Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

Caroline Hirons, arguably the most important figure in British beauty, stopped by this week’s Pretty Curious and is holding serious court, babes. Caroline gives the best skin in the biz, and she’s breaking down all the goodness she’s got going on over at her skincare brand, Skin Rocks. Plus! We’re talking Gen Alpha skincare, English breakfasts, and just exactly how the “Caroline effect” has taken over the British beauty space. Caroline grew up around the beauty industry, as both her mother and grandmother worked in the industry. From her first day on the counter in Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, Caroline fell in love with skincare in particular and went on to qualify in beauty therapy, leaving the shop floor for more senior roles in 2001. After gaining a wealth of experience across all departments in the previous 10 years, Caroline moved to consulting for brands and retailers in 2008, working with and advising some of the top names in the industry. Launching her blog back in 2010, she quickly amassed the eyes and ears of millions. She's utilized all her knowledge to launch her own brand, which includes her Limited-Edition Kits of recommended products which sell out in hours as well as the Skin Rocks brand, which consists of the award winning skincare line and app. She’s also the host of the new beauty podcast, Glad We Had This Chat - which just wrapped up its first season! Caroline Hirons is on Instagram @carolinehirons and you can follow Skin Rocks @skinrocks 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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re looking for a man in politics. Thick thighs. 6’4”. Blue eyes. Abraham Lincoln, course - or as we’re lovingly referring to him on this episode: GAY-braham Lincoln. That’s right - today we’re exploring whether or not  “America’s best president” was also a soft-top zaddy! And to do that - we’re bringing in experts from the upcoming film, Lover of Men. We’ve got Shaun Peterson (the director) and Thomas Balcerski (one of the film’s historians) joining JVN to give us the receipts, proof, timelines, screenshots, f*cking everything to figure out if President Lincoln was a little…ya know… Thomas Balcerski is a scholar of early American history. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. from SUNY Stony Brook, and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. He is author of Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King (Oxford University Press, 2019). Thomas is also one of the most cited Abraham Lincoln historians, and is featured in the new documentary: Lover of Men.  Shaun Peterson got a B.A. in Film Production and Theater Arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Peterson has worked as an editor for MTV, VH1, and A&E. He directed his first feature film, Living In Missouri in 1999. He then started directing music videos for bands such as Train, Team Sleep, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Vendetta Red, and Low. Shaun is the director of the new documentary Lover of Men, Out September 6th. You can follow the Lover of Men on Instagram @loverofmenfilm or on loverofmen.com Lover of Men is proud to partner with The Human Rights Campaign. A portion of ticket sales from Lover of Men will directly benefit HRC when moviegoers use HRC’s custom ticket purchase link. Lover of Men is in theaters September 6th, 2024. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. 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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Buckle in, sweetie - we’re getting hot & steamy and going behind the paywall for a very special preview of our Apple Podcast Subscription show, “Ask JVN”! What’s Ask JVN, you ask? Well babes, it’s our scintillating little show where we talk about sex - and other things too. It’s giving Talk Sex With Sue Johanson. JVN & Chris (Producer on the Curious Pods), talk current events, TikToks that make us LOL, and answer all the burning questions you submit on Instagram & AskJVN.com. Is it rude to call your hookup a car when you want them to leave? How loud is too loud during sex? Am I delulu for wanting to hookup with my high school boyfriend? Tune in to find out…And if you have a burning question - you can always submit on Instagram & AskJVN.com. The lines are open! 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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a group of far right influencers lurking on your social media feeds. They post organic recipes, millennial mom advice, and #glowups. And they’re using this content to promote white supremacist ideas. This week, Dr. Eviane Leidig joins us to discuss who these women are and how they’re spreading hate on social media. Dr. Eviane Leidig is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellow at Tilburg University. Her research specializes in the global far-right, gender, and online radicalization, recruitment, and propaganda. Her latest book, The Women of the Far Right: Social Media Influencers and Online Radicalization, is published by Columbia University Press. You can follow Dr. Leidig on Twitter @evianeleidig, and at www.evianeleidig.com. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. 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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fumiko Takatsu, creator of the Face Yoga Method, stopped by Pretty Curious to help JVN find some easy, physiological, and fun ways we can keep our faces looking and feeling hot- at any age! Fumiko gave us amazing insight into what it takes to be a leader in the field, and how she’s inspired and helped so many people with her techniques! For nearly two decades, Fumiko Takatsu’s Face Yoga Method has used her proven combination of breath, mindset, and Face Yoga Poses to revolutionize the way people treat the aging process. Recognized as the best in the industry, Fumiko has certified over 450 students in her Method and successfully built her female-led brand around the world. Additionally, Fumiko has published five books, two eBooks, a skin care line, blog, and multiple online Face Yoga Programs to help people embrace their natural beauty and aging. Fumiko Takatsu is on Instagram @fumikotakatsu and on the Face Yoga Method page @faceyogamethod & faceyogamethod.com 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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

adrienne maree brown, an influential author and speaker focused on social justice and transformative healing, joins to discuss the art of constructive criticism. She emphasizes the importance of giving feedback with love and compassion, especially in today's fast-paced, socially connected world. The conversation touches on collective overwhelm, personal growth, and the role of empathy in navigating societal dynamics. Brown’s reflections on her conservative upbringing and modern pressures highlight the need for genuine connections and community.

We’re not a little bit obsessed with Nécessaire, we’re big-BIG time obsessed with Nécessaire and its co-founder, Randi Christiansen! Bodycare, one of the more niche corners of the beauty industry, is beyond important to our wellbeing. After all, as Randi says, “skin doesn’t stop at the neck!” Plus, we’ve got a JVN Hair Update, a word to the wise for all of you extension girlies about the scalp damage you could be facing, and the 411 on heatless rollers! Randi Christiansen is the CEO and co-founder of Nécessaire. Prior to Nécessaire, she had a 15-year career at Estee Lauder Companies, where she helped build and scale brands across the portfolio including iconic places like La Mer, Estee Lauder, and ELC Ventures. She holds a MSC in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School. Nécessaire is on Instagram @necessaire and online at necessaire.com. 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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Dr. Evan Goldstein, the founder of Bespoke Surgery and an expert in anal health, as he tackles the taboo of butthole wellness. He shares insights on the anatomy of the butt and addresses burning questions about hygiene, fiber intake, and common issues like fistulas. With a humorous touch, he emphasizes best practices for anal health and the importance of safe engagement during anal play. Discover how proper health education can empower individuals, especially in the queer community, to embrace their bodies and prioritize anal care.

Princess Diana. Lady Gaga. Tilda Swinton. No, this is not a fever dream, it’s just a sampling of the illustrious career of the awe-inspiring hairstylist, Sam McKnight -  this week’s Pretty Curious guest! Buckle your seat beats, sweeties, JVN sat down with the iconic and truly one-of-one creative to pick his brain about navigating such an unbelievable and influential career. This episode is giving you 90s fashion lore, hot takes on the media's portrayal of the fashion industry, and some major gardening tips & tricks. Sam McKnight, MBE is renowned for creating the hair looks that every woman wants. From his signature, ‘Cool Girl’ effortlessly undone textured hair (the poster child of who is his long-term collaborator and friend, Kate Moss) to his fashionably timeless, elevated looks that reflect his rebellious spirit, to his handmade couture wigs, to red carpet sophistication. Sam’s unparalleled portfolio of work reads like a who’s-who of high-fashion and A-list celebrity. His ethos has attracted an unparalleled list of celebrity clients including Jodie Comer, Cate Blanchett, The Hadid Sisters, Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner, Emilia Clarke, Cara Delevingne, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, Tilda Swinton and, of course, Sam was Princess Diana’s private hair stylist for seven years. Sam has presided over iconic fashion moments of the past four decades and continues to be responsible for culture-defining hair looks that make him one of the most in-demand artists. Sam McKnight is on Instagram @sammcknight1 & @hairbysammcknight 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 Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Getting Curious, we’ve got THE Olympic runner to watch -  Nikki Hiltz! This episode is coming to you on the eve of their race at the Women’s 1500m semifinals, but JVN caught up with Nikki in the salon chair for a podium worthy haircut  just before Nikki left for gay Paris! We're talking track & field 101, how Nikki shows up as their authentic self in every race, and what exactly IS a steeplechase? Nikki Hiltz is a nonbinary professional track and field athlete and is the first openly nonbinary runner to win a USA Track and Field championship title. The middle-distance specialist is an Olympian, 6 time National Champion, World Indoor Silver Medalist, Pan American Games gold medalist and American Record Holder in the mile. Nikki is also a vocal advocate for equal rights, particularly passionate about making the sport of running more inclusive and fundraising for services that support the young LGBTQIA+ community. In 2020, they founded the Pride 5K, a race which supports LGBTQIA+ nonprofits. Hiltz’s annual event has raised over $162,000 and they are currently planning the fifth iteration of the event in 2024. You can follow Nikki on Instagram @nikkihiltz or on TikTok @Nikki_Hiltz. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from 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 podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices