Death, Sex & Money
Episodes
Why You’re Not Having Sex
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The dating app Bumble recently declared in advertisements that “a vow of celibacy is not the answer.” The ad campaign, which was met with a swift ...
Bonus: After the Interview, Our Guest Had Some Questions
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our episode with Jim Harris, we talked about how a spinal cord injury left him partially paralyzed, and then how 8 months into his recovery he rega...
The Night Magic Mushrooms and Jam Bands Helped Me Walk Again
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Before going on a kite-skiing trip to the Chilean mountains, Jim Harris and his longtime girlfriend broke up. She wanted to settle down, and he wanted...
My Eating Disorder Turned Into an Obsession With Money
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vivian’s eating disorder started in college. She meticulously tracked calories and the number on the scale. Once she graduated she became less rigid...
'Tom' Felt So Alone Not Being Able To Drive. We Made An Introduction.
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We first heard from a listener we’re calling Tom in an episode about life transitions. He told us he had recently gotten his driving license revoked...
Filling the Health Care Gap (and Filling Lips!) in Appalachia
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nurse practitioners Teresa Owens Tyson and Paula Hill-Collins have saved countless lives in rural Appalachia. They operate a mobile clinic called The ...
You’re at a Crossroads. We’re Here to Help.
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To make this episode we asked you, our listeners, if you had any questions about a big life transition you were preparing for where you needed some ad...
A Tarot Reader Explains Why Intuition is So Tricky
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this year, when the future of Death, Sex & Money was up in the air, Anna Sale consulted Rebecca Auman, a tarot reader and self-described witch...
A Sociopath's Guide to Death, Sex, and Money
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Patric Gagne says being a sociopath is like having an emotional learning disability. In this episode, she talks about the good and the bad of having l...
From Indie Rockers to Full-Time Caregivers
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When musician Johnny Solomon hit rock bottom, he turned to his mom for help. Then, as his mother’s health declined, he and his wife (and bandmate) M...
I Was In Debt. Then My Sister Offered Me $16,000.
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 2021, we talked to a listener that we’re calling Tessa, who found themselves in $19,000 worth of credit card debt. When Tessa’s sister offered ...
The Very Hot Marriage of Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’re revisiting our conversation with (now Emmy-winning) actor Niecy Nash and her wife, singer-songwriter Jessica Betts. They discuss th...
A Former Pro Climber On Enduring Chronic Illness
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we get an update from Mason Earle, a former professional rock climber who we spoke to back in 2021. Mason had been diagnosed with ME/CFS, c...
Who’s Driving Your Uber?
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’re revisiting an episode about the transitional lives of Uber drivers. Anna and then-producer Katie Bishop hitched multiple rides in t...
Four Interviews and a Revival
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To mark the return of Death, Sex & Money, we’re presenting a live celebration of new beginnings, featuring interviews with comedian and TV host W. K...
This Senator Saved My Love Life
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special Valentine’s Day episode, Anna revisits a conversation she had with former Senator Al Simpson and his wife Ann, who provided some muc...
Life After Death: News About the Future of Death, Sex & Money!
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hear about the new life for Death, Sex & Money, with new episodes coming soon! In the meantime, subscribe to Anna's newsletter here to keep in touch a...
Life After Death: News About the Future of Death, Sex & Money!
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hear about the new life for Death, Sex & Money, with new episodes coming soon! In the meantime, subscribe to Anna's newsletter here to keep in touch a...
Four Interviews and a Funeral
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we heard that Death, Sex, & Money was coming to an end at WNYC, we decided there was only one thing to do: throw ourselves an in-person goodbye c...
Four Interviews and a Funeral
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we heard that Death, Sex, & Money was coming to an end at WNYC, we decided there was only one thing to do: throw ourselves an in-person goodbye c...
Your Inheritance Stories: When Death, Family and Money Mix
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past few months, we’ve been collecting your stories about inheritance, from those who have it and those who don’t. You told us about when...
Your Inheritance Stories: When Death, Family and Money Mix
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past few months, we’ve been collecting your stories about inheritance, from those who have it and those who don’t. You told us about when...
Meshell Ndegeocello Thinks Authenticity is Unsustainable
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meshell Ndegeocello has been a working musician since she was a teenager. She’s probably best known for her biggest hit to date, “Wild Night,” a...
Meshell Ndegeocello Thinks Authenticity is Unsustainable
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meshell Ndegeocello has been a working musician since she was a teenager. She’s probably best known for her biggest hit to date, “Wild Night,” a...
Productive Discomfort: A Job Training Program for Single Moms That Centers Mental Health
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah is 34, has two kids, and lives in Casper, Wyoming, where she was born and raised. Hannah’s been working in construction for 3 years, ever sin...
Productive Discomfort: A Job Training Program for Single Moms That Centers Mental Health
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah is 34, has two kids, and lives in Casper, Wyoming, where she was born and raised. Hannah’s been working in construction for 3 years, ever sin...
Maria Bamford on the Lucrative Nature of Oversharing
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Maria Bamford is a comedian and actress who you may know from her standup specials, her Netflix show Lady Dynamite, or her 2020 interview with Anna on...
Maria Bamford on the Lucrative Nature of Oversharing
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Maria Bamford is a comedian and actress who you may know from her standup specials, her Netflix show Lady Dynamite, or her 2020 interview with Anna on...
Underdogs, Training Montages and Buzzer-Beaters: When Sports Movies Got You Through It
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With their underdog-against-all-odds-redemption stories and epic training montages, sports movies can be the best source of support when we’re deep ...
Underdogs, Training Montages and Buzzer-Beaters: When Sports Movies Got You Through It
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With their underdog-against-all-odds-redemption stories and epic training montages, sports movies can be the best source of support when we’re deep ...
In Our Marriage, Psychosis Comes and Goes
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Giulia Lukach had her first manic episode, it seemed to come out of nowhere. She was in her late twenties, and had been married to her husband, M...
In Our Marriage, Psychosis Comes and Goes
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Giulia Lukach had her first manic episode, it seemed to come out of nowhere. She was in her late twenties, and had been married to her husband, M...
Raphael Saadiq: Music Was My Therapy. It Had To Be.
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This fall, Tony! Toni! Toné! is on tour for the first time in twenty years. Raphael Saadiq's career took off as a member of the R&B trio —a group w...
Raphael Saadiq: Music Was My Therapy. It Had To Be.
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This fall, Tony! Toni! Toné! is on tour for the first time in twenty years. Raphael Saadiq's career took off as a member of the R&B trio —a group w...
An End of Life Doctor’s Shocking Loss
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Bonnie Chen is no stranger to grief. The majority of her patients are facing a terminal illness and, as a palliative care doctor, her job is to he...
An End of Life Doctor’s Shocking Loss
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Bonnie Chen is no stranger to grief. The majority of her patients are facing a terminal illness and, as a palliative care doctor, her job is to he...
Married With No Kids and a Ranching Business with No Heirs
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Albert and Sue Sommers met, fell in love and got married in their 40s. Albert is a rancher whose family has worked the same land in Pinedale, Wyoming ...
Married With No Kids and a Ranching Business with No Heirs
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Albert and Sue Sommers met, fell in love and got married in their 40s. Albert is a rancher whose family has worked the same land in Pinedale, Wyoming ...
Jonathan Goldstein, Heavy Weights, and What We Owe Old Friends
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we are very excited to introduce you all to one of our favorite podcasts: Heavyweight, hosted by Jonathan Goldstein. First, Jonathan chats ...
Jonathan Goldstein, Heavy Weights, and What We Owe Old Friends
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we are very excited to introduce you all to one of our favorite podcasts: Heavyweight, hosted by Jonathan Goldstein. First, Jonathan chats ...
Feeling Lost or Stuck? Try Craigslist, says John Wilson.
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The filmmaker behind HBO’s How To with John Wilson shares how his hobbies, like checking Craigslist ads obsessively, make him feel more deeply conne...
Feeling Lost or Stuck? Try Craigslist, says John Wilson.
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The filmmaker behind HBO’s How To with John Wilson shares how his hobbies, like checking Craigslist ads obsessively, make him feel more deeply conne...
A New York City Mover Who Carries More Than Your Boxes
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past 20 years, Adonis Williams has moved thousands of people in and out of New York City. With each move, he catches a glimpse of a life in t...
A New York City Mover Who Carries More Than Your Boxes
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past 20 years, Adonis Williams has moved thousands of people in and out of New York City. With each move, he catches a glimpse of a life in t...
Ellen Burstyn at 90 Today
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna and Ellen Burstyn check in 9 years after they first spoke. Ellen talks about the relationships that make up her life in this moment, her dog, and...
Ellen Burstyn at 90 Today
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna and Ellen Burstyn check in 9 years after they first spoke. Ellen talks about the relationships that make up her life in this moment, her dog, and...
Revisiting Ellen Burstyn at 81
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re listening back to one of Anna’s favorite episodes, when actor Ellen Burstyn invited us into her apartment for a sprawling interview about he...
Revisiting Ellen Burstyn at 81
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re listening back to one of Anna’s favorite episodes, when actor Ellen Burstyn invited us into her apartment for a sprawling interview about he...
I Did Surrogacy For Money And Now I’m Starting Over
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna follows up with Sarah Short, the mom who became a surrogate to pay off debt. They discuss her divorce, starting her own business, and why this ch...
I Did Surrogacy For Money And Now I’m Starting Over
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna follows up with Sarah Short, the mom who became a surrogate to pay off debt. They discuss her divorce, starting her own business, and why this ch...
A Headline Stays Static Even As A Life Transforms
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lawrence Bartley was first on the show in 2014 while he was still in prison. In this new episode, he talks about becoming an award-winning journalist ...
A Headline Stays Static Even As A Life Transforms
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lawrence Bartley was first on the show in 2014 while he was still in prison. In this new episode, he talks about becoming an award-winning journalist ...
Why Ezra Klein Thinks “We're Living Through A Mistake”
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The New York Times journalist talks about the difficulties of early parenthood, the lure of communal living, and why he loves Burning Man. Want more ...
Why Ezra Klein Thinks “We're Living Through A Mistake”
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The New York Times journalist talks about the difficulties of early parenthood, the lure of communal living, and why he loves Burning Man. Want more ...
A Trans Elder’s ‘Final Act’: Musician Beverly Glenn-Copeland
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The 79-year-old musician tells Anna about coming into his gender identity, “being cared for” by his bandmates, and the joys–and pitfalls–of fi...
A Trans Elder’s ‘Final Act’: Musician Beverly Glenn-Copeland
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The 79-year-old musician tells Anna about coming into his gender identity, “being cared for” by his bandmates, and the joys–and pitfalls–of fi...
Secrets, Turn-Ons, and Fantasies: Your Stories About Porn
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We revisit our most popular episode, featuring your stories about secret hard drives, fantasy plot lines, illegal downloads, titillating Tumblr feeds,...
Secrets, Turn-Ons, and Fantasies: Your Stories About Porn
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We revisit our most popular episode, featuring your stories about secret hard drives, fantasy plot lines, illegal downloads, titillating Tumblr feeds,...
Bells and Bills: The Price You Paid For Your Wedding
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we asked listeners if they were currently planning a wedding, and if money had become a sticking point. We heard from couples with vas...
Bells and Bills: The Price You Paid For Your Wedding
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we asked listeners if they were currently planning a wedding, and if money had become a sticking point. We heard from couples with vas...
The Crude Reality of Debt from This is Uncomfortable
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Beaton was determined to work her way out of debt. But nothing could have prepared her for the experience of toiling in the Canadian oil sands. ...
The Crude Reality of Debt from This is Uncomfortable
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Beaton was determined to work her way out of debt. But nothing could have prepared her for the experience of toiling in the Canadian oil sands. ...
Why Writer Brandon Taylor Likes Being “A Little Bit Lonely”
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The author talks about arguing in high school English classes, learning to manage money, and his evolving relationship with the Internet. Did you know...
Why Writer Brandon Taylor Likes Being “A Little Bit Lonely”
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The author talks about arguing in high school English classes, learning to manage money, and his evolving relationship with the Internet. Did you know...
I Still Love My Dad, But I Don't Love Guns
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two years after Anna’s first conversation with a listener named Jack, she called him back for an update on his relationship with his dad, and his re...
I Still Love My Dad, But I Don't Love Guns
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two years after Anna’s first conversation with a listener named Jack, she called him back for an update on his relationship with his dad, and his re...
Can You Help Your Kid’s Anxiety By Changing Your Behavior?
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kids look to their parents to keep them safe and to show them how much risk they can handle, but parents are often winging it as they walk that line. ...
Can You Help Your Kid’s Anxiety By Changing Your Behavior?
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kids look to their parents to keep them safe and to show them how much risk they can handle, but parents are often winging it as they walk that line. ...
‘It Just Denies Reality’: Abortion Access and the Law After Dobbs
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mississippi-based reproductive justice activist Laurie Bertram Roberts updates Anna on life after Dobbs. Plus, a story from the podcast More Perfect o...
‘It Just Denies Reality’: Abortion Access and the Law After Dobbs
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mississippi-based reproductive justice activist Laurie Bertram Roberts updates Anna on life after Dobbs. Plus, a story from the podcast More Perfect o...
Ocean Vuong on Telling Lies, Building Family and Loving the Knicks
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The acclaimed poet talks about falling in love with poetry in New York basements, caring for his brother, and mastering — and walking away from — ...
Ocean Vuong on Telling Lies, Building Family and Loving the Knicks
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The acclaimed poet talks about falling in love with poetry in New York basements, caring for his brother, and mastering — and walking away from — ...
Hold On: Should I Tell My Boss I’m Depressed?
27 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of Hold On, a national call-in show about our mental health, Anna talks to organizational psychologist Melissa Doman, author of Y...
Hold On: Should I Tell My Boss I’m Depressed?
27 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of Hold On, a national call-in show about our mental health, Anna talks to organizational psychologist Melissa Doman, author of Y...
Hold On: When Shame Keeps You From Therapy
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Hold On, our live national call-in series about mental health, we asked listeners to call in if the idea of getting therapy was som...
Hold On: When Shame Keeps You From Therapy
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Hold On, our live national call-in series about mental health, we asked listeners to call in if the idea of getting therapy was som...
Hold On: Let’s Talk About Psych Meds
20 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
1 in 5 American adults are taking medication to treat their mental health, that’s more than the number of people in therapy. Anna talks to sociologi...
Hold On: Let’s Talk About Psych Meds
20 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
1 in 5 American adults are taking medication to treat their mental health, that’s more than the number of people in therapy. Anna talks to sociologi...
Hold On: My Diagnosis, My Self
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna talks to psychology professor and researcher Dr. Craig Rodriguez-Seijas, about his work studying bias in mental health diagnostics, and takes li...
Hold On: My Diagnosis, My Self
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna talks to psychology professor and researcher Dr. Craig Rodriguez-Seijas, about his work studying bias in mental health diagnostics, and takes li...
Hold On: How to Support our Teens' Mental Health
13 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna takes calls from teenagers, and people who love teenagers, about adolescent mental health, along with psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour. Find resource...
Hold On: How to Support our Teens' Mental Health
13 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna takes calls from teenagers, and people who love teenagers, about adolescent mental health, along with psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour. Find resource...
Hold On: How Therapists See the Mental Health Crisis
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna takes calls from mental health professionals along with psychiatrist Dr. Kali Cyrus, and you offer your tips for accessing care. Find resources ...
Hold On: How Therapists See the Mental Health Crisis
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna takes calls from mental health professionals along with psychiatrist Dr. Kali Cyrus, and you offer your tips for accessing care. Find resources ...
Leaving the Extreme Right, and a Marriage, Behind
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna and Micah Loewinger, correspondent for On the Media, travel to Montana to talk to Tasha Adams about her decades-long marriage with Stewart Rho...
Leaving the Extreme Right, and a Marriage, Behind
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna and Micah Loewinger, correspondent for On the Media, travel to Montana to talk to Tasha Adams about her decades-long marriage with Stewart Rho...
The Voice of NYC's Subways Comes Out as Trans
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Voiceover artist and journalist Bernie Wagenblast shares her journey to coming out as a trans woman. Listen to our episode with Jane Fonda here: http...
The Voice of NYC's Subways Comes Out as Trans
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Voiceover artist and journalist Bernie Wagenblast shares her journey to coming out as a trans woman. Listen to our episode with Jane Fonda here: http...
John Green on OCD, Writing, and Loving Middle-Age
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The writer talks about longing to fall in love, his life with mental illness, and why adulthood is underrated. This episode originally aired in 2...
John Green on OCD, Writing, and Loving Middle-Age
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The writer talks about longing to fall in love, his life with mental illness, and why adulthood is underrated. This episode originally aired in 2...
The Movies That Taught Us What Sex Could Be
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your stories about the beloved – and complicated – movies you saw that taught you about sex. Did you know we have a weekly email newsletter for t...
The Movies That Taught Us What Sex Could Be
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your stories about the beloved – and complicated – movies you saw that taught you about sex. Did you know we have a weekly email newsletter for t...
Alice Wong On Medicaid, Rage, and “Good Care”
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna first talked with disability rights activist Alice Wong in 2020 about self-advocacy, as well as how she manages money, Medicaid, and her and her ...
Alice Wong On Medicaid, Rage, and “Good Care”
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna first talked with disability rights activist Alice Wong in 2020 about self-advocacy, as well as how she manages money, Medicaid, and her and her ...
Kate Bowler on Shame, Productivity, and Living with Chronic Pain
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The professor and Everything Happens podcast host talks about growing up in a Mennonite community, living with chronic pain, and the small things that...
Kate Bowler on Shame, Productivity, and Living with Chronic Pain
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The professor and Everything Happens podcast host talks about growing up in a Mennonite community, living with chronic pain, and the small things that...
How to Face Your Fears With Steve-O, Laurel Braitman, and Rev. angel
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We asked you to tell us about the fears in your life that are holding you back. In this episode, we share your stories and questions with Steve-O, Lau...
How to Face Your Fears With Steve-O, Laurel Braitman, and Rev. angel
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We asked you to tell us about the fears in your life that are holding you back. In this episode, we share your stories and questions with Steve-O, Lau...
A Trans Parent’s Adoption Journey
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna first talked with Liam and Marisa about their love story back in 2014. Nine years later, we hear about the next chapter of their relationship: be...
A Trans Parent’s Adoption Journey
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anna first talked with Liam and Marisa about their love story back in 2014. Nine years later, we hear about the next chapter of their relationship: be...