Hot Takes & Deep Dives

Latest Episodes:

Charles Busch on Liza & Judy, Rosie O'Donnell, Joan Rivers & more May 18, 2026

Show notes

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 1000 Judys: June 1 @Joe's Pub

* all donations benefit The Ali Forney Center *

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

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

Is West Wilson The Talented Mr. Ripley of Summer House? (w/ Jamie Stein) May 11, 2026

Show notes

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 Sandoval vs. West as the better villain, and more!

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @jamiestein

⭐ 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

Rachel Dratch on SNL, 30 Rock & Countess Luann Cabaret May 04, 2026

Show notes

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.

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @raedratch

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

Ballroom Culture, POSE & How a Ryan Murphy Show Gets Made (w/ POSE's Steven Canals) Apr 06, 2026

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 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 Bernhard.

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

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

Amber Martin on Bette Midler at The Baths, Touring w/ Scissor Sisters & more Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

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

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

Hedda Lettuce on Madonna, Kim Cattrall & Surviving Drag Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

Jonah Wheeler on Quitting Broadway to Become a S*x Work Sensation Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

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 of his p*rn name "Jonah Weeler" (he is the artist formerly known as Matt Aument) and more!

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

⭐ Jonah Weeler & John Coons in NYC - Mar 22

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

Culture Catch-Up: Jill Zarin, Twinless, Pillion & Heated Rivalry vs. Queer as Folk Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

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 | @rodemanne

⭐ Tix for "You Might Know Her From" live Feb 28 in NYC!

Daniel Nardicio Returns! Sandra Bernhard, John Waters, Zipolite & Patti LuPone's Rider Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Lola Rocknrolla on Dean Johnson: '80s Genderf*ck Icon, Mysterious Death Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

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 Big Johnson" screens at NYC's Quad Cinema January 23–29, streaming avail in February

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @lolarocknrolla13

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

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

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