Jesse Thorn is the host and creator of The Sound of Young America.

Thorn was born and raised in San Francisco's Mission district, and attended that city's prestigious School of the Arts high school, where he trained in theater. He started The Sound of Young America in 2000, at UC Santa Cruz's KZSC-FM. He has since served as its host and producer.

In 2004, The Sound of Young America became the first public radio show west of the Mississippi to podcast. When his show began distribution with Public Radio International, he became the youngest nationally syndicated public radio host in the history of the medium.

Thorn has appeared on television on G4 and Current TV, and was recently published in the Found anthology Requiem for a Paper Bag. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Theresa and terrier mutt, Cocoa.