Writer, performer, mom, rockwife: Jillian Lauren joins us on this episode of The Because Show! Her memoir Some Girls is the best book you’ll ever read about life in a harem. And now her novel Pretty has been published. ”A young woman coming to terms with her boyfriend’s death and her rocky journey to sobriety. Bebe is an ex-everything: ex-stripper, ex-Christian, ex-drug addict, ex-pretty girl. It’s been one year since the car accident that killed her boyfriend left her scarred and shaken. Flanked by an eccentric posse of friends, she is serving out a self-imposed sentence at a halfway house, while trying to finish cosmetology school. Amid the rampant diagnoses, over-medication, compulsive eating, and acrylic nails of Los Angeles, Bebe looks for something to believe in before something – her past, the dangerously magnetic men in her life, her own bad choices – knocks her off course again” says the synopsis on Amazon.
Jillian is completely honest, engaging and frank in our conversation. We love that.
Susan and Jillian share some history with their recollections of working as strippers in NYC. Evidently, the shoes one wears up on stage on the first night are not the shoes one will wear on the second night.
Dancing at Billy’s nightclub eventually led to working as an escort which led to partying in the Prince of Brunei’s compound. What’s it like to be the second favorite girlfriend of The Prince? Is that even a good thing? And would you expect to find the same kind of petty girl fights and jealousy in a harem that you would see in any Junior High? Is heroin withdrawal worse that Boy George says? Jillian answers all these questions for us. Oh, and what’s it like when Barbara Walters gets all judge-y on you? Jillian answers that too.
You can keep up with Jillian on her blog and follow her on twitter @jillylauren. Oh! Jillian also mentions her friend Jerry Stahl, the guy who wrote the definitive addiction memoir Permanent Midnight. *Jerilyn read it, it’s great and funny and dark and even better than the movie that was made out of it. Stahl has written a ton of other good stuff, make a brain note to find him next time you are at the bookstore or library.
You can leave a voicemail for The Because Show at 818-643-1565. We’ve loved hearing from everyone who has found us recently. Welcome aboard!
bob December 10, 2011 at 6:59 pm
How do you ladies consistently produce such awesome shows? Jillian was a great guest – her NYC stories rival Susan’s NYC tales!
Jerilyn December 12, 2011 at 10:23 am
Yes, Jillian was great – we’re hoping to have her back when her next book is published!
Tatso December 11, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Jerilyn, did you draw those pictures? I love them! Great episode, too.
Jerilyn December 12, 2011 at 10:26 am
Ha ha, yes, those drawings are mine!
Dominique December 13, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Where are your other episodes??
Jerilyn December 13, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Hi Dominique! You can find our 1st 65 episodes here on iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-because-show/id336560437
Dominique December 14, 2011 at 11:33 am
Thanks so much! Love the podcast, glad you guys joined homefries!!
Dominique December 14, 2011 at 12:15 pm
hmm, cant seem to find the “ex boyfriend episode”?
Jerilyn December 14, 2011 at 8:32 pm
I think this is the one Amy had mentioned http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-09-bad-dates/id336560437?i=88191534
Tracy December 18, 2011 at 4:32 pm
GREAT podcast ladies! Kept me THOROUGHLY entertained while walking this weekend. Soo interesting and I’m definitely going to read the book now!
I really loved the part where you discuss fighting for time to work as a mom. It made me feel really good to know I’m not alone.
You could have worked at Macy’s. *snort*