Death, Sex & Money

By WNYC Studios

What's Death, Sex & Money about?

Death, Sex & Money is a podcast about the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation. Host Anna Sale talks to celebrities you've heard of—and to regular people you haven't—about the Big Stuff: relationships, money, family, work and making it all count while we're here.

WNYC Studios is a listener-supported producer of other leading podcasts including Radiolab, On the Media, The Experiment, The New Yorker Radio Hour and many others.

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LAST EPISODE

Maria Hinojosa on Partying,...

05.18.2022

In honor of her Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting, I revisit my conversation with journalist Maria Hinojosa about building up her confidence in the world of media, and reaching a breaking point in her marriage that led her to reevaluate ...

Death, Sex & Money episodes:

05.18.2022 Maria Hinojosa on Partying, Partnership, and Her New Pulitzer In honor of her Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting, I revisit my conversation with journalist Maria Hinojosa about building up her confidence in the world of media, and reaching a breaking point in her marriage that led her to reevaluate ...
05.11.2022 How Much Climate Anxiety Helps? I take a walk with Britt Wray who studies the mental health effects of climate change, and we talk about how she overcame debilitating climate dread without turning away from the crisis. Do you want to lessen your climate anxiety ...
05.04.2022 "There’s Never a Perfect Time to Say, 'I’m Blind'" I talk with a listener named Fey about her deteriorating vision, how and when to disclose her disability, and she gets a pep talk from EDM singer Lachi. Did you know we have a weekly email newsletter for the Death, ...
04.29.2022 Anna Sale Introduces Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery Anna talks with her WNYC colleague Nancy Solomon about her new podcast, Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery. New Jersey politics is not for the faint of heart. But the brutal killing of John and Joyce Sheridan, a ...
04.27.2022 Siblinghood After hearing from more than 200 listeners about their siblings, it's clear that the people we spend our childhoods with aren't the easiest ones to act like adults toward. This episode first aired in 2015. Did you know we have ...
04.13.2022 Hard: Softening Expectations "Sex is a much more copacetic and enjoyable experience when it is about the experience rather than results." This is the third episode of a three-part series about ED and Viagra. If you missed the previous episodes, about relationships impacted ...
04.06.2022 Hard: Little Pill, Big Pharma How Welsh coal miners and a pants-dropping presentation eventually led to the invention of Viagra. If you missed the first episode in our Hard series, go back and take a listen. And look out for the finale next week, when ...
03.30.2022 Hard: Erectile Disappointment In the first episode of a three part series, we focus in on people’s intimate lives and relationships that have been impacted by both erectile dysfunction—and Viagra—in ways that the cheeky public conversation about the drug has never quite captured. ...
03.16.2022 Why Lynn Nottage Cashed Out Her 401(k) The acclaimed playwright tells me why she left theater for a few years, and how quitting her day job and making an investment in herself helped her return. Did you know we have a weekly email newsletter for the Death, ...
03.09.2022 Affairs, Throuples, and Big Monogamy: Your Relationship Questions Answered Struggling to make a decision about your relationship? Panelists Heather Havrilesky, George Civeris and Tuck Woodstock take on your questions about everything from infidelity to gender transitions to getting married. Listen to the Straightiolab episode on cheating here, and the ...
02.23.2022 Inheriting Divorce I talk with producer Ian Coss about the many divorces in his family, and how learning about them inspired his podcast Forever is a Long Time. Listen to Forever is a Long Time here, and find The Experiment's SPAM series ...
02.16.2022 Where is Lisa Fischer's Backup? You've heard Lisa Fischer singing backup vocals for everyone from the Rolling Stones to Beyoncé. But after decades of touring with rock stars, Fischer lives in a far more humble reality. Find our Breakup Survival Guide here. Did you know ...
02.09.2022 This Elvis Impersonator Does It For Love… And Money Elvis impersonator Brendan Paul marries as many as 75 people a day in the Las Vegas wedding chapel he owns. But while his portrayal of Elvis generally leans into kitsch, his view on The King's life goes deeper. "A lot ...
01.26.2022 André De Shields On Living With His Shadow André De Shields shares his wisdom from 50 years on the stage, and 76 years on this earth. You can find our original conversation from our Opportunity Costs series with Ramal Johnson here. Find out more at deathsexmoney.org/class. Did you ...
01.19.2022 Downsizing After Divorce Jaimie Seaton got used to a lavish upper class lifestyle while married to her banker husband and living overseas. Then she got divorced, and her financial picture totally changed. This episode was part of our 2018 series Opportunity Costs: Money ...
01.12.2022 A New Year's Pep Talk From Robin Arzón The author and popular Peloton instructor tells me about running through trauma, changing careers, and how motherhood has changed how she values her time. Listen to our "Anthems of Change" playlist on Spotify. Are you subscribed to our newsletter? You ...
12.29.2021 Why I Steal "I want it, so I take it." A serial shoplifter explains why she steals, and how—and we hear about what's happened in her life since we first talked four years ago. Thanks to Tasbeeh Herwees for her help with this ...
12.22.2021 A Season to Savor I share some of the advice, tools, movies, and TV shows that I savored in 2021. Looking for The Favorites File from Kendra Adachi? Find it here at The Lazy Genius Collective. If you're thinking about year-end giving, please consider ...
12.15.2021 The Weight Of Love Your stories about how navigating weight and body size inside a relationship has sometimes made your partnerships stronger...and sometimes broken them apart. Are you subscribed to our newsletter? You should be! Every Wednesday, we send out podcast listening recommendations, your ...
12.01.2021 Why Alan Cumming Doesn't Do Drama The Scottish actor and I talk about body image, celebrating aging, why he isn't in a monogamous marriage, and the joys of taking ecstasy. If you or a loved one needs support around an eating disorder, you can call or ...
11.24.2021 Becoming A Parent Of Six, At 25 On the air, Yesi Ortiz is a warm, flirty host for a popular L.A. hip hop station. Off the air, she's a single parent of six adopted kids. Managing both roles is more than a challenge. If you're not already ...
11.10.2021 “What I Live With”: The Aftermath of Fatal Accidents In the U.S., nearly 200,000 people die every year from accidental injuries. But what happens when you cause one of those accidents—and you survive? We're looking for our next intern! Is it you? To find out more about eligibility and ...
11.03.2021 I Love My Dad, But I Don't Love Guns A listener we're calling Jack wants to tell his dad that a passion for firearms is no longer something they share. We're looking for our next intern! Is it you? To find out more about eligibility and to apply, go ...
10.27.2021 Order Up, Tapped Out: Life After Restaurant Burnout Five current and former food service workers reflect on their career changes and the future of their industry since the start of the pandemic. For more from Cara, Lesely, and on navigating child care in the pandemic, listen to last ...
10.20.2021 Succession's J. Smith-Cameron On Old Haunts and New Normals I talk with the Succession actor over egg creams and omelets in New York City. If you're not already subscribed to our newsletter, sign up! Every Wednesday, we send out podcast listening recommendations, your stories from our inbox, and behind-the-scenes ...
10.06.2021 Dead People Don't Have Any Secrets Amanda's husband Sam had a lot of secrets, most of which she discovered after his death. That made grieving, and moving on, a lot more complicated. We're putting together an audio survival kit for listeners going through infertility. If you've ...
09.29.2021 Your Infertility Stories Have Many Different Endings What happens when you hit speed bumps on the road to having kids? Today, your stories of IVF, IUI, adoption, choosing to not have kids and managing your expectations through it all. We're putting together an audio survival kit for ...
09.22.2021 "You Should Be Carrying This. Not Me." Last year, a listener named Chloe had an unusual opportunity: to get on a Zoom call with the man who she says sexually assaulted her 10 years ago. If you or someone you know is a sexual assault survivor and ...
09.08.2021 When A Banker Became A Nun Sister Josephine Garrett grew up Baptist and worked her way up the corporate ladder—only to realize in her late 20s that she wanted to convert to Catholicism and become a nun. Watch Anna's check-in with Sister Josephine earlier this year ...
09.01.2021 Decision Fatigue Is Real. We Called For Backup. Panelists Tayari Jones, John Paul Brammer, and Tara Ilsley share advice for listeners struggling with decision fatigue and weighing big moves, going back to school, caretaking, and more. If you're not already subscribed to our newsletter, sign up! Every Wednesday, ...
08.18.2021 Financial Therapy: A Baby, And A Plan In Cora and Garrett's final financial therapy session with Amanda Clayman, they talk about seeing a financial advisor, and what they want to model for their child when it comes to money. Are you struggling to see eye to eye ...
08.11.2021 Financial Therapy: Struggling To Trust Again In their second session with financial therapist Amanda Clayman, a couple we're calling Cora and Garrett talk about their financial strengths and weaknesses, and the wall between them. Are you struggling to see eye to eye about money in your ...
08.04.2021 Financial Therapy: A Secret Gambling Addiction In the first of three financial therapy sessions, a couple we're calling Cora and Garrett talk with therapist Amanda Clayman about the events that led to a breakdown of financial trust between them. Financial Therapy with Amanda Clayman is a ...
07.23.2021 When Grief Doesn't Move In Stages Radiolab producer Rachael Cusick talks together with her grandmother about their shared loss, and about their experiences with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five stages of grief. Listen to Rachael's Radiolab episode "The Queen of Dying," about the story and legacy of Elisabeth ...
07.14.2021 Doree Shafrir On The Out Of Control IVF Train I talk with the writer about going through fertility treatments in her late 30s, and why being "on the IVF train" made her get more comfortable with situations out of her control. Have you had to jump through medical or ...
07.07.2021 When Indie Rockers Become Full-Time Caregivers When musician Johnny Solomon hit rock bottom, he turned to his mom for help. As his mom's health declines, he and his wife—and bandmate—move in with her to reciprocate. Check out our podcast playlist roundup of recent audio recommendations from ...
06.23.2021 A Teen Musician Is Ready For His Solo. His Mom Is Not. Miguel Llapa's mother was told her son wouldn't live past age 2 because of a health condition. Now, he's going to college — and yearns for independence on his own terms. Support Death, Sex & Money today at deathsexmoney.org/donate. Check ...
06.16.2021 "The Lying Stops Now": Your Hardest Conversations Talking with kids about death. Telling family that you've fallen in love with a man in prison. Breaking up with a longtime friend. Today: the hardest conversations you've ever had. If you've got a hard conversation that you've been waiting ...
06.09.2021 Michelle Zauner's Joy Is Rooted In Vengeance The Japanese Breakfast musician talks about writing her memoir, Crying in H Mart, why she's moving on from making art about grief and loss, and what's bringing her joy these days. Listen to Japanese Breakfast's latest album, "Jubilee," here, and ...
06.02.2021 Mahershala Ali and Rafael Casal: Envy Is A Hell Of A Drug In this guest hosted episode, the Oscar-winning actor interviews the Blindspotting co-creator about growing up a "knucklehead," finding a creative partner, and avoiding jealousy. This episode was part of our 2019 Maternity Leave Lineup. Find all of our past guest ...
05.26.2021 Alison Bechdel On Menopause, Mortality and Punching Pennies The graphic novelist on hot flashes and self-loathing, loss and grief, and one painful punching bag. Are you new to our show? Welcome! Make sure you subscribe in your podcast player, and check out our Starter Kit. It's filled with ...
05.19.2021 A Former Pro Climber On Enduring Chronic Illness Former pro rock climber Mason Earle's career ended in 2018, when he was diagnosed with the chronic illness ME/CFS. He now spends most of his time in bed, and in a series of three phone calls, he reflects on his ...
05.12.2021 Strictly, Entirely On The Fence About Having A Kid A self-described "fiery ball of ambition," Avery Trufelman of The Cut podcast wonders how she'll know whether or not she wants to have a kid. Are you new to our show? Welcome! Make sure you subscribe in your podcast player, ...
05.05.2021 Where Noel and Anna's Hot Girl Summer Went Wrong I talk with my friend and colleague Noel King about getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations in my personal life, and why she thinks my brain is a "little bit different." Are you new to our show? Welcome! Make sure you ...
04.28.2021 The 7 Hardest Conversations I've Ever Had On This Show Making a guest mad about money. Getting called out. Digging into my own beliefs about monogamy. These are the hardest conversations I've had here on the show, as a podcast host, parent and partner. Hear more of the interviews we ...
04.21.2021 When I Almost Died A few years ago, I asked you to share your near-death experiences. You told us about car accidents...plane crashes...illness...suicide. And, you told us what happened after, when you didn't die. Today: your stories about life after near death. You can ...
04.14.2021 I Was In Debt. Then My Sister Offered Me $16,000. What happened when a 27-year-old listener deep in credit card debt asked their older sister for financial help. If you're struggling with consumer debt, check out these resources. Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a sustaining member today. Sign ...
04.07.2021 When Claudia Rankine Brought Up Race In Couples Counseling The poet reflects on growing up in largely white spaces in the Bronx during the 1970s, and how conversations about race with her husband have evolved over 20 years together. Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a sustaining member ...
03.24.2021 A Friend In The Execution Room A man steps up to participate in an American process that he doesn’t agree with: the death penalty. Today, we bring you a story about duty, faith and humanity, from the new podcast The Experiment. This Friday is our first-ever ...
03.17.2021 Finding Blessings and Throwing Vases Donna Perry has experienced tremendous loss this last year. But as she told producer Yasmeen Khan, the year has also brought "blessings," and reinforced the need to pick up the phone and call people. Picking up the phone is what ...

Older episodes

Death, Sex & Money

What's Death, Sex & Money about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Death, Sex & Money episodes:

Maria Hinojosa on Partying, Partnership, and Her New Pulitzer

How Much Climate Anxiety Helps?

"There’s Never a Perfect Time to Say, 'I’m Blind'"

Anna Sale Introduces Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery

Siblinghood

Hard: Softening Expectations

Hard: Little Pill, Big Pharma

Hard: Erectile Disappointment

Why Lynn Nottage Cashed Out Her 401(k)

Affairs, Throuples, and Big Monogamy: Your Relationship Questions Answered

Inheriting Divorce

Where is Lisa Fischer's Backup?

This Elvis Impersonator Does It For Love… And Money

André De Shields On Living With His Shadow

Downsizing After Divorce

A New Year's Pep Talk From Robin Arzón

Why I Steal

A Season to Savor

The Weight Of Love

Why Alan Cumming Doesn't Do Drama

Becoming A Parent Of Six, At 25

“What I Live With”: The Aftermath of Fatal Accidents

I Love My Dad, But I Don't Love Guns

Order Up, Tapped Out: Life After Restaurant Burnout

Succession's J. Smith-Cameron On Old Haunts and New Normals

Dead People Don't Have Any Secrets

Your Infertility Stories Have Many Different Endings

"You Should Be Carrying This. Not Me."

When A Banker Became A Nun

Decision Fatigue Is Real. We Called For Backup.

Financial Therapy: A Baby, And A Plan

Financial Therapy: Struggling To Trust Again

Financial Therapy: A Secret Gambling Addiction

When Grief Doesn't Move In Stages

Doree Shafrir On The Out Of Control IVF Train

When Indie Rockers Become Full-Time Caregivers

A Teen Musician Is Ready For His Solo. His Mom Is Not.

"The Lying Stops Now": Your Hardest Conversations

Michelle Zauner's Joy Is Rooted In Vengeance

Mahershala Ali and Rafael Casal: Envy Is A Hell Of A Drug

Alison Bechdel On Menopause, Mortality and Punching Pennies

A Former Pro Climber On Enduring Chronic Illness

Strictly, Entirely On The Fence About Having A Kid

Where Noel and Anna's Hot Girl Summer Went Wrong

The 7 Hardest Conversations I've Ever Had On This Show

When I Almost Died

I Was In Debt. Then My Sister Offered Me $16,000.

When Claudia Rankine Brought Up Race In Couples Counseling

A Friend In The Execution Room

Finding Blessings and Throwing Vases

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