club, thanks to the fantastic conversational stylings of Jane Espenson (Once, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), who spins yarns about such matters as historically significant dollhouses, disappointing french horns, and the decidedly unromantic quality of The Kentucky Fried Movie.

Episode 75's conversation  provides guest Sara Watkins with innumerable ideas for songs yet-to-be-composed, including tiny horses and boogie boards.

Proud Wisconsinite and Dork Forest podcast creator Jackie Kashian joins Janet for a discussion about the families we love - even as they drive us nuts- to books, books, and more books, with a sprinkling of dogs, dorks, and death thrown in for good measure.

Two special guests join Janet in Episode 73, but only one of them - the fantastic Autumn Reeser (Thrilling Adventure Hour, No Ordinary Family) actually speaks. Topics include summer camp, the perennial talent of speedy typing, and getting attacked by tiny fish. Plus: Janet admits the shocking truth: she's never been to Hawaii.

From growing up as a lovably snobby kid nerd in Chico, CA to making award-winning indie movies, Etta Devine (The Selling) talks saints, science and sugar in episode 72 of the podcast, where coincidental references to both the "N" word and the "V" word occur.

The podcasting machine is revved up and ready with episode 71's guest Emma Bates (Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing) for an in-depth look at love, loss, and the experiences that shape us... including living across the creek from someone named Catbird!

The talent of pleasing other people's parents (but not your own), the allure of knowing your neighbors, and the thrill of wearing a boy's class ring get their due in episode 70 of The JV Club, plus fantastic comedian, author, and guest Laura Kightlinger (The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman) plays a new game, courtesy of previous guest Lucy Davis!

Two Arizona gals talk backyard wonderlands, card catalogs, and being a girl in boy-centric worlds in Episode 69 of the podcast, featuring Janet's dear friend and collaborator, Jessica Makinson (South Park). Includes a Junior Varsity advice segment!

Janet and guest Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords) put the "cyst" back in "sisterhood" with tales of OBGYN terror, Twin Peaks-themed shopping malls, and good boys, bad boys, and no boys at all. Want more? How about the non-revelation of how delicious cereal is?

Hold onto your hats and sew your glasses into your jacket pocket for this illuminating episode with writer and actress Jolie Jenkins (Body of Proof) as she and Janet delight in chagrin over misguided wardrobes, eating lunch in your car, and the powers and pitfalls of having motivational speaking in your immediate family.

The perennially awesome Clea Duvall (Argo, Girl Interrupted) talks bullying, bands, and bringing back your best vintage tees in episode sixty six of the podcast; meanwhile, Janet tries to come off as cool as Clea... and fails (no surprise there!).

Can baton twirling lead to a promising fencing hobby? Can a tree administer psychological advice? Will Michael Caine leave his wife Shakira for Episode 65's marvelous Sara Benincasa (Agorafabulous)? There are only two ways to find out: listen to the episode, or talk to someone who listens to the episode.  C'mon. Do the right thing.

Janet's high school friend and mental health advocate Christina Jasberg travels from Tucson to rug-it-up with an intimate discussion about the roles of family history, brain chemistry, environment, hormones, and Scooby Doo in the life of a person faced with extraordinary challenges, and how our society supports-- and doesn't support-- the mentally ill.

Synergy Alert! Firing on all cylinders (and then some), Janet and Episode 63 guest Sandra Daugherty (Sex Nerd Sandra) give each other brain orgasms with a deep dive into intimacy and honesty, long term teen romance, and roughly 5,000 other things at once.

It's a little bit country, it's a little bit rock 'n roll... and it's everything you'd hope from an eager-to-please Texan with a dream to cheerlead (that word doesn't seem right without an "er" attached). Christy Stratton Mann (King of the Hill, Awkward) sets Janet straight about Donny, Marie, and so much more.

A quick mea culpa about this week's episode with Christy Stratton Mann- and an update on a new episode coming out to replace it!

All quipping aside, Episode 61 with Casey Wilson (Happy Endings) is NOT sponsored... by anyone. But hey, It's all good. There's still plenty to chew on with topics like Girl Scouts, feminism, and the best and worst of Billy Joel.

Janet is joined by returning guest Natasha Leggero and first-time JV "Club Foot" Karen Kilgariff in this live recording from Portland's terrifically fun Bridgetown Comedy Festival. Music! Hats! Eggs!

It's sort of a conversation between Korra and Lin Beifong as Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers) joins Janet in Episode 59, and yes, they DO discuss The Legend of Korra. Other topics include the etiquette of neighbors and barking dogs, the renowned LA Groundlings, and the magnetic pull of a funny gentleman.

This week multiple literal and metaphorical doors are knocked on and opened when Susan Orlean (The Orchid Thief! The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup! Many other amazing books and essays!) and special guest star, her son Austin, stop by to unsettle Scott the Dog. Plus, find out why Janet suggests Susan's nickname be "Puddin."

The world turns upside-down when guest Lucy Davis (original UK's The Office) shocks Janet with the news that in Britain, blankets are called rugs. More startling revelations, hearty laughs, and shameless mutual Emma Thompson idol-worship round out Episode 57!

Doughnuts, Cigarettes, and Hot Sauce, Oh My! It's Episode 56 with Emily Gordon (The Indoor Kids) chock-full of fond remembrances of first kisses, My So Called Life, and the once-pervasive Manic Panic hair dye, the use of which apparently makes you a communist. This week's bonus: Theories on how hot dogs got their name.

Prompting the occasion for a friendly, folksy episode description, Janet's nearby neighbor Constance Zimmer drops by (with fresh-squeezed juice, no less) for a chat ranging from spiders to barbies to what seems like it might be a record-breakingly long game of M.A.S.H.

How do YOU pronounce the word "nougat?" Janet and guest Lynn Chen (The Actor's Diet blog) take a big bite out of the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of food. Also on the menu: when vanity bites you back, doorknocker earrings, and the savory churro of Taiwan.

Nudity, nudity, and more nudity. And some other stories that don't involve nude people in this episode of The JV Club with the delightful Andrea Savage (Stepbrothers), including anecdotes about farting and cologne. Yes, these two women are technically grown-ups.

It's the first anniversary of the JV Club and what better way than to spend it with the one and only* Sarah Silverman? *Janet discovers that there is in fact more than one Sarah Silverman out there. But this is THAT Sarah Silverman.

It's a campfire-worthy episode of The JV Club with guest Michaela Watkins (Wanderlust) as she and Janet settle in for an evening of conversation about ghosts, close encounters of the litter kind, and pursuing careers in the spiritual realm.

It's an embarrassment of riches... or maybe just an embarrassment of embarrassments in episode 50 (Wow! We made it to 50!) with ridiculously fun guest Carla Gallo (Bones) - complete with revealing stories about prom nights gone awry, blooming late, and... um... cat lockets.

In this second-ever live episode of The JV Club, first-ever returning guest Tig Notaro sits onstage with Janet at SF Sketchfest in San Francisco to discuss the events of her life since the last time they recorded together. What follows is a frank, intimate and emotional discussion... with a very liberal dose of laughter. (Special thanks to SFSF photographer Jakub Mosur!)

A far cry from the overly-tan, dog-frenching Magda of There's Something About Mary fame, actress Lin Shaye gives Janet a peek into her aptly-named girl gang The Coquettes, the challenge of a corkscrew ponytail, and what you can expect from a psychedelic wedding.

Episode 47's guest Erica Rhodes gives Janet a peek into the cruel world adolescent ballet, the passionate poetry borne of a broken heart, and the balance between ambition and contentment. Plus, Janet geeks out over Erica's involvement with the delightful live radio show A Prairie Home Companion.

Take an evening walk down a quiet street or spend an afternoon riding your bike through the woods... or at least listen to Janet and guest Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) revel in the magic of unstructured time spent alone in this episode, where Paget also proves herself to be the creator of a VERY important masterpiece.

It's an episode filled with mystery as Janet and guest Morgan Walsh (Burning Love) shower praise on the magic of Portland, Oregon and then begin to wonder if they share a dad. Further intrigue abounds with talk of living a double life in high school and the puzzling appeal of the Salton Sea.

Episode 44 brings you guest Kristen Rutherford (Geek and Sundry) and everything that comes along with her, which in this case includes discussions on fairy houses, supermarket birthday cake, and and being horrible in groups. Bonus: Kristen opens a belated Christmas gift from Janet!

It's a teenage diary showdown as Janet and Episode 42 guest Erinn Hayes (Childrens Hospital) marvel at the shocking similarity between their respective angst-scribbles. Further parallels abound as the two discuss being hot in baggy clothes, embarrassingly earnest glamour photos, and marrying Ricky Schroeder.

Janet and guest Carly Craig (Role Models) share a metaphorical school locker together and fill it with a conversation about the companionship of volleyball and the isolation of swimming (echoing Mary Lynn Rajskub's ep!), the liberation of writing your own material, and yes, the benefits of cooking with grapeseed oil.

Janet accuses guest Leslie Bibb (Iron Man) of having a Harper Lee novel-worthy childhood in Episode 41, amidst a powow  covering the dangers of altruism, being fearless in your fashion statements, and standing on the balls of your feet.

If a low-key conversational podcast episode can be described as zany and madcap, this might be that episode. Which is just a nice way of describing an oft-interrupted Episode 40 with the disarming, adorable Vanessa Ragland (Pop My Culture podcast), who takes it all in stride with Janet as they romp through a discussion about being the happy weird kid, ill-timed bathroom breaks and oh-so-much-more.

Guest Janie Haddad Tompkins (Janie and Aaron Does Hollywood) and Janet delve into a cornucopia of topics including  the fear of inappropriate earthquake attire, the extremely specific cache' of growing up on a small island in the 80's, and boys, boys boys.

Writer and comedian Tess Rafferty (The Soup) joins Janet to debate the pros and cons of Barbie dolls, the pressure of "The Five Year Plan," the delights of a good table setting, and how to reconnect with the art of your art.

It's a long one! The longest yet! Alison Rosen (Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend, The Adam Corolla Show) lounges on the rug with Janet to give you an earful of wonderings about the parallel between old-school modems and human emotions, how it feels when your pediatrician recommends you go to a fat camp, and making friends with uncertainty.

The charming Kathleen Rose Perkins (Episodes) recounts the joys and challenges of being a certified bird-owner, being heard in a family of boys, and what we're really doing when we're eating eggs. Want more? Find out where Kathleen's future home is, courtesy another glorious game of M.A.S.H.!

It's a trip around the world with Episode 35's guest Amy Acker (Person of Interest, Angel) -- or at least a trip around Dallas, Japan, and pumpkin festivals, with a little high school drill team, country western dancing, and a horrible arachnid encounter thrown in for good measure. Plus a return to the classic, irrefutable fortune-telling game, M.A.S.H.!

Janet and guest and friend Stephanie Escajeda ramble down memory lane, stopping to reflect on the joys of Mexican holidays, shooting hoops with your brothers (all nine of them!), dating your local version of Johnny Depp (complete with the heartbreak that follows), and the level of nerdiness it takes to have a life-size poster of Albert Einstein on your wall.

Episode 33 was recorded live at the LA Podcast Festival on Saturday, October 13th and features the ridiculously cool Lizzy Caplan and the insanely talented Priscilla Ahn. You can expect references to nerdy apocalypse movies, boobs, and some surprising fantasy career choices (thanks to Lizzy). You can also expect gorgeous songs courtesy of Priscilla Ahn.

This episode of the JV Club was recorded in 2011 and features the stunningly awesome Tig Notaro... as she and Janet deconstruct the intense appeal of Chrissie Hynde, taking the road (or roads) less traveled to find your individual success, and the peculiar & delightful fate of her GED.

Tensions are high as the final two contestants of Burning Love (Janet and Abigail Spencer) face off to discuss counterculture of surfing, discovering Barbra Streisand, the rush of a flea market find, and the emotional magnetism of the City of Angels.

Zut Alors! It's the merveilleuse Montreal-born Jennifer Finnigan (Better With You) joining Janet to celebrate the thrill of a good scary movie, the magic of a potluck, and how a little girl who wanted to be a nun ended up winning three daytime Emmys.

Think an episode with a scientist will be all about genetics, space travel, and neurons? Think again. Janet and guest Cara Santa Maria (Talk Nerdy To Me) delve into their shared experience of a childhood attending LDS church, ballooning raver pants, and the puzzle of sexual identity, finding a partner who can stand you, and the appeal of androgyny.

Bad home perms! "Flesh" colored tights! Platonic love affairs! Janet and awesome guest Erin Gibson (Throwing Shade) jaw a little about suburban Texas and a lot about women in comedy, the way girls learn to compete, and then wonder why everything has to be so... complicated.

Podcast darling Elizabeth Laime muses about the drunken poodle purchases, being at the bottom of a cheerleading pyramid, reconnecting with your junior high crush... and the heartbreak of loss when it visits you young. This could be considered a three-tissue episode.

The 26th episode of The JV Club finds Janet delighting in the glorious Grey DeLisle with a conversation about red lipstick, giant hair bows, oversharing with your son, and having a grandmother whose uncommon beauty caused car accidents. Disclaimer: the ladies essentially forget to make references to Azula and Korra. Whoops!