Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: Jonathan Van Ness, AKA, Professor Van Nasty's 'Sex Education for Adults'

Date: August 19, 2025

Overview

This episode of All Of It features a lively, candid, and insightful conversation between host Alison Stewart and Jonathan Van Ness (JVN) about their new comedy special, “Fun and Slutty.” The discussion highlights Van Ness’s mission to destigmatize sexuality, embrace shame-free living, challenge societal binaries around sex and gender, and find humor and honesty in lived experiences with identity, HIV, and personal growth. The tone is warm, witty, and straightforward, with Van Ness combining personal anecdotes, advocacy, and sharp observations about culture, politics, and the power of comedy.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Reclaiming “Slutty” and Destigmatizing Sexuality (03:18 – 05:18)

• Opening up the word “slutty”:

  • Van Ness explains why they chose to center their special around the word “slutty,” linking negative attitudes about sex to misogyny and resistance to genderqueer agency.
    • “How can I let people know that you can—that slutty doesn't have to only mean one thing?... it can speak to sexual freedom, but it also can speak to just, like, really loving something passionately, whether that's sexual or not.” (03:27, JVN)
  • The special and social media affirmations grew from JVN’s playful self-affirmations, like “you’re a hot slut,” used as a tool for self-love and breaking shame.

• Teaching societal lessons:

  • The show aims to encourage self-acceptance, highlight the rigidity of gender constructs, and inspire viewers by being a “possibility model” for those who haven’t seen themselves represented.
    • “You don't have to change yourself to be loved by other people.” (05:18, JVN)

Comedy, Identity, and Challenging Norms (06:25 – 08:04)

• Addressing intersex and trans experiences:
  • Discusses how biological sex and gender are distinct and the importance of recognizing intersex individuals within conversations on policy and identity.
    • “Even biologically there's not two sexes... it's a spectrum... that's two different things.” (06:38, JVN)
  • Emphasizes comedy as a tool for self-expression and resilience in challenging political climates.
    • “Comedy is a really important tool for us to exercise our patience and our freedom of expression.” (08:04, JVN)

Navigating Audience Sensitivities and Religious Upbringings (08:17 – 09:14)

• Tackling Christian nationalism and discomfort in the audience:
  • Van Ness recounts how poking fun at religious absolutism can make audiences squirm but believes it’s necessary for growth.
    • “I grew up in the church... I have an interesting perspective that resonates with so many people.” (08:17, JVN)

Shame, Self-Acceptance, and the Rules of Professor Van Nasty (09:40 – 10:29)

• Defining and confronting shame:
  • Shares a personal (and therapeutic) understanding of shame as an impediment to love and fulfillment.
    • “If someone knew this thing about me, then they wouldn't love me anymore. That's what Shame is.” (09:42, JVN)
  • Advocates for universal acceptance and forgiveness of oneself through shame as a path to liberation.

Fashion, Performing in Heels, and Feminine Bravery (10:48 – 12:24, 14:47 – 16:46)

• High heels as empowerment and tribute:

  • Describes the physical challenge and symbolic importance of performing in heels, inspired in part by figures like Nancy Pelosi.
    • “If Speaker Pelosi can do this in heels all day... I’m not gonna complain about heels.” (11:00, JVN)
  • Humorously admits to feeling the pain but embracing the aesthetic and statement.

• Patriotism via genderqueer visibility:

  • Reflects on the bravery required to present authentically in public and equates occupying space as a genderqueer/trans person with patriotic courage.
    • “The strength of my ankles in those heels is much larger than ... the bravery that it took is the bravery that it takes me anytime to wear what I wear, be who I am.” (14:55, JVN)
    • “Genderqueer people, trans people, non binary people ... when I go to a place, when I dress how I want to dress, I look for the exits.” (16:03, JVN)
    • “The way that we take up space... is more traditionally masculine on the inside—the bravery or resilience...” (16:30, JVN)

Confessions, Community, and Live Show Energy (12:24 – 13:24, 13:25 – 13:37)

• Audience participation:

  • Van Ness describes memorable moments from crowds in Belfast and Portland, highlighting the lack of shame and willingness to share personal stories.
    • “Belfast, North Ireland... had the most amazing responses... talk about lacking shame!” (12:36, JVN)

• Significance of Austin for filming:

  • Austin holds special meaning as home and as a symbolic place for queer performance in the face of restrictive state politics.
    • “I feel like an adopted, like, adult child of Austin... queer people in rural in red States are like some of the most amazing people doing the most and they deserve to be entertained, honey.” (13:37, JVN)

Messiness of Desire & Political Attraction (16:46 – 18:13)

• Complicated attractions:
  • JVN confesses to finding some Republican politicians attractive, exploring the tension between attraction and values.
    • “The last vestige of the patriarchy is my uncanny ability to completely separate someone's personality from their physical form. And so yes, I think Josh Hawley's Adam's apple is... I like it.” (17:14, JVN)

The Social Media Algorithm and Self-Discovery (18:57 – 22:28)

• Realizing algorithmic influence:

  • Van Ness describes losing time to TikTok and how algorithms curate content that deeply reflects personal fears and quirks.
    • “I really think the TikTok algorithm knows me better than I know myself.” (19:50, JVN)
  • Observes that these platforms are designed to maximize engagement (“their money is in their average”).

• Unexpected algorithmic findings:

  • Shares the odd mix of content surfaced by their feed—ranging from beauty tutorials to animal videos to Spanish-language ear health clinics.
    • “My algorithm is giving you external beauty, internal earwax, health. I just don't even know...” (22:12, JVN)

Vulnerability: Rehab, Asking for Help, & HIV (22:38 – 26:55)

• On rehab and asking for help:

  • Incorporates tales of rehab as both moving and hilarious, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and community.
    • “One thing that I talk about so much in the special is asking for help... I got so much health and just so much healing out of it.” (23:16, JVN)
  • Notes Midwest norms discouraging vulnerability.
    • “Don’t ask for help. Don’t stick out. ... Asking for help always made me feel like... I was weak.” (24:23, JVN)

• On HIV and humor:

  • Stresses the importance of finding humor and visibility within serious subjects such as HIV to combat shame and stigma.
    • “Shame thrives in secret and in darkness and, like, what can’t be exposed to light—like, you can’t, like, heal through it... I take a pill once a day. I feel amazing. I’ve never been cuter. The life expectancy... is 50 to 75 years. ... We need to keep talking about it.” (25:01, 25:07, JVN)
  • Raises alarms about current policy threats to PrEP access and the need for broad HIV awareness:
    • “Limiting access to [PrEP] is a literal threat to public health... HIV doesn’t care if you’re straight, it doesn’t care if you’re gay... it doesn’t care about... Yeah, thank you so much.” (25:01-26:55, JVN)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On stigma and empowerment:
  “You don’t have to change yourself to be loved by other people.” — JVN (05:18)
  “Shame thrives in secret and in darkness… you can’t heal through it.” — JVN (25:07)

• On queerness in challenging places:
  “Queer people and rural in red States are... the most amazing people doing the most and they deserve to be entertained, honey.” — JVN (13:37)

• On patriotism and bravery:
  “The strength of my ankles and those heels is much larger than... bravery that it took is the bravery that it takes me anytime to wear what I wear, be who I am.” — JVN (14:55)

• On social media:
  “I really think the TikTok algorithm knows me better than I know myself.” — JVN (19:50)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------| | 03:18 | Reclaiming "slutty"; origins of affirmation | | 05:18 | Lessons about passion and self-acceptance | | 06:38 | Biological sex, gender, and political stakes | | 08:17 | Audience discomfort on religion | | 09:40 | Shame & Class Rules | | 10:48 | Fashion & performing in heels | | 13:37 | Austin as the special’s home | | 14:55 | Patriotism & queer bravery | | 16:46 | Compartmentalizing desire (GOP crushes) | | 18:57 | Social media algorithms and self-reflection | | 22:38 | Rehab, the importance of help and humor | | 25:01 | HIV, shame, stigma, and public health |

Summary Tone

The episode weaves together humor, sharp insight, personal storytelling, and advocacy—staying true to Van Ness's energetic, playful spirit. It’s candid and unflinching in its exploration of sexuality, shame, identity, and politics, ultimately encouraging listeners to embrace authenticity, ask for help, and laugh through it all.