Death, Sex & Money

Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.

About the Show

Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.

Host

  • Anna Sale is the creator and host of Death, Sex & Money, the podcast about “the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more.” After debuting at the top of the iTunes chart in 2014, Death, Sex & Money was named the #1 podcast of the year by New York Magazine in 2015. Anna won a Gracie for best podcast host in 2016 and the show won the 2018 Webby and 2021 Ambie for best interview show.

Should You Divulge a Disability in Your Dating Profile?

Slate’s How To podcast helps a listener who has multiple sclerosis to figure out the best ways to present himself on the apps.
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The Best Karaoke Songs For This Moment

Anna joins Slate’s daily news podcast What Next to talk about the catharsis of loud singing.

Chaz Ebert on Loss, Intuition and Her ‘Cougar’ Group Chat

Ten years after sharing her ongoing conversations with movie critic Roger Ebert following his death, his widow, Chaz, updates us on grief, dating, and her sharp, intuitive sense.
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Bonus: Our Favorite Cultural Artifacts from 2024

A show-and-tell of our favorite culture moments from this year.

Betting on America: Two Gamblers, One Presidential Election

In this episode, we talk to two men who gambled on the presidential election: “Mike,” a Latino Democrat who bet $10,000 on Kamala Harris winning, and Jordan, a white conservative who risked $60,000 on Trump’s victory.

From Social Work to Improv to the Best Show on HBO

Actor Jeff Hiller talks about his urge to help others, his unusual knack for improv comedy, and his role on HBO’s wonderful series Somebody Somewhere.
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Bonus: Heather Havrilesky on The Transcendent Power of Low-Stakes Art

Forget waiting for a lightning strike of genius. The true rewards come in the slow, steady grind.

Why I Chose Estrangement

Your stories of going no contact with family and friends.

How a Betrayed Spouse Became an Infidelity Expert

Therapist Lauren LaRusso explains how a betrayal in her own marriage led to a lot of reflection…and a whole new career path.
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Divorce is Illegal in My Country. Here’s How I Escaped My Marriage.

“I felt like I didn’t even have an identity.”

Will He Still Love Me When I’m Off Ozempic?

Listeners ask questions and share stories about dating, relationships, and self-love in the Ozempic era.
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A Body-Positive Educator Contends With Her Eating Disorder

“I tend to feel like an imposter.”

A Celebration (and Critique) of American Freedom

Alynda Segarra (AKA Hurray for the Riff Raff) saw their loved ones grind it out in an American System that offered them little reward. They decided to take a different path.

The Making and Unmaking of a Productivity Perfectionist

Author Kendra Adachi explains why she no-longer adheres to the self-help industry’s impossible standards.

Haley Joel Osment Is Not Your Typical Former Child Star

The Oscar-nominated Sixth Sense actor explains how he avoided some of the common pitfalls of early fame.
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Bonus: The New Era of Pop Womanhood

Anna investigates why she’s been hearing less Taylor Swift and more Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter.

Search Engine: When Is It Time to Stop Drinking?

Anna talks to podcast host PJ Vogt about his unique interviewing style, and then we share Search Engine’s dive into the question: How do I know when it’s time to stop drinking?

My Father Planned His Death. I Didn’t Stop Him.

 At first Jason thought his father’s choice was the ultimate “act of narcissism,” but over the next few months, his perspective changed.
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Two Sex Columnists on Tapping into Turn-Ons

The writers behind Slate’s How to Do It column explain how to turn sexual fantasies into reality.

My Secret Life as a Hoarder

None of Elizabeth’s family members or colleagues know the reality of what’s inside her apartment. Instead, she hosts an anonymous podcast about it.  

Bob the Drag Queen Says Polyamory Is Expensive

The stand-up comedian and drag star talks to Anna about growing up around her mom’s queer club, bringing drag to small American towns, and making time for romance.
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A Succession Star’s Guide to Giving Money Away

Actor J. Smith-Cameron talks about giving and asking for money during this political season.

Martha Wainwright on Post-Divorce Confidence and ‘Folk Tits’

Musician Martha Wainwright talks about making music through grief, shaky confidence, and post-divorce sexiness.
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Bonus: I Wrote About Getting Scammed. The Internet Wasn’t Kind.

 In this bonus conversation, financial advice columnist Charlotte Cowles talks about the aftermath of her viral essay, “The Day I Put $50,000 in a Shoe Box and Handed It to a Stranger.”

One Man’s Meticulous Quest to Cure Grief

Author Cody Delistraty talks about how losing his mother inspired him to start researching remedies to move on.

The Weight of Love

Listener stories about body size and relationships.
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A Call Back: Maddi’s Tough Stretch After Our Episode

In this bonus episode, we call back a listener who lived “every fat person’s nightmare.”
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My Father is Worth $70 Million. I Disinherited Myself.

Jackie’s father told her that if she spoke publicly about her childhood he would cut her off. She did it anyway.

Two Friends, at 35 and 95, Confront Loss and Find Hope

When despair for the state of the world got them down, friends Jess Serrante and Joanna Macy found a new way forward.

Life and Death Inside the Playboy Mansion

Crystal Hefner talks about her decade living with Hugh Hefner, how money worked in their made-for-TV marriage, and the complicated pain of losing him.