Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

A lot of us have a complicated relationship with movement - blamed, shamed, or stuck in routines that don’t truly serve us. But what if movement wasn’t about perfection, punishment, or performance? What if it was a powerful tool for connection, self-care, and resilience?

This week, we’re diving deep into the psychology behind group fitness and movement’s ability to heal, empower, and transform lives. From JVN’s personal journey of finding community through yoga and gymnastics to hosting a joy-filled adult gymnastics experience with Airbnb, he explores how movement can help us reclaim our mental health, confidence, and sense of belonging.

We break down how to create inclusive, nurturing spaces that honor the whole person - taking into account family stress, gender identity, trauma, and systemic barriers - so movement becomes a source of liberation, not shame. 

Dr. Tess Kilwein, a sports psychologist, is dedicated to making group fitness accessible and affirming for all bodies and minds. Her work on the psychology of movement shows us that movement is a radical act of self-love and collective healing.

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here. 

Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Dr. Tess Kilwein @unapologeticpsych 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn

Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from: Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Best selling author Anna Malaika Tubbs stops by to tell us all about her book, Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us and helps us hone in on real time examples of our Patriarchy is being weaponized today. Anna unpacks how the United States has constructed a unique - and often invisible - gendered hierarchy, one that is inextricably linked to whiteness and a deeply flawed binary system. From the founding fathers to the current Supreme Court, from the erasure of women in the Constitution to the ongoing fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, Dr. Tubbs reveals the mechanisms that have kept women’s contributions hidden and their voices suppressed.

Anna Malaika Tubbs is a scholar, advocate, and bestselling author (The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation) whose work brings a fresh, urgent perspective on American history and its gendered systems. With a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Masters in Multidisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelors in Medical Anthropology from Stanford University, Anna translates her academic knowledge into clear and engaging stories. Her articles have been published by TIME Magazine, New York Magazine, CNN, Motherly, The Huffington Post, For Harriet, The Guardian, Darling Magazine, and Blavity. Anna’s storytelling also takes form in her talks, including her TED Talk that has been viewed 2 million times, as well as the scripted and unscripted screen projects she has in development. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, former Mayor of Stockton, CA Michael Tubbs  and their three young children.

Follow Anna Malaika Tubbs

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and executive producer Chris @amomentlikechris 

New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every Wednesday. 

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from: Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giving birth is a MAJOR medical event, and we're learning about how to get the best possible experience for YOU with Jen Hamilton, the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Birth Vibes .

From birth plans and building the right support team to navigating fear, nursing, and the reality of “bad” birth stories online, Jen shares practical advice and compassionate insight for every kind of parent-to-be. Whether you’re considering a hospital birth, home birth, epidural, natural labor, VBACs, supporting someone going through their birthing process, or you have absolutely no idea where to start whatsoever, this episode is here to help you feel informed, confident, and supported through your pregnancy journey.

BIO: Jen Hamilton is a labor and delivery nurse recognized for her expertise in maternal and newborn care. Drawing from frontline experiences, Hamilton guides families through childbirth, managing high-stakes scenarios that require precision, empathy, and rapid decision-making. Her ability to explain the complexities of labor and delivery, combining clinical knowledge with storytelling, has established her as a speaker who clarifies the childbirth process. 

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here. 

Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube. 

Follow Jen Hamilton on Instagram @_jen_hamilton_

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re talking: Morning routine optimization, TikTok controversy analysis, Jen Hamilton's bestselling journey, The Sopranos, Lost, Lincoln Memorial Swimming Pool, Time travelers, and our Hot B*tch of the Week. 

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here. 

Catch Getting Better & The Monday Edit, now on YouTube! 

Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive content, bonus episodes, and more! www.patreon.com/jvn 

Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris 

Executive Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re unpacking the mindset of money with Mrs. Dow Jones (Haley Sacks)! What money mindsets will set you up for the most success? Why is "girl math" low-key not great? What is treat culture and a "money date?" What role does money play as a proxy for security, status, and self-worth? We're gonna figure out and get better money habits together! You don’t need to have everything figured out  - you just have to start somewhere.

Catch Haley's podcast " Financial Tea" wherever you listen!

Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour ⁠here⁠. 

Full Video Episodes now available on ⁠YouTube⁠. 

Follow Haley Sacks on Instagram ⁠@mrsdowjones ⁠

Follow us on Instagram ⁠@gettingbetterwithjvn⁠ Jonathan on Instagram ⁠@jvn⁠

Senior Producer, Chris McClure

Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure

Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall

Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure.

Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected].
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices