RICK O’SHEA:  A very special, warm welcome, Ms. James, to Edenfantasys. We appreciate you taking the time out of your hectic schedule for this interview.

BETHANY ST. JAMES:  Thank you for having me.

RO:  You’re a relative new comer to the porn industry. Describe how you’d first gotten into the porn racket.

BSJ:  I don’t know. I”m not sure how much you know about me – I’m a legal prostitute in Nevada.

RO:  Right.

BSJ:  And I’ve been wanting to add something new to my career. There are legalized brothels all over the country. I’ve been working really hard in favor of changing legislature here. I’m also a feature dancer, as well. I don’t know, just another facet to my career, something else. I would like to shoot something different, kind of like something that’s never been done before.

RO:  Oh good. That’s great. I was aware of the fact that you work in legalized brothels, as well. I’d like to talk about legalized brothels. In my home town of Toronto, Canada, they’re well on their way to passing a bill to making pleasure a business. What are some of the advantages of legalized brothels from a client and a trades workers perspective?

BSJ:  There are many benefits. I guess that I can touch on a few. The biggest one for people to understand is the economical benefit. Brothels not only provide money for the community, but they also provide jobs as well, and the small towns can really benefit…

RO:  Yes…

BSJ:  The money can be delegated for educational programs, community programs, road work, the list goes on and on. It’s only providing jobs for people that may not be educated, or would not be able to find employment elsewhere, we’re also talking about janitorial staff, office staff, security. It goes all the way down the line. You know, the benefits…even tourism, even that. Gas stations down the street…

RO:  Exactly.

BSJ:  …They’re getting business that they ordinarily would not be getting. Then all the way down to the social benefits. You know, people that have a fantasy that they may want to act out. They need a safe environment in order to do that. There has never been a reported case of an STD in a Nevada brothel. So that’s important to recognize as well; not just talking about a safe place where they can experience these things, but also in a safe place where they’re not going to catch a disease. Go into a harmful situation, I hate to say the ugly word but a pimp, a street type of environment. The benefits go on and on and on. I could go on for days about it. (collected laughs)

RO:  I like the idea of being in a controlled environment too. It makes it safer for all parties – client and trade worker together, right?

BSJ:  Exactly. I’d also like to mention as well, couples. Couples want to experiment. A lot of times that happens. A large part of our clients are couples. They want to experiment. They want to play. There’s nothing wrong with that. But the problem they run into is they join sites, no offense to these sites, but such as adult friend finders and services like that, and unfortunately there are predators. They don’t know what they’re getting. The safety issues. The comfort levels where you meet, or if you’re not comfortable with them and you don’t want to hurt their feelings. You come here, it’s a safe environment. Your neighbours aren’t talking, and you’re not going out to a bar to meet someone. You’re not putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation or judgment. We offer a safe environment to explore without all the fear.

RO:  There’s a level of class brought to the table. I remember watching a documentary on the Bunny Hill Ranch years ago, and it wasn’t unusual at all to see people from all kinds of backgrounds go in. I believe there was even one part of the program in which a 40 year old virgin had gone in with his mother, and his mother had ended up getting a girl for a birthday present.

BSJ:  One thing I wanted to mention, though, is a lot of the things you see on HBO with shows like that, a lot of it is fiction.

RO:  …Yeah?

BSJ:  Unfortunately, you kind of have to separate the reality and the fiction you see on television. The reality of it is we’re very normal people, and a lot of the stuff is sensationalized. The situation you talk of, however, sure that sort of thing happens all the time. A parent may bring in an autistic child, who of course is the age of consent and expressed interest in exploring their sexuality. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of places for them to go. And unfortunately, people don’t want to necessarily date them, or something like that. They just want to experience sexuality and that’s it. These sorts of things happen all the time. Absolutely.

RO:  Do you think legalized brothels are for every city?

BSJ:  I do. And I know that’s a big statement. You know, we hear a lot of people complaining about ‘prostitution-oh no, it’s in my back yard.’ You know it’s all over the internet. Craig’s list. I think people would better understand the benefits far out weigh the pitfalls. People need a safe place. I keep saying that safe place and the sex workers do, as well. You collect a pay cheque whether it’s working in the industry or the internet. There’s also a sense of independence. You become a stronger person. A lot of people think about going back to school, the opportunity to provide better child care for your family. It’s becoming a tax paying citizen, upstanding member of society. There are a lot of things that go along with that, that I think would benefit everyone down the line, for people from teenie-tiny communities to larger cities.

RO:  Yes, absolutely, and needless to state, it would help the nation’s deficit, as well.

BSJ:  Exactly, and you know I hate to say it, but a lot of times when I get into friendly debates with people, they really can’t give me any good reason why they shouldn’t, aside from morals or something like that, and really, not to get all patriotic, but what our country was founded upon was freedom. It’s really no one’s business to say what I can or cannot do with my body, you know?

RO:  Well I agree, and I think that anyone that opposes that really just comes from a place of oppression, unfortunately. Do you find yourself having to defend your choices quite a bit?

BSJ:  Certainly, I do feel like I have to defend myself a lot. But it’s been kind of amazing the kind of responses. Like you said, being a newcomer, and being as vocal as I am, the porn industry and that sort of thing. I’ve just been amazed at the response. I get emails everyday. Some people just say thank you, this needs to be heard. I visited a legal brothel, and it helped me in so many areas of my life. The positive response, I guess is what I’m trying to say. It has surprised me. Although I have to defend myself, I think I have more supporters than nay-sayers.

RO:  The positive always outweighs the negative, I always say.

BSJ:  Exactly, exactly. But I think it’s also important to mention where I come from. I was raised in a household where we made our money through adult entertainment. My father managed and ran strip clubs for years. My mother dabbled in pornography when I was much, much younger, and before it was en vogue to do so. But I grew up in a household where we asked questions. We were educated. There was no subject that was too taboo. If we didn’t know, we found out. So I think that’s important to mention, that’s why I’m so open about it. It was just kind of the way I was raised. There’s an issue we talk about it.

RO:  It’s a very – for a lack of better words – a very European mentality. I think we can learn a lot from our forefathers in that regard too.

BSJ:  Absolutely, absolutely. I agree wholeheartedly.

RO:  What inspires you to be innovative in a borderline saturated industry?

BSJ:  Well, I think someone mentioned to me the other day that I’m kind of old school, and I haven’t even considered myself old school really, but it makes sense what they said. Back in the ’70′s and ’80′s porn had a story, had a plot. It wasn’t just scene after scene after scene, it was a physical act taking place. If you look back to Marilyn Chambers, you’re talking about sensuality, you’re talking about these women that were very sexual. They were powerhouses of sexuality, and they were confident. They enjoyed what they were doing all the time. I think that’s just something that’s been lost. Like I said, now it’s just scene after scene after scene of pure sexual act, and there’s no sensuality of touch, embrace, and caress, that sort of thing. I would like to bring that back.

RO:  I think that poses a good intro into our next question, actually. Were you a fan of porn prior to being a starlet?

BSJ:  Of older, older porn. Definitely. I don’t get a lot out of the stuff on the internet now. A lot of it really doesn’t do a lot for me because it’s not sexy. It’s sex but it’s not sexy. There’s the definition to those words, and I think a lot of people miss that.

RO:  I couldn’t agree more. Actually, I think the element of eroticism has been detached or desensitized in a certain sense.

BSJ:  Exactly. There’s just not a lot of eroticism left in the porn industry. I’d like to help bring that back.

RO:  Do you have any preferred performers or directors?

BSJ:  I’ve been asked that question, a lot. I decline to answer. (laughs)

RO:  OK. That’s fair enough.

BSJ:  I decline to answer, but I do have a few people I’d love to work with. At the risk of sounding rude, I’d rather not name names.

RO:  That’s OK. I respect that.

BSJ:  Thank you.

RO:  As an escort, what has been your most common request?

BSJ:  Believe it or not, most men, and this will come as quite a shock to most people, but most men just want someone to listen. A large part of my clientele, for now, are gentlemen that just miss someone listening to them, and not just about their day; laying there and having a little bit of pillow talk, and a big misconception is men aren’t interested in that. I think they just don’t want to talk about the children, or how bad their day was, that sort of thing. They just want a companion.

RO:  So the intimacy element is restored?

BSJ:  Yes exactly, exactly.

RO:  What was your most unusual request?

BSJ:  Oh gosh, well I had a larger clientele that was into splashing. I’m not sure if you know what that is…

RO:  Food, I guess….?

BSJ:  A version of food, um mm, which I found fascinating. And also tickling. I think those have been my two. Which I wouldn’t call strange, but interesting.

RO:  Okay. Receiving? Giving? Or both?

BSJ:  Both! (laughs)

RO:  Great!

BSJ:  I’m open minded. So there’s not a lot that really strikes me as odd. (laughs)

RO:  Recall your greatest client experience.

BSJ:  Oh gosh. Well, I have a wonderful client that, I guess is most recent. He was a marathon runner. He suffered an accident and broke both his femurs. He was confined to a wheel chair. He contacted me and said he had not had a sexual experience since the accident. So he came in and saw me, and we just spent an amazing time together. When I say this man changed my life, he did ten fold. His motivation, his zest for life was just amazing. It’s probably not the answer you’re looking for but its a truthful one.

RO:  No, it’s jut the truthful one’s I’m looking for. (combined laughs) Well actually we touched upon this earlier, about having to defend your choices, some on a consistent basis, but really when you take it down to the lowest common denominator, there’s something to be said for circumstances such as this, when you genuinely touch someone’s life and make a difference too. So I think that’s really commendable, you know?

BSJ:  Well I enjoy sexual experiences that are more than just physicality or just physical touch, or however you wish to say it. I really enjoy the one’s that are cerebral, all encompassing, just as exciting as they are physically. I think for sure, this client was definitely on top of that list.

RO:  Any kinks of fetishes to call your own?

BSJ:  The tickling thing, (laughs) that kind of struck with me. I think it was really cute, and it’s wonderful foreplay. Yeah, tickling for me.

RO:  Describe one unfulfilled fantasy.

BSJ:  Unfulfilled fantasy…..wow, do I have any of those? (laughs) I mean, I’m always coming up with new things every day, I guess. Wow, I guess, this once again may come off as a bit boring, but my fantasy would be to be able to discuss what I do in an open forum. That’s a turn on for me. I love to talk about sex, be open about sex and sexuality, and I enjoy so much what I do. Just being able to have an open conversation with someone like that. Having an intimate experience with them after that would be amazing. I am very open, like I said, with my sexuality. So I guess someone just having friends over and being able to play that comrade of people, as well.

RO:  Yeah…I don’t think that’s a boring answer at all. In fact, I think there is very little about you that’s boring really.

BSJ:  (laughs) You’d be surprised.

RO:  Here’s a fun question: If you could have any celebrity, male or female, to be your personal escort for a day, who would it be?

BSJ: Oh wow, and I can only choose one, huh? (laughs) Oh my gosh, I don’t know…oh wow there’s so many. Well I guess I would say Prince would be one, just because I think he exudes sexuality. Such a sexual creature. I just think our conversation would be amazing. The sex would be a little strange. (laughs)

RO:  Yeah, Purple Rain, right?

BSJ:  (Laughs) That would definitely be one. If I had to pick a female, I guess I’d say Nina Hartley. I’ve had kind of a girl crush on Nina Hartley. I think she’s phenomenal.

RO:  What are some of your career ambitions? Where do you see Bethany St James in 2012?

BSJ:  Great question. I’d glad you asked. I have so many goals. I think I’d have to live to be 1000 in order to accomplish them all. Eventually I’d like to make some good quality film. Not a big goal of mine yet, it’s a small one. I’d like to change some legislature to get legalized brothels around the country. Of course I’d like to own my own some day. I have a stylized idea to call my own. Never done it before. I have an idea for a clothing line, something that’s different, as well. I don’t think anyone has really tapped into this idea, I’d like to design. A lot of non-profit, charitable organizations, I could go on and on forever about them. You definitely have not heard the last of me.

RO:  Tremendous, sounds like you have some real entrepreneurial spirit. That’s great.

BSJ:  I like to think so.

RO:  What is the best way for Bethany St. James fans to connect? Any special message for your fans?

BSJ:  I definitely love emails. Whether you’ve been to the brothel I work at or never been to one, whether you’re a virgin or open to whatever the situation is, I want to hear from you. I think the more people communicate with me, the more I can get a sense of what people need. Keep emails coming through my website www.mybethanystjames.com. There’s an email address there. I”m on Facebook. I’m on Twitter. Of course, I do feature dancing. Keep an eye on my schedule, I want to meet everybody. If I’m doing a show by you, please come out and see it. I’ll give you a t-shirt, and you can wear it proudly. Or come out to Sherry’s Ranch, largest brothel in North American. Thirty three acres of absolutely gorgeous, like nothing you’ve ever seen before. We do free tours. Bring your wife, your friends. There’s a restaurant you can come and eat, meet the ladies and party.

RO:  That’s in Carson City?

BSJ: No, no it’s actually 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas. You call the reservation line, and it’s Sherry.Com. They’ll come out and get you anywhere in Las Vegas. I do think it’s important to mention, it’s a big misconception that prostitution is legal in Court County, in Las Vegas. It’s absolutely a myth. It’ is absolutely not. So, anytime you are practicing with a working girl in Las Vegas you are in fact promoting a lot of bad things. It’s good for the economy to come out, we’ll come and get you.

RO: You’ve been a real delight Bethany. It’s been a lot of fun talking with you.

BSJ: Thanks so much for having me, I’m so flattered.