TL;DR: Hardly Strangers is the romance novel you didn’t know you needed, this pod ep will make you laugh-cry, and if Alana doesn’t write a sequel, Jesse is showing up with a pitchfork. 🌈📚

“Hardly Strangers” out now: https://831stories.com/products/hardly-strangers-by-a-c-robinson

Babe, you’re not ready for this week’s NiGHT SCHOOL. Our literary icon Alana Cloud-Robinson has blessed the world with Hardly Strangers, her debut novel that’s part romance, part emotional therapy session, and 100% iconic. Naturally, we dedicate the entire episode to breaking it down, crying over it, and, of course, demanding a sequel because we’re invested.

Jesse kicks things off already spiraling, demanding to know what happens after the book ends. Pancakes? Paris? Babies?

Alana details going “full Stephen King mode” writing it in a fugue state, only to later panic about whether it’s good (spoiler: it’s great). Isabella and Jesse devour it like it’s brunch after a night out, sobbing over the audiobook (even the acknowledgments, because this crew is dramatic).

Speaking of emotional journeys, the gang dives deep into the book’s climactic moment, where Shera confronts her deepest trauma. Alana reveals this was inspired by her own life, describing how writing it was both cathartic and soul-crushing. Jesse applauds her for turning pain into art, while also demanding justice for the fictional characters she left hanging.

Oh, and the anecdotes? Gold. Alana casually reveals she once took a walk with a random man while waiting for her date to show up. Bold. Jesse spirals into full Misery mode, vowing to kidnap Alana if she doesn’t write a sequel. Isabella sprinkles in deep life lessons like, “Vulnerability isn’t wasted” and “Embrace the plur” (because yes, EDM somehow makes its way into the episode).

Ultimately, this episode is a love letter to Alana’s book, to fleeting moments of connection, and to the power of laying it all on the line—even if it’s scary. It’s chaotic, heartfelt, and hilarious.

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Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3wkYfJqQy50A1ED8gGA89b?si=9989cc5f9f6941b7

Follow Jesse on Instagram ⁠@jessezand⁠

Follow Alana on Instagram ⁠@alanacloudrobinson⁠ & Substack: https://substack.com/@acrobinson

Follow Izzie on Instagram @astreetcarnamedesire

Produced by Keida Mascaro

Our first male guest Ben Walsh joins the Jesse and Alana this week! Ben is a fourth generation hair stylist and the straight male bff of the pod. Ben talks about growing up in Sacramento, going to therapy, finding friends in LA, his take on polyamory, and offers sage advice to our female listeners dealing with bum boyfriends. Net-Net: We need more Ben’s in the world.

Follow Ben on IG: @benjaminxhair

Submit advice questions: tinyurl.com/nightschooladvice

Follow us on Instagram ⁠@nightschooldropouts⁠

Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3wkYfJqQy50A1ED8gGA89b?si=9989cc5f9f6941b7

Follow Jesse on Instagram ⁠@jessezand⁠

Follow Alana on Instagram ⁠@alanacloudrobinson⁠

Follow Izzy on Instagram @astreetcarnamedesire

Produced by Keida Mascaro

This episode was inspired by a comment on our viral shrimp clip. Shoutout @bekahsunday who correctly guessed Alana was an Aquarius - this one for you girl. We have astrology expert and singer/songwriter Lianna Townsley joining us this week! Lianna breaks down Jesse and Alana’s charts, what they’re both like in relationships, and how their charts interact with one another and inform their relationship with each other. This is a special episode where Jesse and Alana bond live on camera for all of your consumption in a totally non-creepy or exploitative way.

Submit advice questions: tinyurl.com/nightschooladvice

Follow us on Instagram ⁠@nightschooldropouts⁠

Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3wkYfJqQy50A1ED8gGA89b?si=9989cc5f9f6941b7

Follow Jesse on Instagram ⁠@jessezand⁠

Follow Alana on Instagram ⁠@alanacloudrobinson⁠

Follow Izzy on Instagram @astreetcarnamedesire

Produced by Keida Mascaro

The girls break down their favorite Justin Bieber songs, what they think they're strengths and weaknesses are, their favorite international flavors ;), Alana's essay on Substack (linked below) & Queen Gina's feedback, and answer some ~spicy~ listener questions. Keida chimes in on the spicy questions with some... interesting (but helpful!) feedback. Also, Izzie shares an antidote about calling the police filing a missing person's report on her mother because she didn't answer the phone. we're jumping all over the place on this one and it's a HANDFUL, but SO Much fun. Thank you guys for your patience on the upload. We love you schoolies!

If you like the pod, please rate us 5-stars on Spotify and leave a review! We'll shout you out on the next episode!

Submit advice questions: tinyurl.com/nightschooladvice

Follow us on Instagram ⁠@nightschooldropouts⁠

Follow Jesse on Instagram ⁠@jessezand

⁠Follow Alana on Instagram ⁠@alanacloudrobinson⁠ & Substack @acrobinson

Follow Izzy on Instagram @astreetcarnamedesire

Produced by Keida Mascaro

This episode we break down the zodiac signs we’re most attracted to, we explain to our producer Keida that dogs can be born in different countries, and answer listener questions about situationships, bad friends, and more. Alana shares her secret trick to gauge a guys interest at a bar, Izzie and Alana discuss how they love to yearn for a man’s unrequited love and Jesse is disgusted by open yearning.

Submit advice questions: tinyurl.com/nightschooladvice

Follow us on Instagram ⁠@nightschooldropouts⁠

Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3wkYfJqQy50A1ED8gGA89b?si=9989cc5f9f6941b7

Follow Jesse on Instagram ⁠@jessezand⁠

Follow Alana on Instagram ⁠@alanacloudrobinson⁠

Follow Izzie on Instagram @astreetcarnamedesire

Produced by Keida Mascaro

We have special guest Kristin Chirico from @kitchenandjorn joining us this week !! We talk about the Buzzfeed era, Vidcon 2018, the TEA at the Streamy's, and Kristin's upcoming memoir and her story as a reconnecting native. Kristin answers listener questions including how to the worst food she's ever tried at Trader Joes, and how to support your trans-partner during the early stages of their transition. Also Jesse gets emotional and cries (what's new). Follow Kristin Chirico on Instagram @itskristinchirico Follow us on Instagram ⁠@nightschooldropouts⁠ Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3wkYfJqQy50A1ED8gGA89b?si=9989cc5f9f6941b7 Follow Jesse on Instagram ⁠@jessezand⁠ Follow Alana on Instagram ⁠@alanacloudrobinson⁠ Follow Izzy on Instagram @astreetcarnamedesire

This week the girls discuss how they perceive themselves, how they think the world perceives them, how to get revenge on an ex in a demure "non-law-breaking" manner, and their earliest childhood memories. This episode is particularly unhinged with Alana discussing her intra uterine memories, an admission from Izzie that she stole money from Alana, and accusations that Jesse is "tiny and h*rny" (not not wrong). Izzie also gets in a fight with our producer Keida, and Jesse talks about how a guy once paid her on venmo just to talk to her.

We have a closet sale in Los Angeles Oct 12-13. For more details, check out our listing at https://www.estatesales.net/CA/Los-Angeles/90066/4252317

The girls kick off spooky season with a tarot card reading, discuss Izzie's A1 wingwoman-ing, and answer some SPICY listener questions (tw:cheating). Alana shares a fun story about a date she went on in her early 20s with a celebrity, Jesse rails against men (as a whole and a concept), Jesse shares a bit more on facial blindness debacle, and Izzie shares her "reverse uno" theory on superstition. 10/10 chaos.