

V Interesting with V Spehar
Lemonada Media
Sometimes TikTok superstar V Spehar needs more than a minute to bring you the news. The Under the Desk News anchor is bringing their sharp outfits and sharper commentary to a new weekly show with Lemonada Media. V highlights the interesting parts of stories we often lose in the chaotic news cycle and goes deeper into the complex, evergreen Big Issues that matter most, but don’t have a simple, Tweetable solution. Part explainer, part thought-starter show, V’s goal is to make you the most well-informed and “v interesting” person in any crowd.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 15, 2022 • 49min
Survey Says, Secret Fees, Secretary Buttigieg
Beyond candidate races, the midterms were a battle of ballot questions. V breaks down the impact these results will have on communities across the country, from capping power in the highest courts to consolidating law enforcement in local counties. Plus, are you frustrated about all the fees you pay when you buy concert tickets? You’re not alone — your president’s fed up, too. Then, V is joined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg! On the first anniversary of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the two discuss the changes the country has already seen and everything that’s coming down the pike. Buckle up, ‘cuz we’re talking planes, trains, and infrastructure bills. Follow @USDOT on Twitter and find even more updates online at https://www.transportation.gov/. 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. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, 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.

Nov 11, 2022 • 48min
The Price We Pay the Legal System
Imagine getting pulled over because your car’s tail light is out or your window tint is too dark. For millions of people each year, the price of one traffic ticket creates a never-ending cycle of punishment and poverty, keeping adults and juveniles tethered to the U.S. criminal justice system through predatory fines. V sits down with Miranda Sheffield and Joanna Weiss, two advocates who work directly with impacted communities to eliminate the fines and fees associated with the legal system. Ranging from license suspensions to the loss of voting rights, there are many ways people are punished for not paying off minor offenses, and these experts discuss what can be done to stop it.To get involved in Miranda and Joanna's work, follow the National Center for Youth Law @NYCLnews and the Fines and Fees Justice Center @FinesandFeesJC on Twitter. 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.

Nov 8, 2022 • 48min
Midterm Mayhem, Recuse Me, Iran from America
It’s midterm Tuesday, people! Did you know polling places used to have alcohol onsite? And that future elections could be controlled by fewer and fewer people? V’s talking everything voting — past, present, and future. They’ll also turn an eye to the Supreme Court, which was down one justice in a recent case. Then, V is joined by Negin Farsad, comedian and host of the podcast Fake the Nation. With lineage and firsthand experience in Iran, Negin shares what it’s really like under an authoritarian government and offers ways we can help those fighting against it. Follow Negin Farsad at @neginfarsad on Twitter and Instagram, and find Fake the Nation wherever you listen to podcasts.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.

Nov 4, 2022 • 52min
Let’s Talk About Down There with Dr. Jen Lincoln
“Don’t have sex. You will get pregnant — and die.” This line was delivered by a fictional high school coach in the movie Mean Girls, but it alludes to a real problem within the education system: that the vast majority of U.S. states don’t teach medically accurate or inclusive sex education. Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, an OBGYN and author, is trying to change that. Instead of scaring or shaming people, she’s meeting them where they are and setting the record straight, starting with the vulva. V invites Dr. Jen to answer all the necessary questions about periods, STIs, pubic hair, and vaginal emergencies. Plus, she gives a look at the lengths she’s had to go to educate, like planting books in libraries where talk of contraception and abortion is restricted.Follow Dr. Jen on Twitter at @DrJenLincoln and at @drjenniferlincoln on Instagram and TikTok. And pick up Dr. Jen’s book, Let's Talk About Down There, and check out her website on reproductive healthcare products. 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.

Nov 1, 2022 • 46min
V in D.C., Christmas Creeps Closer, Our Rich BFF
That’s right — the White House invited V back! They recap their experience in D.C., where it was made clear that TikTokers continue to be central to education and engagement. V also breaks down the business of Girl Scouts, plus why retailers are embracing the holidays even earlier this year. Then, they chat with a guest who’s right on the money: TikTok’s “Rich BFF” Vivian Tu! Boasting credentials like owning a $2M NYC apartment, Vivian comes armed with tons of tips for making money work for you. Follow Vivian at @yourrichbff on TikTok and @your.richbff 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.

Oct 28, 2022 • 52min
Meet V by the Fountain
What are some nostalgic things you remember doing at the mall? For V, it was working their first job at Bath and Body Works, buying CDs from Radio Shack, and watching people take glamour shots at JCPenney. The mall was once poppin’, and it used to be the hottest place to build. What happened? Architecture critic and author Alexandra Lange joins V to talk about the inside history of the mall, from the design features that make malls an iconic American institution to when their popularity began to drop off. Plus, where the “dead mall” narrative came from and why repurposing them could help communities like the unhoused. Follow Alexandra at @langealexandra on Twitter and 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.

Oct 25, 2022 • 46min
Midterms Aren’t Mid, Zombies, The Power of Puerto Rico
The U.S. midterm elections always shake up politics, and this year is no exception. V breaks down how races all over the country have gotten competitive in unexpected ways, making voter turnout all the more critical. Plus, the science of how Halloween works its magic on us — yes, there’s a specific reason why eerie smiles are scary. Then, V shares a powerful conversation with Wilfred Labiosa, the executive director of Waves Ahead, an organization in Puerto Rico that works to protect the island’s most vulnerable communities, especially its queer elders.Follow Waves Ahead Puerto Rico on YouTube and at @wavesaheadpuertorico on Facebook.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. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, 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.

Oct 21, 2022 • 49min
Throwback: V’s Secret Friend, Hank Green
In this fun past episode of V Interesting, V chats with Hank Green, the founder of VidCon and a true Renaissance man. Hank is a familiar voice to everyone who watched Crash Course educational YouTube videos in school, and he’s also 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.

Oct 18, 2022 • 46min
The Plan B for Plan B, A Bad Time for Birds, Doggone Cancer Treatment
This week, V is slinging history lessons. They unpack how recent executive orders from President Biden stand in stark contrast to the “chastity laws” of the past, which made everyday sexual activities a federal offense. Plus, V highlights the hidden historical gems in the new movie Amsterdam — beyond TSwift’s period attire, of course. They’re then joined by multihyphenate medical provider Dr. Renée Alsarraf, who treats cancer in dogs and wrote a book about how it’s helped her care for herself.Follow Dr. Renée Alsarraf at @reneealsarraf on Instagram and pick up Sit, Stay, Heal: What Dogs Can Teach Us About Living Well wherever books are sold.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.

Oct 14, 2022 • 53min
Go Ricki! Go Ricki! It’s the Ricki Lake Episode!
When V thinks back to their childhood, they remember rushing home from school to watch the Ricki Lake Show. That's where they learned about diverse relationships, how to stand up to bullies, and that wearing blazers is cool. Now, V’s talking to the show’s iconic star about how she went from starring in Hairspray to being the youngest talk show host that audiences had seen to producing documentaries inspired by her personal stories. This jam-packed journey is what inspired Ricki’s new retrospective program with Lemonada, "Raised By Ricki," and it turns out her life today is just as full: of happiness, love, and podcasts. Follow Ricki at @rickilake on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to her podcast. 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.