Hi, I'm Jess.

I’m an independent writer, researcher, and podcast producer focused on uncovering hidden histories and bringing overlooked voices to light. My work explores the intersections of food, culture, and politics, using storytelling to examine how knowledge is shaped, remembered, and sometimes lost.

I’m drawn to stories hiding in plain sight, the ones that reveal something larger about power, identity, and the human experience. Whether I’m exploring radical feminist restaurants of the 1970s, tracing the bittersweet history of pralines, or unpacking the political significance of champagne in the Soviet Union, I start with the everyday and follow it outward, finding deeper and often unexpected connections.

Much of my reporting begins in archives, following small threads through old letters, obscure records, and forgotten books until they open into a fuller narrative. The stories that stay with me most often sit between the past and present, where individual lives reflect broader social dynamics and small details illuminate larger histories.

With a touch of humor and a whole lot of heart, I combine rigorous research, cultural analysis, and narrative storytelling to inspire wonder, evoke empathy, and encourage people to see the world in new and meaningful ways. This work has led to unforgettable encounters, from sharing a pint with the last Irish publican who moonlights as a mortician to having my future foretold in cheese (which was surprisingly accurate!). 

My writing has appeared in Gastro Obscura, Narratively, and Smithsonian Magazine, among other publications. My reporting has been cited by The New York Times and featured in several books and anthologies. I currently contribute to the Lost Women of Science podcast, and my audio work has aired on HRN’s Meat and Three, Amuse News, and KCRW’s Good Food podcast.

Beyond journalism, I provide research and fact-checking services for podcasts, documentaries, and television shows, and support nonprofits and mission-driven organizations through storytelling, outreach, and communications.

I'd love to hear from you, whether you have a story idea, a project in mind, or just want to connect! Please use the form below to say hello or commission me for freelance work.