Best Ana Marie Cox Podcasts (2025)

1
Is Doing It Yourself the Only Honest Way Left? with Michael Burns 1:02:58

Play Pause

1d ago1:02:58

1:02:58

Writer and video essayist Michael Burns joins us to talk about what happens when the platform you helped build stops serving the work and starts serving itself. After Wisecrack, he set out to make something smaller, stranger, and more his own. We get into the emotional cost of reinvention, the illusion of creative security, and why doing it yoursel…

1
Nathan Pyle, Strange Planets, Hour Long Blocks of Old Commercials, and Rescue Dogs 55:09

1d ago55:09

55:09

Host John Moe leads off this episode by extolling the virtues of foster dog caretaking and he enumerates the many dogs his family as tended to in the last year: Cowboy, Bug, Beans, Ducky, Pork Chop, Radar, and Car Wash. All these dogs were, and all dogs are, eccentric. Then we welcome cartoonist Nathan Pyle, the man who brings you those Strange Pla…

1
Ana and Mike Leave the House 55:51

8d ago55:51

55:51

Ana and Mike compare notes from the road: Ana’s on assignment in small-town Maine chasing a political story she believes in, and Mike’s in between tour legs, chasing rent. They get into the economics of chasing meaning when the math doesn’t make sense, the disappearing budgets of real journalism, and why a DIY ethos is both a burden and a blessing.…

1
How To Stack Tacos and Burgers With J. Kenji López-Alt Until You Conk Out 46:21

15d ago46:21

46:21

J. Kenji López-Alt knows more about food than you or I put together. He has won James Beard Awards, contributed to New York Times Cooking and Serious Eats, and his books include The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science, The Wok: Recipes and Techniques, and a children’s book titled Every Night is Pizza Night. But he’s no snobby foody. He pa…

1
Can You Make a Career Out of a Patchwork Quilt? with Ron Funches 40:46

15d ago40:46

40:46

Comedian and actor Ron Funches joins us for a deeply funny and unexpectedly honest conversation about the strange economics of creative work. We talk about surviving on joy, staying positive when nothing’s going right, and why failure is sometimes part of the paycheck. Originally recorded in 2022 for Mike’s podcast "Secret Skin." Learn more about y…

1
Is the Garage Is Better Than the Studio? with Chris Gethard 1:08:26

22d ago1:08:26

1:08:26

Comedian Chris Gethard joins us to talk about walking away from the version of success he spent years chasing, and why that might be the reason he's still standing. We get into the grief of giving up the big dream, the joy of making weird stuff for the people who get it, and the radical act of building a career that actually fits your life. We’ve g…

1
Baron Vaughn’s Ken Burns Effect 42:50

22d ago42:50

42:50

Actor and comedian Baron Vaughn is familiar to audiences for his work on Grace & Frankie, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and The New Negroes with friend of the show Open Mike Eagle. He’s familiar to his family for watching a whole lot of those multi-episode, sepia photograph-intensive, history rich documentaries by Ken Burns on subjects like basebal…

1
Ravi V. Patel’s Fitness Routine, Which Frankly Makes Us Tired Just Hearing About It 41:38

29d ago41:38

41:38

You have definitely seen actor, writer, and director Ravi V. Patel on a screen before. He’s one of those guys that seems to be in everything. Perhaps most recently as a team mentor on the new season of LEGO Masters Jr. or maybe co-starring on Animal Control with Joel McHale or acting in Ghosts or being put through some grueling paces on Special For…

1
What If the “Recession-Proof” Job Isn’t? with Siri Dahl 54:37

29d ago54:37

54:37

Adult performer and podcaster Siri Dahl joins us to talk about the emotional and economic realities of sex work in an era that calls itself creator-friendly, but still censors, exploits, and erases. We talk about the myth that OnlyFans is easy money, the rising pressure to be everywhere at once, and what it means to be both the product and the plat…

1
What If 30 Years Is Just The Beginning? with Rhett Miller 56:52

1M ago56:52

56:52

Musician and writer Rhett Miller joins us to talk about staying creative in an industry that keeps changing. From fronting the Old 97’s to writing children’s books, Rhett opens up about the financial rollercoaster of life on the road, the loneliness of independence, and the challenge of keeping faith in your work when the world stops clapping. Ther…

1
Patrick McEnroe and Melissa Errico, Stars of, Respectively, Tennis and Broadway 50:57

1M ago50:57

50:57

When you have two guests on one show, you’re going to get a variety of topics, especially when they have such diverse interests as tennis great Patrick McEnroe and Broadway icon Melissa Errico. The two, married 26 years, take us on a very friendly and relaxing jaunt through a very old-timey English castle (that somehow has a sauna and Pilates room)…

1
Kendahl Landreth and Jordan Myrick Gently Realign Your Chihuahua Perspectives 46:43

1M ago46:43

46:43

As hosts of the Happy Wife Happy Life podcast, comedians/writers/actors Kendahl Landreth and Jordan Myrick help their listeners navigate everything related to relationships. Here on our show, in this episode, they bring that gift of harmony to society’s views of chihuahuas, especially their own rescue dog, Angel. As you drift off to sleep, you’ll h…

1
Ana and Mike Face the Music 1:10:41

1M ago1:10:41

1:10:41

Ana and Mike get real about what creative work actually looks like behind the scenes, breaking down the economics of touring, Substack’s Nazi problem, how platforms trap creators, audiences, and the psychology of performing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle

1
Ana Marie Cox on the Architectural Styles of Texas Homes of the Seventies and Eighties 46:40

2M ago46:40

46:40

The versatile Ana Marie Cox is a podcast host (Space the Nation, Past Due), a veteran journalist (MTV News, The New York Times Magazine), the founding editor of Wonkette, a writing instructor, and a political pundit and analyst, frequently featured on various cable news programs. But not to worry. Ana stays out of the political fray in this intervi…

1
What Comes After the Big Job? with Jody Avirgan 1:02:21

2M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Podcast host and producer Jody Avirgan joins us to talk about walking away from big platforms like ESPN and NPR, and what it takes to build something sustainable on your own terms. We get into the pressure to grow, the trap of prestige, and the trade-offs between stability, scale, and creative freedom. In the end, rethinking success might be the re…

1
What If Making Good Work Still Isn’t Enough? with Ian Danskin 1:00:03

2M ago1:00:03

1:00:03

Video essayist Ian Danskin joins us to talk about the exhausting economics of doing thoughtful work online—and what it means when your most meaningful content can’t pay the bills. From burnout to bad faith backlash, Ian opens up about what it takes to keep going when attention is currency... and you're broke. Bonus episodes + extras: https://patreo…

1
Listener Winter Burnett Tours Two Laundromats in Morris, IL 37:35

2M ago37:35

37:35

Here’s how we figure it: if you appear on our show (the most popular podcast in the world) (look that up) (don’t), you automatically become a celebrity. We have listeners all over this planet at least. That makes hardware store assistant manager Winter Burnett a celebrity. During our last Max Fun Drive, we set a stretch goal for new members and sai…

1
How Do You Keep Going? with Bob DeRosa 55:22

2M ago55:22

55:22

Screenwriter Bob DeRosa joins us to talk about what it really takes to build a long-haul creative career—one that doesn’t go viral, but keeps going. We break down 20+ years in Hollywood by the numbers, and what it reveals about persistence, rejection, reinvention, and the myth of overnight success. If Bob’s Bluesky post made you feel seen, wait unt…

1
Demi Adejuyigbe’s Well-Developed Interest in Film Photography 50:29

2M ago50:29

50:29

The multi-talented Demi Adejuyigbe is a podcast host (The Gilmore Guys) writer (The Good Place, The Late Late Show with James Corden), and social media celebrity (those wonderful homemade videos for the song “September”). Those are all very exciting things that Demi does and we’re concerned they would keep you up. So instead, we’re focusing on his …

1
What If You Outgrow the Dream Job? with Sam Sanders 52:18

2M ago52:18

52:18

Journalist and podcast host Sam Sanders joins us to talk about what happens when the thing you thought you wanted turns out to be too small. We get into the emotional and financial cost of walking away, what it means to do it yourself in a collapsing industry, and how to balance ambition with reality. Want to know what the scariest career pivot Sam…

1
Meet Your Nocturnal Animal Friends with Janet Varney 46:13

2M ago46:13

46:13

You know Janet Varney from her starring roles in You’re the Worst and The Legend of Korra and from hosting two Maximum Fun podcasts, The JV Club and E Pluribus Motto, which she co-hosts with John Hodgman and which just launched its second season. But to the critters of the night, Janet is simply a friend, a liaison between themselves and all the di…

1
What Does It Take to Stay Kind in a Brutal Industry? with Josh Gondelman and Maris Kreizman 43:28

3M ago43:28

43:28

Comedian Josh Gondelman and writer Maris Kreizman join us to talk about surviving the creative economy as individuals and as a couple. We dig into the emotional labor of staying hopeful, the financial logistics of making art with no guarantees, and what happens when even the “success stories” feel precarious. If you want more from Josh and Maris, t…

1
The Many, Many Cats That Have Belonged to Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s. Many Cats. 46:35

3M ago46:35

46:35

Kathy Valentine is the bassist for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Go-Go’s. Emerging from the L.A. punk scene, ruling the charts, and still playing shows 47 years later, any member of the band must have a million thrilling stories about life as real live rock stars. But we’re a show that tries to put you to sleep so on our program Kathy …

1
What If Fear Is What Keeps You Working? with Xochitl Gonzalez 54:40

3M ago54:40

54:40

Despite writing bestsellers and landing a Reese’s Book Club pick, Xochitl Gonzalez opens up about the lingering shame of precarity, the invisibility of working-class success, and why we need to drag money talk out into the light. Love this? Hear more from the conversation with Xochitl Gonzalez at patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices…

1
Paget Brewster: Star of Screen, Stage, and Barnyard Bone Broth 54:30

3M ago54:30

54:30

You may know Paget Brewster as FBI Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss on the television series Criminal Minds or as Joey’s girlfriend Kathy on multiple episodes of Friends. If you’re a particularly discerning entertainment consumer, you also know her from Andy Richter Controls the Universe or as Sadie Doyle on the podcast and stage series The…

1
Ana and Mike Sell Out 1:02:14

3M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

Ana and Mike talk about what it means to sell out... financially, creatively, and emotionally. From brand deals to burnout, they ask whether survival in the creative economy means compromising your values, or just being honest about what pays the bills. For bonus content and more, visit patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me…

1
John Hodgman Attempts To Memorize All of Maine’s Coastal Islands (RERUN) 1:12:13

3M ago1:12:13

1:12:13

This episode originally ran August 14th, 2024. *** Is this a feat that the beloved author, actor, and host of Maximum Fun’s Judge John Hodgman can actually pull off? Well, no, probably not. There are over 4,600 such islands and he’s only one mortal human. Come on. But will he make a pretty game attempt for a little while and invite you to join his …

1
Julie Klausner Tours You Through Her Pleasant and Less-Than-Pleasant Massages 45:29

3M ago45:29

45:29

The very funny and charming Julie Klausner is known for her starring role in the acclaimed Hulu dark comedy series Difficult People and she has appeared in Big Mouth, What We Do in the Shadows, At Home with Amy Sedaris, and many other beloved and hilarious programs. It’s stressful work, we think, because Julie has had a lot of massages over the yea…

1
What If Scarcity Never Really Leaves You? with Jamie Loftus 40:38

3M ago40:38

40:38

Writer and podcaster Jamie Loftus joins us to talk about financial anxiety, inherited frugality, and the emotional cost of choosing creative freedom. From 7-Eleven coffee to viral fame, we explore what happens when you build a life around surviving—long after you’ve made it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
What Do You Do When the Work Doesn’t Feel Like Enough? with Parker Molloy 1:05:00

4M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Writer Parker Molloy joins us to talk about the invisible costs of creative independence, from burnout to the search for meaning in an industry built on metrics, and why it’s so hard to believe your work matters, even when it clearly does. This week on our Patreon exclusive, Parker Malloy names names. She tells us who’s thriving in media right now …

1
Chris Duffy and the Joy of Sox 46:32

4M ago46:32

46:32

Chris Duffy is a writer, extremely funny comedian, and host of the TED podcast How To Be a Better Human. He’s also a former contestant on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? (answer: well, we all do, of course) where a producer asked what he would do if he won the titular million bucks and Chris said he would buy a lifetime supply of new socks. That’s a…

1
NPR’s Tamara Keith Has Strong Yet Soothing Opinions On Pie 39:44

4M ago39:44

39:44

You know Tamara Keith as NPR’s Senior White House Correspondent and as one of the hosts of the NPR Politics Podcast. You can count on her to deliver up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the most dramatic beat in journalism, even if it’s news that you may find very alarming. But there’s nothing alarming or upsetting about Tamara’s thoughts on the v…

1
What If Rest Is the Work? with Maggie Mae Fish 1:00:22

4M ago1:00:22

1:00:22

Writer, performer, and YouTuber Maggie Mae Fish joins us to talk about financial survival, burnout, and the hard-earned lessons of giving up hustle culture. We unpack the toll of having five jobs, the shame of rest, the fear of slowing down—and why stability doesn’t magically erase anxiety. Every episode, we save the most surprising, unfiltered sto…

1
Are Follows Replacing Real Support? with Taylor Lorenz 57:38

4M ago57:38

57:38

Journalist Taylor Lorenz joins us to talk about the hidden costs of writing online today, from the terrifying reality of working without health protections, to the pressure of being a one-person brand, and why real survival might mean building community from the ground up. If you want to hear more from Taylor Lorenz about the emotional whiplash of …

1
Tamara Yajia: Brad Pitt’s Charcuterie Pal 38:34

4M ago38:34

38:34

Comedian, actor, and author Tamara Yajia has a new book Cry for Me, Argentina: My Life as a Failed Child Star that doesn’t spend all that much time on the subject of charcuterie boards. But that’s what our discussion is for. Learn about Tamara’s grandfather’s extensive and somewhat emotionally charged boards and how they inspired her to make vast b…

1
Hanif Abdurraqib Has 90 Band Shirts. Which We Think You’ll Agree Is a Lot. 46:59

4M ago46:59

46:59

Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet, cultural critic, and author of numerous books, including They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, A Little Devil in America, and There’s Always This Year. He’s very passionate about music, as is evidenced in his massive collection, purchased online and at concert venues, of concert t-shirts, band sweatshirts, and other vin…

1
Who Wins When Everyone’s a Freelancer? with Adam Conover 54:43

4M ago54:43

54:43

Comedian Adam Conover joins us to unpack the real costs of the so-called "creator economy" from algorithmic gatekeeping to the crumbling of stable creative jobs. If you want to hear more from our episode with Adam Conover, including his worst ever gig, join us at ⁠patreon.com/pastdue⁠. You’ll get exclusive extras, extended interviews, and first dib…

1
Nate DiMeo of The Memory Palace Has THOUGHTS on Sports Team Names and Logos 49:55

4M ago49:55

49:55

If you love history, you already know about the lovely podcast The Memory Palace, which celebrates the quirky and intriguing elements of stuff that has happened. If you haven’t heard it, go listen. But first, hear honey-voiced host Nate DiMeo explain his complex and impassioned opinions on team names, logos, the nefarious nature of image consultant…

1
Is Stability Just a Story We Tell Ourselves? with Lyz Lenz 55:33

4M ago55:33

55:33

Writer Lyz Lenz joins us for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to survive the creative economy. From maxed-out credit cards to a New York Times bestseller, we talk about money shame, dental debt, raising kids without a safety net, and why community, not success, is the real measure of a good life. If you want to hear more fr…

1
What Even Is a Viable Career Anymore? with Paul F. Tompkins 50:42

5M ago50:42

50:42

Comedian and actor Paul F. Tompkins opens up about career insecurity, creative joy, and why the secret to survival in a crumbling industry might just be doing it yourself. If you want to hear more from today’s conversation with Paul F. Tompkins, including his dumbest money decision ever and the surprisingly smart investment he made that paid off bi…

1
NPR’s Linda Holmes Takes You on a Sleepy Tour of Beverly Hills, 90210 41:24

5M ago41:24

41:24

Nobody knows pop culture better than Linda Holmes, one of the hosts of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, and culture doesn’t get much more pop than the nineties teen prime time soap Beverly Hills, 90210. Let Linda guide you to sleep while she introduces you to Brandon, Brenda, Kelly, Steve, Donna, and even Scott, who we frankly didn’t even know existed…

1
Introducing "Past Due" (Trailer) 2:15

5M ago2:15

2:15

Overworked, underpaid, & somehow still optimistic? Join us on "Past Due" as we navigate surviving an economy that doesn’t play fair. Starting May 7th, 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle

1
Comedian, Actor, and Podcaster Sierra Katow Gently Takes You Grocery Shopping 46:30

5M ago46:30

46:30

There are many places to acquire food and household items in the greater Los Angeles area. You could go to Costco, you could go to Ralphs, you could even swing by 99 Ranch. Or if you listen to this episode with the delightful Sierra Katow, you could visit all these places and let Sierra do the driving while you zonk off to sleep, sated with the aud…

1
Hanging Out at Airports with Roxane Gay 36:20

5M ago36:20

36:20

Roxane Gay is one of the greatest writers in the world today. Everyone knows this. We’re so thrilled that she agreed to be on our show. Roxane is the author of books like Bad Feminist and Hunger, writes for the New York Times, is a respected social critic and noted professor. All this means that she travels a lot and she joins us, using a very soot…

1
Why Are We Making Past Due? (Teaser) 10:51

5M ago10:51

10:51

The creative economy is broken, and yet, we’re still here. Past Due is a new podcast from Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle about what it really takes to survive as a creator today. One job isn’t enough, three still won’t cover your bills, and success doesn’t guarantee stability. With honesty, humor, and guests like Paul F. Tompkins, Liz Linz, Tayl…

1
Another Day Archives: Always Be Podcasting (Farewell to Another Day) 56:52

5M ago56:52

56:52

In the final episode of Another Day, Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle unpack the quiet panic of not-quite-enough, from spreadsheets and therapy bills to racism, war, and creative burnout. Along the way, they talk literal and figurative agendas, how America speed-runs authoritarianism, and what makes people finally take to the streets. Also: they r…

1
Campin’ About with Allan McLeod of Walkin’ About 39:54

5M ago39:54

39:54

Allan McLeod is an actor who has appeared on Parks & Recreation and You’re the Worst. He’s a podcaster who appears regularly as host on Walkin’ About, here on Maximum Fun. And, for our purposes on this episode, he’s a camper, who appears pretty often at campgrounds around California. Allan walks us through his incredibly detailed and quite lengthy …

1
Philosophy Tube’s Abigail Thorn Takes You Scuba Diving 43:45

6M ago43:45

43:45

Whether you know her from the phenomenally popular YouTube channel Philosophy Tube or from her acting appearances in House of the Dragon or The Acolyte, chances are Abigail Thorn was dry when you saw her and above the surface of the water. Just know that this is not where she prefers to be. Abigail is a scuba diver and is here to send you to sleep …

1
Another Day Archives: Living the Dream (and the Struggle) with Open Mike Eagle 35:40

6M ago35:40

35:40

What happens when living your dream doesn’t pay the bills? Ana and Open Mike Eagle talk about how unexpected gigs can save the day, but needing work still feels uncool. They reflect on shame, resilience, and the reality of making it as a creator in a world that doesn’t always reward your art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc…

1
Queen Priyanka on Crazy-Ass Dog Ownership 41:53

6M ago41:53

41:53

Queen Priyanka is many things: singer, drag queen, Canadian television personality. But today we talk about her role as dog owner and keen observer of the quirks and personality facets of other dog owners, specifically the kind of dog owner that can be characterized as “crazy-ass dog owner.” If you like dogs, are fascinated by the eclectic habits o…