Hot Takes & Deep Dives

Jess sits down with Edward Russell, host of the popular podcast “Inside the Groove,” in which each episode focuses on one Madonna’s most iconic songs. Edward dissects the story behind each song via the use of multi-tracks (aka stems), demos, isolated vocals and interviews with the writer. We go deep on the stories behind the writing and recording of “Vogue,” “Music,” “Open Your Heart,” “Hung Up,”...

Jess chats with Danny Roberts, the breakout star of one of the greatest seasons of MTV’s The Real World — New Orleans. Back in 2000, Danny became the face of the war against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, due to his relationship with his military boyfriend Paul, whose identity had to be blurred out on TV, or else he would lose his career. Danny chats about the audition & filming process, and how he suffer...

Jess welcomes Semajh Bludson (@semajwithanh) to provide his hot takes on the racist state of affairs at Bravo, specifically relating to VPR, Stassi, Jax & Kelly Dodd. Semajh shares his own experience as a young, queer Black Bravo fan living in Maryland and sheds light on how the network could have handled the Stassi/Kristen moment in a more constructive way. Semajh also touches on Porsha Williams,...

Jess welcomes an actor/singer/performer she has admired and loved for nearly twenty years — Jai Rodriguez — well-known as the Culture Guru on the OG Queer Eye on Bravo. Jess fell in love with Jai years prior, when he was starring on Broadway as Angel in RENT and doing cabaret "after shows" singing early JT & Kelly Clarkson. We chat about his experience playing Angel, the HIV+ beloved drag queen be...

Jess has an emergency kiki with Lara Marie Schoenhals (Sexy Unique Podcast) to process their thoughts & feelings around the sudden firings of Stassi Schroeder & Kristen Doute this week. We discuss their blatant racist aggressions targeted at former VPR cast member Faith Stowers, Stassi & Beau’s relationship, the financial implications, why "cancel culture" is idiotic, predict Stassi's eventual com...

Jess has an epic kiki with Ryan Bailey (So Bad It’s Good) to break down Bravo’s responsibility within the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as the long-coming backlash against Lea Michelle. We go deep on how to course-correct Vanderpump Rules, Garcelle’s performance on RHOBH, debate the entertainment value of the alcoholism ravaging RHONY, Denise & Aaron, and forecast the return of LVP to House...

The time has come! Jess sits down for a deep dive Chromatica review with the #1 Gaga fan in her life, @ClubAli. We then go head to head to debate our Top 10 Gaga songs of all time. Look out for the deep cuts... the taste WILL. JUMP. OUT.  [ Chromatica Review: 10:00 ]   [ Top 10 Rankings: 33:00 ]   Follow @clubali, @jessxnyc & @hottakesdeepdives

Jess welcomes the Millionaire Matchmaker herself, Patti Stanger, to deep dive back to the golden era of Bravo in 2008. We chat about how she became close friends with Bethenny & Jill Zarin in the early days, and why she took Jill’s side in the infamous Bethenny vs. Jill fight. Patti gives her hot takes on all the Bravo couples: Denise/Aaron/Brandi, Stassi & Beau, Jax & Brittany, Erika Jayne/Mr. Gi...

** Please stay safe and adhere to curfews in your city. Listen, read, share, donate & vote. ** Jess welcomes Dr. Amador, widely recognized as Bethenny Frankel’s therapist on her spinoffs Bethenny Getting Married, Bethenny Ever After + RHONY season 7. We go deep on the infamous “Lost at Sea” episode in which Dr. Amador took Bethenny & Jason on a sailing trip to Nantucket in which he lost GPS signal...

Jess welcomes superstar fitness instructor Isaac Calpito aka @IsaacBoots to trace his trajectory from growing up in Hawaii, to moving to New York City to dance on Broadway to eventually training celebrities including Ariana Grande, Faye Dunaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kelly Ripa & Lisa Rinna. Isaac is having a MOMENT right now, as he has exploded into global fitness stardom during quarantine with his ch...

Jess welcomes back Andy Bellatti (@astrologywithandy), our resident Astrologer to the Housewives, this time to go head to head on our Top 10 Britney songs. We have been talking about doing this episode for months and it's finally here! Look out for the deep cuts... the taste WILL. JUMP. OUT.  Follow @jessxnyc, @hottakesdeepdives & @astrologywithandy

Jess welcomes Vanderpump Rules OG Peter Madrigal to chat about the trials & tribulations of perhaps the only man truly working at SUR. Peter reminisces about dating Stassi, watching the RHOBH crew film at SUR, and the fateful day when the employees were approached about a Housewives spinoff that would become VPR. We discuss the recent editor/Scheana scandal as well as his reaction to the racist tw...

Jess hangs with Erin Martin (Pink Shade podcast & Jenny McCarthy Show) to chat about the further implications of the Vanderpump editor scandal as it will relate to podcasters and a lot more! Erin Martin is a regular on SiriusXM where she recaps Housewives with Jenny McCarthy every single week. We kiki about this season of the Kardashians, Bravo fining Dorinda for leaking that Page Six breakup arti...

Jess summons Emerson Collins (The People’s Couch) back to the pod for a kiki regarding the Scheana Shay vs. VPR editor Bri Dellinger scandal. Bri is an editor who has worked on Project Runway, Top Chef and currently Vanderpump Rules. She went on a since-deleted podcast (don't worry, we saved it & transcribed it for you) claiming she "tries to embarrass Scheana as often as possible" and a lot more....

Jess welcomes back AOL entertainment writer & host Gibson Johns to go behind the scenes of the "anti-bullying comedy" event in which she "performed" on this week's RHONY. It was a mess from the jump, and she walks Gibson through how she was involved,  and what was happening behind the scenes including a pissed off Daryn Carp & Dorinda crying on the street. We also delve into the fresh Housewives i...

Jess hangs with two of her favorite boys, power pop culture couple Ariel Padilla (star SoulCycle instructor) & comedian Dave Mizzoni to break down everything from their Housewives origin stories to the pop queens who raised them (JLo & Britney, respectively). Dave is a comedian with his own game show (literally called “Gayme Show”) on the new Quibi app and Ariel is a SoulCycle instructor figuring...

Jess sits down with Summer House OG and Loverboy in Charge, Kyle Cooke. They immediately get to the question on everyone's mind: will they be able to film Summer House in late June amid social distancing rules and safety concerns? Kyle lays out three different possibilities of how they could successfully film the 5th season of the show this summer. We also discuss why the house had to move from Mo...

... is this thing on? Officially announcing Hot Takes & Deep Dives!  Thank you for your love & support!

Jess hangs with Matt Rogers of Las Culturistas to talk about Housewives, The View, Bethenny vs. Carole, and of course his podcast Las Culturistas w/ SNL star Bowen Yang. We go deep about his experience auditioning for (and nearly getting) Saturday Night Live, and what it was like to witness his best friend/comedy partner Bowen Yang actually get the gig. We also touch on Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkso...

ess chats with Sexy Unique Podcast's Lara Marie Schoenhals to figure out how to save Vanderpump Rules while also getting Summer House to the Next Level. Lara shares her specific LA experience watching fans infiltrate the Pump Rules cast & gives some insight into the cast’s “group think” mentality. Jess is fully in love w/ Leah Mob as we touch on the RHONY premiere en route to a deep cut deep dive...

Jess sits down with celebrity gossip columnist extraordinaire PEREZ HILTON for a wild ride of an interview. Perez is the original celebrity social media influencer dating back to his infamous blog which he founded in 2004 under the name “PageSixSixSix.com.” We talk about the lawsuit filed by the New York Post which forced him to rename his brand and site PerezHilton.com freeing him to become a hou...

Jamie Stein is a therapeutically trained empath & intuitive with an ability to channel (feel, see and hear) what is going on inside of an individual on an unconscious level. He is also a Bravo superfan and loves using his gift to help us more deeply understand these people beyond what we see in an edited episode of TV. Today, Jamie sits with Jess and combines Deep Intuitive Magic with Therapeutic...

Jess hunkers down in quarantine w/ Emerson Collins (The People’s Couch) to go deep on the big drop of the week - the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills trailer! We break down everything including: the Allison DuBois-wannabe astrologer, Garcelle & Sutton, a full cast scene inside the Girardi household, and Rinna & Denise's Daytime Emmy-worthy soap opera work. We also theorize on why the season was de...

Jess is joined by friend of the show Andy Bellatti - our very own Astrologer to the Housewives! Andy & Jess hunker down to understand & dissect the birth charts of some big RHONY players: Ramona, Bethenny and Dorinda. Andy explains how our planet placement significantly impacts our personalities and why it is the “moon” sign that matters, not your “sun” sign. We then dig into the relationship char...

Jess welcomes John Hill, Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM co-host and ex-boyfriend. We chat the origin of their relationship when John was starring in Hairspray on Broadway and how they’ve managed to remain friends & work together over 15 years later.  We chat about his experiences as a writer/producer on Watch What Happens Live and Kathy Griffin’s My Life on the D-List and get his take on the Andy Cohen/Kat...