Hot Takes & Deep Dives

Latest Episodes:

RENT's Original Angel | Wilson J. Heredia on Jonathan Larson, Club Kid Days & The Movie Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Jess is joined by Tony Award-winning actor WILSON JERMAINE HEREDIA, who originated the iconic role of Angel in RENT, ahead of the show's 30th Anniversary Concert! Topics: Wilson's pre-RENT life as club kid, playing Jonathan Larson's demo tape for the first time, his love for Maureen's "Over the Moon," and how Angel's (and other cast members') wardrobe came straight from his own closet. Plus: the whirlwind of RENT becoming a cultural phenomenon, beating out Wilson Cruz for the 2005 film, appearing in Tick, Tick... Boom! & more!

🎟️ RENT's 30th Anniversary Concert

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @wilsonjheredia

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — Cult of Body & Soul

Stonewall Myths, Larry Kramer & Inside 1980s Queer NYC (w/ James Tavs) Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Jess is joined by longtime activist James Tavs for inside stories of building queer NYC -- from working with ACT UP founder Larry Kramer and helping open the LGBT Center in 1983 to putting queer news on cable-access TV with "Out in the 80s" and working gay phone line switchboards. Plus -- James talks Stonewall myth versus reality, Larry Kramer's novel F*ggots, why decades of organizing NYC Pride soured him on the parade, and how he built a career in tech and finance without ever finishing high school.

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — Cult of Body & Soul

Culture Catch-Up: Troye Sivan's Madonna 'Party,' The Miley Cyrus Problem & RHONY (w/ Jacques Peterson) Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Jess is joined by Daily Mail writer Jacques Peterson for a culture catch-up! Topics include: Why are all the news and gossip sites suddenly subscription-based? Troye Sivan's "Party," which samples Madonna's "Music"; what is wrong with Miley Cyrus?; the RHONY reboot(s); and Howard Stern's HBO deal. Plus-- Jacques' move from Australia to LA, developing a reality show set in Montana that came close to getting picked up but never made it to air & more!

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @unpopularjp

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — Cult of Body & Soul

Stories of 1960s NYC, Provincetown & Fire Island (w/ Gene Fedorko, age 83) Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Jess is joined by downtown New York fixture Gene Fedorko, age 83, for a trip through more than six decades of queer history. Gene recalls escaping to New York City in 1960, discovering Fire Island in 1961, attending the March on Washington in 1963 and moving to Provincetown in 1970. Plus: surviving the AIDS crisis, addiction and alcoholism -- and the fabulous Chelsea loft he still calls home.

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — Cult of Body & Soul

Rosie O'Donnell on Madonna, The View, Britney, The L Word & more! Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Jess is joined by fellow Long Islander ROSIE O'DONNELL! Topics: the inception of The Rosie O'Donnell Show, the infamous episode where Whitney Houston no-showed, her experiences with Britney Spears, being in the studio as Madonna recorded "This Used to Be My Playground" for A League of Their Own, why Barbara Walters disappointed her on The View, Kathy Griffin and Roseanne not taking her advice, The L Word, Queer as Folk and more!

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic — Behind the Music, History of Tea Dance & more! Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

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 losing her father to AIDS in 1990 and her work today as a Fire Island DJ and historian.

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @msanamatronic

⭐ Jess' docu-series FINDING FIRE ISLAND about the history, mystique and lore of Cherry Grove & The Pines.

Madonna Confessions II Review (w/ Ben Rimalower & Mike Fernandez) Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

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 Grove & The Pines.

Madonna Culture Debate (w/ Tony Trius, Mark Snyder, Kenny Finkle) Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

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 more!

IG: @jessxnyc | @tonytrius | @markbsnyder2026 | @mynameisfinkle

Jess' docu-series FINDING FIRE ISLAND about the history, mystique and lore of Cherry Grove & The Pines.

Stories from Limelight, The Roxy, The Saint & '90s NYC Club Flyers (w/ David Kennerley) Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

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 epidemic and more.

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | gettinginclubbook.com

⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

BIG NEWS! Finding Fire Island Returns June 11!🌲🍒 Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

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 episodes, we uncover the historic rivalry between Cherry Grove and The Pines, trace the evolution of Tea Dance and the art of cruising before apps, explore how DJs shaped NYC and Pines nightlife, and meet the Pantry Girls and queer firefighters who keep the island running.

⭐ Subscribe to Finding Fire Island wherever you podcast!

⭐ Watch all episodes on YouTube

⭐ ⁠findingfireisland.com

⭐ @jessxnyc

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected