The Johnjay Van Es Podcast
From the mastermind behind one of the most popular morning shows in the country, Johnjay Van Es brings his signature blend of curiosity, humor, and fearless honesty to the podcast world. If you’ve ever had a question on your mind but were too afraid to ask, don’t worry—Johnjay’s got you covered.
With hilarious, jaw-dropping conversations, amazing guests, and the inside scoop on everything you actually care about, this show is a wild ride through the stories you’ve never heard and the truths nobody else dares to say. Whether it’s celebrities, trendsetters, or just the most interesting people on the planet, nothing is off-limits, and no question is too bold.
Come for the interviews. Stay for the insanity. This is the podcast you’ll be talking about. Don’t miss it!
Episodes
31 episodes
Want Hollywood-Level Scripts? Learn From Director Ric Roman Waugh
What if an action movie could make your heart race and actually hit you in the chest? We sit down with director Ric Roman Waugh, the stuntman-turned-filmmaker behind Shelter with Jason Statham, to talk about making actio...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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31:11
What You Think Is Healthy Might Be Hurting You
Forget The Shiny Wellness Trends. This episode with Dr. Daniel Pompa goes straight to the stuff that actually moves the needle. We pull apart hydrogen water hype, plastic-lined cans, and wellness marketing, then build a real...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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57:29
Regeneration Is the NEW HEALTH HACK Everyone Misses
Want the real story on stem cell treatments? Dr. Rafael Gonzalez breaks down what actually works, what is marketing hype, and why the results come from signaling, not new organs.You’ll learn:What culture-expanded umbil...
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1:13:08
Stop Chasing Quick Fixes and Start Training Your Brain!
Pressure doesn’t disappear under the bright lights; it explodes. We chat with the Phoenix Suns’ performance psychiatrist about how players keep their cool, bounce back from injury, and avoid the flashy “quick fixes” that don’t actually ...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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53:09
15-Year-Old Recker Eans Now Pop Star — Here’s How!
What happens when a 15-year-old turns raw talent into a real music career without losing himself? We sit down with Recker Eans and his firefighter dad to hear the story from birthday drum kits to a Republic Records deal and a boy band boot camp...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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1:02:38
You Won’t Believe How She Went From Intern to President of Phoenix Raceway
She started as a 16-year-old HR intern just trying to pay for acrylic nails. Now she runs Phoenix Raceway.This episode is a full-throttle career story. Growing up in the West Valley, buying a condo at 21, learning money early, and saying...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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1:08:36
This Soul Food Is More Than a Meal — It’s a Statement!
From a family kitchen to iconic restaurants, Larry “Lo-lo” White shares how he turned home recipes into Lo-lo’s Chicken & Waffles and a growing hospitality empire.Hear stories from his record-label days, celebrity encounters, and les...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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49:37
The Secret Sauce Behind a Pizza Empire with Joseph Ciolli
Build a global pizza empire without selling out, that’s the story of CEO, Joseph M. Ciolli, behind 50+ Grimaldi's locations and a clean-label sauce brand sold on Amazon, Walmart, and 5,000 stores worldwide.We dive into heritage, franchis...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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1:03:24
Gadgets Can’t Fix Health, But This Can!
Boost your heart health with simple, science-backed habits that actually work. Preventive cardiologist, Dr. Jack Wolfson, shares how sleep, clean food, movement, stress management, and toxin reduction improve heart function ...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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1:20:50
The Van Es Couple Reveals the Secret That Keeps Them Solid
Phones crashed, callers vanished, and even a Disneyland giveaway went sideways— but Johnjay Van Es and his wife, Blake, turned chaos into laughs and real talk.We dive into life at home, rescue dogs, LovePup Family Fest, and the little ri...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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26:16
Is Content Overload Killing Real Learning? Let's Find Out with Pardis Mahdavi
We kick off nervous and end up in one of our boldest chats yet. Our guest, Pardis Mahdavi, has stared down traffickers, survived 33 days in detention, and spent 18 hours in a sealed shipping container with 31 women. She breaks down human traffi...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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1:12:24
Better Questions = Real Trust. Here’s Why!
Chris Tuff went from rock bottom to a life built on better questions, saved asks, and everyday courage.We get into fun, practical tips for actually connecting—why “saving your asks” beats the LinkedIn spam, how a quick video message pack...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:14:31
Radio Host Turned Wellness Fairy Godmother. Here’s the Story!
What if half the “food” in your pantry is actually just keeping you tired and craving more? Let's unpack that. From leaving pop radio to starting Culture Apothecary, we share the real-life health wake-up that changed everything, plus th...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:15:14
Would You Hire for Culture Fit Over Credentials?
What if hiring your next CEO started with a real conversation instead of a job post? Max Hansen, co-founder of Y Scouts, shares how he turned recruiting into a purpose-driven adventure, matching leaders to roles that actually fit w...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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1:15:07
What Happens When You Challenge Your Body and Mind Daily?
The Foundry: Hot Yoga, Sweat, and CommunityA tiny hot studio, a stubborn dream, and a community forged in 105 degree. This is how Nicole built The Foundry, a yoga network where people come to sweat, heal, and start over. We...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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48:33
Not Your Average 21-Year-Old: Building Habits, Not Hype
What do you get when a 21-year-old skips college, gets married young, and starts building a life from pure purpose? A story that’s equal parts guts, growth, and gratitude. We talk about how a move to Molokai shaped everything...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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26:06
From Rehab to Rebrands: The Comeback Story You Didn’t Expect
Joe Polish: Recovery, Marketing & the Business of Being HumanWhat if the same principles that heal trauma could also build great businesses? Entrepreneur and recovery advocate Joe Polish shares how connection, not compe...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:38:20
What Do You Gain from Thousands of Hikes If Not Fitness?
Restaurateur Craig DeMarco (Postino, Le Grande Orange) has logged 4,600+ hikes up Camelback Mountain, not for fitness, but as a daily meditation that shaped his approach to parenting, partnership, and community.In this episode, Craig sha...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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59:15
How Close Are We to Training the Body to Kill Cancer?
What if your immune system already knows how to fight cancer, if only it could see it? In this episode, immunotherapy pioneers Dr. Matt Halpert, Dr. Dan Rubin, and Dr. Rafael Gonzalez explain how their breakthrough at Immunoscene “...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:06:20
My Sister’s Job Is Way Cooler Than I Thought
Elvia Van Es Oliva didn’t just “break into” reality TV; she built a whole career out of it. From her very first job as a temp on Rescue 911 to interviewing Steven Spielberg and eventually running shows for Gordon Ramsay’s studio, her s...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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52:16
Are We All Just Zombies in Disguise?
What if you’re being zombified right now, by your phone, your gut microbes, or even your dog? Dr. Athena Aktipis, the “Zombie Professor,” breaks down how unseen forces influence our thoughts and behaviors in ways we don’t realize. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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53:30
The Van Es Family Birthday Special
Family takes the spotlight as JohnJay rings in his birthday with wife Blake and oldest son Jake in a crossover conversation that’s equal parts heartfelt, funny, and real.From marriage communication (including why John admits he goes to b...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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42:09
What If Every Argument Was a Chance to Get Closer?
What happens when an engineer and a nurse discover their true calling as marriage coaches? Meet Aaron and Jocelyn Freeman, the couple behind a relationship coaching movement that’s helped thousands of partners shift from survivin...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:15:00
Turning ADHD Struggles Into Stories
What if all the scattered thoughts, half-finished projects, and “doom piles” weren’t flaws but part of how your brain is uniquely wired? ADHD expert and author Meredith gets real about her late diagnosis and how finally understandi...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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52:51
Behind the Scenes With the Van Es Family
What do you get when a radio show spinoff turns into a no-filter family chat?JohnJay Van Es and his wife Blake sit down with their son Kemp, who takes over the interview chair with listener questions and his own take on growing u...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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16:37