Jodi Picoult is an American writer who currently has approximately 14 million copies of her books in print worldwide, translated into 34 languages. She joins Jonathan to talk the process of writing, what goes into being a successful author, tackling tough subjects, and more.

Find Jodi’s work at https://www.jodipicoult.com. She’s on Twitter and Instagram @jodipicoult.

Find out what today’s guest and former guests are up to by following us on Instagram and Twitter @CuriousWithJVN.

Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.

Check out Getting Curious merch at PodSwag.com.

Listen to more music from Quiñ by heading over to TheQuinCat.com.

Jonathan is on Instagram and Twitter @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook.

Comedian and chart captain Steven Brody Stevens joins Howard and Young Kev to dissect the modern comedy special on a brand new Who Charted! Brody helps count down Shazam’s Top 5 Songs while he and Howard plan a trip down under and spill the beans on lost podcast episodes. Then, we’ll hear about the John Cena element plus a very special Transformers Trapper Keeper during the Movie Chart, and Howard soliloquizes on the divergences between the rap and rock scenes as they count down their Hot Picks.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/CHARTED code: CHARTED) and Robinhood (CHARTED.Robinhood.com).

Chef Kevin “accidentally” leaks Sean’s audition to join the cast of Saturday Night Live.

This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: THEBOYS) and Quip (www.getquip.com/THEBOYS).

Award-winning actor Alfred Molina shares tales, from being shown the ropes by Harrison Ford for his first gig on Raiders of the Lost Ark, to improvising in Boogie Nights, “That’s Cosmo. He’s Chinese.” And much, much more…

In 90 minutes, a graphic design student will have her first-ever job interview. Luckily, Gethard is on the phone to help her get calmed down and psyched up.

Uh oh! Jess and Zach are locked out of the studio this week while Every Place I Cry, the emo band with 4 lead singers including Neal Nocturne (Ross Bryant) and Moshe Black (Nick Mandernach), plus Aloysius Moody (Scott Passarella), And You Will Know Me By My Trail of Picks (Brett Morris) and Pain A’wiccans (Dana Wickens) record a doc of their latest studio session. With tear inducing tunes like “I Wanna Be Infotained”, “Rattlesnake Dick”, and “You’re Rubbish! (Back Off!)” you won’t be ashamed to release your true emotions after listening to this special ep.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/OFFBOOK) and The Real Real (www.therealreal.com code: REAL).

Welcome all WOMPsters to the new year! Marissa and Listler ring in 2019 with child psychologist Dr. Bill Doyle (Ben Rodgers of Ghosted, Workaholics, Comedy Bang! Bang!). Dr. Doyle talks about why he said no to Oprah, what caused his PTSD, and which kid at Marina Del Rey High has the most complicated problems. Plus, Dr. Doyle provides semi-professional insight for “Listler’s Love Lockdown” before reflecting on a foray into the music biz and his biggest missed opportunities during “Spotlight On.”

Due to some unfortunate real life stuff, we had to take one more week off without an episode but here’s a fun scene set in Arnie’s bedroom. And we’ll be back Jan 14 with new episodes.

Credits:

Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Ryan DiGiorgi, Evan Jacover
Editor: Tim Joyce
Theme Music: Andy Poland
Magic Tavern Logo: Allard Laban
Audio Assistance: Jason Knox
Production Assistance: Garrett Schultz

Gilbert and Frank kick off 2019 by welcoming back the legendary Dick Cavett, who shares delightful anecdotes about Jack Benny, Stan Laurel, Truman Capote and Walter Winchell (among others) and looks back on memorable interviews with Orson Welles, John Lennon, Frank Capra, George Harrison and Laurence Olivier. Also, Peter Lorre fails an audition, Lily Tomlin storms off the stage, Bob Hope comes to Lincoln, Nebraska and Jack Paar sabotages “Fat Jack” Leonard. PLUS: Oskar Homolka! “Chuckles Bites the Dust”! The return of Richard Loo! Johnny Carson disses Jerry Lewis! And Dick introduces Groucho at Carnegie Hall!

This episode is brought to you by BlueChew (www.bluechew.com code: GILBERT).

Ben Schwartz and Horatio Sanz join Scott to ring in the New Year and share what they want to achieve in 2019. Then, professional baseball player Johnny Salese stops by to share the story of the birth of Mr. Met. Later, storyteller Chris Grezlik stops by to play a game of Riddle Me This. Plus, the debut of a brand new Closing Up the Plugs Bag Theme Song!

This episode is brought to you by I’m Sorry on truTV and Stamps.com (www.stamps.com code: BANGBANG).

How well do you read Latin? Because if you’re not all that good at reading Latin or other dead languages, good news: you could have still had a job as an 1800s historian. Fun example: there’s a story claiming the Roman emperor Caligula was SO CRAZY, he sent a whole army to a beach to pick up seashells for him. However, the Latin word ‘musculi’ means both “shells” and “military huts”, so he likely actually told his troops to pack up their campsite. Which is normal. That’s a completely different kind of emperor, right? And here’s a fun thing: your pop cultural understanding of the Roman Empire is approximately that far off of the truth, in a lot of fascinating ways.

On this week’s episode of The Cracked Podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by Siobhan Thompson (CollegeHumor, BBC America) and Patrick Wyman (Tides Of History, ‘Jeopardy!’) for a trip through the inaccurate lies you’ve been fed about the ancient Romans, and also the much more interesting true things you never knew about them. Get your head straight about everything from mighty gladiators to ancient fast food to the stunning economic benefits of living near a former Roman road.

Footnotes: http://www.cracked.com/podcast/overrated-myths-and-underrated-facts-about-ancient-rome/

Paul F. Tompkins has some fun laughing and welcoming listeners back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is hip-hop artist Open Mike Eagle! Then, they are joined by improvisers Ally Beardsley, Chris Grace, and Jacquis Neal, to improvise a story set In a Magician’s Apartment. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/PFT code: PFT), Palm (www.palm.com), and Leesa (www.leesa.com/PFT code: PFT).

As the party winds to a close, John meets up with his first boss Michael Nesmith to talk about the Monkees, Television Parts, and the afterlife–and to find out if Nesmith tinkered with a video game to gain an unfair edge in a competition with John in 1985. Jack Handey refuses to take sides even though he was there, while Nick Kroll shares an old Deep Thoughts-related injustice. Sara Watkins talks about the invitation from her that led to Nesmith playing music again after a long hiatus. And John gets sloppy as he and editor and co-host Mary Kobayashi reminisce about the season…and take a risk.

TomboyX CEO Fran Dunaway sits down with Cameron to discuss inclusive sizing, running a Christian group home, and drawing inspiration from wonderful customer feedback.

This episode is sponsored by True & Co. (www.trueandco.com/QUEERY code: QUEERY).

Comedian, actor, and podcaster Marc Maron feels nervous about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.

Marc and Conan sit down this week to chat about beginner podcast tips, difficult interviewees, health scares, and why they don’t hang out. Plus, Conan receives feedback on his showmanship from his assistant Sona during a new segment called Ways In Which Conan Is Like Freddie Mercury.

Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: (323) 451-2821. For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com.

This episode is sponsored by Campaign Monitor (www.campaignmonitor.com/CONAN), Athletic Greens (www.athleticgreens.com/CONAN), tasc Performance (www.tascperformance.com code: CONAN), and HotelTonight.

In June 2017, a mother of 5 spent an hour talking to Chris while in a waiting room, about to hear life or death test results from her daughter’s oncologist. A year later, she tells Chris that all her daughter wants is for her and her family to keep living life, to know it’s okay to be happy and to fight to keep her message, Love Is Everywhere, alive. Find more Beautiful Follow-Ups plus all of the Beautiful Anonymous archives, completely ad-free, only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com/stories and use promo code ‘STORIES’.

Michael is joined by Another Period co-star Paget Brewster to read an intimate scene between the notorious cousins following an incident with Sue’s gossipy classmates.

(This is a rebroadcast from 2/28/2013. As the Put Your Hands Together team takes a break during the month of December, we invite you to enjoy this gem from our archives.)

Peerless sets from Rory Scovel, Myq Kaplan, Beth Stelling, Greg Barris, Rhea Butcher, and Paul F. Tompkins as “Cake Boss.” Cameo from Bruce McCulloch, and your host Cameron Esposito.

Casey and Danielle celebrate a new year and a new marriage…that will soon end in divorce, RIP Marty Caffrey and Danielle Staub, we hardly knew you. They are joined by hilarious comedian and writer Chelsea Devantez to talk Beer Cheese , morning fart time and the paper of Record: The Bergen NJ Record”. Plus Casey, always an onion, reveals a regretful roommate assault.

This episode is brought to you by Leesa (www.leesa.com/HOUSEWIVES), BHLDN Wedding Dresses (www.bhldn.com code: HOUSEWIVES), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/HOUSEWIVES), and Lightbox Jewelry (www.lightboxjewelry.com/housewives).

Negin is joined by Matt Rogers, Leah Bonnema, Baratunde Thurston, Jody Avirgan, Jason Selvig, and Davram Stiefler to consider questions such as: What does it mean for people to be charming? Will millennials save the institution of marriage? Are we all just selling ourselves online?

Guest co-host Eliza Skinner is back for a threepeat on this week’s Throwing Shade! Eliza and Bryan usher in the new year with stories of dating, hookups and breakups before getting into the hottest topics. First, we’ll hear about the resignation of Grindr’s director of communications in response to CEO Scott Chen’s Facebook post that marriage is between a man and a woman. Then, they’ll get into a comprehensive new report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research explaining why the gender gap is actually worse than we think it is and why it disproportionately affects women of color.

And make sure to check out Deeper Shade of Shade on Stitcher Premium, where Bryan and Erin interview their favorite friends of the show. For a free month of listening, go to stitcherpremium.com/shade and use promo code ‘SHADE’.

This episode is sponsored by Simple Contacts (www.simplecontacts.com/SHADE20 code: SHADE20) and Good Trouble.

Gavin Speiller, John Gemberling, and Horatio Sanz join Matt Besser for a LIVE improv4humans! They’ll revisit holiday classics that inspire scenes about songs from the director’s cut of Frosty Returns, re-dubbing The Fat Albert Christmas Special, and the processing line at the Island of Misfit Toys. Plus, we’ll meet a man seeking a permit for machine guns on his car and a therapist with an obnoxious wrap-up song.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/IMPROV code: IMPROV).

Scott, Paul and Lauren discuss Freedom Rock, retirement and play The Laughing Game.

Scott and Paul F. Tompkins have arrived to the final part of the Best of Comedy Bang! Bang! 2018 countdown with numbers three, two, and one as voted by YOU. Happy New Year!

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BANGBANG) and Hotel Tonight.

This week Paul & Amy ride deep into Texas for The Searchers! They discuss the complicated legacy of John Wayne, place the film in the context of Western history, and look at The Searchers’ influence on directors from Martin Scorsese to George Lucas. Plus: Joely Proudfit speaks to us about American Indian representation in film history, and The Searchers in particular.

For Unforgiven week, who would you rather have in your posse – John Wayne or Clint Eastwood? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

Lex speaks with ESPN’S Jody Avirgan, but he has a little help: He’s joined by Harrison Goldberg and Brody Pontarelli from Grace Church High School. The three ask Jody about the process of turning popular documentary series 30 for 30 into an audio format. Lex and Jody also give Harrison and Brody pointers on launching their own sports podcast, With Further Review.

Wondering aloud with Kulap Vilaysack. (This previously released Players Club episode was recorded on December 10, 2018.)

Katie Couric is an American journalist and author. She has hosted shows for every major television network, including Katie, Today, CBS Evening News, and 60 Minutes. She joins Jonathan to discuss her long career in journalism, how she uses her voice and various platforms to showcase different perspectives, empowering others through her work, the current political climate, and more.

Find Katie’s work at https://katiecouric.com/ She’s on Twitter https://twitter.com/katiecouric and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/katiecouric

LIsten to the Couric Podcast here:

http://www.couricpodcast.com/

For more music from Quiñ head to TheQuinCat.com.

Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Also Twitter and Facebook.

Catch Jonathan on Queer Eye streaming now on Netflix.

This episode is sponsored by Freeform, Grove Collaborative (www.grove.co/JVN), Article (www.article.com/JVN), and thredUP (www.thredup.com/JVN).