The JV Club with Janet Varney

Get ready for an incredibly intimidating and bitter rivalry this week. But— t’s not between JV and the fantastic Kelly McCaughan (Catholic Guilt)— it’s a long-held feud between Kelly’s high school and another which shall not be named. So grab a fistful of triple creme brie and let’s GO!

It’s a mother and daughter reunion this week, at least when it comes to “The Legend of Korra!” JV is joined by her fabulous co-star Alex McKenna ("Red Dead Redemption 2") who voiced Senna, Korra’s mom! In THIS world, JV and Alex might resemble sisters a bit more, with lots of only child energy to go around. So grab a single, double, or heck— triple cheeseburger and settle in!

Do you like chickens? How about singing chickens? Regardless of your answer, you should still treat yourself to this episode with the delightful Maggie Robertson (Resident Evil: Village, Baldur’s Gate), who curls up on JV’s couch for cheesy goldfish and a float down Lazy River. Grab your raft and jump in!

Get ready for a San Francisco-style hair-buzzing with one of the shining stars of You’re the Worst, Aya Cash, as we dash from Buddhism to dental care jewelry (yep) to the startling discovery of youth that not every citizen is a Bay Area liberal

Step into our lovely world of comedy, horror, and goth gorgeousness with this week’s guest, Morgana Ignis (Helluva Boss)! From carefully planned bus routes to skateboards that chew off your boot heels, this episode is all about journeys… in all kinds of forms! So smash that burger, fold that slice, and let’s roll!

We’re off to Iowa with this week’s hilarious guest, Rebecca Hanson (Mystery Science Theatre 3000)! Is it our own tiny, fun version of the Iowa caucuses? Not really! Do JV and Rebecca get a bit state-of-the-union about it all? It’s the right week for it! So grab that weird-textured sushi and pull up a beanbag!

You’ve heard our Tegan & Sara and Juliet Landau episodes, now meet the woman who helped make them happen! It’s filmmaker Chen Drachman (But I’m a Shoe), who gave JV the chance to voice a sneaker! So grab a cone, pint, or quart and settle in for a chat about first loves of all sorts!

Grab your passport and get ready to dazzle French crowds with your voice, just as this week’s guest, Ethio-Jazz Singer-Songwriter Meklit Hadero did! This revelation leads to some very fun parallel-lives moments with JV and Meklit, who both went to France between their jr. and sr. years of H.S.— though Meklit’s experience was decidedly more cosmopolitan!

Janet Varney has a new podcast with John Hodgman! Every episode they'll showcase a new state and explore its iconography-- especially it's often complicated, pretentious and latin motto.Their first stop on their tour of every state, commonwealth and territory in the United States is Connecticut. Why Connecticut first? They’ll explain.Hear more about its legendary rich, sandy loam, the grape-filled seal, and its many attempts to create a state motto that sticks.Plus, Janet speaks with Amy Holden Jones, creator of the film Mystic Pizza. Amy will tell us about how her movie was directly inspired by Connecticut… and give her own suggestions for a new state motto.Produced by Julian Burrell.Senior Producer at MaxFun is Laura Swisher.Find E Pluribus Motto on Instagram and TikTok.And send us a voice memo, message or photo about an upcoming state to Emailpluribusmotto@maximumfun.org.

Are you there God? It’s our guest, Jen Kober! Take a saunter from the bayous of Louisiana and end up with Cirque du Soleil— yes, Cirque de Soleil!! — with this charismatic and hilarious comedian. (No wonder she won all those student council elections!) 

This week we’re very excited to take you to the island of Mauritius, where LAZOU (Nuances podcast) spent her teenage years! So fill a bowl with mouth-watering lychees, throw on a lab coat, and get ready for a thoughtful, fun, and yes, we’ll say it— nuanced conversation with LAZOU!

Hearken back to a time when you were expected to know your athlete bf’s bench press number with the fantastic Stephanie Kerbis (tons of stuff including the show she did with JV, Your Daily Horoscope), who’s ready for the best kind of street pizza— and knows there’s a musical out there for everyone!

Polish up on your Russian with the amazing Sarah Natochenny (Pokemon), who joins JV for an IN-PERSON chat (Y’all, it’s been awhile!) touching on the caché of being a freshman singing with the seniors, Broadway taking a backseat to voiceover and a whole career in editing, and much more! So grab some cheesy balls and let’s do this! 

Settle into this conversation with the ever-well-spoken and delightful Boy of Summer James Urbaniak (The Venture Brothers), who will emphatically set the record straight about his high school dating life! So grab that bag of potato chips and let’s dig in!

You don’t have to have your pilot’s license to fly high into this conversation with JV and Boy of Summer Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital), who talks NYC improv, poltergeists, and the awkwardness of puppet bath time. So slick that hair back and throw those Wayfarers on!

It’s the legendary Jenette Goldstein (Aliens, Titanic, T2) who graces us with her presence on this week’s ep! From doing theatre at the storied Beverly Hills High, to a move to England that changed everything, to her current amazing and delightful creations (where the alphabet starts at “D!”), Jenette might just be the humblest icon around!

Boys of Summer 2016 hums along with considerably more relaxed ease than you’d feel if you had to drive a double-decker, British-steering-wheel-on-the-right-side bus through Savannah with Clint Eastwood counting on you. Luckily if you’re Gary Anthony Williams (The Boondocks, Rick & Morty), you navigate everything with grace, humor, and killer improv chops.

Tune up your singing voice— or at least your talk-singing voice for this delightful conversation with Boy of Summer Jim O’Heir (Parks and Rec), who has surprised his teen-era friends by becoming an actor, so don’t expect any 16-year-old Jims playing Harold Hill. But there’s still time! For now, grab some Spanish croquettes and listen in!

It’s our great honor to welcome one of the most unique Wicked Witches in the history of Oz! It’s the great Michael Hitchcock (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), who defiantly takes us from Ohio and springs us into Illinois (these puns will make more sense after you listen, but they probably won’t be any funnier). This episode is an instant Boys of Summer Classic!

Saddle up for an early ride on the internet — OG Pokemon fans, anyone? — with our delightful Boy of Summer Ryan Copple (Go listen "Voyage To The Stars!", who also takes us on a catfishing journey with a moral at the end, and so much more. So dive into that ramen, and let’s umami!