Welcome to Season 2!
In our first AfterParty of the season, Jessie Sage, Emily Foster, and Jessie’s mom discuss their takeaways from Episode 1, featuring West Hollywood escort Aviva Ruse.
We focus our discussion on Aviva’s Episode 1 interview, where she shared her harrowing experience of getting severely burned during a liposuction procedure due to medical negligence, which led to a long recovery and a lawsuit. Despite the severity of her injuries, Aviva recounts her story with humor, highlighting her resilience and ability to find joy even in dire circumstances.
Aviva’s journey also touches on her mental health challenges, including misdiagnoses and the eventual discovery that she is autistic. This revelation brought clarity to her life and helped her understand past struggles, including difficulties fitting into traditional work environments and the recovery culture of Alcoholics Anonymous.
We discuss the broader issue of how women, in particular, often receive incorrect mental health diagnoses, pointing to a need for better understanding and support. The conversation ends with reflections on societal beauty standards and the contrasting pressures within different industries. Jessie and Emily note that the sex industry is often more accepting of diverse body types compared to mainstream culture. They advocate for a world where people can embrace their true selves and desires without societal judgment. The episode ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and self-acceptance.
In this episode:
00:10: Welcome to Season 2 Afterparty
00:24: Introduction of guest host for July — Jessie’s Mom!
01:51: The diversity of guests on the show
02:49: Discussion of Episode 1 Guest, stand-up comic & escort Aviva Ruse
03:50: Entrepreneurship and hard work in sex work
04:18: Challenges of self-employment and constant work
08:07: Aviva’s experience with medical malpractice
12:55: Reflections on mistreatment and misdiagnosis by the medical community
18:25: Aviva’s Autism diagnosis
27:53: Alcoholics Anonymous’s culture and its relevance to women
People:
Guest: Aviva Ruse
Hosts: Jessie Sage, Emily Foster, Jessie’s Mom
Producer: Emily Foster
Music: Benjamin J Benamati
You can support the show at patreon.com/sapiotextual