JessiStories Unheard Voices
Welcome to JessiStories: Unheard Voices — a space for the untold, the unseen, and the underestimated. From the shadows of documentary filmmaking to the resilience of queer voices and survivors of coercive control, these stories reveal truth, courage, and the power of being heard. Let’s inspire change, one voice at a time.
Episodes
36 episodes
Korey Rowe on Loose Change Documentary & The Soldier That Left memoir
Korey Rowe, co-creator of the viral 2004 documentary Loose Change, joins Jesse to share the untold story behind the film—including his desertion from the U.S. military, six years on the run, and his new memoir, The Soldier That Lef...
Mandi Hawke on Queer Identity, Fostering & Healing!
In this episode of Jessi's Stories: Unheard Voices, host Jessi sits down with Mandi Hawke, Chief Magic Maker of Proud Empowerment Business Solutions, for a raw and wide-ranging conversation covering her journey from graphic design into...
Jessi's Stories: Unheard Voices — Brianna Musco on Music, Coming Out & Chasing Dreams
In this episode of Jessi's Stories: Unheard Voices, host Jessi chats with singer-songwriter Brianna Musco about swapping a soccer career for music after a college injury, writing her breakout song "Forever," coming out to friends and f...
Boi Trans DJ Angel: Beyond the Beat
In this episode, we sit down with Angel AKA Boi — a transgender DJ and artist from Daytona Beach, Florida — who shares the moment music changed his life, what it means to perform openly as a trans artist, and his heartfelt advice on self-love, ...
From Neighbors to Narrator Dreams!
n this episode of the podcast, host Jessi reconnects with former Colorado neighbor Samantha Norbury — now a professional audiobook narrator and voice actor known to romance listeners.Lyrics By: Jessi HerseyMusic By: AJ Music
Inclusion in Local Theater with 3 Sisters Theater Company
Jessi sits down with the 3 sisters theater company located in grand junction Colorado. we talk about inclusion in local theater and how they operate day to day.Lyrics By: Jessi HerseyMusic By: AJ Music GroupArtwork By: Zumm...
Possibilities: A conversation on Helen Keller's Legacy's with Tony Stevens
Jessi Sits down with Tony Stevens, Assistant Vice President at the American Foundation for the Blind, to talk about Possibilities a Documentary Celebrating Helen Keller's 146th Birthday!! and the impact she has had on the blind community as an ...
Interview with Makena: Creative Resilience Chronicle
n this episode of Unheard Voices, host Jessi talks with writer, editor, and teacher Makena Metz about living with chronic illness (aplastic anemia and a past cancer diagnosis), ADHD, and PTSD, and how she channels those experiences into her cre...
Queering Shakespeare: Roan on Theater, Identity & Stage Combat!
In this episode Rowen sits down with Jessi to talk Shakespeare, mortal combat and finding empowerment through representation.Lyrics By: Jessi HerseyMusic By: AJ Music GroupArtwork By: Klaus
Queer Comic Creators Spotlight: Phil Falco & Kat Calamia
Phil Falco and Kat Calamia of Lifeline Comics join the show to talk about building a queer comics universe together — from Slice of Life to their vampire book trilogy — and share how they write, collaborate, and connect with fans.Lyrics ...
Balance of Fates: Crafting Queer Worlds and Growth
In this episode, indie author Raquel Raelynn discusses her debut queer fantasy novel The Balance of Fates, sharing how a random idea evolved into a 10-year writing journey, her process for crafting rich world-building and diverse chara...
Queer Witchy Books, Cults, and the CRAAP Test — with Wren Jones
Indie author Wren Jones talks queer and witchy fiction, critical thinking, cults, AI, and her upcoming novel Of Swords and Starlight.Lyrics By: Jessi HerseyMusic By: AJ Music GroupArt By: Zummi
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The Queercrypt Interview with Jessistories Paranormal, Sleep Paralysis & Cults!
Jessi sits down with Megan (The Queer Crypt) — paranormal investigator and folklore researcher — to talk sleep paralysis, UFO sightings, queer representation, and the cult-like nature of modern politics.Lyrics By: Jessi Hersey...
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The Language of Cults, Cognitive Bias & Magical Overthinking | Amanda Montell
Author and linguist Amanda Montell (Cultish, The Age of Magical Overthinking) joins Jessi to unpack cognitive dissonance, the psychology behind cult influence, and why our brains betray us in the information age — plus books, ...
Jessi's Stories: Cheyenne, Queer Bookwyrm & LGBTQ+ Advocacy
Jessi sits down with Cheyenne (they/them) — Bookstagrammer, Queer Bookwyrm, and LGBTQ+ advocate with the Down East Rainbow Alliance in rural Maine. They talk agender identity, queer book recs, and the work of bringing Pride to one of the most r...
Conversations with Sammie Booktuber: Books, Queer Representation!!
Jessi sits down with Sammie Varella — BookTuber, BookToker, and queer lit advocate. They dig into representation gaps in publishing, sapphic fairy tale recs, TikTok algorithm struggles, and the Emmy-eligible Escaping Twin Flames do...
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Queer Voices, Unheard Stories: Rebecca Thorne Author & Natalie Naudus Voice Actor
In this episode of Jessis Stories: Unheard Voices, host Jessi Hersey sits down with two queer authors who are redefining what it means to tell authentic stories. First, bestselling fantasy author Rebecca Thorne (Can't Spell Treason Without Tea)...
Conversations on Cults, Trump & Influence
In this episode, host Jessi sits down with guest Erin (Let the Fresh Erin) for a candid conversation about The Cult of Trump by Steven Hassan and Cultish by Amanda Montell. They dive into what makes a cult, the us-versus-them ...
The Truth about Scientology with Pamela Nickel Williams a Survivor!
What if you were born into a cult with no choice, no escape, and no one telling you it wasn't normal? Pamela Nickel Williams was. In this episode, she shares her remarkable story of growing up inside Scientology, the trauma she buried for decad...
April Little — Leaving Evangelical Christianity
Note: This episode was previously recorded in 2024.In this episode of Jesse's Stories: Unheard Voices, Jessi sits down with April Little — a queer, autistic theologian and podcaster — to discuss her journey leaving a cons...
I Was Raised in a Cult & Expelled for Being Gay | Andrew's Story
What happens when the world you grew up in turns against you for simply being yourself? This week, Jessi sits down with Andrew — a cult survivor who found his voice the hard way. A raw, eye-opening conversation you won't want to miss.Vie...
From Cults to Care: A Conversation with Dr. Tabitha a NXIVM cult survivor
In this episode, Jessi sits down with Dr. Tabitha Chapman, Executive Director of the Freedom Train Project — a nonprofit proYouviding support services for those leaving coercive groups and cult environments. They explore her path into advocacy,...
Stockholm Stories: Victims and Voices in Film — Interview with Mimi Wilcox & Max
What happens when a label designed to silence women gets passed off as science? Jessi sits down with documentary filmmaker Mimi Wilcox and producer Max to dig into their Oscar-shortlisted short Bad Hostage — a deeply personal film that...
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Inside the Cult Documentary: A Producer Mike Untold Story
Mike Brilliant, field production coordinator for Netflix's "Escaping Twin Flames," shares behind-the-scenes stories from making the documentary. He discusses coordinating with producers, creating safe spaces for trauma survivors, and how people...
The Animation inside Escaping Twin Flames with Amy and Alan
This podcast episode features Jessi interviewing Amy and Alan from Yukfoo Animation studios about creating animated sequences for the Netflix documentary "Escaping Twin Flames." They discuss their creative process—initially designing tarot card...
