Jesse Thorn is the host and producer of Bullseye and Jordan, Jesse, Go!, and the co-host and producer of Judge John Hodgman. He's also the proprietor of MaximumFun.org.
He founded The Sound of Young America in 2000, while a student at the University of California at Santa Cruz. In 2007, the show began to be distributed by Public Radio International, making Jesse the youngest national host in public radio history. The show became Bullseye in 2012, and in 2013 it began being distributed by NPR. The show currently airs on more than fifty public radio stations around the country.
As owner of MaximumFun.org, Jesse oversees a network of more than twenty podcasts, along with video and other content production. The company helped set the template for the modern podcast network, and continues to be a leader in independent, audience-supported media production.
In addition to his work at MaximumFun.org, he hosts and helps produce Put This On, one of the country's most popular web series and blogs about men's style. He also hosted The Grid, a culture recommendation program on IFC, The Sound of Young America on Current TV and has appeared on IFC's Comedy Bang Bang among other television outlets.
A native of San Francisco's Mission District, Jesse lives in Los Angeles with his wife, sons Simon and Oscar and two dogs.
Jesse is available for public speaking engagements, consulting and voiceover projects – please send inquiries to theresa@maximumfun.org.
Bullseye is a public radio show about what's good in popular culture. With a keen editorial eye, Bullseye sifts the wheat from the chaff, and brings you hot culture picks, in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary creative people and irreverent original comedy.
Bullseye is equal parts funny and fascinating. Whether you're already plugged in to the culture map, or looking for a signpost, Bullseye will keep you on target.
Formerly known as The Sound of Young America, it's is a weekly celebration of the best of arts and culture. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring listeners in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture.
The show is carried by public radio stations around the country, and was the first public radio program west of the Mississippi to podcast. It has received plaudits from publications like Time Magazine (which called it "Pick of the Podcasts") and Salon.com. It was also honored by the iTunes editorial staff as a "classic" Best of iTunes selection. Since April 2013, the show has been distributed by NPR.