Embedded Files
Every story deserves to be told—even the messy ones.
Every story deserves to be told—even the messy ones.
Just Jess is a weekly podcast where nothing is off-limits. Each episode dives into raw, real-life experiences with chronic illness, mental health, parenting, addiction, trauma, survival, and the fierce act of staying alive when the world says you shouldn’t. Expect unfiltered stories, original poetry, guest voices, and moments that hit hard.
Episodes drop every Wednesday at 8 AM EST.
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you stream.
📻 Season 2 is now live! Episodes come out every Wednesday at 8am.
031 – Jess in the ’Burgh
After a month of chaos, lost pods, and living without a bed, Jess has officially landed in Pittsburgh—and she’s ready to tell the story. From climbing over boxes just to make it to the bathroom, to rebuilding life from scratch, this episode marks a new beginning.
032 – Deep Dive Into ‘Unknown Number’
In this episode, I dig into Netflix’s shocking documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish. What starts as a terrifying case of anonymous harassment against two teenagers becomes a dark reflection on digital cruelty and manipulation.
033 – Suicide Awareness Month
Trigger Warning: Suicide, grief, substance use.
A special episode about suicide, survival, and the stories that shaped me. I talk about my friend Dennis, whose struggle with opioids and alcohol ended in tragedy, and my own journey of staying alive when life gets darkest.
034 – The Foster Care System
We explore the structural and human dimensions of foster care—the challenges youth face when entering and aging out, how trauma and identity shape their stories, and what real change could look like.
035 – The Smiley Face Killer: Myth, Murder, or Mass Hysteria?
Whispers ripple through Pittsburgh’s bars and bridges: a serial killer hiding in plain sight, leaving a smile behind. I trace the origins of the Smiley Face Killer theory, the media frenzy, and the fine line between evidence and hysteria.
036 – The Real Monster: Ed Gein and the Men Who Played Him
A haunting deep dive into the true story behind one of America’s most infamous killers—and the myths Hollywood built around him. Through fact, psychology, and cultural obsession, I unpack how monsters are made.
📻 Season 1 Archive
The beginning of something honest, chaotic, and deeply human.
001 – Introduction
Welcome, all! A quick hello and what to expect from Just Jess. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
002 – Closet Staples, Chana Masala, and Sylvia Plath
Let’s talk fashion basics, I’ll walk you through my Chana Masala recipe, and we’ll end with a reading of Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath.
003 – Cancer Diagnosis, Thai Basil, and Spotify Top 10
I open up about my cancer diagnosis, share my Thai Basil Chicken recipe, and reflect on my Spotify Top 10.
004 – Bipolar Disorder & Tea Sandwiches
Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive mental health content. I discuss living with bipolar disorder and share my go-to recipe for tea sandwiches.
005 – Survival, Salsa, & Solidarity
Trigger Warning: This episode includes themes of rape, abuse, and assault. A raw conversation on survival, strength, and the solidarity we build from shared pain.
006 – Postpartum Problems, Poetry, and A Birthing Story (w/ Jessica Jocelyn)
Poet Jessica Jocelyn joins me to talk postpartum depression. I read from her book Ever More and share my own traumatic birth story.
007 – Miserable at Best
A more personal and reflective episode—important health updates, life shifts, and what’s next.
008 – The Long Summer of ’97
A deeply personal recounting of childhood sexual abuse. Honest. Raw. Unfiltered.
009 – Jess, The Gentle Parent
I share life updates and explore the philosophy of gentle parenting—including facts, feelings, and lived experience.
010 – Surviving Childhood Sex Abuse (with Jennifer Rodrigues)
Jennifer Rodrigues shares her story and we explore the long-term impact of childhood sexual abuse together.
011 – Spiritual Uprising and Spaghetti
Let’s talk faith, questioning religion, and cooking—yes, there’s a spaghetti recipe in here too.
012 – The Rise of the Phoenix
Starting over. Rebuilding. Becoming. This one’s about finding power in the ashes.
013 – Episode Thirteen
In this episode, I open up about living with Borderline Personality Disorder.
014 – Addicted To Love
Jess talks openly about sex addiction—what it is, how it shows up, and why we need to talk about it.
015 – A Transgender Talk with Charlie
Jess sits down with Charlie to talk about transgender identity, lived experience, and their time in Sumter and Columbia.
016 – Sexual Assault and Statistics
A tough but important episode on the reality of sexual assault. Includes statistics, personal reflection, and a warning for listeners.
018 – Manic or Depressed
A personal update and reflection on navigating mania, depression, and everything in between.
019 – Birthdays & Updates
Jess shares an honest birthday check-in and opens up about feeling the lowest she’s been in a while.
💬 Love the show?
Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, and leave a review on your favorite platform. Every download, share, and comment helps Just Jess grow—and keeps the conversation going.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse