Essie’s Hour Of Love

BONUS EP: What is it like to love something so much you’ll start a podcast about it? Well, this week we sat down with fellow podcasters and hosts of the Happy Campers Podcast Sammy and Julia to discuss our shows. Tune in to hear all the good, bad, and dreams that come with them.

What’s your craziest college story? Maybe you tried new things, dated a few people, or like Beth Amodeo were converted into a fundamentalist cult by the girl you had a crush on. This week we hear how Beth’s story went from college club to extreme religion, why she wrote a book about her 7 years under the influence of the Evangelical church, and the life she’s building now that she’s free.

They say nothing can prepare you for parenthood, or the loss of your child. But, when Jonathon Aslay’s biggest fear came true, he believes he was. Tune in to hear a father’s journey of learning how to grieve through love. Check out Jonathon's new book "What The Heck is Self Love Anyway" at www.jonathonaslay.com/love

After getting asked to perform at a plus-size themed comedy show, Jess Fuchs asked herself “Am I a plus-size comedian? Or, am I a comedian that happens to be plus-size?” Listen in as Ess & Jess consider all the ways being “larger” helped shape who they are today. Check out Jess’s own podcast Expert Schmexpert or on her instagram @jessfuchs

We’re kids of divorce…are you too? Have you ever wondered if celebrating two Christmases, living out of a suitcase, and having “strangers” sleep in your parents' bed shaped you? We sat down with our dear friend Jesse Taylor to discuss if we’re f*cked up being kids of divorce, or stronger because of it...‍

Chelsea Kravitz is a Birth Mother. A title often erased from the story of adoption, and one that may even imply her “mothering” and love for her daughter ended. But, we’ve often been told there’s nothing stronger than a mother’s love. So at 21 yrs old, Chelsea found herself clenching her eyes shut as she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, because if she opened them, she’d never be able to give her away. An act so powerful it would send her on a journey to rebuild her life. Tune in to hear how

This story starts with a date a thousand miles in the making. The truth is you never know when love will happen, where it’ll take you, or how it’ll hold you together. But, isn’t the journey worth the leap of faith? Es and Grace sit down with the podcast’s very own Jimmie L who says “you learn what you really mean to someone when you’re sick”. Tune in now.

Before Jonah sat down and wrote A Book About Love he thought he’d never write again. He was at rock bottom. He’d lost his dream job, made some unforgettable mistakes and to top it all off, his 2 yr old daughter wouldn’t let him push her on the swing. And yet, he was in the midst of experiencing a type of love that we don’t normally see in the movies. The type of love that has changed the course of this podcast forever. Tune in to hear All About Love.

“10 yrs ago, I met a kid called Strauss. He was little, wise and a complete rascal. One day, he told me he wanted to become a pro hockey player. I replied with a cheap cliche line, something like, 'if you work hard anything can happen'. He wasn't impressed. He said that I had no idea what that would take. I didn’t. But he did. Now he’s 21, a sophomore at University of Michigan playing D1 hockey and inspiring me everyday. Tune in to this week's episode to hear what it takes.” - Essie.

Sometimes you’re labeled different from the get-go because of who you love, who your parents are, or how you look. But what happens when you’re all of the above? This week Mallory Jones takes us on a journey of perseverance that began before she was even born, to today. And how sometimes, you just can’t give a crap.

He may approach dating casually, but when things go wrong in the bedroom maybe it’s a sign for something greater in life. In this episode Es and Grace sit down with former guest Leo to casually chat about casual sex, leaving us wondering “how comfortable are we with this?” In retrospect, we can all say we’d do things differently...and Leo is calling himself out on his own actions. Maybe he’ll change, maybe he won’t. But acknowledging the issue is half the battle.

It’ll be years until he learns how to truly hear people, especially women...but mostly himself. Raised as a boy that should be seen and not heard, Yahdon did a lot of listening. And now, he sits down with us to discuss how he’s used his writing to better understand the terms for which society set for him vs the ones he’s trying to set for himself. And now, it’s our turn to truly listen to him...and maybe help us better understand ourselves. Yahdon Israel is a writer, college professor and creator of Literaryswag, a cultural movement that intersects literature and fashion to make books cool. Visit yahdonisrael.com to learn more. Please know this conversation was recorded in the Summer of 2018

It’s 2am. Lower East Side. Dive Bar. And our guest, Veronica, just can’t keep her eyes off this guy. He’s handsome, wearing a peacoat and holding her gaze. But he never comes over and she leaves without saying a word. And yet, he texts her 2 hours later. How could this be? Tune in to hear one of the greatest “meet cutes” of all time and the realities of a successful relationship….basically, what happens when the Romantic Comedy ends. ***LAST EPISODE OF THE SEASON***

The truth is the “Abortion Conversation” is one often removed from the dinner table. But, why are we so afraid to talk about it? For too long, talking about abortions has been like reversing an oversized truck. Done with CAUTION. Not today. Tune in to hear Lindsay’s unfiltered real-life abortion experience. From knowing her and her partner weren’t ready to be parents, who she reached out to for support, how they reacted, and all the mixed feelings that followed.

Meet Joanna. Who was once called Jonathan. She’s a kickass sound editor, Emmy Award winning to be exact, a philosopher of love & sound, and perpetually finding herself figuring out if she’s actually on a date...or just “hanging out”. Tune into the latest episode and hear about her experiences working for Master of None, her first date with a heterosexual man, and most importantly, how sometimes we’re looking for our Mozart while other times our Justin Bieber.

Cole was the good Mormon kid. He went on his Mission to Korea, attended a Mormon college and married a lovely Mormon woman. All the while never quite knowing what he truly believed in...and who he really was. And then, he and his wife decided to leave the faith, got drunk together for the first time, and decided to date other people. Maybe he still hasn’t found all the answers, but he’s finally free to find out.

Rex is first generation American Nigerian, currently 23 yrs old, living it up in NYC, and madly in love with a Singaporean girl of Chinese decent. He grew up with parents who’s biggest fear was that he would become a statistic and biggest hope, that one day, he will marry a nice Nigerian woman. Things are complicated. But as Rex puts it…”pressure makes diamonds, right?”

It’s serendipity! Imagine you’re on a romantic trip to Berlin with your lover and you find yourself reliving the same moment you shared on the same street corner 2 years ago...with your previous lover. This moment sparked Heloise to write her first play about truth. Better yet, her truth about love. Tune in as we discuss putting yourself on the line...and the awkwardness of American one night stands.

There’s no life partner, boyfriend, husband, or drunken one night stand in this story. But rather, on the other side of the world, a Donor Dad. Tune in to hear Sam’s journey from realizing she wanted a child more than anything and was willing/able to do it on her own, how she would let go of the concept one lover will provide everything, and how she found a man who was emotionally ready to be the “good family friend” in her child’s life forever.

What would you do if you heard someone shared your same (slightly obsessive) passion for romantic movies? WE GAVE HIM AN EPISODE! And he explained why The Big Sick hit very close to home, shared tips on how to win over a Vietnamese mom, and discussed his journey from hiding to celebrating his asian heritage.

Ever hear a story that’s almost too crazy to be fake? On this week’s episode we sit down with Justin Reed and dive into a story that started with a confession over 20 years in the making. You would think I lifetime filled with lies would lead to trust issues, but it’s the exact opposite! Listen to his episode and hear how it all played out.

Excited to kick off a brand new season with the inspiring Lisa Marie Basile. Lisa’s story takes some unpredictable turns from life in foster care to practicing witchcraft and creating rituals. Don’t worry, it’s not as SPOOKY as it may sound! She is an editor, writer and poet living in NYC. She’s written two books of poetry Apocryphal, and Nympholepsy - due out next November. Her upcoming first novel is a fiction about New Orleans, sex death, and finding the self. But her writing doesn't end there, she’s also the founding editor-and-chief of Luna Luna Magazine which has been described as content divided into “light” and “dark”. Listen to her episode and maybe you’ll be just as bewitched by her story as us. Follow Lisa on Instagram @lisamariebasile #lisamariebasile, or reach out to her at Lisambasile@gmail.com / editor@lunalunamagazine.com

Join us on a mini-trip to Westchester, NY and meet two extraordinary individuals Alan Epstein and Yvonne Tropp. Hear their journey from young love, to a lifetime spent loving another person, and finding love for the second time. We cover many decades, many daughters, and a letter that turned into an unexpected first date. But most of all, we learned that no matter what age there’s always potential for great love.

If you're in need of some body positivity this is the episode for you. This weeks' guest, Laura Delarato takes us through her inspiring journey becoming an influential plus size model, artist and film maker. Tune in to hear a very honest and raw conversation between two women whose lives have been affected by the shape of their bodies.

We all crave connections. And when you're lost thinking no one else will understand, finding someone who relates means everything. This week’s guest Cheryl Malik did just that. She saw a missing piece to the Modern Woman meets Motherhood equation and set out on a mission to fix it by founding NoFilter. With the help of her extensive marketing background, successful blogging history, and experience as a modern mother she created a place for women and mothers to come and share their truths—helping to ensure they're not alone.

This week’s guest Jeremy Elliott has a little something for all of us to reminisce about. From awkward high school years, to working at the local hotspot, and all the drama that comes with young love. Can’t say we all met our partners while dressed up in a borrowed doctor's outfit, or broken the “bro code” to take her on a date, but we all can appreciate finding a loving & supportive partner that helps you to believe in yourself.

As a NYC woman stuck in the modern dating world this week’s guest Adrienne Scordato worked her way from secretary to CEO of her own business, survived a battle with cancer, and then fell head over heels in love. She waited 45 years to find him, so it makes sense she’d cancel their first date 3 times before finally saying yes! And she's very happy she did.

People say in order to find love you need to stop looking. And, this week’s guest Phuc Nguyen has us thinking it may actually be worth a shot! It’s a story told over many years, countries, time-zones, and places in life. But, while on a journey for self-discovery, with someone she might’ve not expected, she found what many search for…love.

Nobody knows when or if they'll figure out there life's passion. But for this girl, it was young! Catherine Corcoran knew pretty early on she would grow up and use her voice for those who either can't or won't. As an actress, artist and moon-child, she has had her fair share of exciting adventures. And unfortunately, some first hand experiences as a woman in a "man's world". Through all the highs and lows she's faced, Catherine found love in her career and a man who supports her, lets her be her, and after years...keeps it fun! You may remember him from episode 17, but this time we get the other side of the story.

What started as a job soon became a first love & worldwide adventure story for the ages. This week’s guest Aitana Novoa tells the love story that brought her here to NYC.

This week's guest is an inspiring Associate Creative Director by day and expert first dater by night (she's gone on over 200!). Jennifer Schwartz takes us back to summer camp days, describing her ultimate man, and giving Essie a lesson on online flirting. Let's just say we can all learn a few things from this episode!

On this week's episode our featured guest Traci Kiss sits down and talks candidly about growing up biracial in the Midwest, running into first loves later on in life, and discovering new love in unexpected places.

Flirty Kurty and his wonderful way with women! On this week's episode featuring Kurt McVey we learn the truth about standing naked in a room filled with strangers, writing for major publications like The New York Times & Interview Magazine, and what is means to live the ultimate New York life.

This week’s guest Peri Lyons, reminds us that so much of love & life is unseen. Described as being a specialist in three “C”s—clairvoyance, clairaudience, and clairsentience, Lyons continues her career as an intuitive consultant because, “it’s a little like great sex, when it works...IT WORKS!”

Time, religion, and age didn’t get in the way of these two! Sandi Harari, an unbelievably talented SVP Creative Director, mother of 2 & Essie’s boss, took the time out of her busy schedule to share her story. And, in her own words...“It felt like a decade in the making”.

Ben Zank a photographer, social media strategist and former YouTube star, tells us how rummaging through your grandparents belongings can transform your life into a new career, new country and new view on love.

We sat down with Bryant Littrean and learned about how he went from a life spent mastering all things digital to later walk away in hopes of fulfilling a more human need, love. A boy born in one country and raised by his mother in another, would grow up to become a man driven by the desire to create, explore, and connect with the physical world around him.

Inspired by some of life’s most hysterical moments, friends Mischa Ipp and Conrad Le Bron have taken the New York City acting scene into their own hands. These two Australian natives, co-created/starred in their wickedly funny webseries Then That Happened after years of collecting outrageous stories from the people around them. In this episode, two friends give advice on taking chances with personal projects, learning when it’s alright to ask for help, and having fun with the people you love most. Check out their webseries Then That Happened at: www.littley.co/thenthathappened www.mischaipp.com www.conradlebron.com

Would you be willing to give up everything you’ve ever known for someone that doesn’t even speak your language? Lupe Abuchaibe, our very first unknown guest, reveals her love story and trust us, it’s made for a movie! We first met Lupe’s Son, John, randomly at a coffee shop where he mentioned that his mom had an incredible Love Story. Naturally, we had to have her on the show.

Thompson Waite is an Australian-raised, NYC-based writer, performer & gonzo podcaster who apparently “fucking hates brunch”. Yes, it’s another Australian everybody! But don’t worry, this lovely gentleman found a way to turn-the-tables and give us a little love insight into our girl Essie! Thompson tells us what it’s like being raised in a divorced household, and how this may or may not affect his modern day marriage. And, so much more! Check out Thompson’s Top Five a gonzo comedy podcast that involves stream-of-consciousness heckling from a bicycle, arguments with close friends about religion and hysterical solo ranting.

EP 09 | Felicity T by Essie’s Hour Of Love

EP 08 | Florence Friebe by Essie’s Hour Of Love

EP 06 | How To Let Go w/Bryony Mattes-Harris by Essie’s Hour Of Love