Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

What if getting dressed could actually help you feel better?

This week, JVN sits down with Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike to talk about dopamine dressing, personal style, and why fashion is so much deeper than just clothes. Together, they get into how to figure out what your style really is, why “everything is fashion,” and how vintage, retail, and finding a good deal can all shape the way we express ourselves.

BIO: Named editor-in-chief of Marie Claire (US), Nikki Ogunnaike is among a new wave of women driving fresh relevance across fashion titles (The Washington Post saluted her and her peers in a recent collective profile). Previously at Harper’s Bazaar in the role of senior digital director, she has a strong following through social channels and an all-around style that resonates with younger readers. In this new chapter for the reliable women’s magazine, Ogunnaike’s direction signals broader representation of faces and voices through fashion, beauty and news coverage, while appearing sharper and more accessible than ever. Nikki is a Nigerian-American style expert who cut her teeth at publications such as Vanity Fair, InStyle, Glamour, ELLE, and GQ.

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Ever wondered why we lash out, shut down, or spiral emotionally, even when we don't want to? On this episode of Getting Better, JVN teams up with psychologist and author Dr. Nicole LePera (The Holistic Psychologist) to dive deep into inner child healing, parts work, and the shocking truth behind our nervous system's reactions. Dr. LePera reveals how our past molds our emotions, why connection is our biological imperative, and how to become your own adult parent. JVN opens up about their own "parts," and together they dissect black-and-white thinking, fear, and emotional overwhelm, uncovering real-world strategies to break free! If healing has ever felt messy, scary, or downright nonlinear, this conversation may help you truly "getting better."

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2026 will be BIG astrologically speaking…

Discover how astrology is shaping the year's biggest shifts, both personally and globally, with renowned astrologer Aliza Kelly. From planetary movements to understanding your unique birth chart, explore practical ways astrology can guide you through 2026's transformative energies.

Aliza Kelly is a renowned celebrity astrologer, author, columnist, and host of the podcast, AstroloTea! Catch Aliza in ⁠LA⁠ at The Elysian on May 14th, and in ⁠NYC⁠ at Joe’s Pub on July 14th. 

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour ⁠here⁠. 

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on ⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Aliza Kelly on Instagram ⁠@alizakelly⁠

Follow us on Instagram ⁠@gettingbetterwithjvn⁠ 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram ⁠@jvn⁠

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from 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]⁠.

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This week, we’re talking: our hiatus, AOC, scarf spelling bee, voter registration, and our HBOTW!

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here. 

Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube! 

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn 

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

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from 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

Gretchen Rubin is back on Getting Better for a happiness check-in with JVN! This week, they’re talking about what actually helps us understand ourselves, and why knowing how we respond to expectations can make it easier to change our habits, navigate relationships, and create a life that feels better.

Gretchen breaks down her Four Tendencies framework — Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel — and explains how our tendencies can shape everything from motivation to relationships. JVN and Gretchen also get into managing negative emotions, the importance of our environment, balancing self-acceptance with growth, and why slowing down can sometimes give us the clarity we’ve been looking for.

Plus, Gretchen shares what she’s learning from her latest creative obsession, watercolor, and gives us a look at her upcoming Four Tendencies workbook.

Check out Grethcen’s Four Tendencies workbook here. 

Watch the stories from our AU Docket Drop here.

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Gretchen Rubin on Instagram @gretchenrubin

Follow Getting Better on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

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

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support: 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

This week, we’re talking: the Lindsay Clancy case, HIV Social Safety net, getting better at going with the flow, english breakfast recs, and much more!  

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here. 

Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube! 

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn 

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

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from 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

What happens when we start asking AI to help us make decisions about our lives, relationships, and mental health?

JVN sits down with NYU Professor, author, and AI researcher Meredith Broussard to unpack what AI actually is, what it can and can’t do, and how we can make smarter choices about when to use it.

Jonathan and Meredith break down the AI bubble, generative and agentic AI, how AI models are built, and why the benchmarks we use to measure them don’t always tell the whole story. They also get into one of the most personal questions of the AI era: What happens when we start asking machines for advice about our lives, our relationships, and our mental health?

Meredith explains why human expertise and critical thinking still matter, why AI can be especially risky when we’re vulnerable or looking for emotional support, and how relying on machines for connection can change the way we relate to other people. They also explore the environmental costs of AI infrastructure, the realities behind talk of “superintelligence,” and practical guidelines for deciding when AI is useful, and when it’s better to turn to a human.

Because getting better in the age of AI may not mean learning how to use more technology. It may mean getting better at knowing when not to.

Tiktok Algorithm Article: WALL STREET JOURNAL

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Meredith Broussard on Instagram @meredithbroussard

Follow Getting Better on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

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

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support: 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

This week, we’re talking: NYC apartment drama, Enough starring Jennifer Lopez, the reflecting pool, and much much more!

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here. 

Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube! 

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn 

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

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from 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

Connection isn’t just about being around people — it’s about feeling seen. This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down certified mental health coach and founder of the SEEN Method, Morgan Burch, for a powerful conversation about authenticity, isolation, and what actually makes relationships work.

Together, they unpack why so many of us feel disconnected even when we’re surrounded by others, how fear and rumination can quietly shape our relationships, and the ways cancel culture and manipulation can push people into deeper isolation. Morgan breaks down the psychology behind feeling “separate,” how visualization can either heal or trap us, and what it really means to be emotionally safe with another person.

From recognizing when you’re being pulled away from connection to learning the key foundations of healthy, successful relationships, this episode is about finding your way back to yourself — and to others — with clarity, compassion, and intention.

Whether you’re navigating friendship shifts, romantic relationships, or just trying to feel less alone, this conversation offers grounding tools to help you reconnect.

Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Morgan Burch on Instagram @goodmorgantherapy 

Follow Getting Better on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn 

Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

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

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support: 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

Today we’re talking: JVN’s West Coast tour, last minute hotel switches, scalp treatments, an astrological spelling bee, LOUISIANA v. CALLAIS, our White House Instagram feature, lipstick setting, and AG8!

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here. 

Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube! 

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

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from 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