We've been gone for a hot minute, but Miss Jaye is back with the next installment of The Renovation - she's reached the halfway point in her project, but is she wiser...or just older?

PART ONE: So What Happened?

Miss Jaye talks about what this project was supposed to be at the beginning and how it started to change. Self reflection is never easy - but this trip has been bananas!

PART TWO: The Story So Far

To understand where you're going, you've got to understand where you've been! Miss Jaye gives a rundown of the 7 books in #TheSquad that she's read do far, with some of her thoughts - the good, the bad, and the extremely ugly! Plus, she loves any excuse to make a SEX & THE CITY reference!

PART THREE: You're Doing Great Sweetie!

Are you though? Are you really? In this section Miss Jaye talks through some of the feelings that were coming up as she worked through the early episodes of THE RENOVATION and how the project continued to change and morph the deeper in she got!

PART FOUR: The Shit Hits The Fan!

Personal growth is hard enough without a global pandemic throwing a wrench into the works! In this section, Miss Jaye talks about how the arrival - and very long stay! - of Mean Miss 'Rona intensified her feelings of loneliness and isolation - but also helped her gain perspective in rather surprising ways!

PART FIVE: Let's Marie Kondo This Shit!

She's got a new focus, and she's ready to go! Miss Jaye sets up what she wants to achieve in the second half of this series and talks about the next book in #TheSquad - we're not exactly sure what it's about, but we know that she's already halfway there!

PART SIX: The World Turned Upside Down

Once again, we are so fortunate to have this episode's Brene Brown quote read by none other than Ash from The Upside Down Podcast! Find out more about where you can hear the show - they helped get Miss Jaye through lockdown, and they keep coming out with great content while we all wait patiently for season 4!

While we're going to be serving up some humor and plenty of snark, mental health is no laughing matter. Nothing in this series is meant to constitute medical advice, and is presented for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit SuicidePreventionHotline.org. We love you.

Miss Jaye is back with yet another episode of Janessa After Dark's spine-tingling horror-themed Series 2 - and the interview for this episode is absolutely iconic!

First though, Miss Jaye talks a little bit about the "first girl." Not to be confused with the final girl, a well-known slasher trope that was initially defined by Carol Clover in her book MEN, WOMEN, AND CHAINSAWS, the first girl is the first big on-screen kill by a killer in a slasher franchise, and really helps set the tone for how the killer operates and what the film is going to be about - things that impact the series through subsequent sequels.

In addition to discussing the first girls form the "big three" slasher franchises (HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13TH, and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), Miss Jaye also connects them back to the first iteration of the slasher motif, Hitchcock's PSYCHO, as well as the British film PEEPING TOM that came out the same year.

And Miss Jaye's very special guest for this episode is the "first girl" from the HALLOWEEN franchise: Sandy Johnson, who played Judith Myers in John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN! They talk about her role in that film as well as her appearance in Playboy, her new love of conventions, and her other film work! It's a great conversation between two fabulous broads, so don't miss a moment!

Miss Jaye is back with the next step on her journey for healing, wholeness, and hot-mess-reduction: Lysa TerKeurst's UNIVITED: LIVING LOVED WHEN YOU FEEL LESS THAN, LEFT OUT, & LONELY. The first book in #TheSquad presented from a Christian perspective, Miss Jaye needed to unpack a few troubled memories from her past to get through this one!

Part One: The First Cut Is The Deepest

Miss Jaye opens up about some of her feelings about organized religion, and Chirstianity specifically. Like many queer people, Miss Jaye's experiences with the church have been at time...troubled. But a lot of that trouble can be traced back to one person: Pastor Ken.

Part Two: The Ick Factor

As she's reading the book, there is something about the language that doesn't sit quite right with her - and it starts to bring up other less wholesome references!

Part Three: Being Right Vs. Ending Right

Miss Jaye starts to "drink the Koolaid" (I know, I know, not exactly a great reference when it comes to trusting religions, but here we are) and gets drawn in to a section about bitterness, and choosing grace instead.

Part Four: The Power of Positive Delusion

Well, that ended quickly! In this section, Miss Jaye comes back down to earth as she contemplates the difference between humility and humiliation, and how certain religious teachings always seem to work out better for those with a certain amount of privilege.

Part Five: All Good Girls Go To Heaven

Further questioning the balance between privilege and oppression the author represents, Miss Jaye wonders why this is so clearly targeted at women...and what that says about the role of women in religious life.

Part Six: Never Saw That Coming

She thought she had this book figured out - until it through her a real curveball! Maybe this perspective has more in common with Miss Jaye's "woo woo" beliefs than she first thought...but that may not be a good thing.

Part Seven: Everything Was Beautiful & Nothing Hurt

A beautiful lie is still a lie. Miss Jaye ponders faith and compliance, and tries to explain her view of the world, creation, and religion...through a beach ball?

Part Eight: The Porn Star Next Door

Never one to turn down a juicy juxtaposition, Miss Jaye asked none other than fellow UND alum, boylesque dancer, and adult film performer Chris Harder to read the opening Brene Brown quote for this episode! He's sweet and sexy, smart and spicy - he's just the porn star next door!

While we're going to be serving up some humor and plenty of snark, mental health is no laughing matter. Nothing in this series is meant to constitute medical advice, and is presented for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit SuicidePreventionHotline.org. We love you.

It's been a hot minute, but Miss Jaye is back with yet another attempt at fast-tracked self improvement. This time she's reading ME MY BIGGEST SOLUTION by Dakon Green - a book that made its way into #TheSquad in a very unusual way!

Part One: When Self Published Authors Attack

Miss Jaye talks a little bit about how she came to find this book and include it in the squad...for better or for worse!

Part Two: Mr. Green's Wild Ride

From the very beginning, things aren't right: Miss Jaye's first WTF moment happens on page 3 - and things only escalate from there! What has she gotten herself into?

Part Three: And So It Begins

This section covers chapters 1-3 and goes into some depth of the material covered in those chapters. In fact, there may be more depth in the commentary than the actual book!

Part Four: Testing My Patience

Miss Jaye's reaction to the book continues to mount with chapters 4-6...but is it possible that her rising anger is just a symptom of her wrong thinking? And when, we wonder, will the bass drop?

Part Five: Maybe You Shoulda Kept That Secret

Chapters 7-9 start to get into THE SECRET and the Law of Attraction. Miss Jaye can't help but wonder how she happened to manifest herself into this mess!

Part Six: Eat, Pray, Love...For F@#$-Wits

The last three chapters in the book really put our intrepid heroine through it. Maybe she's missing the point...but then again, maybe YOU should have just shut up and picked your grandma up at the airport like a decent person!

Part Seven: I Don't Think I'll Be Getting A Christmas Card

As she reaches the conlusions of both the book and her patience, Miss Jaye takes a moment to reflect - is she just being a Regina George, stopping Dakon Green from making "fetch" happen? Isn't wanting to contribute to others' improvement a noble thing, even if the attempt is a little haphazard?

Part Eight: Howdy Strangers!

The opening quote was once again contributed by Miss Jaye's friends over at the Upside Down Podcast, Ash and Tori! Miss Jaye once again gushes about these amazing women and their show, tells you her favorite episode, and gives you their socials. #FriendsForever!

While we're going to be serving up some humor and plenty of snark, mental health is no laughing matter. Nothing in this series is meant to constitute medical advice, and is presented for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit SuicidePreventionHotline.org. We love you.

Miss Jaye is back with another fabulous episode of Janessa After Dark! To get things started, Miss Jaye talks a little bit about the importance of representation in media - seeing yourself can be instrumental for being yourself! Universal stories aren't even universal, they just reflect those in power...and that needs to change! After the commentary, Miss Jaye takes a moment to thank some of our wonderful sponsors for a special "Queer Fear" edition of Miss Jaye's Friday Night Frights, and then jumps into the interview. For this episode, Miss Jaye is taking on the horrors of the page with self-published horror author Crystal Connor! They talk about how Crystal got started, some of her inspirations, as well as some of the real horrors that people of color and queer folks encounter every day! Learn about Crystal's horror stories for children, why short story writing is like cardio, and find out what this amazing author is up to next!

Miss Jaye is back with another creepy, kooky installment of Janessa After Dark! This time she's combining Gore with Glam to bring you some thoughts on body positivity and burlesque!

Miss Jaye starts the episode by talking a little bit about her experiences as a fat person, and what it can be like to inhabit different kinds of spaces as a fat person and as a queer person. She tells a story about experiencing fatphobia while in the hospital with a pretty serious infection and how most of the staff were more interested in talking about and trying to "correct" her fat body than they were with treating the thing that put her in the hospital in the first place. It's an exploration of experience and privilege that will hopefully give you something to consider on your own journey toward self love...or help you be a better ally to the fat people in your life!

Then Miss Jaye dives into her interview with fat model, cosplayer, and burlesque performer, Katie Kadaver! They talk about Katie's love for the horror community, especially her "golden age" of horror, how she got started in burlesque and developed her signature spooky style of performance, how she learned to think of herself as sexy and how she got involved in Fat Acceptance communities online, and of course, her experiences as one of the infamous Tromettes!

They also share some of their favorite celebrity encounters...and some that didn't go according to plan!

Check out this latest episode of Janessa After Dark. Like Katie Kadaver? Don't forget to come back when we post Sloppy Seconds #04 when we have more juicy bits from Miss Jaye's interview!

Miss Jaye is back with another episode filled with self-care and her search for enlightenment! This time she's got a book that was gifted to her by a very special someone and takes a walk on the "woo woo" side!

Part One: Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This

This book is the first of three that were gifted by none other than Miss Jaye's mother, Mama Champagne! We take a few moments to interview Mama and ask her a couple of questions and talk about why this book seemed like a good addition to the #Squad.

Part Two: Getting Energized

Miss Jaye was excited to see a self help book that engaged with her more spiritual side! Published by Llewellyn, perhaps the largest source for metaphysical books and materials, the book is all about energy work! Miss Jaye talks a little about spirituality and how energy work has been a part of her life for over two decades.

Part Three: Here's the Rub

As exciting as this project seems, Miss Jaye can't help but feel a little bit unsettled by how the book portrays negativity - and how we might be willing (if unconscious) participants in our own suffering.

Part Four: Graceful Begging

This section is all about prayer, and what it means to reach out for guidance and support in a way that doesn't tie you down to restrictive traditions or specific practices.

Part Four: You Blockhead!

Just like Charlie Brown, Miss Jaye has some blocks in her head! And try as she might, she's having trouble conjuring up the sort of unconditional love of self that's required to fully seek healing and wholeness. And it's never a wrong time for some shameless self-promotion, with a little plug for one of her recent blog posts, "Swimming," available on JanessaJaye.com!

Part Six: Living on Fear Street

Miss Jaye has to come to terms with the fact that she's been living in fear - and not the good kind like creepy movies or young adult novels by R. L. Stine! Miss Jaye contemplates the meaning of fear - and how it may have infiltrated her life in insidious and unexpected ways.

Part Seven: The Practical Queer's Guide To Wellness

Miss Jaye discusses the main appeal of this book compared to others from this series: more than any other book in the #Squad so far, this book gives her something to DO! Plus there's a little nod to a another kind of connection Miss Jaye feels with the author beyond their energetic practices.

Part Eight: The Good Kind Of Fear!

Miss Jaye may be trying to conquer her fear in how she lives her life, but when it comes to entertainment, keep the thrills and chills coming! And know does indie horror better than Wretched Productions' own, Heidi Moore! Not only did Moore provide the intro quote for this episode, but she was also the featured interview on Season 2, Episode 1 of Janessa After Dark! The director of indie cult hit DOLLY DEADLY, Moore recently launched the streaming service TruIndie, a source for amazing independent entertainment in a wide variety of genres!

While we're going to be serving up some humor and plenty of snark, mental health is no laughing matter. Nothing in this series is meant to constitute medical advice, and is presented for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit SuicidePreventionHotline.org. We love you.

Promo image by Miranda Roen, Roen Photography.

Stay tuned for a very special episode of Janessa After Dark...

How special? Miss Jaye herself rounded up 10 fabulous people who are now or who have in the past been a part of consensual, ethically non-monogamous relationships to talk about some of the misconceptions and challenges that being in a non-monogamous relationship presents! While certainly not an exhaustive sample, she found 10 people of various genders, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and perspectives to share their their stories: what terms do they use to describe or discuss their relationships, what challenges have they faced, what are the biggest misconceptions about non-monogamy, and what have they learned about relationships in general because of their non-monogamous experiences.

The 10 interviewees, in order of appearance, are:

1. Nicole

2. Sibre

3. Lyndzi

4. Barry

5. Marissa

6. Dana

7. Lisa

8. Kevin

9. Katie

10. April

Whether you can't tell the difference between polyamory and a poly-cotton blend, or you've been in consensually non-monogamous relationships for decades, we think you'll find something to connect with in these diverse and yet ultimately universal stories about just trying to find love in this crazy world.

Miss Jaye is finally back with another episode of The Renovation - this time featuring the book LITTLE VICTORIES by Jason Gay. Part advice book, part memoir, part "we're not sure exactly what to call it!," this book actually turned out to be the perfect thing at the perfect moment.

Part One: The Elephant in the Room

Miss Jaye talks about what took so long between episodes 4 and 5 - it's not what you think. Well, maybe not exactly what you think. Miss Jaye gets into what her original plan for the series was and how those plans have changed early on in the 17-episode series.

Part Two: Self Care On A Budget

Miss Jaye interviews her friend Angela, of Beautiful Eccentric. Angela is the friend who picked out this particular book, and they talk about where she found it and why she decided to pick it up for Miss Jaye's self-transformation project.

Part Three: The Bait & Switch

Miss Jaye dives into the book...and it's not what it first appears to be! Is this going to be a bait & switch? Is this going to be like the workbook from episode 2? Will Miss Jaye even get to the epilogue?!

Part Four: Under This Umbrella...ella...ella

In this section, our intrepid heroine ventures further into the book and dissects one of her favorite stories, all about a high-flying interview with pop star Rihanna! The story is surprising and funny, and Miss Jaye ruminates on what it has to say about the nature of "cool."

Part Five: Enter The English Major

Once an English major, always an English major! Self-improvement aside, Miss Jaye isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and get petty! She talks about one of Gay's writing quirks that drives her absolutely bonkers, compares it to one of her favorite authors, and relates it all back to one of Gay's salient observations about manners and internet trolling! She even takes a moment to troll herself...

Part Six: What I Didn't Know I Needed

All kidding aside, Miss Jaye takes a few moments to reflect on how this book, originally meant to be a funny break between more serious episodes, actually ended up touching on some rather touchy areas in her personal history. It wasn't what she planned, but it was exactly what she needed...

Part Seven: The King & I

Miss Jaye quickly talks about the special guest who kicked off the episode...and did so at a moment's notice! Drag King BJ Armani is a drag performer and show director that Miss Jaye has known for more than a decade, and is always ready when needed...even at the last minute!

While we're going to be serving up some humor and plenty of snark, mental health is no laughing matter. Nothing in this series is meant to constitute medical advice, and is presented for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit SuicidePreventionHotline.org. We love you.

Promo image by Miranda Roen, Roen Photography.

Miss Jaye is back and ready to dive back into the Renovation, this time focused on her tortured history with the males of the species. Opening up with a story about a Tinder match gone right...and then really, really wrong, Miss Jaye working with Jennifer L. Taitz's book, HOW TO BE SINGLE AND HAPPY. Is such a thing possible? Grab a seat and see how Miss Jaye does with this newest volume.

Part One: Who's Afraid of the Crazy Cat Lady?

Before she gets into either the book or her tumultuous love life, Miss Jaye spends a little time asking the question, "What so bad about being single anyway?" She explores the stereotype of the "crazy cat lady" and gets ready to dive in and found out if her future is filled with hearts and flowers...or bulk orders of Meow Mix.

Part Two: Opening the Ex File

Here we get a little bit of perspective from Miss Jaye about her 7-year relationship with her ex-husband, what it taught her, and why she never should have gotten married in the first place.

Part Three: The Pilot & The Puppy

Miss Jaye breaks down the two primary relationships she's been in since her divorce and explores the boundaries of non-monogamous relationships, and how polyamory might fit into her future...and how it relates to her inability to be both single, and happy.

Part Four: So...We're Just F@#$%ed?!

Finally getting to the book, Miss Jaye learns what science has to say about being single...and finds out that she's probably doing everything wrong in her search for love.

Part Five: The Magic 8 Ball

In the second half of the book, finally some hope - practical exercises and things you can do if you're single and not happy about it, or if you're in a bad relationship but are too scared of dating to leave. Is this practical advice enough to keep Miss Jaye from running off to join the nunnery?!

Part Six: Song For The Lonely

Miss Jaye gives her final thoughts and wrap up of the book, including how it might be useful for everyone regardless of their relationship status. You'll find out why she can barely say "emotional intelligence without spitting" and who really IS afraid of the crazy cat lady.

Plus, this episode gets a very special dedication.

Part Seven: If God Is A DJ

Find out more about the special guest who read the opening quote for this episode. He's Miss Jaye's "heterosexual, non-sexual life partner," and he's pretty great.

While we're going to be serving up some humor and plenty of snark, mental health is no laughing matter. Nothing in this series is meant to constitute medical advice, and is presented for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit SuicidePreventionHotline.org. We love you.

Promo image by Miranda Roen, Roen Photography.