Jessie Earl
patreon
Quick Update & Discord link
🕑 Added 2025-01-04 00:04:34 +0000 UTCHey everyone! First, a heartfelt thank you to all of you for your incredible support. You've not only helped keep me and my fiancée, Erin, afloat during this chaotic time, but you've also given us the space to focus on our dreams. From the bottom of our hearts: thank you. You’re the reason we can keep doing this work, and we are endlessly grateful.
Erin and I have been busy moving into a new (and thankfully more affordable) home these past couple of weeks. While we’re still buried in boxes and assembling furniture, we’re doing well—and the cats are thriving. (Kipo is currently purring and crawling all over my very cramped, temporary desk as I write this.) That said, apologies for the delay in getting a monthly update video out. I’m a little behind on work. Once we’re more settled, I’ll post a longer update, but for now, I wanted to share what I’m working on and thank you all for helping us keep the lights on during this hectic time. ❤️ Love you all! Oh, and the Discord link is below!
1) Resistance & Hope in the Trump/Fascist Era
I’ve filmed two videos tackling stories of resistance, hope, and self-discovery during dark times. These are tough topics, but I feel they’re crucial—especially since simply debunking right-wing narratives often ends up letting them set the tone. These videos aim to establish the direction I want to focus on moving forward, and the type of stories I want to focus on about hope and choosing ourselves. They’re currently being edited by Aranock, and I’m hoping to release at least the first part before Trump’s inauguration.
2) Sex in Star Trek Returns!
The next installment of my Sex in Star Trek series is finally here—and I went ALL OUT for it! A set designer friend who was the set designer on this season of GAME CHANGER for Dropout built me a full Star Trek set, and a professional makeup artist created some amazing creature makeup effects on me. It’s already filmed, but because of the move and the scope of the project, it probably won’t be out until late February at the earliest. I’ll share some fun photos soon but I don't wanna spoil it before its ready. It's not the DS9 video just yet (but a sort of spin-off of it)
3) Death, Transness & Cultural History
I’ve filmed a deeply personal video exploring death, transness, and our connection to the cultural histories stolen from us. This one is especially meaningful to me, inspired by Newt’s passing last year. I filmed it now because there were some specific visuals in our old place I wanted to capture before moving, but editing will likely wait until February.
4) Heat Death of the Universe Essay
On a related note, ever since the election, I’ve found myself falling into an autistic, neurodivergent hyperfixation on the end of the universe—specifically, the heat death of the universe. It’s a dark place to dwell, I know, but I couldn’t shake it. I couldn’t figure out why this idea consumed me so deeply until I started writing it out. And then it clicked: this fixation wasn’t random. It was a way to process my feelings about where we are right now as trans people—this moment that feels so precarious, so heavy, so fragile. The essay that came out of that realization feels deeply personal. It’s short, but it’s raw and intimate, laying bare my fears, my dread, and my attempts to find meaning in what sometimes feels like an overwhelming darkness. I want to share it eventually. Maybe even film it, make it something special, something to give to others when I’m ready. But right now, it needs polish. It’s still rough, still aching with everything I poured into it. I want to shape it into something honest but that captures the weight of the moment while leaving space for hope, even in the vastness of what looks like despair.
5) The Politics of Androids in Sci-Fi
Aranock is drafting a script for a video about the politics of androids in science fiction for my channel, which I’ll work on once things settle down. Like the Sex in Star Trek series, this is shaping up to be a BIG, exciting project—stay tuned!
6) Eclectic Smaller Essays
I’m also planning several shorter essays, including:
How Conservatives Misunderstand Star Trek (script already shared).
Thoughts on Emilia Perez (so many!).
Analysis of trans representation in Squid Game Season 2 (check out my recent Salon interview for some initial thoughts: Salon article).
I’m considering posting these lower-effort essays on my second channel, AFTER DARK, as an experiment to see how they do.
7) Exciting Professional Projects
Beyond YouTube, I’ve signed contracts for TWO major creative projects—and I’m absolutely over the moon about them! I can’t spill the details just yet, but trust me, these are monumental steps forward in my career. I’m bursting with excitement and can’t wait to share everything with you when the time is right. Stay tuned—you’ll be the first to know, and it’s going to be incredible!
8) Jumpgate Podcast & Battlestar Galactica
The Jumpgate podcast is approaching a bittersweet milestone as Vera and I wrap up our time with Babylon 5. But with endings come new beginnings, and I’m thrilled to announce that we’ll be diving into a new series: Battlestar Galactica (the reimagined one). BSG was a personal favorite of mine growing up—right up there with Star Trek, Stargate, and Lost. It was probably my biggest currently-running sci-fi obsession at the time, and now revisiting it as an adult, I’m eager to see how it holds up and how my perspective has evolved. We’re planning to jump into BSG at the end of February, assuming our schedule stays on track.
9) Wedding Plans
And then of course, personally, the big thing that I'm focusing on once I get moved in is my fiancee and I's wedding. We really want to make it a fun, nerdy joyful time because I think we'll need that in the coming years and we really want to do something special. Erin pitched a Star Trek/Pokemon or One Piece style wedding (she's a big Pokemon and One Piece fan) haha, so who knows what we'll do but it'll be super nerdy.
10) San Fran Star Trek convention
Oh, and also, I'm going to the Star Trek convention in San Fransico in a few weeks with some friends (I'm hoping to get Aranock able to fly out to join us!) so if you happen to be there, please come say hi!
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I’m sure there are a few other projects I’m forgetting, but that’s the major stuff for now. Time to get back to unpacking! Thank you all so much for your support—it means the world to Erin and me. None of this would be possible without you, and we’re so grateful. Stay safe, you beautiful people. As we step into what may be dark and challenging years, I want to keep creating content that reminds us of the resistance, resilience, and joy we can find even in difficult times.
Oh and here's the discord link - https://discord.gg/AD8rwnXg
Comments
Jessie Earl
Here you go! - https://discord.gg/BvZF5YF3
Cleo McKeever
I'm only just catching up on emails and I missed this post before and now the discord invite link seems to be invalid :\ Is there an updated one I can gain access to please? Thanks!
Tracey Eva
So happy for you. In these dark times it is wonderful to see you so busy and so creative. You are a true Warrior. I look forward to seeing your work once you are ready x
Tracey Eva
Thank you for the update, Jessie. I am particularly pleased to hear about your wedding plans. Love to you, Erin, your cats and your New Home. Hugs, Solidarity and Peace
Karen Richardson
This all sounds fantastic! wishing you both a happy and healthy 2025
3 Muppets In a Trench Coat
Jessie, your intelligence, determination & deep ability for empathy & reflection always wow me. I'm super excited for your (for now) secret projects. Moving can be stressful so I hope you, Erin and the cats settle in well & enjoy your new place!
Adam Myers
AMAZING ALL AROUND JESSIE! So happy for you and your fiancé 💕 Can’t wait to see these other videos, and I am HYPED to hear about what you’ve signed onto! (PS: i sent you the One Hopepunk Scene graphics on discord)
Mary Pittman
Those sound like such incredible/exciting projects! I hope you have THE MOST fun planning y'all's wedding 🥰🥰🥰
Jessie Earl
OMG yes you should!
Miranda Ketita
💟💟💟💟💟
Monica Starr
I'm glad you two found a more affordable home! I'm really looking forward to the planned videos on ~both~ channels. Also CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS on the new creative projects! I'm excited to find out more, when appropriate. 😊 You have taught me so much with your video essays about nearly everything under the sun, but I'm most grateful for your sharing your transgender journey as well as the issues you, and the trans community as a whole, deal with. Much love to you, Erin and the kitties. And Newt will always have a place in my heart, as well as yours, I know. 🫂
Vince Whitacre
😯 oh wow I guess I have to finally get around to Lower Decks, haven't I? 🤣
Jessie Earl
Haha sadly no! But I want to maybe do a quick video on that given the recent Lower Decks episode! If I hadn't needed to focus on moving, I already would have.
Vince Whitacre
Admiral Pikachu aboard the USS... I dunno some kind of tree name. 😉 So it's not the DS9 video, but sort of a spinoff thereof? Lemme guess: it is history's greatest love story: Julian Bashir + Elim Garak 4-ever!!! ❤️❤️❤️
