Big Mood, Little Mood with Daniel M. Lavery
Episodes
Dear Prudence: The "Hardly Working" Edition
25 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
First, a plug for more rivalries to be battled out through the giving of jewels. Then, Prudence is joined by gem Ashley C. Ford to answer your questio...
Dear Prudence: The “Dickensian” Edition
18 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prudence is joined by award-winning Bay Area writer Charlie Jane Anders to give award-winning advice. First up: my sister remembers a completely diffe...
Dear Prudence: The “Anti-Pronoun” Edition
11 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prudie says, nine times out of ten it is not a good idea to steal someone else’s pet. Then, your questions: My husband refuses to do anything about ...
Dear Prudence: The “Raise the Bar” Edition Part 2
04 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jos Lavery is back to help with more of your questions! First, two very different letters about depression: my husband has disengaged from our marriag...
Dear Prudence: The “Raise the Bar” Edition Part 1
28 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prudence is joined by writer and academic Jos Lavery to answer your questions! First, my adult child just came out as trans – I support her, but whe...
Dear Prudence: The “Voyagers” Edition
21 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
First up: A beginners guide to Star Trek. Then, onto your questions: Should I stay with my narcissistic husband to protect my kids from him? Was I wro...
Dear Prudence: The “P.S.A.” Edition
14 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A request from Prudence: be the kind of Starfleet that you wish to see in the world. Then, onto your questions with awkward situation pro Emily McDowe...
Dear Prudence: The “Dolly Dearest” Edition
08 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Objectively, the worst thing that can happen is getting a thumbs down while driving. Prudence is joined today by writer Jasmine Sanders to advise a wo...
Dear Prudence: The “Workplace Politics” Edition
28 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prudie is joined by herself on a very special solo episode of Dear Prudence. First up, a listener voicemail: My partner is worried our role playing is...
Dear Prudence: The “Cats Can Be Gay” Edition
21 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
If you don’t like it when people say “no problem,” then you’re the one with the problem, Prudie says. Then onto your questions: How do I talk ...
Dear Prudence: The “Oppression Olympics” Edition
14 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling hopeless about the state of the world? Prudence has some advice for how to carry on without totally losing it. Then, writer Shafiqah Hudson jo...
Dear Prudence: The “Line in the Sand” Edition
08 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
First off, some cold hard truth from Prudence: it never works to have a chore wheel. Then, onto your questions. Should I confront an acquaintance if I...
Dear Prudence: The “Chasing Amy” Edition
31 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A friendly reminder from Prudence: advice is not one-size-fits-all! Writer and podcaster Christina Grace joins Prudie to help a woman break it to her ...
Dear Prudence: The “Young Guns” Edition
24 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prudie says it’s okay to ghost your social media followers, but not a child who thinks you’re her family. Then, MTV writer Jane Coaston joins in t...
Dear Prudence: The “Giving Tree” Edition
17 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prudie puts in a plug for queries about good fortune only. Then, she and writer Caille Millner tackle more serious problems: I’m convinced my husban...
Dear Prudence: The “Family Matters” Edition
10 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prudie and guest Juan-Pablo Brammer explore the fine line of low-key racism. Then, your questions: How can I keep my sister from terrorizing my new bo...
Dear Prudence: The “Insomnia” Edition
03 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
I lent a family heirloom to a friend and she’s going to burn it in honor of her deceased child – can I ask for it back? “Nope!” says Prudence....
Dear Prudence: The "Rocky II" Edition
27 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Rocky returns! The aspiring poker player writes back to make the case for quitting his day job (and if this makes no sense, check out the 11/29 “Ang...
Dear Prudence: The "Timing Is Everything" Edition
20 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory and guest Andrea Silenzi of Slate podcast “Why Oh Why” take on big issues, starting with the weighty question of how long you should wait ...
Dear Prudence: The “Death, Sex & Money” Edition
13 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A soon-to-be bride wants to buck a patriarchal wedding tradition. A wife wants her husband to buck up and tell his father he can’t come over every w...
Dear Prudence: Live!
06 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory and guest Samantha Powell come to you live from the Now Hear This festival in LA. And a warning: things get rowdy! An American man wonders if ...
Dear Prudence: The "Anger Management" Edition
29 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory’s dad v. William Shatner. Then your questions: first, how do I relate to a dad who was absent and abusive while I was growing up, and now de...
Dear Prudence: The “Missing the Point” Edition
22 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
If you see dirty pictures on someone else’s phone, that’s your problem. And a reminder: Dear Prudence is not a tax attorney, and neither is her gu...
Dear Prudence: The "Either/Or" Edition
15 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A note on the election and the limits of civility. Then, religion, inheritance, sibling rivalry: Prudie and guest Noah Kulwin discuss binaries. If you...
Dear Prudence: The "How Long?" Edition
08 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Queer women, Carly Rae Jepsen, and what’s up with people confessing crimes on Facebook? Prudence and guests Jaya Saxena and Matt Lubchansky take on ...
Dear Prudence: The “Whaaaattt?!?” Edition
01 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A listener offers her guide to figuring out if the white guy she’s dating has an Asian fetish. Then, Prudence and writer Brook Shelley get to your l...
Dear Prudence: The "Good Intentions" Edition
25 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Nancy Ortberg, AKA Mallory’s mom, joins us for questions today. How do you to talk to a stepdad who tries to boost your confidence by making borderl...
Dear Prudence: The "Devil's Advocate" Edition, Part 2
18 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Carvell and Mallory jump right back in. A letter-writer complains that her brother is a “man whore” — but first, we need to talk about who’s t...
Dear Prudence: The "Devil's Advocate" Edition, Part 1
11 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Just say no to the “Don’t Tread On Me” snake. Mallory and returning listener favorite Carvell Wallace tackle and disagree over thorny questions ...
Dear Prudence: The "Boundaries" Edition
04 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week, your questions discussed in the cozy setting of Prudie’s literal bedroom. That might sound overly-intimate, but it’s not as intimate as...
Dear Prudence: The "Creative Solutions" Edition
27 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ann M. Martin and the gay Baby-Sitters Club, plus some unsolicited advice to a letter-writer who’d like to ruin his sons’ lives from beyond the gr...
Dear Prudence: The "Talk About It Now" Edition
20 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The great lie that is, “they don’t really mean it.” Mallory and her sister, writer Laura Turner, bring some family wisdom to this week’s show....
Dear Prudence: The "Petty Revenge" Edition
13 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
End the tyranny of the snooze button. Prudie and writer Mikki Kendall answer your questions, and let’s just get one thing out of the way right now: ...
Dear Prudence: The "Do it In Song" Edition
06 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Comedians W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu of the podcast Politically Re-Active join Prudie to dispense advice — sometimes in song! — about how ...
Dear Prudence: The "Time is Not an Apology" Edition
30 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Prudence and guest Lisa McIntire on when you should rock the boat, why people feel entitled to be rude to their friends, and how time passing does not...
Dear Prudence: The "Little Red Hen" Edition
23 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A woman dropped family, friends, and job to move across the country for a relationship that didn’t work out — and things got worse from there. Is ...
Dear Prudence: The "Read the Room" Edition
16 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Prudence flies solo and argues with — or against — her better angels. She anoints the Worst Commercial of the Year and advises a woman wondering i...
Dear Prudence: The “Self Indulgence vs. Self-Care” Edition
09 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Does HR really work for employees — or is it just there for the company? Prudence shares a listener perspective. Then, Prudie and friend of the show...
Dear Prudence: The "You Can’t Treat People That Way" Edition
02 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jasmine Guillory is back in the studio with Prudie to talk about how to handle a partner who doesn’t believe in antidepressants, counsel a woman in ...
Dear Prudence: The Unconditional Love Edition
26 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s questions are about life’s unfairness and the meaning of unconditional love; Dear Prudence and writer Carvell Wallace roll up their sleeve...
Dear Prudence: The "Butt Out" Edition
19 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory and Slate’s Aisha Harris talk about butting in where you don’t belong. Should you call Child Protective Services because you think someone...
Dear Prudence: The "Regret Baby" Edition
12 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Dear Prudence and Slate’s Christina Cauterucci take on behavior that goes from bad to worse: a “toxic friend” who uses her mental health issues...
The "Transactional Relationships" Edition
05 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory Ortberg and guest Jos Lavery discuss why we feel so compelled to discuss human relationships as transactions, and discuss how to handle family...
The "Sisters!" Edition
28 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
How do you tactfully let your sister know it’s time for deodorant? Or that you hate her dog? And how do you protect your sister from your overbearin...
The "Is This a Real Question?" Edition
21 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mallory assesses the emotional fitness of people who spill drinks on themselves and tackles your questions with Alison Green of Ask a Manager. Is the...
Coming Soon: Dear Prudence
13 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Every week, Mallory Ortberg (aka Dear Prudence) tackles problems about love, life, and everything in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...