Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

Introducing Sarah Longwell on politics, AI, and elections from Possible.

Follow the show: Possible

What’s driving some of the greatest political divisions and threats to democracy ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election?

This week, Reid and Aria attempt to unpack this with someone who specializes in listening to American voters and translating those insights, at scale: Republican political strategist and The Bulwark co-founder/publisher Sarah Longwell. Sarah, who also hosts The Focus Group Podcast, joins the show to talk about her experience listening to everyday voters through focus groups — and her perspective on how doing so can help people better understand one another, combat misinformation, and heal some of the deepest divides in America today. She shares her perspective on Donald Trump, the upcoming election, the state of politics in Silicon Valley, AI, the future of the Republican Party, and the value of compromising. Plus, Reid tests GPT-4o’s ability to separate fact from fiction. 

Note: This conversation is not intended to proselytize or convert anyone. Rather, it is an attempt to learn from someone who has spent hundreds of hours talking to thousands of voters about their lives and politics.  

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

03:41 - Hellos and intros

04:55 - The state of politics now

06:08 - Inside the mind of an undecided voter

08:22 - What polls actually tell us

10:04 - What’s different about the political attitude right now

12:22 - How focus groups work, and what they tell us

18:08 - The benefits of qualitative research

18:52 - How can technology improve focus group research?

23:12 - How to become a better listener and persuader

28:21 - The impact and use cases of AI running focus groups

34:03 - When a human touch is necessary

36:37 - AI video-based sentiment analysis

41:05 - Sarah navigating being a lone wolf in politics

45:19 - What Sarah learned fighting for marriage equality

47:25 - How does misinformation spread and stick?

54:08 - What’s next for the Republican party?

57:42 - GPT-4o “spot the fake headline” test

01:02:57 - Rapid-fire questions

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

This episode of Getting Curious, we’ve got one of the HBICs of Betches Media - Sami Sage! As we anxiously countdown to the U.S. Presidential Election this November, we know we’re going to need to laugh a little along the way…enter Betches: Betches Media has been giving us the intel we need with an extra few dashes of humor for years, and as online momentum grows for the Harris/Walz campaign we wanted to know from Sami - an original meme queen - can memes pave the road to Presidential victory?

Sami Sage is the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Betches Media, one of the earliest digitally native media and entertainment companies founded and led by women, and the most influential female-focused humor brand in the market today. Since 2011, the Betches founders have earned spots on The New York Times Bestseller List and Forbes 30 Under 30, and today, Betches offers entertainment, information, and a sense of community to millions of passionate millennial and Gen Z fans. In 2015, Sami helmed the creation of the company’s award-winning news and activism vertical Betches News, and in 2021 she debuted her award-winning daily news podcast the Morning Announcements. Recently, Sami co-authored the New York Times Bestseller Democracy in Retrograde ahead of a historic US presidential election. Alongside her co-founders, Sami also co-hosts the weekly pop culture podcast @Betches.

You can follow Sami Sage on Instagram @sami and Betches on Instagram @betches. You can follow Betches News on Instagram @betches_news

Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.

Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.

Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.

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

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

Introducing Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu On Emily in Paris, Aging Gracefully, and Team Gabriel or Team Marcello from The Run-Through with Vogue.

Follow the show: The Run-Through with Vogue

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

We have the incredible hosts of the Breaking Beauty Podcast on Pretty Curious today - Jill Dunn & Carlene Higgins! We’re going all in on the behemoth, the almighty…TikTok Shop. Plus - they dropped some some amaaaaazing #DamnGood product recommendations you won’t want to miss.

Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins, are two longtime beauty editors who have seen it all and swatched it all, and they’re here to tell you what’s good. Whether you’re searching for the latest insider-fave foundation, building a gimmick-free skincare routine, or interested in exploring culture through a beauty lens, tune in Breaking Beauty every Wednesday for epic guests like Makeup By Mario, Dr. Pimple Popper and Jonathan Van Ness.

Breaking Beauty Podcast is on Instagram @breakingbeautypodcast

Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins are also on Instagram @jilldunbeauty and @carlenehiggins

Listen to Breaking Beauty Podcast here. 

Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.

Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn.

Our Senior Producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.

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

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

Introducing 170. 9 Rules For Scaling Any Business with Justin Williams from Millionaire University.

Follow the show: Millionaire University

Want to turn your side hustle into a thriving, scalable business? In this episode, Justin sits down with Nick Loper of The Side Hustle Show to discuss exactly that! Together, they cover the nine powerful rules that helped Justin scale multiple ventures, from flipping houses to building a successful podcast, and everything in between. You'll get insider strategies around working with intention, eliminating distractions, automating and delegating tasks to accelerate growth, and more (no matter the industry). Plus, don’t miss the exclusive preview of Millionaire University's new Build My Money Machine program, designed to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into seven-figure businesses!

+ Nine rules for scaling any business

+ Importance of clear intention

+ Eliminate, automate, delegate

+ Risk mitigation strategy

+ The 60/20/3 rule for pricing

+ Marketing flywheel for customer acquisition

+ Velocity of money and growth

+ Marginal gains for compounding success

+ Preview of Build My Money Machine program

And follow us on:

Instagram

Facebook

Tik Tok

Youtube

Twitter

To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors.

Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here!

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

If you’ve ever picked up a National Geographic and skimmed across the gorgeous images that cover those pages - you’ve probably come across the work of our guest experts. This week, we’re coming to you with a LIVE! Getting Curious episode with THE preeminent nature photographers in the game about the risk and reward of their art, their conservation efforts, and how they support each other in the process like the power couple they are!

Cristina "Mitty" Mittermeier, a visionary photographer, marine biologist, and avid conservationist, stands as a formidable force in the realm of environmental advocacy. In 2014 she, alongside her partner Paul Nicklen, co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a healthy and abundant ocean through powerful storytelling and impactful visual media. Through her lens, she conveys the delicate balance of natural ecosystems and the urgency to preserve these habitats that sustain a myriad of life. Her art, driven by a desire to make a difference, serves as a compelling call to action, illustrating the transformative power of photography in raising awareness and inspiring change.

Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist who has documented the beauty and plight of our planet for more than thirty years. Through the power of the image and, just as importantly, emotion and raw power, his work has been singled out for creating a unique connection between image and viewer by featuring wild subjects in some of the most extreme conditions known on Earth. Nicklen is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and aligns with Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative on collaborative efforts to preserve the natural World. Nicklen has won more than 30 of conservation and photography’s most prestigious awards, including the BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the World Press Photo for Photojournalism. In 2019, Mr Nicklen became the youngest person inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame (IPHF).

You can follow Cristina Mittermeier on Instagram @mitty and Paul Nicklen on Instagram @paulnicklen. For more information on SeaLegacy- check out their Instagram @SeaLegacy.

Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.

Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.

Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.

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

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

Introducing 5-Minute Life-Changing Habits | Rangan Chatterjee from Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook.

Follow the show: Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook

On this episode, medical doctor and author of “Feel Better in 5,” Rangan Chatterjee, joins Tom Bilyeu to discuss the power of five-minute habits and how you can change your identity, as well as your health, through small and easy steps to take every day. They discuss the importance of your heart and spirit, how to build five-minute habits into your everyday routine, how to actually change behaviors, easy mental health hacks you can use everyday, how identity is connected to and shaped by action, and how beginning with just one small habit everyday can change your health for good. [Original air date: 10-18-20].

SHOW NOTES:

Heart | Rangan shares why heart is more important than the mind or body. [0:27]

Listen | Rangan shares the what the ‘tea ritual’ is and benefit he’s found from listening. [3:00]

Habits | Rangan discusses habits, behaviors, and the power of triggers. [5:21]

The Power of 5 Minutes | Rangan shares why 5-minutes is important. [8:53]

Simplicity | Rangan discusses the power and essence of simplicity. [10:21]

Behavior Change | Rangan shares why we should approach health simplicity. [17:26]

Three Pillars | Rangan reveals easy mental health hacks you can do. [18:23]

Journaling | Rangan discusses best approaches for journaling. [20:59]

Shifting | Tom shares the power of meditation and escaping negative thoughts. [25:24]

Motivation | Rangan discusses the motivation wave and planning for the hard times. [26:30]

Identity | Rangan discusses shaping identity through action. [28:44]

Positive | Rangan shares how to develop positive-affirming habits. [30:58]

The Classic 5 | Rangan reveals high-impact workout ideas that only take 5 minutes. [32:38]

Heart | Rangan shares how to tap into connection during these trying times. [35:24]

Keystone | Rangan shares the power of your keystone habit that feeds everything else [39:30]

FOLLOW RANGAN:

Podcast: drchatterjee.com/blog/category/podcast/

Instagram: instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Facebook: facebook.com/DrChatterjee/

Twitter: twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk

FOLLOW TOM:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu

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Feeling stuck? Check out Billion Dollar Habits and unlock the mindset strategies that helped me achieve all my goals. This community will show you how to gain clarity and build discipline so you can become the person you’ve always wanted to be. Click here to learn more.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Think Gilded Age hair is super 19th century? Uhhh - think again! The hairstyling practices and salon culture that we’ve come to know today draw major inspiration from the American salons of the Gilded Age (which of course drew inspiration from the French salons across the pond…vive la France)! What mysteries are hiding underneath the pompadour poofs of Gilded Age hair? Well wonder no more, because we’ve got a brilliant guest for you today to break it all down - Elizabeth Block! It’s giving history of hairdressing, Encyclopedia Beau-tannica vibes.

Elizabeth Block, is an art historian and a Senior Editor in the Publications and Editorial Department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She holds a PhD in art history from The Graduate Center at the City University of New York, and a Masters in American Studies from Columbia University. She is the author of “Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion” and her new book “Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing” came out September 10th!

Elizabeth Block is on Instagram @elizabethlblock and on TikTok at @elizabethlblock_author

Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to learn more about the products from this episode, or head to JonathanVanNess.com for the transcript. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.

Find books from Getting Curious and Pretty Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn.

Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.

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

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

Introducing Frolic in the Foliage with Lauren Oakes from Via Podcast.

Follow the show: Via Podcast

Next up on the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks grab a sweater and head out into the forest for a leaf-peeping adventure. They discover a few great spots to view fall colors, and learn why immersing themselves in a forest is good for the soul.

Guest Lauren Oakes, a forest and climate scientist, shares her best-loved spots in the West to see the leaves change, and encourages us all to find a deeper connection with the forests around us.

Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

The Destiny’s Child of constitutional law (aka Strict Scrutiny) is back on Getting Curious to help us digest and dissect all the wack-a-doodle nonsense that is: Project 2025. Leah Litman & Kate Shaw from the hit podcast Strict Scrutiny sat down with JVN to really parse out the MAGA manifesto. We’re talking all about Project 2025’s hallmark proposals, the key players involved, as well as tossing in some Supreme Court, Alito/Thomas updates for good measure.

Leah Litman is an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School. She clerked for Judge Sutton on the Sixth Circuit and Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court. Leah researches and writes about constitutional law and federal courts. She also maintains an active pro bono practice (and she loves reality television).

Kate Shaw is a Professor of Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in NYC. She teaches Constitutional Law, Legislation, Administrative Law, and a seminar on the Supreme Court, and writes about executive power, the law of democracy, and reproductive rights and justice. Before becoming a law professor she worked in the Obama White House Counsel’s Office, and before that was a clerk to Justice Stevens and Judge Posner.

You can follow Strict Scrutiny on Twitter @StrictScrutiny_ and on Instagram @strictscrutinypodcast. For more information, check out crooked.com.

Leah is on Twitter @LeahLitman and Instagram @profleahlitman. Kate is on Twitter @Kateashaw1 and Instagram @kateashaw.

Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.

Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.

Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.

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

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