The JV Club with Janet Varney

Get out your spray paint can and mentally tag to your heart’s content but for heaven’s sake DON’T ACTUALLY GO OUT AND GRAFFITI (is that a verb?) unless your heart tells you that you must. Just like some people’s hearts tell them to be actors or priests. And some priests tell people to be actors. This will all make more sense after you enjoy the charming and hilarious Eugene Cordero (Kong: Skull Island) as Boys of Summer sizzles onward!

The utterly marvelous Eban Schletter (Spontaneanation) sits down for a chat with JV about the wonders of Ennio Morricone, high school societal bummers of Piedmont, CA, and the gods’ gift to ice cream known as Fenton’s. Plus torn t-shirts, movie soundtracks o’plenty, and the snowy arctic climes of THE THING!!

It's a JV Club re-release with Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele)! Dog talk and tapeworm talk eventually give way to exploring identity as it relates to being adopted, how to get along with (almost) everybody, and the appeal of a really great plate of chili cheese fries.

Wocka wocka wocka! JV heads over to Casa Phirman to hang out with the delightful Mike (Hard ’n Phirm) and his pun-tacular brain. Sample boards, sushi chefs, single skis and more! This episode also contains one of the most complete yet least articulated versions of "Boys of Summer" yet!

True Crime podcast fans (“Serial” lovers, I’m looking at you in particular) alert! Boy of Summer Bob Ruff is not only smart as hell, charming, and determined to change our criminal justice system for the better, he also had a hand in post-Serial developments for Adnan Syed. This is big stuff, people! Join JV and Truth and the Justice podcast creator and host for a look back at how Bob arrived at this decidedly unexpected and totally awesome place in his life and career as Boys of Summer continues!

Guess what? Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder, West Wing Weekly) is more wonderful than you already thought he was! Join Hrishi and Janet as they explore — or should we say “explode?” — his formative years at a co-ed boarding school, his love of a good film auteur or two, and the unending delight at finding true love.

Polish your volleyball (and then realize you didn’t need to polish a volleyball) while you enjoy this Alberta-scented memory-ramble with the extremely cool Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead and every other cool show on tv right now) as his attention is repeatedly diverted by a heavy rainstorm. Boys of Summer continues!

Atten-HUT! Charming Boy of Summer and "Orphan Black" co-star Kristian Bruun has some amazing stories to tell about his high school years at Valley Forge Academy, where he triumphed on the trumpet, squared off all his corners, and most decidedly did NOT get to ride the military motorcycles. All this and more as Boys of Summer continues!

It’s the fabulous Zeke Nicholson (Comedy Bang Bang, Take My Wife) and his musings on the not-so-grueling responsibilities of being track captain, a rich appreciation for the town of Smallville, and the estimable value of a good late night run to McDonald’s.

It’s delight and joy personified with Boy of Summer Jon Heder, whose dedication and generosity as an Eagle Scout extended all the way to trying to fix Janet’s broken computer a few weeks ago. Find out how he and his twin brother Dan spent their teen years in Oregon, Jon’s mission in Japan, and then find out which imaginary creature his M.A.S.H. future holds!

Janet shares her live panel from the University of Chicago’s Sex Week.

Fresh from her debut as Mark’s guest co-host on Pistol Shrimps radio, it’s the divine Kristina Rodgers, who drops by to bond with JV over Siouxsie Sioux, the Electrical Light Parade, Pottery Barn and oh-so much more in episode 241 of the JV Club!

For friends and fans of Spontaneanation, you may know her as one of its frequent guests and brilliant improvisers! Others may know her best as Flo, easily the coolest and most watchable commercial personality thanks to good old Progressive. Here on the podcast you will come to know her as a lover of truffle butter, a “Shirley Temple,” and a onetime France resident who bought jeans by the pound.

Episode 239 brings you the first Boy of Summer, just a touch early, to celebrate the release of Jonah’s FANTASTIC Seeso show, “Hidden America with Jonah Ray!” Hear JV and JR chat about drum therapy, impressing our little kid selves, and oh-so-delicious SPAM.

Slip on your palazzo pants for a chat with the terrific Christine Lennon, whose new book “The Drifter” has coincidentally somehow combined three of JV’s faves: deep, complex friendships among women, origin stories/teen years, and murder. Hooray! Plus, a lot of Joans and a lot of jets!