Jess Rothschild

Jess Rothschild is the creator, exec. producer and narrator of Finding Fire Island. Jess also produces and hosts the LGBT pop iconography podcast Hot Takes & Deep Dives where she interviews comedians, writers, TV showrunners, actors and reality TV personalities. Follow her on Twitter here and IG here.

Describe Finding Fire Island in ten words or less.
Mystique, legends & lore of the gayest place on earth.

Who is this podcast for?
Anyone who loves history, especially queer history, Bravo, The Housewives, New York City, Drag Race, Provincetown and hot gossip.

Why are you the perfect host for Finding Fire Island?
I’ve been obsessed with Fire Island since my first visit in 2008. As years went on, I became more entrenched in Cherry Grove and The Pines communities, reading and watching anything I could get my hands on.

However, there really has not been a piece of media that satisfied all of my curiosity. I wanted something that married the queer cultural legacy with how the rituals play out today… so I set out to create that missing piece of media.

What’s the most interesting thing you learned while making the show?
Two things really come to mind. The first is — I interviewed 20 people (men and women aged 35-65+). At least 25% of them revealed to me during the interview that they were sober. It was so interesting to me that a place like Fire Island, infamous for its party-forward sometimes hedonistic atmosphere, had thriving sober communities, particularly in Cherry Grove. That definitely became part of the story we told. 

The second thing is how the same socio-economic, racial, and political issues that play out across the United States are played out in these tiny, remote gay communities of Cherry Grove and The Pines as well. It’s all just a microcosm for the rest of the world, down to the historic rivalry between the two.

Who was the most fun to interview for this show?
Brian Moylan (Vulture Housewives recapper) and Paul Rudnick (screenwriter, The First Wives Club, Sister Act) are so entertaining and speak in perfect soundbites that I was able to use nearly all of their material from our interviews throughout the series. 

I interviewed two of the oldest members of the Cherry Grove community - Bob “Rose” Levine and Thom “Panzi” Hansen, who arrived in Cherry Grove in 1955 and 1972, respectively. They both still perform drag today and have SEEN IT ALL. 

And, of course Margaret Cho, Matt Rogers and Joel Kim Booster.

What was your favorite story on the show?
Hearing DJ Lina Bradford tell her first-person story of coming out for a one-weekend DJ gig in The Pines which evolved into a 10-year reign, is the centerpiece of episode 4 (“Tea”). DJ Lina is a cult of personality who changed the SOUND of Fire Island. Lina’s presence brought color to the island. The story of people chanting her name and dancing so hard that they broke the deck (twice!) is transcendent.

What’s the number one thing people have gotten wrong about Fire Island?
That it is only for white, gay men. Cherry Grove has always celebrated women, lesbians and trans folks, is a big drag hang-out, and welcomes gay guys who are “over” the pressure that can sometimes be felt in The Pines. The Pines is evolving closer to that mix every single year.

How has Fire Island changed over the decades?
If you only looked on Instagram (or the film Fire Island), you would think The Pines has always been this gay fantasia free-for-all. Guess what! It was originally envisioned as a straight community for families. Its previous owner (John Whyte) was a closeted gay man who wanted to keep the gayness an undercurrent, far away from the honky tonk, free flowing queer vibe of the neighboring community, Cherry Grove.

Tell us about your other podcast, Hot Takes & Deep Dives. How did that start?
I used to focus on Bravo commentary, and interviews with Housewives, Bravo reality stars. It quickly evolved into content I was more curious about, like interviewing people from The Real World (Danny Roberts (New Orleans), Irene McGee (Seattle), Genesis Moss (Boston). From there, I began to focus on those who were truly formative to my gay identity in the late 90s, early 2000s. I’ve been thrilled to interview Melissa Etheridge, the creator of The L Word, Ilene Chaiken, Gina Gershon, SNL writers & cast members, writers from Sex and the City and a lot more!  I also love dissecting one particular subject, like the rise and falls of Gawker and SoulCycle.

Who was your favorite person to interview on Hot Takes & Deep Dives?
Rosie O’Donnell and Sandra Bernhard, my queens.

How many hours did you spend making Finding Fire Island?
I started with the concept and outline of episodes in fall 2022. My first interview was with Bob “Rose” Levine (the 90 year old drag performer) in December 2022. I completed the rest of the interviews February-May 2023, with a few final pick-up interviews actually on Fire Island over Memorial Day. We started editing/sound design/scripting/narration April 2023. Hours? Girl, countless, endless.

How many people were on the team?
Just myself and my incredible sound designer Caitlin Whyte!

Thanks, Jess!