V Interesting with V Spehar

For many young people, especially after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, joining the military isn't necessarily top of mind when they consider their future. This week, V is interested in learning about what factors drive people to enter the military today and why modern recruitment efforts look nothing like the patriotic messaging used in the past. Marine veteran Nicholas Miranowski and Navy Lieutenant Alexis Travis tell V about the unique paths people can pursue that don't include fighting on the frontlines. We'll hear about their journeys of why they became service members and how we can make sure the system is continuing to take care of the people who serve this country.   Follow Nicholas on TikTok at @ogboomer1371 and Lt. Travis at @milmama_ontherun. Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.   Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are you coping with the recent news from the Supreme Court? Not well? Today, V asks grief expert Claire Bidwell Smith how to effectively manage our feelings in light of the verdict that has sent many of us into an emotional tailspin. Claire discusses the relationship between anxiety and grief, shares tips on how to practice self-care, and offers advice on how to turn feelings of anger and despair into action. V also explains the most important recent decisions from the Court, including the consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade, the new ruling on the right to carry guns in public, and a decision on religion in schools.  Follow Claire at @clairebidwell on Twitter and @clairebidwellsmith on Instagram.  Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

VidCon is this week, and V is there -- along with every other creator on the Internet. So this week they are chatting with Hank Green, the founder of VidCon, who is a familiar voice to those who remember watching Crash Course educational YouTube videos in school and also is well known for energizing a brigade of Nerdfighters, vlogging with his brother, writing books, and TikToking up a storm. Hank, who's been a content machine since the early 90s, talks about his successful online journey of making science less boring and more accessible. He shares what determines how much you make on social media platforms, and addresses how he’s filled gaps within the industry that allow video creators to connect and develop relationships. Plus, answers to pressing science questions like why humans have butt hair!   Follow Hank Green on Twitter and Instagram at @HankGreen Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, V starts off with giving snaps to Houston, Texas. They dig into how the city has decreased the number of unhoused residents by more than half, what Houston is doing to reduce the rate of gun violence, and what H-town native Beyoncé has in store for us next month. Also, V offers an interesting update on beauty giant Revlon’s financial situation, and they spill the tea on some WWE drama. Then, V is joined by queer theologian Jason Steidl to take a closer look at deconstructing religion. We’ll hear about how a recent TikTok trend is helping people heal from spiritual trauma, what it’s like to step away from organized religion, and how to build community outside of the church and create new traditions.   Follow Jason on Instagram at @JasonSteidl. Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re taking a closer look at what’s on the agenda – the Gay Agenda. Plus, it's Pride Month, which means it’s the perfect time to give you a lesson on queer history. So take out a pen and paper, because you can’t find this information in your high school textbooks. V sits down with RuPaul's Drag Race queen Mrs. Kasha Davis aka Edward Popil and queer public relations icon Cathy Renna to discuss crucial past events that shaped anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. They’ll share what it was like being out in the 80s and 90s and how becoming more visible often attracted more backlash. We’ll also hear about the importance of queer representation, solidarity and activism. Follow Cathy online at @CathyRenna & Mrs. Kasha Davis at @KashaDavis. Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, V breaks down the implications of doctors' testimony about the Uvalde victims and why it could be a turning point to promote change in gun safety regulations. They also take a look at what the current Jan. 6 hearings related to Insurrection Day at the Capitol could mean for Trump's future. And they uncover how the U.S. government’s space agency is forming a task force to find out more about potential extraterrestrial life. Then, stay tuned for an in-depth conversation with one of the most visible reporters online - Washington Post tech journalist Taylor Lorenz. Taylor joins V to talk about all things internet culture, what it means to report on the internet and how to hold internet culture accountable at a time where online arguments and lack of civility have become the norm. Follow Taylor online at @TaylorLorenz and catch her work at the Washington Post. Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.  Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this deep-dive interview, V takes a closer look at one of their favorite social media outlets, TikTok, and why the popular platform has left Twitter and Instagram in the dust as it has risen to fame. V brings on TikTok personalities Lamar Dawson and Jon Kung to talk about how they’ve found community online in the culinary and music spaces. We’ll hear about what opportunities the platform has opened up for them, what it’s really like behind the scenes of producing a video and keeping up with trends, and what it means to become TikTok famous and get paid for going viral.     Follow Lamar on all social platforms at @dirrtykingofpop. Chef Jon Kung can be found on TikTok at @chefjonkung. Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

V Spehar is out from under the desk and into your ears! They're starting off by sharing some of the headlines you may have missed this week, including exactly who’s rewriting the national reading curriculum, how Biden may have actually started the U.S. student debt crisis, and how people feel about returning to the office after working remotely during the height of the pandemic (spoiler alert: not great!) Then, a conversation with Jules Suzdaltsev, a Ukrainian-born journalist and creator of the hit TikTok show, “Good Morning, Bad News”. V and their news bestie discuss how Jules has navigated the ever-changing media landscape, why news outlets are censoring graphic content, and how citizen journalists are using social media to teach us about events like the war in Ukraine.   Follow Jules’s work on TikTok at @goodmorningbadnews and on Twitter at @jules_su.  Keep up with V on TikTok at @underthedesknews and on Twitter at @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.    Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok star V Spehar is climbing out from under the desk and heading straight into your ears. Twice a week, the Under the Desk News host will highlight the “v interesting” parts of stories dominating headlines today and unpack the broad themes you’ve needed help understanding. Part explainer, part thought-starter show, all V Interesting. Premieres June 7, from Lemonada Media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.