The JV Club with Janet Varney

This week’s Boy of Summer is the delightful, uke-strumming, movie-riffing, dog-paw-admiring, nose-fluting Kevin Murphy ("Mystery Science Theatre 3000"; Rifftrax), who regales JV with tales of abruptly-ending football “careers,” sibling album-borrowing, and how a certain summer song can accidentally transition into a “Flashdance" favorite. 

Originally aired 6/26/14   This week with the always wonderful Paul F. Tompkins: build a snow tunnel, sing a few piano tunes, or recite Edgar Allen Poe in the place where his macabre work truly shines, a brightly lit classroom. Boys of Summer continues!

From a shared mutual love of the “Miss Chevious” detective novels to the perennial -- if scary -- appeal of an old diving suit, JV and this week’s Boy of Summer Jordan Morris (Jordan Jesse, Go!) cover a lot of ground in both the real and thoroughly made-up worlds of Earth, Earth 2, veiny comic book characters, and maybe the best name ever for a turn-of-the-century baseball team.

Originally Aired 6/11/2015 Hey, everybody — it’s the sublime Marc Evan Jackson! The latest Boys of Summer episode will reveal some compelling and charming new things about the man you may also know as Sparks Nevada from Thrilling Adventure Hour. Addendum: you will not be asked to sign a pledge to abstain from drinking, smoking, sex, or dancing during the consumption of this episode. We are not the boss of you.

This year’s first Boy of Summer and longtime JV pal Tony Hale ("Veep”) relives the fond and not-so-fond memories of his youth... but for goodness’ sake DO NOT ASK HIM ABOUT ANYTHING pre-7th grade! Plus: Asthma, cigarettes, and unfortunately artfully dodging being the Artful Dodger. 

Calling all witches! Head up to a wild and lovely mountain outside of Santa Barbara for this magical yet utterly grounded visit with “Unreal” creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, who completely inspires JV with her honesty, humor, and particular and surprising fierceness that comes along with skiing to Enya!

A chance airport encounter finally yields this episode with the charming Marla Sokoloff (“Fuller House”) who patiently indulges Janet’s love of “The Practice” and pontificates with JV on relativity, dry mouth sounds, music-making and the clown in A Christmas Carol(!).

Put in your nose ring and pull on your long skirt for a meander through the delightful misadventures of teenaged Gaby Dunn (Bad With Money Pod). Plus, Gaby and JV bask in some mutual crime/murder/justice television and podcasting love, and discuss the phenomenon of listening to other people listen to Phish.

Tidy up your closet fort and put a new coat of wax on your race car bed for this Seattle-centric chat with Eddie-Veddered-hair Tarin Anderson (Take My Wife). See you in the darkroom, shutterbugs!

The stars aligned this week and very fortuitously brought us the stars of the new film Duck Butter, Alia Shawkat (who also co-wrote and co-produced) and Laia Costa (who co-produced) for a chat about basketball, double lives, and the discovery of maybe the most charming pronunciation of an American cartoon ever. 

The fabulous Bree Essrig talks boarding school magic, construction-site hook-ups, and the times in your life when wearing your bra on the outside of your shirt just feels right. Strap on your aviator hat and all hands on deck for Commander Crazy!

Attention Dillards shoppers: Episode 282 with Rachael O’Brien (Be Here For A While podcast) brings lots of embarrassing tidbits about both Rachael and JV’s earlier years, though Rachael arguably walks away with more dignity overall! This episode could aptly be enjoyed on a long walk through Los Angeles, if you’re in the neighborhood.

Put on your grown-up glasses and fire up your self-walking dog for this visit with comedian and author Laurie Kilmartin (Dead People Suck: A Guide for Survivors of the Newly Departed) as she and JV talk swimming breakthroughs, sadistic teachers, and chewing-not-swallowing in Episode 281 of the podcast!

Throw on your best speakeasy togs or your plaid school uniform for this chat with the brilliant delight that is musician Jill Sobule, who meanders with JV along topics like mountains vs. ocean views, metaphorical circuitry-exploding friend crushes, and the wonders of the short-lived Viva magazine.

Actress Nicki Micheaux (Lowlife, Animal Kingdom) blows JV away with an immediate name-drop of Prescott, Arizona, and what follows is a spirited chat ranging from the criminal justice system to the super-heroism of parenting to the appeal of a good vampire.