Prudence is joined this week by Martha Rynberg, an Oakland based writer and performer. She is the principal director of the Solo Performance Workshop, and is getting an online masters degree in how to keep cats from scratching on leather furniture.

Together they tackle letters about what to do when your coworkers never show up for your important life events, how to decide whether to tell a friend that a painting in her home is racially offensive, how to tell your sister that her cooking tips are not welcome on top when you’re already preparing meals for her kids as a favor, how to deal with a racist cousin who you only see during the holidays, how to decide if there’s enough trust to continue an otherwise supportive relationship, what actions to take when you realize your ready to let go of a casual friendship.

Slate Plus members will hear Prudie and Martha discuss a letter writer who is wondering how he discourage his younger brother from quitting his lucrative job, even though you did the same thing to start your own business. Not yet a member? Sign up at Slate.com/PrudiePod.

Email: [email protected]

Production by Phil Surkis

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices