442 - Repeat These 2 Words to Reinvent Yourself with Jonathan Van Ness

The Marie Forleo Podcast

Marie Forleo

Education, Self-improvement

4.7 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 27 May 2025

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if two simple words could change how you see yourself - and your future? In this powerful peisode, Jonathan Van Ness shares the surprising phrase that helped them stop spiraling self-talk and start living with purpose, creativity, and courage. From overcoming people-pleasing to embracing their natural talents, JVN gets real about how they learned to let go of fear, find their voice, and thrive as their most authentic self.

Jonathan Van Ness is a New York Times bestselling author, comedian, host of Getting Curious, founder of JVN Hair, and beloved star of Queer Eye. Their new young adult novel Let Them Stare is a joyful celebration of queer identity, resilience, and possibility.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

02:50 - "Crop failure!" The 2-word mantra that changed everything
05:50 - Why fear means you're doing it right
09:07 - Behind the scenes of JVN's creative process
15:07 - Why going home could be the boldest move you make
18:02 - Finding the courage to be disliked
21:01 - Queer Eye secrets: how the show (and cast) evolved
24:05 - The hardest parts of helping others on-camera
27:14 - Internet fame vs. real life: JVN gets honest
31:21 - The unexpected grief that caught them off guard
36:51 - Healing, heartbreak, and the power of showing up
41:54 - How JVN built a team that actually supports them
44:45 - From impulsive shopper to financially free
51:51 - JVN's evolution as a comedian - and what's next

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MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU:

How to Get Anything You Want (Free Audio Training) → https://www.marieforleo.com/how-to-get-anything-you-want

LET THEM STARE: Grab your copy of JVN's new book → https://amzn.to/3FjGFHI

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Today's guest is an unstoppable force of nature. Now, you know them as the beloved beauty and
0:05.4	self-care expert on Queer Eye, a show that's won six Emmys and changed lives around the world,
0:11.6	including mine. But Jonathan Van Ness is so much more than a TV icon. They're a best-selling
0:17.7	author, podcaster, activist, entrepreneur, comedian, and more.
0:22.9	From Emmy nominated beginnings with Gay of Thrones to getting curious, their new YouTube show,
0:28.2	getting better that I was just a guest on, bestselling books, children's stories,
0:32.4	their hair care line, JVN hair, Jonathan is truly living proof that you never, ever have to fit yourself into one singular
0:39.2	box.
0:39.9	You can create your own.
0:41.6	So buckle up because this conversation is going to be so much fun, so healing, and so
0:46.9	full of joy.
0:49.7	First of all, you don't know this, but I fell in love with you hard during the holidays,
0:55.1	like just a few months ago.
0:57.0	I was in a really, really tough place with my family.
1:00.8	I was in a really, really tough place, like in every which way.
1:03.4	And I was taking a break from basically the world, but I needed something nourishing to watch
1:10.0	and forgive, but I had never dove in to
1:13.5	queer eye before. So I started binging and I started with the new season, season nine,
1:18.0	and then worked my way backwards. And just you, your energy, the whole show, it was like
1:24.1	super healing for me. So I just want to thank you for that. Thank you for watching.
1:28.3	Oh my gosh. And so one of my favorite moments, I was literally pulling out my camera and I was both like
1:33.3	crying and laughing so hard because of you was episode four when you said that you knew a lady
	...

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