Alongside life's darkest moments there often are moments of absurdity that make us laugh. In this episode, from a live <a href="https://sfsketchfest.com/">San Francisco comedy festival</a> in January, Anna and guests talk about the special kind of comedy born of something sad. Comedians Guy Branum and Carl Tart share stories of writing a sitcom about Zoom-era social relationships. Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name, talks about coping with the trauma of being a victim of a high profile sexual assault case… by doing standup. And Faith Albright, a veterinarian specializing in at-home euthanasia, explores the delicate art of finding humor while supporting grieving families through difficult goodbyes. Plus an AI chatbot and musician Matt Nathanson duke it out over who can more creatively sum up each segment. Chanel Miller’s books are the memoir <a href="https://chanel-miller.com/">Know My Name </a>and <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735878/magnolia-wu-unfolds-it-all-by-chanel-miller/">Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All</a>, which was recognized by the Newbury Awards this year. Faith Albright’s work at <a href="http://onelivingsanctuary.org">onelivingsanctuary.org</a>. Matt Nathanson’s new album is called King of Unsimple and he’s on tour…find dates at <a href="http://mattnathanson.com">mattnathanson.com </a>Guy Branum has upcoming standup shows in LA, Chicago, Seattle and more…find those dates at <a href="http://guybranum.com">guybranum.com</a> Watch Carl Tart’s writing work on SNL… keep track of all his podcasts and improv shows on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dammitcarl/?hl=en">his instagram</a>. Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">Slate Plus</a>! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">slate.com/dsmplus</a>.And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deathsexmoney/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

<description>Alongside life's darkest moments there often are moments of absurdity that make us laugh. 
In this episode, from a live San Francisco comedy festival in January, Anna and guests talk about the special kind of comedy born of something sad. Comedians Guy Branum and Carl Tart share stories of writing a sitcom about Zoom-era social relationships. Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name, talks about coping with the trauma of being a victim of a high profile sexual assault case… by doing standup. And Faith Albright, a veterinarian specializing in at-home euthanasia, explores the delicate art of finding humor while supporting grieving families through difficult goodbyes. Plus an AI chatbot and musician Matt Nathanson duke it out over who can more creatively sum up each segment. 
Chanel Miller’s books are the memoir Know My Name and Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, which was recognized by the Newbury Awards this year. 
Faith Albright’s work at onelivingsanctuary.org. 
Matt Nathanson’s new album is called King of Unsimple and he’s on tour…find dates at mattnathanson.com 
Guy Branum has upcoming standup shows in LA, Chicago, Seattle and more…find those dates at guybranum.com 
Watch Carl Tart’s writing work on SNL… keep track of all his podcasts and improv shows on his instagram. 
Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</description>

Anna talks to comedians Guy Branum and Carl Tart, author Chanel Miller, and a veterinarian specializing in at-home euthanasia about the special kind of comedy born of something sad.

Alongside life's darkest moments there often are moments of absurdity that make us laugh. 
In this episode, from a live San Francisco comedy festival in January, Anna and guests talk about the special kind of comedy born of something sad. Comedians Guy Branum and Carl Tart share stories of writing a sitcom about Zoom-era social relationships. Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name, talks about coping with the trauma of being a victim of a high profile sexual assault case… by doing standup. And Faith Albright, a veterinarian specializing in at-home euthanasia, explores the delicate art of finding humor while supporting grieving families through difficult goodbyes. Plus an AI chatbot and musician Matt Nathanson duke it out over who can more creatively sum up each segment. 
Chanel Miller’s books are the memoir Know My Name and Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, which was recognized by the Newbury Awards this year. 
Faith Albright’s work at onelivingsanctuary.org. 
Matt Nathanson’s new album is called King of Unsimple and he’s on tour…find dates at mattnathanson.com 
Guy Branum has upcoming standup shows in LA, Chicago, Seattle and more…find those dates at guybranum.com 
Watch Carl Tart’s writing work on SNL… keep track of all his podcasts and improv shows on his instagram. 
Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laughing About Hard Things

When Joe Gow was fired from his position as chancellor and professor at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, his superiors said it was due to “abhorrent” behavior. Joe had made porn videos with his wife Carmen and uploaded them onto the internet under the name “Sexy Happy Couple.” This week, Joe and Carmen tell their side of the story and explain how making porn spiced up their marriage. They also defend themselves against the argument that what they did was inappropriate. Slate writer Dan Kois’ previous interviews with Joe Gow:<ul>
<li><a href="https://slate.com/life/2024/05/university-wisconsin-chancellor-joe-gow-adult-videos-tenure.html">The Porn Chancellor Speaks</a></li>
<li><a href="https://slate.com/life/2024/10/wisconsin-professor-fired-videos-wife-joe-gow.html">What’s Next for the “Porn Chancellor”</a></li>
</ul>You can check out our previous series about erectile dysfunction, called Hard, <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/deathsexmoney/projects/hard">here</a>. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">Slate Plus</a>! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">slate.com/dsmplus</a>.And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deathsexmoney/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

<description>When Joe Gow was fired from his position as chancellor and professor at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, his superiors said it was due to “abhorrent” behavior. Joe had made porn videos with his wife Carmen and uploaded them onto the internet under the name “Sexy Happy Couple.” 
This week, Joe and Carmen tell their side of the story and explain how making porn spiced up their marriage. They also defend themselves against the argument that what they did was inappropriate. 
Slate writer Dan Kois’ previous interviews with Joe Gow:

The Porn Chancellor Speaks

What’s Next for the “Porn Chancellor”

You can check out our previous series about erectile dysfunction, called Hard, here. 
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. 
Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</description>

The former head of a university and his wife discuss their adult film hobby and a scandal that upended their lives.

When Joe Gow was fired from his position as chancellor and professor at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, his superiors said it was due to “abhorrent” behavior. Joe had made porn videos with his wife Carmen and uploaded them onto the internet under the name “Sexy Happy Couple.” 
This week, Joe and Carmen tell their side of the story and explain how making porn spiced up their marriage. They also defend themselves against the argument that what they did was inappropriate. 
Slate writer Dan Kois’ previous interviews with Joe Gow:

The Porn Chancellor Speaks

What’s Next for the “Porn Chancellor”

You can check out our previous series about erectile dysfunction, called Hard, here. 
Podcast production by Cameron Drews. 
Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Middle-Aged Couple Made Porn to Spice Things Up. Then One of Them Got Fired.

In 2020, we made an episode about a listener who cheated on his wife with sex workers and was going through a divorce. He told us the idea to go on the website Seeking Arrangement came from an episode <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/when-daddy-dates-pay-the-bills/id870688022?i=1000409136031">we made about sugar babies</a>. A few weeks ago we called “Ethan” back to see what’s changed in his life since our first conversation, and how he navigates discussions about his past infidelity with his new wife.Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">Slate Plus</a>! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">slate.com/dsmplus</a>.And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deathsexmoney/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

<description>In 2020, we made an episode about a listener who cheated on his wife with sex workers and was going through a divorce. He told us the idea to go on the website Seeking Arrangement came from an episode we made about sugar babies. A few weeks ago we called “Ethan” back to see what’s changed in his life since our first conversation, and how he navigates discussions about his past infidelity with his new wife.
Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</description>

In 2020, we talked to “Ethan” about cheating on his wife with sex workers. We called him back to see what happened after we stopped recording.

In 2020, we made an episode about a listener who cheated on his wife with sex workers and was going through a divorce. He told us the idea to go on the website Seeking Arrangement came from an episode we made about sugar babies. A few weeks ago we called “Ethan” back to see what’s changed in his life since our first conversation, and how he navigates discussions about his past infidelity with his new wife.
Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life After Blowing It All Up: A Sugar Baby Story Revisited

Anna talks to writer Ada Calhoun, author most recently of the novel <a href="https://www.adacalhoun.com/crush">Crush</a>, about a married woman succumbing to extramarital temptation (she wrote it while she herself was separating from her husband) and then to comedian Rosebud Baker about her new Netflix comedy special, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=the+mother+lode+trailer+netflix&amp;sca_esv=81a1a0510470009f&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS1110US1111&amp;ei=Pv_OZ5ejNLje5NoPsMyB2Ak&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiXuvOx5P-LAxU4L1kFHTBmAJsQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=the+mother+lode+trailer+netflix&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiH3RoZSBtb3RoZXIgbG9kZSB0cmFpbGVyIG5ldGZsaXgyCBAAGIAEGKIEMggQABiABBiiBDIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGIAEGKIESOAJUL4CWN4HcAF4AJABAJgBW6ABqQGqAQEyuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIDoAK1AcICDhAAGIAEGLADGIYDGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYsAMYogTCAgsQABiwAxiiBBiJBcICCBAAGLADGO8FwgIFEAAY7wWYAwCIBgGQBgeSBwEzoAevBg&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&amp;vld=cid:bc73d419,vid:Ex_8KSSzlVY,st:0">The Mother Lode,</a> which is all about late-stage pregnancy and early motherhood.This episode was recorded live at On Air Fest in New York City on February 20th. Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">Slate Plus</a>! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">slate.com/dsmplus</a>.And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deathsexmoney/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

<description>Anna talks to writer Ada Calhoun, author most recently of the novel Crush, about a married woman succumbing to extramarital temptation (she wrote it while she herself was separating from her husband) and then to comedian Rosebud Baker about her new Netflix comedy special, The Mother Lode, which is all about late-stage pregnancy and early motherhood.
This episode was recorded live at On Air Fest in New York City on February 20th. 
Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</description>

Anna talks to writer Ada Calhoun and comedian Rosebud Baker about some of life’s big transitional moments: motherhood, divorce, and following crushes.

Anna talks to writer Ada Calhoun, author most recently of the novel Crush, about a married woman succumbing to extramarital temptation (she wrote it while she herself was separating from her husband) and then to comedian Rosebud Baker about her new Netflix comedy special, The Mother Lode, which is all about late-stage pregnancy and early motherhood.
This episode was recorded live at On Air Fest in New York City on February 20th. 
Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Call It ‘A Midlife Awakening’

Since the inauguration in January, we’ve been getting emails and voice recordings from people whose lives have been thrust into uncertainty due to changes made by the Trump administration. Many federal workers and people who rely on federal money have lost their jobs. Others feel vulnerable and uncertain. This week, we’ll hear from a range of people who’ve been affected, from an IRS attorney who’s been a target of Elon Musk’s DOGE efforts to an army sergeant who could very likely be forced out of her post because she’s trans. Podcast production by Cameron Drews.Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">Slate Plus</a>! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at <a href="http://slate.com/dsmplus">slate.com/dsmplus</a>.And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deathsexmoney/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

<description>Since the inauguration in January, we’ve been getting emails and voice recordings from people whose lives have been thrust into uncertainty due to changes made by the Trump administration. Many federal workers and people who rely on federal money have lost their jobs. Others feel vulnerable and uncertain. 
This week, we’ll hear from a range of people who’ve been affected, from an IRS attorney who’s been a target of Elon Musk’s DOGE efforts to an army sergeant who could very likely be forced out of her post because she’s trans. 
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Death, Sex &amp; Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices</description>

Listeners share how big changes at the top are impacting their everyday lives.

Since the inauguration in January, we’ve been getting emails and voice recordings from people whose lives have been thrust into uncertainty due to changes made by the Trump administration. Many federal workers and people who rely on federal money have lost their jobs. Others feel vulnerable and uncertain. 
This week, we’ll hear from a range of people who’ve been affected, from an IRS attorney who’s been a target of Elon Musk’s DOGE efforts to an army sergeant who could very likely be forced out of her post because she’s trans. 
Podcast production by Cameron Drews.
Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.
And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Uncertainty to Total Chaos, Your Stories About the New Trump Term

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

Sign In

Death, Sex & Money

Details

Recent Episodes