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Jess is joined by longtime activist James Tavs for inside stories of building queer NYC -- from working with ACT UP founder Larry Kramer and helping open the LGBT Center in 1983 to putting queer news on cable-access TV with "Out in the 80s" and working gay phone line switchboards. Plus -- James talks Stonewall myth versus reality, Larry Kramer's novel F*ggots, why decades of organizing NYC Pride soured him on the parade, and how he built a career in tech and finance without ever finishing high school. ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc  ⭐ 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

Jess is joined by Daily Mail writer Jacques Peterson for a culture catch-up! Topics include: Why are all the news and gossip sites suddenly subscription-based? Troye Sivan's "Party," which samples Madonna's "Music"; what is wrong with Miley Cyrus?; the RHONY reboot(s); and Howard Stern's HBO deal. Plus-- Jacques' move from Australia to LA, developing a reality show set in Montana that came close to getting picked up but never made it to air & more! ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @unpopularjp ⭐ 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

Jess is joined by downtown New York fixture Gene Fedorko, age 83, for a trip through more than six decades of queer history. Gene recalls escaping to New York City in 1960, discovering Fire Island in 1961, attending the March on Washington in 1963 and moving to Provincetown in 1970. Plus: surviving the AIDS crisis, addiction and alcoholism -- and the fabulous Chelsea loft he still calls home. ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc  ⭐ 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

Jess is joined by fellow Long Islander ROSIE O'DONNELL! Topics: the inception of The Rosie O'Donnell Show, the infamous episode where Whitney Houston no-showed, her experiences with Britney Spears, being in the studio as Madonna recorded "This Used to Be My Playground" for A League of Their Own, why Barbara Walters disappointed her on The View, Kathy Griffin and Roseanne not taking her advice, The L Word, Queer as Folk and more!  ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc  ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

Jess is joined by Scissor Sisters frontwoman Ana Matronic (@msanamatronic)! Topics— first meeting JAKE SHEARS at The Slipper Room, STUART PRICE producing their "Night Work" album, the highs (and frustrations) of scoring a massive hit with "Let's Have a Kiki" while still failing to satisfy their record label, and why Ana chose not to reunite with the band on its current tour. Plus— Ana discusses losing her father to AIDS in 1990 and her work today as a Fire Island DJ and historian. ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @msanamatronic ⭐ Jess' docu-series FINDING FIRE ISLAND about the history, mystique and lore of Cherry Grove & The Pines.

Jess is joined by Ben Rimalower and Boy Toy Mike Fernandez to review Madonna's Confessions II! Topics: Sean Penn lore, could "Danceteria" have been the "Abracadabra" of the album, Ben & Mike's first listen midnight journey, each of our Top 3, songwriting camps & more!  IG: @jessxnyc | @benrimalower | @mrmikefern Jess' docu-series FINDING FIRE ISLAND about the history, mystique and lore of Cherry Grove & The Pines.

We will have our comprehensive review of CONFESSIONS II next week! But first, Jess joined by Mark Snyder & Kenny Finkle (All I Want To Do Is Talk About Madonna) and Tony Trius (MLVC) for a culture debate — MADONNA EDITION! Topics: our unpopular opinions, best live performance, best Truth or Dare moment, Tears of a Clown, how to fix Madonna, was longtime collab Mirwais trying to sabotage her? … and more! IG: @jessxnyc | @tonytrius | @markbsnyder2026 | @mynameisfinkle Jess' docu-series FINDING FIRE ISLAND about the history, mystique and lore of Cherry Grove & The Pines.

Jess is joined by David Kennerley to pour over his coffee-table book (Getting In) showcasing more than 200 flyers he collected from NYC queer bars & clubs of the 1990s (ie: Limelight, Splash, The Saint, Pyramid, The Roxy), with commentary from Michael Musto, Linda Simpson, Lady Bunny, Chip Duckett, Ernie Glam, Mark Allen and more! Topics: the "Disco Sucks" era, backrooms during the HIV/AIDS epidemic and more.  ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | gettinginclubbook.com ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

ANNOUNCEMENT! 🌲🍒 Finding Fire Island returns for Season 2 on June 11, with two episodes premiering on launch day. This season features interviews with Billy Porter, John Waters, Julio Torres, DJ Lina Bradford, Broadway Bares creator Jerry Mitchell, Fire Island icon Bob "Rose" Levine, and dozens of longtime Pines residents whose stories bring Fire Island's hidden history to life. Through 8 brand new episodes, we uncover the historic rivalry between Cherry Grove and The Pines, trace the evolution of Tea Dance and the art of cruising before apps, explore how DJs shaped NYC and Pines nightlife, and meet the Pantry Girls and queer firefighters who keep the island running. ⭐ Subscribe to Finding Fire Island wherever you podcast!  ⭐ Watch all episodes on YouTube ⭐ ⁠findingfireisland.com ⭐ @jessxnyc

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

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

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

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

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

Jess welcomes beloved NYC drag legend HEDDA LETTUCE, boots on the ground in Puerto Vallarta after the recent cartel attack. Topics — Playing Kim Cattrall's ex-boyfriend on Sex and the City on stage with Madonna at the 1999 MTV VMAs, neighbors with Quentin Crisp, and cult movies  at Chelsea Clearview Cinema. Plus — Shirley Q. Liquor, Heather Locklear at Cherry's on the Bay, and Hedda's journey from rock bottom in Provincetown to reigning on Fire Island—and now wintering in Puerto Vallarta. ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @heddalettuceofficial ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island