History of Gay Restaurants (Florent, Julius, Diners) (w/ Erik Piepenburg)
Release Date: 08/25/2025
Producing Jeff Lewis Flipping Out, MTV Diary, Selling Sunset (w/ EP Billy Taylor)
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
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! <p><p>⭐ IG: <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique &...
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Guinevere Turner on Writing The L Word & American Psycho, Taxicab Confessions & more!
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess is joined by indie cinema queen GUINEVERE TURNER ()! 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 de Rossi, Tracy Chapman and Kd Lang... and more! <p><p> 📺 <p><p> ⭐ IG: | <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island...
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Stories from a 73-Year-Old Queer Collector (w/ Mike Balaban)
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess is joined by “the accidental gay historian” Mike Balaban () — 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. <p><p> ⭐ IG: | <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island —
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Zach Noe Towers on Cruising, 12 Step, Horror Screenplays
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess is joined by comedian ZACH NOE TOWERS ()! 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! <p><p>⭐ IG: <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island —
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Bob the Drag Queen on Swearing Off Watch What Happens Live, Barracuda Nights
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
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 Happens Live appearance. ⭐ IG: ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of...
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How The Saint Defined NYC’s ’80s DJ Scene (w/ Susan Morabito)
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
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 Party, and more! <p><p> ⭐ IG: <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island —
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Natalie Joy Johnson on Patti LuPone, Atlantis Cruises, Craigslist Sl*ts
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
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... and why showbiz is ruthless, relentless and absolute trash. <p><p> ⭐ IG: | <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of...
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Will & Grace Writer & Producer — Jon Kinnally on ACT UP, The Cut Gay Sex / Drugs Exposé & more
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
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! <p><p> ⭐ IG: <p><p> ⭐ <p><p> ⭐ Jess' SoulCycle docu series on all podcast platforms &
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Ryan Raftery on Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, Patricia Field, JonBenét Ramsey & more!
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess is joined by “The Shakespeare of Pop Culture” (per NYT), writer-performer Ryan Raftery (), 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! <p><P> Catch Ryan Raftery at Joe’s Pub in ! <p><p> IG: |
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Provincetown Deep Dive (w/ Dominick Pupa)
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess is joined by TV producer, comedian & co-host of Fixing Famous People, 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! <p><p> ⭐ IG: | <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — ...
info_outlineJess 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.
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⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @erikp57
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⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — Cult of Body & Soul
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⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island