The Truth About Bringing Your "Authentic Self” To Work - A Leadership Coach Explains

The Truth About Bringing Your "Authentic Self” To Work - A Leadership Coach Explains

Author: Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness March 5, 2025 Duration: 49:17
Work takes up more of our lives than almost anything else—so it’s no wonder that it can leave us feeling drained, stuck, and oftentimes further away from who we authentically are. This week, JVN is sitting down with leadership coach and author Mory Fontanez to unpack what it really means to bring your best self to work. Should we be striving for authenticity in professional settings—or is that idea just another workplace myth? How can we balance self-expression with professionalism? And what happens when we start valuing external validation over our own intuition? Mory Fontanez is an executive coach, speaker, and the founder of 822 Group, a consultancy that helps leaders and organizations navigate transformation. She’s also the co-host of the podcast Signal with Mory & Melissa, where she explores everything from workplace dynamics to the power of intuition. Her debut book, Higher Self: Reclaiming the Power of Your Intuition, is out March 11th! You can find Mory on Instagram @moryfontanez, on Tiktok @mory-fontanez, and on her website www.moryfontanez.com Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.  Go to nordvpn.com/jvn with our link, you’ll get an extra 4 months free on the 2-year plan and it’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee. 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: 100

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness
Podcast Episodes
Ten Seasons of Queer Eye: The Heroes Who Changed Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:27
Queer Eye Season 10 is upon us! This week, JVN gets personal and reflects on the last decade making Queer Eye. They also catch up with iconic heroes Tammye Hicks, Kathi Dooley, and Angel Flores on this very special celeb…
Queer Eye's Final Season, Bag University, Mifepristone SCOTUS Hearing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:21
This week we’re talking: the Final Queer Eye Season, Australia & New Zealand & Comedy Tour, Bag Purchase Update, Supreme Court Abortion Access Hearing, Co-Workers & Politics, and our HBOTW The Monday Edit, now on YouTube…
When Wellness Turns Dangerous: Inside the OneTaste Cult [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:55
Why do people join cults? JVN is joined by investigative journalist Ellen Huet, who spent years interviewing more than 125 former members to expose how a movement built around empowerment, intimacy, and “sexual wellness”…
Minneapolis, Policing Language, Bag Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:21
The Monday Edit, now on YouTube! This week: Wigs, buying bags, JVN Hairspray Launch, policing language, Gwyneth Paltrow singing, Renee Good, Minneapolis, Reading vs. Audiobooks. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive co…
Do I Have High-Functioning Depression? ( Dr. Judith Joseph) – ICYMI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:40
High-Functioning Depression—what does it really look like? ICYMI: JVN is joined by the brilliant Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, to explore high-functioning depression — what it is, how…
Are You Burnt Out? Learn How To PLAY Again! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:46
Play isn’t something we grow out of — it’s something we desperately need to return to. When was the last time you truly played — without trying to be productive, impressive, or good at it? This week on Getting Better, JV…
Feeling Isolated? Do This ONE Thing To Rebuild Real Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:17
Connection isn’t just about being around people — it’s about feeling seen. This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down certified mental health coach and founder of the SEEN Method, Morgan Burch, for a powerful conversatio…
Cleansing Our 2025 Algorithms - ICYMI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:00
This week, we’re looking back at our favorite Monday Edit moments - just like in the Golden Girls when they sit at the kitchen table with their cheesecake and reminiscence, we're looking back at what was going on in YOUR…