Hot Takes & Deep Dives

Jess Rothschild

Podcast serving quick hits & deep cuts on LGBT pop iconography & NYC culture. Recent guests include Rosie O'Donnell, Sandra Bernhard, Fortune Feimster, Roxane Gay, Fran Drescher, Isaac Mizrahi, Lea DeLaria, Melissa Etheridge, Rachel Dratch, Gina Gershon, Margaret Cho, L Word creator Ilene Chaiken, Jenifer Lewis, Judy Gold, Mario Cantone, Michael Musto & more!

  1. 3D AGO

    Guinevere Turner on Writing The L Word & American Psycho, Taxicab Confessions & more!

    Jess is joined by indie cinema queen GUINEVERE TURNER (@guinevereturner)! 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!  📺 Clip of Guinevere's Taxicab Confessions ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @guinevereturner  ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

    1h 2m

  2. OCT 27

    Stories from a 73-Year-Old Queer Collector (w/ Mike Balaban)

    Jess is joined by "the accidental gay historian" Mike Balaban (@bammer47) — 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.  ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @bammer47 ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

    51 min

  3. OCT 13

    Zach Noe Towers on Cruising, 12 Step, Horror Screenplays

    Jess is joined by comedian ZACH NOE TOWERS (@zachnoetowers)! 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!  ⭐ 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

    51 min

  4. OCT 6

    Bob the Drag Queen on Swearing Off Watch What Happens Live, Barracuda Nights

    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: @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

    38 min

  5. SEP 29

    How The Saint Defined NYC's '80s DJ Scene (w/ Susan Morabito)

    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! ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc  ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

    35 min

  6. SEP 22

    Natalie Joy Johnson on Patti LuPone, Atlantis Cruises, Craigslist Sl*ts

    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. ⭐ IG: @jessxnyc | @njjisrelentless ⭐ Jess' docu-series on the history, mystique & lore of Fire Island — Finding Fire Island

    1h 13m

  7. SEP 15

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

    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

    47 min

  8. SEP 8

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

    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

    48 min
See All (254)

4.5
out of 5
743 Ratings

About

Podcast serving quick hits & deep cuts on LGBT pop iconography & NYC culture. Recent guests include Rosie O'Donnell, Sandra Bernhard, Fortune Feimster, Roxane Gay, Fran Drescher, Isaac Mizrahi, Lea DeLaria, Melissa Etheridge, Rachel Dratch, Gina Gershon, Margaret Cho, L Word creator Ilene Chaiken, Jenifer Lewis, Judy Gold, Mario Cantone, Michael Musto & more!

Information

  • Creator
    Jess Rothschild
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    254
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jess Rothschild
  • Show Website
    Hot Takes & Deep Dives

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