V Interesting with V Spehar

Today, V invites comedian and co-host of I’m Sorry, Hoja Lopez, to chat about how CNN is shifting the way it covers news to mirror a right-wing media outlet. And how far would you go to get a blue checkmark on Instagram? We’ll hear about a verification scheme that cost users thousands of dollars. V and Hoja also weigh how effective some protesting tactics are – like wearing Handmaid’s Tales costumes and using coat hanger iconography – when fighting for reproductive rights. Plus, resources on how to safely receive emergency contraception and medical abortion pills. Later, V asks Hoja about public apologies, cancel culture, and owning up to your mistakes.  Follow Hoja at @alohahoja on both 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.

When you think of a union job, do you imagine a blue collar worker in a hard hat with a lunch pail? The reality is that the labor movement belongs to a lot of people, and its history is different from what you probably learned in school. This Labor Day weekend, V talks to journalist and activist Kim Kelly about her book "Fight Like Hell." Kim is a third-generation union member who tells us about the lesser-known groups that helped fuel the movement. We’ll hear about how there’s power in collective action and where the labor movement is headed today. Follow Kim on Twitter at @GrimKim and on Instagram at @KimKellyWriter.  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 is trying something new by bringing on stand-up comedian Trae Crowder to go over some interesting headlines together. Because V gets kind of lonely over here! Speaking of, a recent article in Psychology Today claims men are lonelier than ever. Turns out trolling women on the internet and waiting three days to text back doesn't translate to matches. Good news though! You are better than that, and we'll talk you through leaving toxicity behind. Trae gives us his trademark "liberal redneck" take on the student loan forgiveness decision and shares his own experience of dealing with college debt. We’ll also hear about the unsealed affidavit used to justify the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago. Plus, Trae’s post-and-ghost approach to social media, and advice he has for other liberal rednecks in unfriendly environments, such as family dinners. Follow Trae at @traecrowder on Twitter and TikTok. 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.

Most people grow up in a home with their loved ones. But very rarely do people grow up in a funeral home with a stranger's deceased loved ones. This week, V chats with their favorite mortuary director, Eileen Hollis, about growing up around death and helping her dad run the family business. Eileen uses her TikTok account to demystify death and answer questions everyone’s dying to know like can you be buried naked? And do dead people really sit up? We’ll hear about her job of embalming and beautifying people who have passed. She’ll also walk us through what happens after we die, what questions to ask when planning funerals and what opportunities you can pursue within the death care industry.  Follow Eileen at @hollisfuneralhome on TikTok 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.

V got to talk to the actual Secretary of Education about student loans - and we’ve got the exact notes on the 3-part effort to manage student debt. There’s a ton of misinformation, disinformation, wishes, hopes, and dreams out there right now - so we’re giving you only and exactly what is most true as of this moment. In today’s mini episode, V breaks down how to identify yourself to the Department of Education for forgiveness and how to re-apply for the public service loan forgiveness program, especially if you’ve been denied in the past. Plus, answers to your most pressing TikTok questions on when, how, and who pays for student debt forgiveness.More loan forgiveness information for student borrowers and public servants.  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’s putting your information literacy skills to the test by taking a look at recent news that didn’t happen but received a lot of attention. Sometimes the truth doesn’t make for an interesting story, so people spice it up with lies in the hopes of getting clicks. And in these cases, it worked. V debunks rumors including New York City’s water being contaminated with polio, the IRS hiring for armed jobs, and Denmark banning kids from getting vaccinated. So, how do we spot false news and make sure we’re spreading facts? V asks Google Product Manager Nidhi Hebbar to weigh in on the issue. We’ll hear about what tools Google has launched to combat misinformation and how to identify lies early enough to flag for friends and family. Follow Nidhi at @nidhihebbar on Twitter and take a look at Google’s misinformation tools. 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 most people think of home economics they imagine women baking muffins and caring for practice babies. But this week, we’re learning that the field was much more than just “stitching and stirring.” It was an empowering way for women to gain respect and recognition. Journalist and author Danielle Dreilinger joins V for a look back at the history of home economics and how it shaped American culture. We’ll hear about the personal lives of home economics women who decided to either stay at home or join the workforce. Plus, what role HBCUs and science universities like MIT played in creating this field, and how unsung economists of color helped push the movement forward.  Follow Danielle on Twitter at @djdreilinger. 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.

They determine our financial livelihood. They use our past against us so we can’t move forward. And no matter how hard we try, they never make us feel creditworthy. Today, V’s talking about the outdated and scammy credit score system, and how it’s disproportionately affecting women and communities of color. Equifax? More like Equifake! We’ll also hear about why the FBI is busy handling investigations against Trump and branches of the Southern Baptist Convention. Plus, how one of V’s favorite political TikTokers uncovered an ugly truth about local elections. Then, stay tuned for an honest and vital conversation about prioritizing our mental well-being with Zak Williams. We’ll hear about the new mental health hotline 988 and how the death of Zak’s father, Robin Williams, helped start him on his own path to better mental health and advocacy work. Follow Zak at @zakwilliams on Twitter and @zakpym 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.

This week, Comedy Central writer and comedian Rose Kelso joins V for lots of laughs. Rose uses her Long Island upbringing and Jewish background to connect with viewers both on professional stages and social media platforms. We’ll hear about writing jokes for different audiences, dealing with hecklers and criticism, and staying rooted in compassion even when she’s firing people up. Plus, what inspired some of her hit musical comedies like Boomer Stoop and European Boys.  Follow Rose at @longislanddirt_ on Twitter and TikTok. 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 looks into how a married couple from Hawaii stole the identities of two deceased children from Texas to escape their past. Also, why are so many countries angry at America right now? Valid, but not a great look. Then we’ll give an update on how Roe v Wade is affecting abortion rights across the country about a month after the ruling was overturned. And while many people are still streaming movies from the comfort of their homes, a record number of us are buying movie tickets and hitting the theaters again. V chats with two popular Gen Z movie reviewers, Maddi Koch and Rendy Jones, about the best seats and snacks, favorite summer blockbusters, and big films to watch out for this fall.  Follow Maddi on TikTok at @maddikoch and Rendy on Twitter at @rendy_jones. 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.