V Interesting with V Spehar

When it comes to special-edition McDonald’s products, employees aren’t lovin’ it. V explains how adult Happy Meals are just one recent example of nostalgia and fandom drawing crowds and putting pressure on workers. V also breaks down the different levels of holidays, as the nation splits between Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. Then, V sits down with Dr. Sidhbh Gallagher, the surgeon known on TikTok for providing gender-affirming care to grateful patients. She and V discuss the nitty t*tty of top surgery, the political climate surrounding her Florida-based practice, and the peace and satisfaction she gets from her work.Follow Dr. Gallagher @gendersurgeon — and her patient Noah @theonlynoah_withnoark! — on TikTok. Keep up with V on TikTok @underthedesknews and on Twitter @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.

What’s the first thing you look for on dating apps? Nowadays, the kids are checking for height and…political affiliation? As we learn this week from Maddie Medved and Samantha Kanter, hosts of the podcast Girl and the Gov, politics has become personal. Civics class didn’t prepare us for this! With midterm elections just around the corner, they share with V all the issues that are inspiring young voters to show up to the polls. V also gets curious about how candidates can use social media to meet millennials and Gen Z where they are, plus the tools Maddie and Sammy launched to help bridge that gap. Follow Maddie and Sammy at @girlandthegovpodcast (for guest information and behind-the-scenes details) and @girlandthegov (for voter action items) 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.

Halloween isn’t the only spooky thing happening this fall. In Italy, the newly elected prime minister is unearthing some concerning politics of the country’s past, and many people have eyes on the U.S. Supreme Court to see if they might do the same — their newest term starts this week, and a lot of consequential cases are on the docket. But not all is dark! V shares how the government is engaging more everyday people, and how more everyday people can make trick-or-treating better for everyone. Then, V chats with filmmakers Robin Hofmann and Laura VonMutius about the film they created for a child’s Make-a-Wish dream, sharing highlights from behind the scenes and the details of V’s special cameo. Follow Robin’s company, Hoffy’s Heart Productions, on Facebook and Instagram; follow Laura and Mute Majesty on Facebook and Instagram. And stream the short film SpecialTee now!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.

It’s officially fall! Time to bust out the Halloween decorations, order an overpriced latte, and curl up with a spooky story. Lemonada’s Book Club powered by Penguin Random House is sure to help you get your ghoul on: this month’s pick is none other than the debut novel by Crime Junkie host Ashley Flowers, called “All Good People Here.” V welcomes Ashley on the show to talk about how she went from the #1 true crime podcast to a #1 New York Times bestseller. We’ll hear about the inspiration behind the murder mystery, why it’s set in Indiana, and how it’s just another way she’s expanding her true crime footprint - even if she thinks she’d make a bad detective. Follow Ashley at @ash_flowers on Twitter. And get more info about the Lemonada Book Club and sign up for our newsletter at lemonadabookclub.com. 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.

It’s been more than a week since the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman who was killed while in police custody for wearing her headscarf too loose. Today, V catches us up on the raging protests happening in Iran and abroad in support of bodily autonomy. They’ll also explain how the U.S. government would respond to a (hypothetical) nuclear attack, then shine a light on a poet's call to action for the (very real) climate crisis. Then, stay tuned for a conversation with Ellen Scanlon, host of How To Do The Pot. She’ll tell us how she’s breaking the grass ceiling by helping demystify weed for women and other marginalized groups often left out of the cannabis conversation. Plus, tips on what to do before using cannabis and how to choose a dose that works for you. Follow Ellen on Twitter and Instagram at @dothepot. 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.

When offenders cause people harm, the criminal legal system is quick to cause more harm. The incarceration system is unforgiving and cruel, but as we learn this week, there’s a more humane approach to getting justice that also puts survivors first. V invites restorative justice experts Cymone Fuller and Danielle Sered on to talk about their work in this field. We’ll hear about how the length of a person’s incarceration has no direct benefit to the healing of the person they hurt and why restorative justice programs work to resolve conflict and reduce harm. Plus, how you can make a difference on a small level by implementing these practices in your own communities. Keep up with Cymone and Danielle’s restorative justice work on Twitter at @impactjustice and @common_justice.  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.

Last week, you might have heard that the railroad strike was averted, but as V tells us, that's actually just a tentative deal. There's more that needs to happen to make it official. Next up, we all know money makes the world go round... and apparently it also gives you the clearance to solve public health crises? V explains how billionaire Bill Gates is using his clout to control global vaccination response. Then: COVID tests, hours of waiting, intense security, and autographed red, white, and blue M&Ms. We’ll hear about V’s exclusive trip to the White House. They were briefed about the administration’s new healthcare and climate policies and even offered Vice President Kamala Harris a little food for thought about the Great Lakes. 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.

Coming out as a person seeking therapy to your partner, parents, or friends can be difficult, and sometimes even dangerous. Sometimes the people who are supposed to love us most are the first to hold us back, or we feel guilty for “leaving them behind” as we grow through various seasons of our lives. You’re not alone in your journey — in fact, millions follow clinical counselor Shani Tran for her candid takes on therapy, and this week she chats with V about who can benefit most from therapy and how newbies can get started. From questions you might not know to ask in an appointment to when to go “no contact” with harmful people, these tips will leave you more prepared than ever. Follow Shani on TikTok and Instagram at @theshaniproject. Her book, Dope Therapy: A Radical Guide to Owning Your Therapy Journey, is out now.   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, V’s digging into how federal judges are chosen and how the Federalist Society plays a significant part in the decision-making process. They’ll explain why this once student-led organization has become one of the most influential legal groups ever. We’ll also hear about a prestigious Ivy League university offering some students free tuition, and V breaks down the concept of learning loss and what we can do to help kids catch up academically. Later, they’ll share how having dyslexia has both challenged and empowered their approach to learning. 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, V’s opening up about something very personal that has shaped the last seven years of their life. Through this tragedy, V found comfort and support in Lemonada’s mission to help “make life suck less” and decided to leave their dream job to pursue a higher purpose. At a time when V didn’t have all the answers, they leaned on one of the most stabilizing forces in their life to help make sense of a loss. In this powerful and insightful conversation, V meets with Lemonada co-founder and Last Day host Stephanie Wittels Wachs to talk about substance use disorder, harm reduction, and grief. We’ll hear about the healthy ways of managing an addiction and the resources available to help you or your loved one get through those tough times.  Follow Stephanie at @wittelstephanie on both Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to catch her series Last Day and Call For Help.  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.