Hot Takes & Deep Dives

Latest Episodes:

Will & Grace Writer & Producer — Jon Kinnally on ACT UP, The Cut Gay Sex / Drugs Exposé & more Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

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 Prancing as Fast as I Can

⭐ Jess' SoulCycle docu series Cult of Body & Soul on all podcast platforms & YouTube

Ryan Raftery on Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, Patricia Field, JonBenét Ramsey & more! Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

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 Boulevard starring Glenn Close—and more!

Catch Ryan Raftery at Joe's Pub in The Ballad of JonBenét Ramsey Sep 12-17!

IG: @jessxnyc | @ryanraftery

Provincetown Deep Dive (w/ Dominick Pupa) Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

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 & Shop, The Pines Pantry & more!

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @dominickpupa

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

History of Gay Restaurants (Florent, Julius, Diners) (w/ Erik Piepenburg) Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

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 meals at the Continental Baths in NYC.

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @erikp57

⭐ 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

Jillian Michaels Through the Eyes of Jackie Warner (Bravo's Work Out) Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

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, why Jackie paid thousands of dollars to end their relationship, Bob Harper and a true window in the psychology of Jillian Michaels.

Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jessxnyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram

Jess' SoulCycle documentary Cult of Body & Soul on all podcast platforms & YouTube

Behind the Scenes of And Just Like That - Filming Insider Tells All Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

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 Just Like That experience compared to filming the upcoming season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel!

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

⭐ 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

Jenifer Lewis on Bette Midler, Whitney Houston & Mother of Black Hollywood Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

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 MATT ROGERS on "I Love That For You" & more!

⭐ IG: @jessxnyc

⭐ 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

Sex and the City Exec. Producer & Writer — Jenny Bicks Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

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, parallels between SATC & RHONY and her work on DAWSON'S CREEK.

Jess' SoulCycle documentary Cult of Body & Soul on all podcast platforms & YouTube

IG: @jessxnyc

Liz Glazer — Quitting Law to Become a Comedian & Marry a Gay Rabbi Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

And Just Like That (w/ Every Outfit's Chelsea Fairless & Lauren Garroni) Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

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!

IG: @jessxnyc | @everyoutfitonsatc

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