Will & Grace Writer & Producer — Jon Kinnally on ACT UP, The Cut Gay Sex / Drugs Exposé & more
Release Date: 09/15/2025
Daniel Nardicio Returns! Sandra Bernhard, John Waters, Zipolite & Patti LuPone's Rider
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess welcomes back nightlife impresario DANIEL NARDICIO to talk about his latest venture in Zipolite, Mexico and the runaway success of running The Ice Palace in Cherry Grove. Topics — legalities of throwing s*x parties, surviving Patti LuPone’s rider and stories from working with Sandra Bernhard, John Waters, Jennifer Holliday and more! <p><p> ⭐ IG: | <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle —
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Lola Rocknrolla on Dean Johnson: ’80s Genderf*ck Icon, Mysterious Death
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
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! <p><p> “The Big Johnson” screens at NYC’s Quad Cinema January 23–29, streaming avail in February <p><p> ⭐ IG: | <p><p> ⭐ Jess'...
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How Mariah Carey's “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Was Really Made — Co-writer Walter Afanasieff
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess is joined by WALTER AFANASIEFF, the Grammy-winning songwriter and producer behind MARIAH CAREY’s biggest ’90s hits — including “Hero,” “My All,” “One Sweet Day,” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Topics — how the modern Christmas classic was written, his professional fallout with Mariah Carey, and how the songwriting biz has radically changed since the ’90s. Plus — producing CELINE DION's “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, writing with BEYONCÉ and BARBRA STREISAND, and the story of how a record label sabotaged a future American Idol winner....
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Inside Celebrity Home Tours: Bethenny, Andy Cohen, Madonna, Amy Sedaris & more (w/ Dale Saylor)
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess is joined by interior designer Dale Saylor () to react to some of our favorite Architectural Digest home tours. Topics — BETHENNY FRANKEL’s Florida move, ANDY COHEN's West Village duplex, AMY SEDARIS’ Greenwich Village funhouse, SARAH PAULSON’s Malibu studio, RUPAUL in LA, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS' Harlem brownstone & KELLY RIPA's UES townhouse. Plus — advice for max impact in small spaces AND Dale critiques a walk-through of Jess' apartment. <p><p> ⭐ IG: | <p><p> ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the rise & fall of SoulCycle — ...
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Culture Debate: 2025 Theater, Film, Concert Revue (w/ Mark Snyder)
Hot Takes & Deep Dives
Jess is joined by All I Want to Do Is Talk About Madonna co-host Mark Snyder for a 2025 revue of our favorite theater, films, and concerts. Topics— Wicked ambivalence, Kristin Chenoweth’s rough year, a Chess revival, Oh Mary predictions, the Plainclothes film, the Lilith Fair documentary, Mike Albo’s Hologram Boyfriends, Julio Torres’ Color Theories, and Linda Perry’s reunion with 4 Non Blondes. Plus— an in-memoriam for Diane Keaton & Jill Sobule, and major existential Madonna happenings in 2026. <p><p> ⭐ IG: | <p><p> ⭐ Jess'...
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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...
info_outlineJess 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!
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⭐ IG: @jessxnyc
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⭐ Jon Kinnally’s memoir: I’m Prancing as Fast as I Can
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⭐ Jess' SoulCycle docu series Cult of Body & Soul on all podcast platforms & YouTube