Just Jess

Episode 041: Identity Uncensored

In this episode, Jess takes listeners on a deeper, fuller journey into queerness — what it means, where it comes from, how language has evolved, and how community shapes identity. From pansexual to ace, from trans masc to nonbinary, Jess breaks down the words we use with clarity, compassion, and a whole lot of personal experience. This episode explores queer history, the movements that paved the way, and the importance of chosen family. Jess also shares their own story: growing up without language for who they were, finding queerness later in life, and learning how to raise the next generation with openness, love, and truth. Alongside the personal storytelling, Jess offers a curated set of LGBTQIA+ resources, support networks, and educational tools — both national and Pittsburgh-based — to help listeners better understand themselves or support the queer people they love. This is an episode about identity, honesty, and belonging. It’s educational, heartfelt, messy in all the right ways, and rooted in queer joy. It’s Jess — louder, prouder, and more themselves than ever.

Episode 040. Steel, Soul, and Sandwiches.

In this episode, Jess explores the flavor, language, and grit of Pittsburgh — from the Steel City’s immigrant roots to the diner counters and hospital halls that still define it today. Featuring stories from the Glassport Diner, deep dives into local food staples like Primanti Bros. and Turner’s Tea, and reflections on resilience, healing, and finding home in a city that never stops rebuilding. Visit Pittsburgh – Official city tourism board for events, attractions, and local guides. https://www.visitpittsburgh.com [https://www.visitpittsburgh.com] Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation – Preserving and documenting Pittsburgh’s architectural and industrial heritage. https://phlf.org [https://phlf.org] Heinz History Center (Smithsonian Affiliate) – A detailed look at Pittsburgh’s cultural, sports, and industrial history. https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org [https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org] Pittsburghese Dictionary (Carnegie Mellon Project) – A linguistic deep dive into the region’s most famous accent. http://pittsburghese.com [http://pittsburghese.com] Primanti Bros. (Est. 1933) – Home of the original Pittsburgh sandwich, born in the Strip District during the Great Depression. https://primantibros.com/our-story [https://primantibros.com/our-story] Turner Dairy Farms / Turner’s Premium Tea (Est. 1930) – The local dairy that created Pittsburgh’s beloved orange-and-white iced tea carton. https://drinkturners.com [https://drinkturners.com] Mancini’s Bread Co. (Est. 1926) – Family bakery in McKees Rocks, known for its signature twist bread and century-long tradition. https://mancinisbakery.com [https://mancinisbakery.com] Woley’s Fish Market (Strip District) – Historic fish market supplying fresh seafood to Pittsburgh homes and restaurants for decades. https://woleys.com [https://woleys.com] Eat’n Park Restaurants – A Pittsburgh staple for family dining and home of the iconic smiley cookie. https://www.eatnpark.com [https://www.eatnpark.com] Bombay to Burgh – Beloved Indian restaurant offering a Sunday buffet experience that has become a local favorite. https://bombaytoburgh.com [https://bombaytoburgh.com] Pascual’s Pizza (Glassport) – A community favorite known for classic pies and local flavor. https://www.facebook.com/pascualspizza [https://www.facebook.com/pascualspizza] Mama Pepino’s (Clairton & Elizabeth) – Family-owned pizzeria serving traditional pizza and Italian comfort food. https://www.mamapepinos.com [https://www.mamapepinos.com] Bottoms Up Grill & Bar (Glassport) – Neighborhood bar famous for its buffalo chicken pizza and laid-back vibe. https://www.facebook.com/BottomsUpGlassport [https://www.facebook.com/BottomsUpGlassport] La Gourmandine Bakery & Pastry Shop – Authentic French bakery offering pastries, croissants, and artisan bread across Pittsburgh. https://lagourmandinebakery.com [https://lagourmandinebakery.com] Hazelwood Café – Cozy community café serving locally roasted coffee and seasonal fare in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood. https://hazelwoodcafe.com [https://hazelwoodcafe.com] UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) – One of the nation’s leading healthcare systems, headquartered in Pittsburgh. https://www.upmc.com [https://www.upmc.com] University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine – Academic partner to UPMC and a hub for groundbreaking medical research. https://www.medschool.pitt.edu [https://www.medschool.pitt.edu]

Episode 039. The Aftermath of October.

October was heavy — chemo, Wig Out, grief, and growth. In this episode, Jess sits down in the quiet after the chaos to talk about what comes next: healing, exhaustion, and finding light in the aftermath. This is Jess's FIRST video episode of Just Jess. -reSolve Crisis Services (Allegheny County) — 24/7 free crisis hotline: 1-888-7-YOU-CAN (1-888-796-8226). Walk-in center at 333 N Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208. -YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh — Community and mental-health support, referrals, and programming for families. -Pittsburgh Community Services Inc. (PCSI) — Anti-poverty agency offering food & nutrition assistance, employment support, housing resources in Pittsburgh. -Center for Community Resources — Information & referral line for assorted supports: 844-360-4372, or call/text 988 for 24/7 crisis help. -Crisis Center North — 24/7 domestic-violence support: Hotline 412-364-5556 or text/chat line 1-877-522-6093. -Allegheny Link — For housing/homelessness assistance: 866-730-2368 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.).

Episode 038. Haunted Hearts & Living Ghosts

Trigger Warning: Murder, sexual violence, and death. In this haunting Halloween episode of Just Jess, I explore the stories that linger — the souls we remember, and the darkness we refuse to glorify. From infamous true crimes to the invisible scars they leave behind, this episode asks what it really means to live among ghosts — both the ones we’ve lost and the ones that still walk beside us. It’s not about shock value. It’s about remembrance, empathy, and confronting the ways violence reshapes us. Resources & Support If you or someone you love is missing, or if you want to help bring names back to the nameless, these are the people doing the work: * The Doe Network — doenetwork.org [https://www.doenetwork.org]: a volunteer-run database of missing and unidentified persons. * National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) — missingkids.org [https://www.missingkids.org]: resources for families and investigations. * The DNA Doe Project — dnadoeproject.org [https://www.dnadoeproject.org]: using genetic genealogy to identify the unidentified. * NamUs — namus.gov [https://www.namus.gov]: the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. * VictimConnect Resource Center — victimconnect.org [https://victimconnect.org]: a free, confidential helpline for victims of crime. * The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force — justice.gov/mmiw [https://www.justice.gov/ovw/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-persons]: focused on justice for Indigenous victims.

Episode 037: The Culture of Killers.

Listener Warning: This episode contains discussions of violence, serial murder, mental illness, and true crime. Listener discretion is advised. These stories are told to educate, not to glorify. In this episode, Jess Faulkner explores the darkness beneath our fascination with true crime and serial killers. From Bundy and Dahmer to the dramatizations of Ryan Murphy and the performances of actors like Evan Peters and Charlie Hunnam, Jess looks at how killers become cultural myths—and why our obsession with them reveals something unsettling about human nature. Through the lens of psychology, sociology, and systemic failure, she dissects how untreated mental illness, childhood trauma, and social neglect can turn pain into pathology. But this isn’t about fear—it’s about understanding the systems that breed violence and the lives that are lost in its shadow. Because monsters aren’t born in nightmares—they’re built in plain sight. Resources & Further Reading: * FBI Behavioral Science Unit – FBI.gov/BSU [https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/behavioral-analysis-unit] * Center for Homicide Research – homicideresearch.org [https://www.homicideresearch.org] * Murder Accountability Project – murderdata.org [https://www.murderdata.org] * Radford/FGCU Serial Killer Database (Aamodt, 2023) – radford.edu/serialkillerdatabase [https://www.radford.edu/content/psychology/serial-killer-database.html] * “Drowning the Smiley Face Murder Theory” – Center for Homicide Research * Newsweek: States Ranked by Serial Killers (2024) * Interviews and archival footage from Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix), Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Ryan Murphy Productions, 2025), and FBI archives on Bundy, Dahmer, and Gacy.