Hot Takes & Deep Dives

Latest Episodes:

Madonna Culture Debate (w/ Tony Trius, Mark Snyder, Kenny Finkle) Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

This concludes our Madonna trilogy with Jess joined by Mark Snyder & Kenny Finkle (All I Want To Do Is Talk About Madonna) and Tony Trius (MLVC) for a culture debate/roundtable — MADONNA EDITION! Topics include: our unpopular opinions, best live performance, best Truth or Dare moment, Tears of a Clown, how to fix Madonna, is longtime collab Mirwais trying to sabotage her… and more!

IG: @jessxnyc | @tonytrius | @markbsnyder2024 | @mynameisfinkle

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

Review of Madonna Celebration Tour - Brooklyn (w/ Ben Rimalower) Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

Jess is joined by Ben Rimalower to review Madonna's Celebration Tour in Brooklyn, NY. We discuss our thrills, Madonna's "strategy" behind late start times, the set list and provide constructive critique. Later, Ben recalls how Madonna's health scare this summer catapulted him into a revisit of Madonna's entire catalogue and concert history, culminating in his attendance mere hours ago.

IG: @jessxnyc | @benrimalower

Listen to Ben's podcast Giants in the Sky with the stars & creatives behind Into the Woods

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

Madonna Backup Singers & Dancers — Niki Haris & Donna De Lory Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Jess is joined by "Madonna's Secret Weapons" (per Rolling Stone) — longtime Madonna back-up singers and dancers, NIKI HARIS & DONNA DE LORY! Niki and Donna performed on four (4) of Madonna's world tours, including The Who's That Girl Tour, The Blond Ambition Tour, The Girlie Show and The Drowned World Tour. They also appear on the recordings of "Vogue," "Like a Prayer" "Deeper and Deeper," "Nothing Really Matters" and more. We discuss filming TRUTH OR DARE, filming the "Vogue" and "Music" videos, currently performing as a duo on tour and more!

IG: @jessxnyc

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

Pat Regan on Seek Treatment, Writing "Hacks," Survivor Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Jess is joined by writer, standup and co-host of "Seek Treatment" — PAT REGAN! We discuss: the HACKS writer's room, DAWSON'S CREEK series finale, FELICITY, why LA should be part of NY, Seek Treatment's Las Culturistas origin story, bombing at a gay resort, getting sober, fitness goals, SURVIVOR, Parvati Shallow, Madonna TRUTH OR DARE, THE REAL WORLD, SUMMER HOUSE, THE BIG SHOT WITH BETHENNY & more!

IG: @jessxnyc | @patreegs

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

Inside the Cult of Group Fitness — SoulCycle, Peloton Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Jess is a joined by a career fitness professional to go inside the culture of their former cycling employer, while Jess shares her personal experience with SoulCycle. We go deep on: lack of certifications required to teach spin, the "training programs" at different studios, instructors abusing drugs, sexual accusations from riders and the "God Complex" cult of personality these studios cultivate. Plus, stories from Equinox/Soul corporate, the Peloton fall-out and more.

IG: @jessxnyc

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

Julie Goldman & Brandy Howard on Jeff Lewis, Kyle Richards Gay Baiting Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Jess is joined by JULIE GOLDMAN & BRANDY HOWARD (Dumb Gay Podcast, The People's Couch)! We discuss: Brandy & Julie's origin story, Jeff Lewis stealing guests from Heather McDonald, Howard Stern, Kate McKinnon, butch lesbian erasure, Logo's Big Gay Sketch Show, Bethenny and Nene, Kyle Richards gay baiting, the impact of Shane from The L Word on Brandy & more!

IG: @jessxnyc | @mrjuliegoldman | @thebrandyhoward

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

Justin Vivian Bond on Kiki & Herb, NYC 90s Nightlife Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

Jess is joined by downtown performance legend MX. JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND! We discuss their origins of as one half of the subversive musical act Kiki and Herb, 90z gigs at Squeezebox and Cowgirl, officiating Rufus Wainwright's wedding and performing on Fire Island with Carol Channing. Plus: Marianne Faithfull, Murray Hill, drag kings, the Hudson Valley and more!

IG: @jessxnyc | @mxviv

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

RHONY Producer on Vanity Fair Reckoning, Bethenny, The View, A List NY, Joan Rivers (w/ Dominick Pupa) Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

Jess is joined by reality producer, comedian and co-host of "Fixing Famous People," DOMINICK PUPA, for a whirlwind convo about his career producing RHONY Season 2, RHOA Season 4, THE A-LIST NY and his warm up comedian days at THE RICKI LAKE SHOW, THE VIEW, THE TYRA BANKS SHOW and THE JOAN RIVERS SHOW. We discuss how RHONY producers are reacting to the Vanity Fair "Reality Reckoning" article right now, his experience producing BETHENNY's infamous deleted scene on Fire Island and more!

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

IG: @jessxnyc | @dominickpupa

POSE & Ballroom Culture (w/ POSE creator/ writer Steven Canals) Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

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 his script into the hands of RYAN MURPHY. We discuss ballroom culture, Houses, MADONNA, "Vogue," and the song choices used throughout. We also discuss the casting of MJ RODRIGUEZ (Blanca), INDYA MOORE (Angel) and SANDRA BERNHARD.

IG: @jessxnyc

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

Culture Debate: Come Thru Queen (w/ Brendan Davis & Dan Calabrese) Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

Jess is joined by the boys of COME THRU QUEEN, Brendan Davis & Dan Calabrese, for the official HOT TAKES COME THRU CULTURE DEBATE! We start with local categories including: Best Brooklyn Neighborhood, Best Gay Bar (Brooklyn, Manhattan) before diving into Best City (US, International) and Best Gay Destination.

We then move on to the Bravo cinematic universe with categories including Best Season of: RHONY, Vanderpump Rules and Summer House. Plus: Best Early Era Bravo Series (one season wonder, on-going) and most iconic Christina Aguilera / Housewife duo.

IG: @jessxnyc | @brendandavis | @dancalabrese

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

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