Jess Rothschild talks documentary 'Finding Fire Island,' the LGBTQ+ history of The Pines

On Topic, Off Script host Brian Mastroianni sits down with Jess Rothschild to discuss Season 2 of her documentary series Finding Fire Island.

For Pride Month, Brian welcomes back Jess Rothschild. They spoke last year about her docu-podcast Cult of Body & Soul, which explored the cultural phenomenon of SoulCycle. Now, she’s back with Season 2 of her GLAAD-nominated documentary series Finding Fire Island. It’s the first documentary of its kind to tell the history of Cherry Grove and The Fire Island Pines, the historic LGBTQ+ communities situated on Fire Island -- that thin barrier island just off the southern shore of Long Island.

While the first season offered a look at Fire Island as a whole, in this second season -- co-produced with The Pines Historical Society -- Jess wades into the history, lore, and very vibrant present of the Fire Island Pines, interviewing everyone from Billy Porter and John Waters to Julio Torres, Jay Jurden and DJ Lina Bradford to the people whose ties to Fire Island stretch back to the early days of how this small slip of sand stood as an oasis for gay New York in the mid-20th century. It would go on to become a hub of activism, music, fun, and above all, a place of belonging for the greater LGBTQ+ community today.

Jess Rothschild: ⁠Instagram

Finding Fire Island: Website, YouTube, Apple, Spotify

Hot Takes & Deep Dives: Website

Music: The Right Direction by Shane Ivers -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Logo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David J. Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more info on host Brian Mastroianni: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brianmastroianni.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bmastroianni