Janet Varney Wasn’t In Being John Malkovich. But She Lived It.

Podcast listeners know Janet from the JV Club podcast here on
Maximum Fun. Television audiences know her from You’re The Worst
and Stan Against Evil, among many other credits. And fans of live
comedy might know Janet as one of the founders of SF
Sketchfest. 


But there was a time in Janet’s life when she didn’t know her as
much of anything. As a young person, she dealt with depression
and anxiety as well as a condition that you don’t hear talked
about nearly as often: DPDR, or depersonalization derealization
disorder. It’s a condition that brings about periods where you
feel like you’re separate from the body that you’re traveling
around in and like the world you’re in isn’t necessarily real.


Janet says the movie Being John Malkovich was a revelation in
that she saw a big screen depiction of what this felt like.


We learn about Janet’s girlhood goth phase, wearing lots of black
in the hot Arizona sun, an exciting move to California, a
dispiriting foray into live journalism, and, well, figuring out
who she is.


Listen to Janet Varney's podcast The JV Club on the podcatcher of
your choice. Follow Janet on Twitter @janetvarney and on
Instagram @thejvclub.


Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly
members of Maximum Fun. 


Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear
what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you
like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at
depreshmode@maximumfun.org.


Help is available right away.


The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255,
1-800-273-TALK


Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.


International suicide hotline numbers available
here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines


The Depresh Mode newsletter is available twice a week. Subscribe
for free and stay up to date on the show and mental health
issues. https://johnmoe.substack.com/


John's acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is
available here.


Find the show on Twitter @depreshpod and Instagram @depreshpod.


John is on Twitter @johnmoe.