How to Work With Yourself, Not Against Yourself with Gretchen Rubin

How to Work With Yourself, Not Against Yourself with Gretchen Rubin

Author: Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness August 19, 2026 Duration: 54:24
Gretchen Rubin is back on Getting Better for a happiness check-in with JVN! This week, they’re talking about what actually helps us understand ourselves, and why knowing how we respond to expectations can make it easier to change our habits, navigate relationships, and create a life that feels better. Gretchen breaks down her Four Tendencies framework — Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel — and explains how our tendencies can shape everything from motivation to relationships. JVN and Gretchen also get into managing negative emotions, the importance of our environment, balancing self-acceptance with growth, and why slowing down can sometimes give us the clarity we’ve been looking for. Plus, Gretchen shares what she’s learning from her latest creative obsession, watercolor, and gives us a look at her upcoming Four Tendencies workbook. Check out Grethcen’s Four Tendencies workbook here.  Watch the stories from our AU Docket Drop here. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Gretchen Rubin on Instagram @gretchenrubin Follow Getting Better on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn  Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know that feeling when you’re just trying to figure it all out, and you need a guide who’s equal parts insightful and hilarious? That’s the space where Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness lives. Hosted by the beloved Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye, this podcast turns genuine curiosity into a powerful engine for personal growth. Each episode feels like a vibrant conversation with a deeply empathetic friend who isn’t afraid to ask the big, awkward, or wonderfully silly questions. Jonathan sits down with a diverse array of experts, authors, and thinkers, weaving together discussions that are as enlightening as they are unexpectedly funny. The result is a unique blend of education, comedy, and culture that tackles everything from societal issues to the intimate details of self-improvement. You’ll find yourself laughing one moment and having a profound revelation the next, all while feeling less alone in the challenges of modern life. This isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about the ongoing, messy, and beautiful process of understanding ourselves and the world. Produced in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, the podcast delivers consistently engaging audio experiences that are both a lifeline and a joy. Tune in for a weekly dose of warmth, wit, and the kind of conversations that leave you feeling genuinely better equipped to navigate your own path.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness
Podcast Episodes
Why We Love Office Supplies w/ the "Staples Baddie" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:43
“Y’all, let’s make a mug. Tap in.” As we continue to thrive during Pride Month, JVN sits down with TikTok superstar Kaden Rowland, aka the “Staples Baddie,” to talk all things office supplies, retail life, and internet f…
The Psychology of Group Fitness & Coregulation  w/ Dr. Tess Kilwein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:05
A lot of us have a complicated relationship with movement - blamed, shamed, or stuck in routines that don’t truly serve us. But what if movement wasn’t about perfection, punishment, or performance? What if it was a power…
How To Have The Best Birthing Experience For You w/ Jen Hamilton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:52
Giving birth is a MAJOR medical event, and we're learning about how to get the best possible experience for YOU with Jen Hamilton, the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Birth Vibes . From birth plans and building t…
Hantavirus, HIV Funding, Styling Irish Curls, and Scarf Updates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
This week, we’re talking: JVN’s UK tour, Sally Field lore, crossed wires over wifi, scarf game, Swedish Death Cleaning, Edie Beale, South Korea & Japan travel, a financial-themed Spelling Bee, “How My Mom Tried To Kill M…