After great success with his popular graphic novel on Métis leader Louis Riel in Canada, author Chester Brown took his work in a decidedly different direction, shocking and alienating many of his fans with the release of 'Paying for It,' an autobiographical graphic novel depicting his life paying for sex with prostitutes.

Chester's chosen lifestyle, rejecting romantic relationships to pursue a long-term exclusive (paying) relationship with a sex worker, brings up interesting questions about the nature of love and the responsibilities (or chains) that may come with it. And Chester's latest graphic novel, 'Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus,' brings up some even more interesting questions about prostitution in the bible.

We start by discussing his process as a graphic novelist. We then go on to talk about his life as a john, how he got into paying for sex, and where it's led him today. We then have a discussion/debate on the ethics and legality of prostitution, touching on many surprising angles to this controversial topic. Finally, we discuss prostitution in the bible, a favorite topic of Chester's, and what it might tell us about God and morality.

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Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction and writing process 4:32 Self disclosure in writing 8:23 Chester's story - on sex, love, and prostitution 11:46 Chester's relationship with Denise 15:20 The case against romantic relationships - are romantic relationships confining? 29:29 Chester's evolution of thought on romantic love and committed monogamy 34:05 Jealousy in romantic relationships 36:59 Are expectations in romantic love healthy? 42:30 Does it hurt that Chester's sex worker partner doesn't love him? 51:30 How Chester views prostitution 56:32 Emotional and sexual damage of prostitution 1:00:21 High proportion of abuse, drug, and mental health problems among sex workers 1:04:40 Is prostitution good for society? 1:12:14 Legalization vs Nordic model vs Decriminalization vs Criminalizing pimping 1:37:39 Sex trafficking 1:42:34 Does the situation of sex workers he sees disturb Chester? 1:47:45 Mary Wept- prostitution in the bible. Was Mary a prostitute? 2:02:28 Temple prostitutes in other religions. Why is yahweh against prostitution? 2:11:50 Parts of the bible that suggest god favors those who follow laws, and parts that suggest that god favors those who break the rules 2:20:23 Following love, rather than rules 2:29:46 What is love? Is love God? 2:39:14The confusing role of Paul 2:44:17 What sparked Chester's conversion from anarchism/anarcho-communism to anarcho-capitalism?

CHESTER BROWN'S GRAPHIC NOVELS:

I Never Liked You: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Liked-You-Chester-Brown/dp/1896597149 Louis Riel: A Comic Strip Biography: https://www.amazon.com/Louis-Riel-Comic-Strip-Chester-Brown/dp/1894937899 Paying For It: https://www.amazon.com/Paying-Chester-Brown/dp/1770461191 Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Wept-Over-Feet-Jesus/dp/1770462341/

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