Podcast Summary: First Date with Lauren Compton

Episode: We Met At My Mom's Funeral w/ Jessimae Peluso
Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Lauren Compton (B)
Guest: Jessimae Peluso (A)

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of "First Date," comedian and podcaster Lauren Compton sits down with fellow comedian and grief guru Jessimae Peluso. Together, they dive into Jessimae's unconventional love story—meeting her partner at her mother's funeral—and candidly explore the realities of dating, exclusivity, love languages, self-reflection, and healing old patterns. The conversation carries themes of authenticity, self-discovery, grief, humor as resilience, and what truly matters in relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jessimae’s Love Story: From Grief to Love

• Moving Between Worlds: Jessimae discusses her life split between LA and upstate New York, where her partner runs a multigenerational family farm and brewery (00:44–03:25).
• How They Met: Jessimae met her now-partner while grieving her mother's death in upstate NY. The relationship developed over years, orchestrated partly by her sister (01:55–03:25).
  • Memorable quote:

    “Girls, you’re wasting your time going to bars. You should be going to funerals.” — Jessimae (02:09)

• The Slow Burn: Their relationship simmered for years before becoming exclusive, marked by slow, meaningful moments instead of grand gestures (04:16–09:00).

2. Dating in LA and the Desire for Authenticity

• Reasons for Staying in LA: Fewer and fewer reasons keep Jessimae in LA; her heart is with her partner and the farm, reflecting a pull toward a slower, more grounded life (00:44–04:05, 15:00–16:22).
• City Life vs. Pasture Life: She contrasts the congestion of LA—“cars, people, dreams, mental illness”—with her yearning for open space, peace, and authenticity (15:00–16:22).
  • Notable quote:

    "It's like bumper cars of all of those things intersecting all the time. It's not just car crashes, it's people crashing, it's craziness crashing, it's homelessness crashing." — Jessimae (15:21)

3. Exclusivity, Monogamy & Emotional Growth

• Why Exclusivity?: Both women value being “all in” and not wasting time with noncommittal partners (04:18–05:04).
  • Notable quote:

    “Are you going to be frivolous with your one heart?... Are you out of your goddamn mind? That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.” — Jessimae (05:22)

• Recognizing and Breaking Old Patterns: Jessimae reflects on trauma’s influence on who we attract, crediting therapy and the Hoffman Institute for helping break her cycles (16:25–18:46).

4. Love Languages, Romance, and What Matters

• First Kiss: Their first kiss was a sweet, nervous peck in a liquor store parking lot—unremarkable yet significant because their relationship was a “slow build” (08:21–09:00).
• Romantic Gestures: Jessimae realizes much of romance depends on how the giver expresses love; sometimes gestures are missed if we’re not open to them (38:11–39:45).
  • Notable quote:

    “Identifying romance and being open to it being something that you might need to interpret... might be a good tool to have.” — Jessimae (38:56)

• Food and Affection: Both bond over food as a love language. Jessimae relishes physical affection and words of affirmation, while Lauren links deep connection to sharing meals (39:27–41:36).

5. Lessons from Past Relationships

• Reflections on Exes: Jessimae details approximately five significant past relationships, viewing each as a “teacher” (26:19–28:10).
• Worst Breakup: The hardest breakup involved a restraining order on Valentine’s Day, driven by a partner’s mental illness (28:17–29:43).
  • Memorable moment:

    “Restraining order on Valentine’s Day. Go to commercial.” — Jessimae (28:17)

• Self-Responsibility: She emphasizes introspection over blame, realizing she let unhealthy partners in and that self-work is crucial (16:25–17:04).
  • Notable quote:

    “I never blame who I’m dating. I always ask... why am I attracting that?” — Jessimae (16:25)

6. What Both Women Want in Love

• Core Qualities: Peace, authenticity, the freedom to play, and deep friendship top the list for Jessimae (18:53–21:31).
  • Notable quote:

    “I want to play. Don’t you want to play?... I just want my partner and my person to be someone I can pick up the ball with.” — Jessimae (19:38, 21:29)

• Turn-Offs: Both disdain arrogance and inflexibility, and enjoy watching karma catch up with the arrogant (21:36–25:18).
• Astrology Bond: Both Lauren and Jessimae discover their birthdays are a day apart, deepening their connection over mutual Virgo status (23:48–24:03).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Attraction and Self-Growth

  “Attracting the wrong person is as simple as you and myself being able to live in that cycle of torment and that cycle of trauma...” — Jessimae (17:09)

• On First Kisses

  “You only get one. And it can indicate a lot... they can set a tone, a vibe, an intention for a relationship.” — Jessimae (08:08)

• On Peace and Authenticity

  “Authenticity is so rare... the ones that I’m most attracted to are the ones that are so rooted in who they are that they’re unfazed by anyone trying to shake that.” — Jessimae (19:28)

• On Food as Connection

  “How is food not on the fucking list?” — Jessimae (40:15);
  “If you take me to a nice meal and, like, we sit there and have conversation and we’re just like, eating well, girl, it’s over.” — Lauren (40:22)

• On Parenting and Birth Order

  “You were supposed to be a boy.” — Lauren (30:35);
  “And they saw my vagina and they went, shit... at least she’s gonna be cool.” — Jessimae (31:15–31:20)

Important Timestamps

• 00:44–03:25: Jessimae recounts meeting her partner in upstate NY and the start of their relationship
• 04:18–05:59: Discussion on relationship exclusivity and self-worth
• 07:15–09:00: On resisting healthy love and the importance of first meaningful gestures
• 15:00–16:22: Comparing LA's chaos with the simplicity and calling of farm life
• 16:25–18:46: Self-reflection, breaking cycles, and how therapy (Hoffman Institute) reshaped her relationships
• 19:38–21:29: The need for playfulness and authenticity in love
• 21:36–25:18: Biggest turn-offs: arrogance and inflexibility; “karma” stories
• 28:17–29:43: Worst breakup—restraining order on Valentine’s Day
• 38:11–40:23: Love languages, food, meaningful gestures, and how romance is received

Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is candid, warm, and peppered with comedic insights and raw honesty. Both Lauren and Jessimae open up about their romantic histories, revealing the growth and healing necessary for authentic connection.
• Key messages include the importance of doing internal work, recognizing our own patterns, valuing genuine connection over surface gestures, and not being afraid to seek joy, playfulness, and peace in partnership.
• The humor, vulnerability, and real-life lessons make this conversation relatable for anyone navigating love, loss, or simply seeking their own pasture.

Guest Info & Resources

• Jessimae Peluso
  • Website: Jessimae.com
  • Podcast: Dying Laughing (making grief and laughter compatible)
  • Charity: Ambassador for Seth Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity (benefiting families facing Alzheimer’s)
  • Live appearances and ticket info available on her website

This episode offers wisdom for those on their own "first date" journeys, plus plenty of laughs and honest reflection for single folks, coupled-up listeners, and anyone who’s ever tried to rebuild a life—and find love—after grief.