Jessica Swarner of Phoenix on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jessica Swarner. Check out our conversation below.

Jessica, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I feel a deep joy in the relationship I have built with my little sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Although she recently aged out of the program, we are continuing to meet up and share about our lives, and I hope to do so for a long time.

I also find a lot of joy in the poetry open mics I host at Meraki Kava Bar in Phoenix. I feel lucky to have a space where people come together each month to share their creativity and inspire each other.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Jessica Swarner, newsletter editor at The Copper Courier. I write our free, daily newsletter, which features local community news, fun things to do, and positive stories from around the state.

I also just launched Rent Check PHX, a free, biweekly newsletter made for Phoenix renters. I have rented in the Valley for over 10 years and seen a need for more resources for this community. Every other week I deliver local housing news, renter-friendly design inspo, interesting listings, and real stories from people in the same boat. The goal is to spread knowledge and make renting feel a little less lonely.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a child, I believed that vulnerability was not compatible with strength, and I kept myself closed off to others. Now, I share my personal life in my newsletters to thousands of Arizonans, and I believe that is one of the strongest parts of my work. Sharing everyday moments in my life in Phoenix or my struggle to buy a home can feel vulnerable, but the feedback I’ve received is that it’s what keeps a lot of readers coming back.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
Two summers ago, after trying for months to buy a home in Phoenix, I nearly came to the conclusion that it was time to move somewhere else. However, I ended up renting a place downtown that I fell in love with, and it feels like my first true home in adulthood. Since then, I’ve put more roots down in my community and gotten more involved in the local arts scene, and now it feels difficult to imagine leaving.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My friends would say that community really matters to me. It’s a connecting thread in my professional work, my volunteer work, and my personal life. I love bringing people together and helping them feel less alone.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I have been an avid reader and writer since I was very young. I’ve always been into journaling, and I find it funny that today my job is essentially to journal about topics that interest me and share with them a large number of people. It’s difficult to imagine a job more true to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coppercourier.com/newsletter/?utm_content=js&utm_term=090825_vp
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess__writes/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-swarner-814199107/
• Twitter: https://x.com/jessica_swarner