It took too long, it took too long, it took too long -  for Aly & AJ to come on the pod!  What keeps a band together for 20 years? How do sisters turn harmonies into a creative language all their own? And what does it look like to balance joy, artistry, and activism while living life on the road? This week, JVN sits down with Aly & AJ to celebrate two decades of music-making and sisterhood—spanning from their early Cow Belles days to sold-out tours and their powerful anthem “Sirens.” - This conversation is all about creativity, resilience, and the rituals that keep them grounded. Plus, we get into their songwriting process, advocating for gun control, and debate over the best breakfast in America. And yes—we asked about Cow Belles 2 .

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Aly & AJ on Instagram @alyandaj 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

BIO: Aly & AJ are an American pop duo consisting of sisters Alyson and Amanda Michalka. First rising to fame in the mid-2000s with their platinum-selling debut album Into the Rush and hits like “Potential Breakup Song,” they became known for their sharp harmonies and heartfelt songwriting. After a period of acting, solo projects, and a hiatus from music, they reemerged with a more mature, indie-pop sound, earning critical acclaim for projects like a touch of the beat gets you up on your feet gets you out and then into the sun (2021), with love from (2023), and Silver Deliverer (2025). Blending nostalgia with modern edge, Aly & AJ continue to evolve as artists while staying true to their roots as sisters whose voices—and bond—create their signature sound.

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we're talking: medical misinformation, Anna Wintour sightings, the US Open, Benson Boone Kelly Clarkson-ing Adele, Nancy Mace’s anti-trans rhetoric, Princess Diana’s time capsule, answering late night texts, “Man’s Best Friend,” and the joy of autumn.  

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris 

New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday. 

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What really causes cancer? Will we ever find a cure? And why does our mistrust of medicine and obsession with big pharma conspiracies have such a grip on the way we think about it? In this episode, Jonathan Van Ness sits down with oncologist Dr. Stacy Wentworth to explore the biggest questions surrounding cancer—what science can tell us, what it can’t (yet), and how to reframe the way we talk about this disease. From cutting through fear and misinformation to finding space for hope and empowerment, this conversation offers clarity and compassion for anyone touched by cancer.

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Dr. Stacy Wentworth on Instagram @drstacywentworth 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

Follow Dr. Stacy’s Substack here. 

BIO: Dr. Wentworth is an award-winning physician, author, and cancer survivorship expert.  She has two decades of experience leading patient centered care teams in diverse settings – from NCI designated comprehensive cancer centers to rural hospitals. Her research has been featured at national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Wentworth is the founder of the Cancer Culture Substack, where she explores how personal beliefs, history, and science influence our experience and attitude toward cancer.

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 
Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The Monday Edit we’re talking: the Hurricane Katrina documentary, Amanda Seales & Jubilee, Texas & California redistricting, HIV segregation in prisons, and the Correct the Map campaign,.

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: ⁠www.patreon.com/jvn⁠ 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris 

New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday. 

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JVN sat down with Case Kenny, host of the podcast New Mindset, Who Dis?, to talk all things dating, relationships, self-worth, and confidence. Together, they dive into the surprising power of language, how the words we use shape our lives, and what it really takes to build healthy relationships in today’s world.

Get Case’s new book, The Opposite of Settling, here. 

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Case Kenny on Instagram @casekenny 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 

Take the online quiz and introduce Ollie to your pet. Visit www.ollie.com/better today for 60% off your first box of meals! #ToKnowThemIsToLoveThem 

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 

This week on The Monday Edit: Kim Davis Lore, Same-Sex Marriage Rights, our comprehensive breakdown of the Season 3 Finale of Gilded Age, 3I/ATLAS, TikTok's on our algorithm, listener questions, and our HBOTW! 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris 

New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday. 

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever feel like you’re counting down the minutes to Friday? You’re not alone—but it doesn’t have to be that way! This week, JVN is joined by Bree Groff: workplace transformation expert and sought-after consultant for companies like Google, Microsoft, and Calvin Klein. Bree offers tools for navigating toxic bosses, seven game-changing rules to live by to actually enjoy your workday, and the reasons why you should absolutely go ahead and take the PTO.  Her new book, Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously), is out now.

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Bree Groff on Instagram @bree_groff

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 

This week on The Monday Edit we're talking: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mike Flood’s disastrous town hall, sports coverage on Peacock, Gilded Age takeaways  - plus! answering your listener questions… 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris 

New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday. 

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 

Feeling like your brain’s in a blender? You’re not alone—and there is a way out. This week, JVN is joined by Dr. Caroline Leaf: cognitive neuroscientist, mental health expert, and bestselling author of Help in a Hurry, her game-changing guide to navigating stress and emotional chaos when life hits the fan. Together, they dive into what’s actually going on in your brain when you're overwhelmed, the science behind how thoughts can make or break your day, and how quick, simple tools—like mental check-ins, breathwork, and reframing—can help you regulate your nervous system fast. Dr. Leaf shares why stress isn’t your enemy, how therapy and neuroscience can work hand-in-hand, and why taking an “insurance policy” for your mind might be the most powerful thing you can do for yourself. 

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Not A Phase. 

Trans Lifeline

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Take the online quiz and introduce Ollie to your pet. Visit https://www.ollie.com/better today for 60% off your first box of meals! #ToKnowThemIsToLoveThem

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn 

This week on The Monday Edit: Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad, Jeffrey Epstein’s cell, the Paramount merger, South Park’s own of the administration - plus! answering your listener questions… 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris 

New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday. 

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Anne Currie, and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices