JVN Gets a Lesson in Singing & Finding Confidence with Vocal Coach Cheryl Porter

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

Sony Music

Science, Self-improvement, Comedy, Education, Society & Culture

4.9 • 21.5K Ratings

🗓️ 24 September 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Vocal coach, and now Broadway star in “& Juliet.”, Cheryl Porter sits down with Jonathan Van Ness for an unforgettable voice lesson that’s about more than just singing. Cheryl doesn’t just teach notes — she teaches confidence, positivity, and how to let go of shame to truly find your voice. They dive into Cheryl’s decades long career in Italy, watching Queer Eye dubbed in Italian, the realities of racism in Italy, and the universal power of finding your authentic voice. From unlearning shame to staying connected to your inner power, Cheryl shares how singing isn’t just for professionals — it’s a life-changing tool for anyone brave enough to open their mouth. Plus— JVN gets some pointers ahead of their Carnegie Hall debut in Breaking The Binary Theatre’s production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. Follow Cheryl Porter on TikTok @cherylporterdiva Follow Cheryl Porter on Instagram @cherylporterdiva Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Anne Currie and Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey Better Babes. I'm Jonathan Van Ness and welcome to Getting Better.
0:03.3	We all have big dreams, but not that many of us can stay positive enough, work hard enough,
0:08.8	and be resilient enough to achieve them. And a world that can tear us down, how do we stay
0:14.5	dreaming big? That's why today's guest is so perfect. She has a voice, she has a talent, and she's got a personality that is so
0:23.1	unique and so her own. It is Cheryl Porter, or Mama Cheryl. She's a beloved vocal coach,
0:30.1	former opera singer, Motivator, star, and now Broadway Powerhouse in Ann Juliet. Cheryl has 22 million followers on TikTok, 12 million subscribers on
0:41.9	YouTube. That is huge. She is coaching fans online, inspiring beginners, and commanding the stage.
0:49.6	Cheryl proves it's not just about singing, it's about feeling powerful. So today, we're getting better
0:55.7	at dreaming big. And also, I'm tired of sounding like shit in the car when I sing, so hopefully
1:00.0	Cheryl's going to give me a little mini singing lesson too. Let's go to our conversation with Cheryl.
1:06.1	All of us have big dreams. Not many of us can stay positive enough, work hard enough, or be resilient
1:12.8	enough to achieve them. In a world that is built to tear us down, how do we stay dreaming big?
1:20.4	That's where you come in, Queen. How are you, Cheryl?
1:22.6	Hello, my darling! I cannot believe I'm seeing you in real life. Don't even try it.
1:28.1	The feeling is mutual.
1:29.0	I can...
1:29.4	I've been a fan of yours and following your journey for years. I'm so excited to be here. You've been on my explore page. Just on my export page. You've been giving me so much Instagram, Joy, which is random that I follow you on Instagram. I love it. It's where you're like... I like to be a contrarian.
1:43.6	You know, I'm going to follow where like the,
1:44.7	like, where it's like,
1:45.6	because your Instagram or your TikTok and your YouTube,
1:48.2	I'm like,
1:48.3	you know, I'm going to follow where like the, like, where it's like, because your Instagram or your TikTok and your YouTube, I feel like I could get lost. That's right. I'm like getting lost in there. But I just, I love your social presence. It's so beautiful. Thank you. Your energy and your talent and your like knowledge for music is. Thank you, sweetheart. so beautiful and big. And it's just also, can I just say,
	...

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