Hot Takes & Deep Dives
A podcast that offers quick hits and deep-cut discussions on LGBT pop culture icons and New York City culture. Featuring interviews with prominent LGBTQ+ figures and entertainers such as Rosie O'Donnell, Sandra Bernhard, and Margaret Cho. The show blends personal stories, cultural commentary, and celebrity conversations from a NYC perspective.
Episodes
Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic — Behind the Music, History of Tea Dance & more!
Jess is joined by Scissor Sisters frontwoman Ana Matronic (@msanamatronic)! Topics— first meeting JAKE SHEARS at The Slipper Room, STUART PRICE producing their "Night Work" album, the highs (and frustrations) of scoring a massive hit with "Let's Have a Kiki" while still failing to satisfy their record label, and why Ana chose not to reunite with the band on its current tour. Plus— Ana discusses lo
Madonna Confessions II Review (w/ Ben Rimalower & Mike Fernandez)
Jess is joined by Ben Rimalower and Boy Toy Mike Fernandez to review Madonna's Confessions II! Topics: Sean Penn lore, could "Danceteria" have been the "Abracadabra" of the album, Ben & Mike's first listen midnight journey, each of our Top 3, songwriting camps & more! IG: @jessxnyc | @benrimalower | @mrmikefern Jess' docu-series FINDING FIRE ISLAND about the history, mystique and lore of Cherry
Madonna Culture Debate (w/ Tony Trius, Mark Snyder, Kenny Finkle)
We will have our comprehensive review of CONFESSIONS II next week! But first, Jess joined by Mark Snyder & Kenny Finkle (All I Want To Do Is Talk About Madonna) and Tony Trius (MLVC) for a culture debate — MADONNA EDITION! Topics: our unpopular opinions, best live performance, best Truth or Dare moment, Tears of a Clown, how to fix Madonna, was longtime collab Mirwais trying to sabotage her? … and
Stories from Limelight, The Roxy, The Saint & '90s NYC Club Flyers (w/ David Kennerley)
Jess is joined by David Kennerley to pour over his coffee-table book (Getting In) showcasing more than 200 flyers he collected from NYC queer bars & clubs of the 1990s (ie: Limelight, Splash, The Saint, Pyramid, The Roxy), with commentary from Michael Musto, Linda Simpson, Lady Bunny, Chip Duckett, Ernie Glam, Mark Allen and more! Topics: the "Disco Sucks" era, backrooms during the HIV/AIDS epidem
BIG NEWS! Finding Fire Island Returns June 11!🌲🍒
ANNOUNCEMENT! 🌲🍒Finding Fire Island returns for Season 2 on June 11, with two episodes premiering on launch day.This season features interviews with Billy Porter, John Waters, Julio Torres, DJ Lina Bradford, Broadway Bares creator Jerry Mitchell, Fire Island icon Bob "Rose" Levine, and dozens of longtime Pines residents whose stories bring Fire Island's hidden history to life. Through 8 brand new
Charles Busch on Liza & Judy, Rosie O'Donnell, Joan Rivers & more
Jess is joined by playwright and "male actress" CHARLES BUSCH! Topics include: ROSIE O'DONNELL producing the disastrous Boy George musical 'Taboo,' performing at The Duplex in the late 70s, becoming close with JOAN RIVERS, the chaos of interviewing LIZA, working with NATASHA LYONNE, and how 'Vampire Lesbians of Sodom' became one of the longest-running Off-Broadway plays of all time. ⭐ Night of 1
Is West Wilson The Talented Mr. Ripley of Summer House? (w/ Jamie Stein)
Jess is joined by empath & intuitive JAMIE STEIN (@jamiestein) for a SUMMER HOUSE psychological deep dive. We unpack the subconscious dynamics behind West Wilson, Amanda Batula, Ciara Miller, Kyle Cooke, Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke. Topics— Kyle & Amanda's codependency, West's "Talented Mr. Ripley" / "Catch Me If You Can" shape-shifting energy, Carl & Lindsay, the spinoff "In The City," Tom San
Rachel Dratch on SNL, 30 Rock & Countess Luann Cabaret
Jess is joined by RACHEL DRATCH — beloved for her seven-season run on Saturday Night Live. Topics: Rachel's decades-long friendship with TINA FEY, her SNL casting story, being replaced by JANE KRAKOWSKI on 30 ROCK, and the surprise of discovering she was pregnant at 43. Plus: WINE COUNTRY, inspired by her real-life 50th birthday trip, and performing in COUNTESS LUANN's cabaret debut at 54 Below.
Ballroom Culture, POSE & How a Ryan Murphy Show Gets Made (w/ POSE's Steven Canals)
Jess is joined by the co-creator / writer / director of the FX series POSE — STEVEN CANALS! Canals discusses the series' inspiration via the landmark documentary PARIS IS BURNING and getting the script into RYAN MURPHY's hands. We discuss ballroom culture, Houses, "Vogue," and the series' music placements. We also discuss the casting of MJ Rodriguez (Blanca), Indya Moore (Angel) and Sandra Bernhar
Amber Martin on Bette Midler at The Baths, Touring w/ Scissor Sisters & more
Jess is joined by performance artist and rocker AMBER MARTIN (@msambermartin)! Topics — the origins of her Bette Midler at the Continental Baths show "Bette, Bathhouse & Beyond," winning the NYC artist housing lottery at Manhattan Plaza, touring with the Scissor Sisters, the Allways Cabaret in New Orleans, working as a flight attendant, radical faeries and more! ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @msambermartin
Hedda Lettuce on Madonna, Kim Cattrall & Surviving Drag
Jess welcomes beloved NYC drag legend HEDDA LETTUCE, boots on the ground in Puerto Vallarta after the recent cartel attack. Topics — Playing Kim Cattrall's ex-boyfriend on Sex and the City on stage with Madonna at the 1999 MTV VMAs, neighbors with Quentin Crisp, and cult movies at Chelsea Clearview Cinema. Plus — Shirley Q. Liquor, Heather Locklear at Cherry's on the Bay, and Hedda's journey from
Jonah Wheeler on Quitting Broadway to Become a S*x Work Sensation
Jess is joined by Broadway composer / orchestrator / adult star JONAH WEELER! (@showoffjonah). Topics — blind items about this worst Broadway experiences, music directing Sweeney Todd Off Broadway and the final straw that pushed him toward a full-on career pivot to OnlyFans. Plus: beating Instagram censorship, creating a new cabaret about that pivot with partner John Coons, the origin story
Culture Catch-Up: Jill Zarin, Twinless, Pillion & Heated Rivalry vs. Queer as Folk
Jess is joined by DAMIAN BELLINO & ANNE RODEMAN (co-hosts of "You Might Know Her From") for a wintertime culture catch-up! Topics — Jill Zarin fired (again), Sandra Bernhard cast in The White Lotus S4, The L Word corner, and why is Heated Rivalry accepted by gay men while Queer as Folk was not? Plus — we review the films Twinless, Pillion & Plainclothes. ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @damianbellino | @rodema
Daniel Nardicio Returns! Sandra Bernhard, John Waters, Zipolite & Patti LuPone's Rider
Jess welcomes back nightlife impresario DANIEL NARDICIO to talk about his latest venture in Zipolite, Mexico and the runaway success of running The Ice Palace in Cherry Grove. Topics — legalities of throwing s*x parties, surviving Patti LuPone's rider and stories from working with Sandra Bernhard, John Waters, Jennifer Holliday and more! ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @the_danielnardicio ⭐ Jess' docu-series
Lola Rocknrolla on Dean Johnson: '80s Genderf*ck Icon, Mysterious Death
Jess welcomes LOLA ROCKNROLLA, filmmaker of the brand-new documentary THE BIG JOHNSON, exploring the life and eerie death of DEAN JOHNSON: the 6'6", genderf*cky, rollicking rock-star frontman who helped define 1980s–90s East Village nightlife. Topics — the still-unsettled details around Dean's 2007 death, his bands Dean & the Weenies and The Velvet Mafia, being an HIV+ party promoter & more! "The
How Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" Was Really Made — Co-writer Walter Afanasieff
Jess is joined by WALTER AFANASIEFF, the Grammy-winning songwriter and producer behind MARIAH CAREY's biggest '90s hits — including "Hero," "My All," "One Sweet Day," and "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Topics — how the modern Christmas classic was written, his professional fallout with Mariah Carey, and how the songwriting biz has radically changed since the '90s. Plus — producing CELINE DION
Inside Celebrity Home Tours: Bethenny, Andy Cohen, Madonna, Amy Sedaris & more (w/ Dale Saylor)
Jess is joined by interior designer Dale Saylor (Hollymount Design) to react to some of our favorite Architectural Digest home tours. Topics — BETHENNY FRANKEL's Florida move, ANDY COHEN's West Village duplex, AMY SEDARIS' Greenwich Village funhouse, SARAH PAULSON's Malibu studio, RUPAUL in LA, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS' Harlem brownstone & KELLY RIPA's UES townhouse. Plus — advice for max impact in sma
Culture Debate: 2025 Theater, Film, Concert Revue (w/ Mark Snyder)
Jess is joined by All I Want to Do Is Talk About Madonna co-host Mark Snyder for a 2025 revue of our favorite theater, films, and concerts. Topics— Wicked ambivalence, Kristin Chenoweth's rough year, a Chess revival, Oh Mary predictions, the Plainclothes film, the Lilith Fair documentary, Mike Albo's Hologram Boyfriends, Julio Torres' Color Theories, and Linda Perry's reunion with 4 Non Blondes. P
Producing Jeff Lewis Flipping Out, MTV Diary, Selling Sunset (w/ EP Billy Taylor)
Jess sits down with powerhouse docu-series Executive Producer Billy Taylor! Topics — Billy's jump from MTV News to producing MTV Diary, then showrunning the Bravo glory days of Jeff Lewis Flipping Out, Work Out w/ Jackie Warner, and Kell on Earth w/ Kelly Cutrone. Plus — trailing Kanye West with a camera, Britney: In the Zone & Out All Night, directing Selling Sunset pilot, and more! ⭐ IG: @jessx
Guinevere Turner on Writing The L Word & American Psycho, Taxicab Confessions & more!
Jess is joined by indie cinema queen GUINEVERE TURNER (@guinevereturner)! Topics — writing & appearing in THE L WORD, being caught on HBO's TAXICAB CONFESSIONS in 1994 right as her debut film (GO FISH) was in theaters, inspiring Kevin Smith's CHASING AMY, the iconic East Village lesbian / rock bar Meow Mix and co-writing the Christian Bale film AMERICAN PSYCHO. Plus — her experiences dating Portia
Stories from a 73-Year-Old Queer Collector (w/ Mike Balaban)
Jess is joined by "the accidental gay historian" Mike Balaban (@bammer47) — a man who's photographed faces, places & ephemera that defined gay life in the early 1970s-1990s. Topics — gay life in the '50s & '60, Mike's 44 years in NYC, the use of personal ads, hanky codes, 1-900 phone lines, and why he thinks younger guys are drawn to older men. ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @bammer47 ⭐ Jess' docu-series on
Zach Noe Towers on Cruising, 12 Step, Horror Screenplays
Jess is joined by comedian ZACH NOE TOWERS (@zachnoetowers)! Topics — roommates with Bob the Drag Queen, friendship with Leslie Jordan, 10 years of sobriety, AOL chat rooms, Jeff Lewis Live, 'movies' vs. 'films,' his TWO horror movie screenplays, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Jennifer Lopez & more! ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — Cult of Body & Soul ⭐ Jess' doc
Bob the Drag Queen on Swearing Off Watch What Happens Live, Barracuda Nights
Jess is joined by comedian & Drag Race winner BOB THE DRAG QUEEN! Topics — RuPaul discovering Bob at The Monster in the West Village (via Kathy Najimy), a weekend with Whoopi Goldberg, getting lost in Brooklyn & Long Island, ruling Barracuda after Candis Cayne & Peppermint, his first drag name, "Kitten with a Whip," and his love for To Wong Foo. Plus — the story behind his awkward Watch What Happ
How The Saint Defined NYC's '80s DJ Scene (w/ Susan Morabito)
Jess welcomes legendary Manhattan and Fire Island DJ Susan Morabito (aka Morabito). Topics — her dream of spinning at The Saint and working at Vinylmania, why The Saint remains the greatest NYC nightclub, and how she cemented her legacy at The Pavilion in The Fire Island Pines. Plus — why she prefers gay boy nightlife to girl parties, Roseland Ballroom, DJ Lina Bradford, playing the GMHC Morning P
Natalie Joy Johnson on Patti LuPone, Atlantis Cruises, Craigslist Sl*ts
Jess is joined by Broadway & cabaret star NATALIE JOY JOHNSON (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Lempicka)! Topics — performing on an Atlantis Cruise to Tahiti with Patti LuPone, her many, MANY lesbian theater roles, winning the Tony for playing Jackie Warner in Work Out: The Musical, being a Craiglist internet wh*re, selling weed & sex toys in between starring on Broadway, bonding with Countess Luann.
Will & Grace Writer & Producer — Jon Kinnally on ACT UP, The Cut Gay Sex / Drugs Exposé & more
Jess is joined by TV writer & producer (Will & Grace, Ugly Betty) — JON KINNALLY! Topics — living in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn in 1988, working in ACT UP, The Cut article "We've Reached Peak Gay Sluttiness," his writing partner Tracy Poust was one of the original NYC spinning instructors, Barbra Streisand DVD commentary on A Star Is Born & more! ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc ⭐ Jon Kinnally's memoir: I'm Prancin
Ryan Raftery on Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, Patricia Field, JonBenét Ramsey & more!
Jess is joined by "The Shakespeare of Pop Culture" (per NYT), writer-performer Ryan Raftery (@ryanraftery), to debut his new show exploring society's obsession with true crime. Topics — Stephen Sondheim summoning Ryan to his townhouse, a Kabbalah circle with Madonna & Christopher Ciccone, possibly writing the Patricia Field musical with Hedwig's Stephen Trask, Barbra Streisand's disdain for Sunset
Provincetown Deep Dive (w/ Dominick Pupa)
Jess is joined by TV producer, comedian & co-host of Fixing Famous People, Dominick Pupa to wax poetic about why and how we adore Provincetown. Topics — John Waters, Divine & Cape Cod Vampire lore, Aubrey Plaza at Ryan Landry's Showgirls, the season of American Horror Story set in Provincetown winter, July 4th, Bear Week and Carnival, Dominick losing his phone & wallet, Crew's Quarters, Ptown Stop
History of Gay Restaurants (Florent, Julius, Diners) (w/ Erik Piepenburg)
Jess is joined by DINING OUT author & NYT writer Erik Piepenburg to explore the role of gay restaurants & diners in America. Topics — first restaurant to welcome trans patrons in 1950s Green Bay, WI, The Melrose (Chicago), NYC's Florent, Cafeteria, Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Julius'. Plus — Bloodroot (Bridgeport, CT), The Torch Club (Ohio), Gallus (Atlanta), Annie's Steakhouse (DC), and 3-course mea
Jillian Michaels Through the Eyes of Jackie Warner (Bravo's Work Out)
As "The Biggest Loser" Netflix documentary dominates the cultural conversation, Jess has compiled her many interviews with Jillian Michaels' ex-girlfriend of 7 years, Jackie Warner, known for Bravo's reality show Work Out. Topics -- Jackie's first date with Jillian in 1997, Jillian stealing $$ from her pre-fame bartending job, how she set Jillian up for a career in fitness and The Biggest Loser, w
Behind the Scenes of And Just Like That - Filming Insider Tells All
Jess is joined by MLVC Madonna podcast co-host Stefan (@mlvcpodcast) to SPILL on his summer filming season 1 of AND JUST LIKE THAT as a background actor! Topics: Che Diaz in the wild, Cynthia Nixon's wig, erasure of Chris Noth/Big's flashback scenes, 14-hour days, being directed by Michael Patrick King, how much background actors are paid, production's deal w/ paparazzi & more. PLUS, how his And J
Jenifer Lewis on Bette Midler, Whitney Houston & Mother of Black Hollywood
Jess is joined by the powerhouse Mother of Black Hollywood — JENIFER LEWIS! Topics: working with BETTE MIDLER as a Harlette, becoming "the entertainer" to Barbra Streisand and Madonna, her one-woman show "The Diva is Dismissed" and putting a con artist behind bars. Plus — appearing as the first Black person on "Friends", living with Shangela (Drag Race) for a decade, working with MOLLY SHANNON and
Sex and the City Exec. Producer & Writer — Jenny Bicks
Jess is joined by Emmy-winning exec. producer & writer on ALL SIX SEASONS of SEX AND THE CITY — JENNY BICKS! Topics: Samantha's cancer storyline based on her life, Steve is based on her husband, specific episodes written by Jenny — "Splat," "A Woman's Right to Shoes," "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" (Miranda discovers she is pregnant) + key episodes around the Big / Carrie / Aiden affair. Finally, paral
Liz Glazer — Quitting Law to Become a Comedian & Marry a Gay Rabbi
Jess is joined by standup comedian LIZ GLAZER, days after making her Tonight Show debut! Topics — Liz quitting her law career to pursue comedy, her failed SoulCycle instructor audition, being married to a (lesbian) rabbi, the ghost of Joan Rivers uniting her with Judy Gold, transcendental meditation, 12 step programs & more! Cult of Body & Soul on all podcast platforms & YouTube Watch Liz' speci
And Just Like That (w/ Every Outfit's Chelsea Fairless & Lauren Garroni)
Jess is joined by the queens of "Every Outfit on Sex and the City" (@everyoutfitonSATC)— Chelsea Fairless and Lauren Garroni. We discuss which show has more severely tarnished its legacy: SATC via AJLT OR The L Word via Gen Q. Plus -- The Writer's Room podcast, Sara Ramirez's response to the hilarious/scathing The Cut profile, the SJP-ification of Carrie, Candace Bushnell's original column & more!
Cult of Body & Soul - My new docuseries drops May 27!
A quickie 1:1 to talk about CULT OF BODY & SOUL - my brand new docu-series which premieres Tuesday May 27 on all podcast platforms & YouTube. The 7-episode series explores how SOULCYCLE transcended fitness as it captured the New York City zeitgeist with ritual, candlelight and cult of personality. Cast info & production notes: cultbodysoul.com 🙏🏼 Woud love you forever if you rate, review, subscri
Judy Garland, Radical Faeries & more (w/ Justin Elizabeth Sayre)
Jess is joined by writer/performer Justin Elizabeth Sayre on the eve of the 13th Annual Night of a Thousand Judys, celebrating JUDY GARLAND at Joe's Pub! Topics — what is the best Judy entry point, working for MICHAEL PATRICK KING, Radical Faeries gatherings, learning the NYC subway via hookups, John Waters and the live immersive experience of JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL's film Shortbus. IG: @jessxnyc
"Rent" & "Hamilton" Power Producer is a Theater Kid (w/ Jeffrey Seller)
Jess is joined by 4x TONY Award winning Broadway producer JEFFREY SELLER, best known for "Hamilton," "Rent," "In the Heights" & "Avenue Q." Topics — his review of "Sunset Blvd," being the creative nurturer and critic to Jonathan Larson & Lin Manuel Miranda, inventing the Broadway lotto system, crippling anxiety of opening night reviews, renovating his dream Upper West Side townhouse & more! Jeffr
Culture Catch-up: How to Fix Bravo & Summer House (w/ Dan Allegretto)
Jess is joined by friend of the pod Dan Allegretto! Topics: why do bald men wear hats, becoming friends w/ Lena Dunham, boots on the ground w/ Bethenny, how to fix Bravo & Summer House, Carl Radke, Lindsay Hubbard, how The Real L Word & Vanderpump Rules lift the veneer off Los Angeles, the off-Broadway play "Becoming Eve," Quentin Crisp, the camera work on Queer as Folk, Janeane Garofalo, Daria, t
Madonna & Michael Jackson Choreographer / Director — Vincent Paterson
Jess is joined by legendary director & choreographer VINCENT PATERSON — the man behind MICHAEL JACKSON & MADONNA's most iconic movements. Topics — videos for "Beat It," "Thriller," "Smooth Criminal" and defining the Superbowl Halftime Show w/ MJ's 1993 performance. Plus — choreographing The Blond Ambition Tour, "Express Yourself" video, Madonna's 1990 MTV VMA Marie Antoinette "Vogue" performance,
DJ Lina Bradford on Candis Cayne, Club Kids, Fire Island Reign & more
Jess is joined by New York icon DJ LINA BRADFORD! Topics: living in same building as Olivia Newton-John, soulmate Candis Cayne... the Linda Evangelista to her Naomi Campbell and how the trans label is limiting. Plus — evolution from dancer > nightclub host > DJ as performance art, 10-year reign on Fire Island, finding her sexual revolution on FI + a lot more! Jess' docu-series on the history, my
Jeff Hiller on HBO's Somebody Somewhere, Fire Island & Actress of a Certain Age
Jess is joined by actor/comedian JEFF HILLER, best known for HBO's SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE opposite BRIDGET EVERETT! Topics: missing the Fire Island ferry, lesbian Hollywood gossip, Rosie's memoir "Find Me," his impression of Daphne Rubin-Vega, forgetting his transcendental meditation mantra, Excel spreadsheet nightmares, Queer as Folk, Rocky Horror, his upcoming memoir ACTRESS OF A CERTAIN AGE & more!
Bruce Vilanch on Bette Midler, Writing The Oscars & more!
Jess is joined by beloved go-to comedy writer BRUCE VILANCH! Topics: Bette Midler at the Continental Baths, Barbra Streisand being too cheap to pay him, writing punch-ups for Cher in "Burlesque," writing The Oscars (Ellen difficulty, Anne Hathaway & James Franco hosting, Billy Crystal's opening medleys), starring in "Hairspray" on Broadway & more! IG: @jessxnyc Jess' docu-series on the history
Madonna Blond Ambition Reunion w/ Luis Xtravaganza, Carlton Wilborn & Kevin Stea
Jess is joined by THREE of the iconic dancers from Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour: Luis Xtravaganza, Carlton Wilborn + Kevin Stea! Topics: TRUTH OR DARE follow-up doc STRIKE A POSE, Luis attending high school with Jose Xtravaganza, Christopher Ciccone's impact on "The Girlie Show," Kevin's work with LADY GAGA, the 1990 MTV "Rock the Vote" campaign, NIKI HARIS & DONNA DE LORY, Carlton as the "pillar
Liz Feldman — Dead to Me & No Good Deed Writer/Creator, Kate Moennig, The L Word
Jess is joined by LIZ FELDMAN — writer/creator of Netflix's DEAD TO ME & NO GOOD DEED! Topics: Liz's seminal lezzie YouTube show "This Just Out," becoming friends with THE L WORD cast, harassment from TV mega producer Dan Schneider while writing Nickelodeon's ALL THAT, manifesting writing for ELLEN, working for MICHAEL PATRICK KING, auditioning for SNL, the DEAD TO ME & NO GOOD DEAD origin stories
Julie Klausner on Madonna "I'm Breathless," Difficult People, Death Becomes Her & more
Jess is joined by DIFFICULT PEOPLE creator/star & BILLY ON THE STREET producer JULIE KLAUSNER! Topics: Madonna x Sondheim "I'm Breathless" collab, Death Becomes Her vs. She-Devil, John Waters Quote Tournament, the Liza documentary, writing for Joan Rivers, preceding Brian Moylan as Vulture Housewives recapper, first WNBA game, the return of her podcast HOW WAS YOUR WEEK & more! IG: @jessxnyc | @j
SNL's Cheri Oteri on The View, Barbara Walters, Jennifer Coolidge & more
Jess is joined by SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE character queen CHERI OTERI! Cheri recounts being discovered at The Groundlings alongside Lisa Kudrow, Kathy Griffin and fellow SNL hopefuls Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan and Jennifer Coolidge. Topics: origins of her Barbara Walters impression, the cutthroat pressure between cast & writers for airtime, Jim Carrey's iconic episode and working w/ Betty White (Hot i
Jonathan Larson Project, RENT, Untold Broadway Stories (w/ Jennifer Tepper)
Jess is joined by theater historian and conceiver of THE JONATHAN LARSON PROJECT Jennifer Tepper to discuss unearthing 20+ unheard songs of the RENT & TICK, TICK... BOOM! composer. Topics: getting access to hundreds of cassette tapes, scripts, music files and journals from The Larson Estate, hidden underground passageways connecting Broadway theater houses and how the WICKED rush/lotto line inadve
Kyle Richards, Kathy Hilton, Kim Richards — House of Hilton Tell All (w/ Jamie Stein)
Jess is joined by Jamie Stein for a deep dive on HOUSE OF HILTON, the 2006 tell-all about the Hilton dynasty, heavily featuring the backstories of Kathy Hilton, Kyle Richards, Kim Richards and their mother, Big Kathy. We explore Big Kathy's mission for men, money and Hollywood and how she projected those dreams onto her three daughters. We also discuss Paris Hilton and Kathy Hilton's performance
Art of Hollywood & Reality Scandal Monetizing on TikTok & YouTube (w/ Zack Peter)
Jess is joined by full-time YouTuber/Podcaster Zack Peter (No Filter w/ Zack Peter)! Topics: How much money Zack personally made off Scandoval and now the Blake Lively / Justin Baldoni lawsuit, how many views = how much money across TikTok + YouTube, warning against making Bravo your entire brand, projecting Bethenny's TikTok income, Spencer Pratt & Heidi Montag's strategy with streaming "Superfic
Jackie Warner (Work Out) Returns! Sex, Love & LA Fires
Jess is joined by JACKIE WARNER (Work Out, Thintervention) in her fifth appearance! Topics: The Los Angeles fires, RIP Moonshadows & The Reel Inn, update on her TV comeback, her 6 year relationship with Jillian Michaels, run-ins with The L Word's Kate Moennig, wild NYC nights doing press for "Work Out," Stevie Nicks, Mulholland Drive, Laurel Canyon & a lot more! WE LOVE YOU LA. Text or call 323-3
Business of Broadway — Financials, $$, Flops (w/ Katharine Quinn)
Jess is joined by Katharine Quinn, owner of the Broadway media and marketing agency And That's Showbiz, currently representing The Great Gatsby, Maybe Happy Ending, The Roommate and more. Topics: the business (financials) of Broadway: how productions are funded, why 8 out of 10 shows never recoup their investment, Oh Mary, do traditional reviews matter, vanity projects, Rosie O'Donnell's "Taboo" f
Culture Debate: 2024 Theater, Film, Concert Revue (w/ Mark Snyder)
Jess is joined by "All I Want to Do Is Talk About Madonna" co-host Mark Snyder for a 2024 revue of our fave theater, films, concerts and cabaret. Topics: Broadway vs. Off / fringe, film adaptations of Wicked vs. Chicago, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Sunset Blvd, Joni Mitchell, Justin Vivian Bond, Jill Sobule, London / West End, Natalie Joy Johnson, Gavin Creel, Fire Island, Tracy Bonham, Jonathan Lars
Danny Pellegrino on Wicked Press Tour, Fixing RHONY, Hallmark Christmas & more!
Jess is joined by author & screenwriter DANNY PELLEGRINO! Topics: Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo musical theater-ing the WICKED press tour, how to fix RHONY, "two different gay men" calling BETHENNY re: RHONY, what should ROSIE O'DONNELL do next?, deep cut MARIAH & NSYNC Christmas songs, Danny documenting his journey eating re-called Tastykakes, Jeff Lewis is a Housewife, Dorinda & Margaret Joseph'
Jamie Babbit on Directing But I'm A Cheerleader, Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, The L Word
Jess is joined by prolific TV & film director JAMIE BABBIT! Jamie is best known for writing/directing the cult classic BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER w/ Natasha Lyonne & Clea DuVall. Over the past two decades she has directed HBO's GIRLS, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, GILMORE GIRLS, THE L WORD, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING and more. Topics: shooting around different actors' nudity cla
Showgirls, Midnight Movies & Camp Classics (w/ Peaches Christ)
Jess is joined by legendary drag performer PEACHES CHRIST to analyze the legacy of the cult classic SHOWGIRLS and to answer the questions of why and how did this "masterpiece of sh*t" get made. Topics: Peaches Christ's Showgirls drag theatrical extravaganzas in San Francisco, Elizabeth Berkley's personal Showgirls journey, DEATH BECOMES HER, HOCUS POCUS, Hollywood Forever cemetary screenings, YOU
Makeup Artist Kristofer Buckle on Madonna, Mariah, Bethenny, Cher & more
Jess is joined by celebrity makeup artist KRISTOFER BUCKLE! Topics: discovery as a punk/goth in Penn Station, working MADONNA's SEX book party, transforming MARIAH into her post-"Butterfly" image, CHER poaching him while working XTINA for "Burlesque," BETHENNY filming him do her (drug store) face and an airline losing his makeup kit hours before doing JENNIFER LOPEZ. Plus, real talk on hair transp
L Word Rockers BETTY - Behind the Music, Sondheim & more
Jess is joined by pop/rock trio BETTY (known for THE L WORD theme song) as they release their 11th album "EAT." Topics: how an indie bon vivant band (composed of sisters Elizabeth Ziff & Amy Ziff, best friend Alyson Palmer) lasts for 40 years, living together in the late 80s East Village, their performance at Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall, HBO's ENCYCLOPEDIA, Aly's college daughter watc
Countess Luann de Lesseps & Assistant Roger Dawley
Jess is joined by COUNTESS LUANN and her right-hand man, Roger Dawley! Topics: Spending 2 nights on Fire Island over Labor Day Weekend, her summer run-in with Bethenny, tales from Luann's time as a geriatric nurse, loving cigarettes, brief thoughts on RHONY reboot, latest with Sonja Morgan, prepping to film the Housewives Bachelor show and her plan for cabaret world domination. IG: @jessxnyc | @c
Judy Gold Returns! Gay Divorce, Writing Rosie's Talk Show, Janeane Garofalo & more
Jess is joined by comedian JUDY GOLD! Topics: gay divorce, loving Ozempic, meeting her partner via a Time Out New York dating ad, buying her Provincetown house in 1994, not living with a partner, separate bedrooms, writing/producing The Rosie O'Donnell Show, filming her 1995 HBO standup special with Janeane Garofalo, creating a new TV series w/ Sandra Bernhard, bonding over being very tall | petit
NYC Restaurant Culture Deep Dive (w/ Jake Cornell)
Jess is joined by comedian JAKE CORNELL for a deep dive into NYC restaurant culture. Topics: asking waiters what to order, restaurant temperature and sound/music levels, tips for people on dates, best celebrity tipper, oddest celebrity group sighting, best / worst bathrooms and more. Plus, Jake's summer of Provincetown 4x, Edinburgh Fringe Fest tales + Jake's AND JUST LIKE THAT debut opposite Che
Provincetown Fringe, Cape Cod Serial Killer & Hooking (w/ Ryan Landry)
Jess is joined by the king of Provincetown fringe performance — playwright and drag theater impresario, RYAN LANDRY! Topics: bringing JENNIFER COOLIDGE and PARKER POSEY to P-Town, setting fire to The Pyramid Club, working as a hooker, appearing in the Roy Cohn documentary, his cemetery plot with MARGARET CHO, the Cape Cod Serial Killer, hosting the long-running weekly Provincetown show, SHOWGIRLS
Isaac Mizrahi Returns! NYC Real Estate, Unzipped, Madonna, Sandra Bernhard
ISAAC MIZRAHI returns! Topics include: securing his West Village combination apartment, his friendship w/ RUPAUL, the truth behind the MADONNA - SANDRA BERNHARD - INGRID CASARES love triangle, his seminal documentary UNZIPPED and SEX AND THE CITY + AND JUST LIKE THAT musings. Plus, his cabaret version of "Borderline," '90s dial-a-date lines, meeting his husband while walking the dog and pivoting h
Inside Rosie O'Donnell's Oprah OWN Show, Election as Reality TV (w/ Page Hurwitz)
Jess is joined by TV producer and director PAGE HURWITZ (Netflix's Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution). Topics: exec. producing ROSIE O'DONNELL's Oprah OWN talk show, producing TABATHA TAKES OVER, Trump's mythical character on THE APPRENTICE & the parallels of the 2016 election to Paddy Chayefsky's film NETWORK. Plus: discovering Fortune Feimster and Michelle Buteau on Last Comic Standing, NYC vs. S
John Arthur Hill on Addiction, Teeth, PTown vs. Fire Island & Countess Luann's Renaissance
Jess is joined by SiriusXM RadioAndy co-host, singer & comedian JOHN ARTHUR HILL. Topics: John's dental and sobriety journeys, the rehab to SoulCycle pipeline, secret Bravo smokers, Barry's Bootcamp, the Underwear Party on Fire Island, preferring Provincetown, nearly getting fired as Andy Cohen's co-host, why Countess Luann is huge at festivals, making $ in touring, John's fave lesbian music, our
Review of Liza Minnelli, Ani DiFranco, Linda Perry & Indigo Girls Docs (w/ Mark Snyder)
Jess is joined by writer and "All I Want To Do Is Talk About Madonna" co-host Mark Snyder to review the TriBeCa Film Festival premieres of brand new documentaries centered around LIZA MINNELLI, ANI DIFRANCO, LINDA PERRY and a bonus review of the recent INDIGO GIRLS doc. Topics — the live performances from Linda Perry & Ani DiFranco following their films, Sarah McLachlan, Aimee Mann, Melissa Etheri
Michael Musto on Village Voice, Gossip, Psychology of Blind Items
Jess is joined by legendary Village Voice gossip columnist Michael Musto! Musto discusses the origin of outing, psychology of blind items, how an unknown Madonna prevented him from sound-checking with his band in 1982, Gaga's Oscar campaigns and the trouble he got into after Andy Warhol's funeral. He also dishes on Malcolm Forbes, camp John Waters, Rosie O'Donnell, Fran Lebowitz, getting banned fr
Lindsay Hubbard on Sex, Love & Carl Radke Origin Story
Jess is joined by the one true queen of Summer House — LINDSAY HUBBARD! Topics: a listening tour of the Hamptons, the business of being a PR guru, having sex on camera and the origins of "Hubbhouse." Plus — Lindsay's Sun / Moon / Rising signs, a quick astrological reading from Andy Bellatti (@astrologywithandy), an off-camera crazy dating story, fans 'shipping' Lindsay & CARL RADKE and the "psychi
The Felicity, Dawson's Creek & 90210 Music Restoration Project
Jess is joined by the creator of @felicityrestorationproject to chat about one of the greatest issues of our time - the replacement of music on our beloved nineties TV shows - FELICITY, DAWSON'S CREEK & 90210. We discuss legalities of the music licensing issue, painstakingly digitizing scenes with correct music from VHS tapes and Paula Cole striking a new deal for "I Don't Wanna Wait." Plus: the l
IT Girls of NYC '90s Lesbian Chic (w/ Elizabeth Ziff & Maggie Moore)
Jess is joined by exes & best friends ELIZABETH ZIFF (The L Word writer; BETTY rocker) and MAGGIE MOORE (chanteuse; real estate broker) to reflect on '90s queer girl culture in NYC. Topics: their meet-cute love story, creating the Industria Super Studios girl parties, Café Tabac, Meow Mix, Alan Cumming. Plus — Laurel Holloman / Nicole Ari Parker film 'Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love,
Catherine Cohen on Seek Treatment, Edinburgh Fringe & more
Jess is joined by singer, comedian and "Seek Treatment" co-host — CATHERINE COHEN! Topics: audio only vs. video podcasts, boutique fitness, her West Village apartment, self-financing Netflix specials, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Taylor Swift vs. Sarah McLachlan | Ani Difranco | Fiona Apple, Baby Reindeer, Cafe Cluny, Kate Mara, open relationships, J.Lo at The Duplex & more! IG @jessxnyc | @catc
Tabatha Coffey — Tabatha Takes Over, Shear Genius, Reddit
Jess is joined by TABATHA COFFEY, Australian hairstylist, salon owner and star of TABATHA TAKES OVER & SHEAR GENIUS. Topics: Losing Shear Genius yet scoring her own spin-off, living in New Jersey, Reddit threads, wanting a reboot, Jackie Warner & her reputation of being a "b*tch." Plus — Tabatha's upbringing in Australia where she was thrown into the gay & trans scene via nightclubs owned by her p
The L Word Writer/Director Rose Troche — Guinevere Turner, Go Fish, Jennifer Beals
Jess is joined by ROSE TROCHE — co-writer & director of the seminal indie film GO FISH — as well as writer, director & exec. producer of THE L WORD. L WORD topics: directing the Pilot, Dinah Shore & Pride episodes, sex scenes, writing for Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals) and Jenny Schecter (Mia Kirshner) + the truth behind Dana's (Erin Daniels) death. Plus: Rose's 30-year friendship with GO FISH & L
T. KYLE — Behind the Scenes of WWHL, Wendy Williams, Jimmy Fallon
Jess is joined by digital producer, remixer and co-host of Legends Only | It's Britney, Bitch! — T. KYLE! Topics include T. Kyle's work on DRAG RACE, his career at WWHL and the difficult environment at THE TONIGHT SHOW. Plus, his Countess Luann "Keep on Serving C*nt" remix, being hand-picked to produce the scrapped WENDY WILLIAMS podcast, Crazy Horse Paris, Fire Island tales, VMAs making artists m
Queer as Folk w/ Peter Paige (Emmett) & Scott Lowell (Ted)!
Jess welcomes TWO of the stars of the groundbreaking Showtime series QUEER AS FOLK -- PETER PAIGE (Emmett Honeycutt) & SCOTT LOWELL (Ted Schmidt)! Topics include: the infamous Larry King interview, how QAF changed the way sex & sexuality was depicted on cable, why THE L WORD was able to break into the mainstream zeitgeist in a way QAF was unable to, the BRIAN KINNEY / GALE HAROLD enigma, BILLY PO
Kim Stolz — America's Next Top Model, NYC Gay Bar Owner & MTV VJ
Jess catches up with the first openly gay contestant on AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, fellow New Yorker KIM STOLZ. Kim Stolz was one of the most recognizable faces in the NYC gay scene in the mid-'00s after starring in Cycle 5 of the Tyra Banks series. Kim then became an MTV News host alongside JOHN NORRIS & KURT LODER where she interviewed an unknown TAYLOR SWIFT. Kim Stolz later opened the lesbian b
Madonna Truth or Dare w/ Reality Producers Chris DeRosa & Dominick Pupa
Jess is joined by reality TV producers and co-hosts of "Fixing Famous People" — Chris DeRosa and Dominick Pupa! Together, we analyze the seminal documentary MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE through the lens of our three generations and reality TV production. Topics: The follow-up film feat. the Blond Ambition dancers STRIKE A POSE, 1998 VH1 special MADONNA RISING, BRITNEY "Me Against the Music" and the retu
Ryan Raftery IS Anna Wintour, Martha Stewart, Andy Cohen, Kris Jenner & more
Jess is joined by the "Shakespeare of pop culture satire" per the New York Times - RYAN RAFTERY! We discuss his upcoming run at Joe's Pub in which he does his one-man twisted musical embodiments of MARTHA STEWART, ANNA WINTOUR & KRIS JENNER. We discuss the psychological through-line between all three women (relevancy) as well as his darker material focused on men - ANDY COHEN, CALVIN KLEIN and AND
Drag Race's Peppermint — Traitors Reunion, NYC 90s Nightlife
Jess is joined by DRAG RACE & TRAITORS star PEPPERMINT! Peppermint discusses fond memories of THE REAL WORLD (which don't include Vegas or Trishelle), the production behind The Traitors and what she's planning for The Reunion. Plus, Alan Cumming's comment that "gays" are loving Phaedra while "queer" ppl are loving Parvati. Peppermint also discusses working the NYC clubs before launching onto Drag
Bianca Del Rio on Fire Island, Madonna, Joan Rivers & more
Jess is joined by drag legend BIANCA DEL RIO! Bianca discuss her early days of drag in New Orleans, New York City, Provincetown and on Fire Island prior to winning season 6 of DRAG RACE. Topics include: Going on tour with Madonna, joining The Traitors, Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, Chita Rivera, a "Golden Drag Race" feat. Lady Bunny & Varla Jean Merman and more! IG: @jessxnyc | @thebiancadelrio
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