Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.
In 2021, we released an episode called The Weight of Love, where listeners shared stories about weight, body size, and... more
From an early age, Alynda Segarra saw the people they loved grind it out in an American system that offered... more
This week, author and podcaster Kendra Adachi explains how she took perfectionism and strict time-management way too far and was... more
When he was 11 years old, actor Haley Joel Osment was nominated for an Oscar. His resume was already long... more
Anna talks to PJ Vogt, host of the podcast Search Engine, about his distinct writing and interviewing style. Then we... more
One day on his morning Uber route, Jason Armstrong got an email from his father. The message: at 85, he'd... more
Elizabeth* has a secret life as a hoarder. None of her colleagues or family members know that her apartment is... more
If you lived in Columbus, Georgia in the 90s, you might remember a queer club called Sensations. But Bob the... more
Martha Wainwright was born into a world of music and folk fame, with songwriter parents Loudon Wainwright III and Kate... more
After Cody Delistraty’s mom died in his early 20s he decided to turn his grief into a research project with... more
Your stories about how navigating weight and body size inside a relationship has sometimes made your partnerships stronger…and sometimes broken... more
Climate activists Jess Serrante and Joanna Macy are 60 years apart. They’re also close friends who’ve been sharing stories and... more
Crystal met Hugh Hefner when she was 21 and he was 81. They spent 10 years together at the Playboy... more
When Miranda July entered her early forties, she noticed a grim feeling emerge. “It wasn't coming from me,” she said,... more
When Angela first started working at a debt collection agency, she says she barely understood what her job was. "I... more
During the 1988 Summer Olympics, diver Greg Louganis was competing under extreme pressure. In the preliminary round, he split his... more
From a young age, James T. Morrison used drugs to help him feel better. He started with pills that were... more
San Francisco mayor London Breed grew up learning again and again about the dangers of drugs and addiction. She lived... more
Carvell Wallace’s brilliant new memoir Another Word for Love has been rightfully praised for its passages about childhood trauma, about... more
Since the #MeToo movement, the presence of intimacy coordinators have become more common on movie and TV sets. In this... more
Anna talks to Dr. Orna Guralnik, the psychoanalyst from Showtime’s Couples Therapy, and then to Kara Swisher, the pugnacious tech... more
Mark Duplass’s first big dream came true when he was 28: a movie he wrote and directed with his brother,... more
Christopher Zara didn’t finish high school, and can sometimes feel like an outsider working in a field where it’s more... more
Elissa Strauss always knew she wanted to be a mother, but she also knew she didn’t want motherhood to take... more
The dating app Bumble recently declared in advertisements that “a vow of celibacy is not the answer.” The ad campaign,... more
In our episode with Jim Harris, we talked about how a spinal cord injury left him partially paralyzed, and then... more
Before going on a kite-skiing trip to the Chilean mountains, Jim Harris and his longtime girlfriend broke up. She wanted... more
Vivian’s eating disorder started in college. She meticulously tracked calories and the number on the scale. Once she graduated she... more
We first heard from a listener we’re calling Tom in an episode about life transitions. He told us he had... more
Nurse practitioners Teresa Owens Tyson and Paula Hill-Collins have saved countless lives in rural Appalachia. They operate a mobile clinic... more
To make this episode we asked you, our listeners, if you had any questions about a big life transition you... more
Earlier this year, when the future of Death, Sex & Money was up in the air, Anna Sale consulted Rebecca... more
Patric Gagne says being a sociopath is like having an emotional learning disability. In this episode, she talks about the... more
When musician Johnny Solomon hit rock bottom, he turned to his mom for help. Then, as his mother’s health declined,... more
In 2021, we talked to a listener that we’re calling Tessa, who found themselves in $19,000 worth of credit card... more
This week, we’re revisiting our conversation with (now Emmy-winning) actor Niecy Nash and her wife, singer-songwriter Jessica Betts. They discuss... more
This week, we get an update from Mason Earle, a former professional rock climber who we spoke to back in... more
This week, we’re revisiting an episode about the transitional lives of Uber drivers. Anna and then-producer Katie Bishop hitched multiple... more
To mark the return of Death, Sex & Money, we’re presenting a live celebration of new beginnings, featuring interviews with... more
In this special Valentine’s Day episode, Anna revisits a conversation she had with former Senator Al Simpson and his wife... more
Hear about the new life for Death, Sex & Money, with new episodes coming soon! In the meantime, subscribe to... more
When we heard that Death, Sex, & Money was coming to an end at WNYC, we decided there was only... more
Over the past few months, we’ve been collecting your stories about inheritance, from those who have it and those who... more
Meshell Ndegeocello has been a working musician since she was a teenager. She’s probably best known for her biggest hit... more
Hannah is 34, has two kids, and lives in Casper, Wyoming, where she was born and raised. Hannah’s been working... more
Maria Bamford is a comedian and actress who you may know from her standup specials, her Netflix show Lady Dynamite,... more
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... more
When Giulia Lukach had her first manic episode, it seemed to come out of nowhere. She was in her late... more
This fall, Tony! Toni! Toné! is on tour for the first time in twenty years. Raphael Saadiq's career took off... more
Dr. Bonnie Chen is no stranger to grief. The majority of her patients are facing a terminal illness and, as... more
Albert and Sue Sommers met, fell in love and got married in their 40s. Albert is a rancher whose family... more
This week, we are very excited to introduce you all to one of our favorite podcasts: Heavyweight, hosted by Jonathan... more
The filmmaker behind HBO’s How To with John Wilson shares how his hobbies, like checking Craigslist ads obsessively, make him... more
Over the past 20 years, Adonis Williams has moved thousands of people in and out of New York City. With... more
Anna and Ellen Burstyn check in 9 years after they first spoke. Ellen talks about the relationships that make up... more
We’re listening back to one of Anna’s favorite episodes, when actor Ellen Burstyn invited us into her apartment for a... more
Anna follows up with Sarah Short, the mom who became a surrogate to pay off debt. They discuss her divorce,... more
Lawrence Bartley was first on the show in 2014 while he was still in prison. In this new episode, he... more
The New York Times journalist talks about the difficulties of early parenthood, the lure of communal living, and why he... more
The 79-year-old musician tells Anna about coming into his gender identity, “being cared for” by his bandmates, and the joys–and... more
We revisit our most popular episode, featuring your stories about secret hard drives, fantasy plot lines, illegal downloads, titillating Tumblr... more
In this episode we asked listeners if they were currently planning a wedding, and if money had become a sticking... more
Kate Beaton was determined to work her way out of debt. But nothing could have prepared her for the experience... more
The author talks about arguing in high school English classes, learning to manage money, and his evolving relationship with the... more
Two years after Anna’s first conversation with a listener named Jack, she called him back for an update on his... more
Kids look to their parents to keep them safe and to show them how much risk they can handle, but... more
Mississippi-based reproductive justice activist Laurie Bertram Roberts updates Anna on life after Dobbs. Plus, a story from the podcast More... more
The acclaimed poet talks about falling in love with poetry in New York basements, caring for his brother, and mastering... more
In the final episode of Hold On, a national call-in show about our mental health, Anna talks to organizational psychologist... more
In this episode of Hold On, our live national call-in series about mental health, we asked listeners to call in... more
1 in 5 American adults are taking medication to treat their mental health, that’s more than the number of people... more
Anna talks to psychology professor and researcher Dr. Craig Rodriguez-Seijas, about his work studying bias in mental health diagnostics, and takes... more
Anna takes calls from teenagers, and people who love teenagers, about adolescent mental health, along with psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour. Find... more
Anna takes calls from mental health professionals along with psychiatrist Dr. Kali Cyrus, and you offer your tips for accessing... more
Anna and Micah Loewinger, correspondent for On the Media, travel to Montana to talk to Tasha Adams about her decades-long marriage with Stewart... more
Voiceover artist and journalist Bernie Wagenblast shares her journey to coming out as a trans woman. Listen to our episode with... more
The writer talks about longing to fall in love, his life with mental illness, and why adulthood is underrated. This episode... more
Your stories about the beloved – and complicated – movies you saw that taught you about sex. Did you know we... more
Anna first talked with disability rights activist Alice Wong in 2020 about self-advocacy, as well as how she manages money,... more
The professor and Everything Happens podcast host talks about growing up in a Mennonite community, living with chronic pain, and... more
We asked you to tell us about the fears in your life that are holding you back. In this episode,... more
Anna first talked with Liam and Marisa about their love story back in 2014. Nine years later, we hear about... more
Erick Adame was a TV weatherman. Then someone sent pictures to his employer, his mother, and his boyfriend of him... more
Your stories of loving—and losing—your beloved animal companions. Plus, an end-of-life veterinarian offers advice on knowing when to say goodbye. Some... more
Today, we're celebrating the very short-term romance: the one night stand. Those moments in life when someone appeared in a... more
The actor talks about having agency over her body, her relationships and her career, even as she lives with the... more
The country musician talks candidly about loss—of a generational family farm and the death of her newborn—and coping with infidelity... more
This week, we bring our estrangement series to an end with a live call-in show co-hosted by Anna Sale and WNYC’s Kai... more
Pico Iyer, author of "The Half-Known Life," reflects on deliberately walking away from his dream job, his decades-long friendship with... more
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known as Daniels, on their friendship, learning to play to their strengths, and making their... more
The co-creators of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On talk about collaborating while getting divorced, navigating grief, and finding joy... more
The former host of The Daily Show sometimes struggles to get out of bed. But he's comfortable saying that with... more
Anna talks with Terrestrials host and creator Lulu Miller about becoming a parent and being inspired by her kids’ curiosities. Plus,... more
In our last episode, we look at how estrangement changes shape over the course of a life: how it can... more
When we first asked for your stories on estrangement, we wondered if it was like a slow pulling away, or... more
Brian is on the fence. On the one hand, he no longer believes in the religion he was raised in,... more
The writer shares her thoughts on talent versus luck, her vendetta against hiking, and how she’s made and kept friendships... more
In Death, Sex & Money’s new three-part series about estrangement, we talk to listeners about cutting family ties, leaving religion,... more
“Some conversations I’m just not willing to engage in anymore.” Check out Matt’s photo series of other Korean adoptees, Where are... more
"Friendship is our only social relationship that is purely voluntary. Someone can just walk away at any time." Today, we're sharing... more
Emma was a single mom and supported her family with the income she made from sex work. The money was... more
Sandra Cisneros has picked “some real doozies” as lovers. But at 67, she says she’d rather write a new book... more
Musician and “Song Exploder” host, Hrishikesh Hirway, remembers his mother, Kanta, who died in 2020, and the music that’s helped... more
Rachel Matlow’s mother refused to get the surgery that could have saved her. That often left her and Rachel trying... more
Andrea grew up attending an evangelical church in Texas, where she was taught to abstain from sex until marriage and... more
In 2021, India Walton won, then lost, the Buffalo mayor’s race. She continues to work and grieve in her city. Did... more
The delightful and rebellious writer-director welcomes us into his apartment to talk about money, family, friendships, and colonoscopies. Did you know... more
Your stories about how your personal style has changed in the last few years, and the impact on not only what... more
In her sixties, musician Lucinda Williams is more successful than ever. But with age has come a lot of loss. Did you... more
Big Freedia is a reality TV star and fixture on New Orleans' bounce scene. But days after Hurricane Katrina, she was sleeping on the street outside of the city's convention center. This episode... more
In 2018, David Buckel died by self-immolation to protest climate change. His husband Terry talks about respecting David's message while grieving him, and... more
The stand-up comedian and drag star tells me about growing up around her mom’s queer club, bringing drag to small... more
We took some of your burning student loan questions to our favorite expert on the topic, Betsy Mayotte, president of The... more
Your reactions to the end of Roe, plus, a conversation with Mississippi-based reproductive justice activist Laurie Bertram Roberts about how their work... more
We asked you about your relationships with alcohol—why you drink, or don't, the strategies you use to manage your consumption, and what alcohol... more
The Starbucks union is having a moment. We talked to three workers in three different states about the victories and... more
As the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline becomes a 3-digit number, 988, I visit a call center in Wyoming, which had the highest suicide... more
Actress Niecy Nash and her wife, R&B singer-songwriter Jessica Betts, tell me about falling in love, learning to live together... more
We asked for your stories about breakups. You told us about being left, doing the leaving, and the times when you're... more
When Mary Gundel spoke out about working conditions at Dollar General, she lost her job. She also gained TikTok celebrity,... more
As the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline becomes a 3-digit number, 988, I visit a call center in Wyoming, which had the highest suicide rate per... more