Best My Kind of Weird Productions Podcasts (2025)

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How the Ultra-Rich Think…and What They Fear 59:01

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2d ago59:01

59:01

Evan Osnos has spent nearly his whole life observing the habits, values, and norms of the wealthy elite, from his childhood in suburban Connecticut to the years he spent reporting on the mega-yachts and underground bunkers of the U.S.’s richest citizens. This week, he talks to Anna about his new book The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ult…

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The Real-Life Willy Wonka Who Built Tony Hawk a Secret Desert Train 54:51

9d ago54:51

54:51

N.D. Austin is not an event planner. He designs experiences, which he says are supposed to leave you feeling transformed. He’s designed hundreds over the years, from secret sewer speakeasies to coming-of-age rituals on deserted islands, to funeral board games that guide people through decades of memories. In this episode, Anna talks to skateboardin…

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Seth Rogen Has Empathy and Disdain for Bad Hollywood Execs (Talk Easy) 1:16:18

13d ago1:16:18

1:16:18

Actor-writer-director Seth Rogen discusses Hollywood's perpetual existential crisis, where art and commerce constantly battle for dominance. On the heels of the Emmy nominated Apple TV+ series The Studio, Rogen talks about finding humor in the industry's dysfunction, and how his lifelong friendships shaped him as an artist. This interview comes fro…

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The Elvis Impersonator That Married 75 People a Day 35:17

16d ago35:17

35:17

Brendan Paul co-owns the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, which claims to be the site of the world's first Elvis-themed wedding. Dressed in sparkly jumpsuits, Brendan marries sometimes as many as 75 people a day—in back to back 15-minute appointments. But while his portrayal of Elvis is generally a jovialone, his view on The King's life isn't…

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The Honeymoon That Ended in Immigration Detention 53:24

23d ago53:24

53:24

Silvia Camila Muñoz and Bradley Bartell had been married for less than a year when ICE stopped them at the airport on the way back from their honeymoon in Puerto Rico. Silvia Camila came to the United States in 2019 to work at a Wisconsin waterpark for one season. The pandemic caused her to overstay her visa and continue to work without authorizati…

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What Military Service During “Peacetime” is Really Like 54:22

1M ago54:22

54:22

Ray Christian joined the U.S. Army in 1978, as a way to get his life started. He became a paratrooper, an infantryman, and a drill sergeant. He also endured trauma and found that getting out of the service was more challenging than he expected. This week, Ray discusses why he signed up in the first place, what it was like serving in-between major c…

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Baywatch Made Me World Famous. My Stalker Stole My Privacy. 53:01

1M ago53:01

53:01

Alexandra Paul always loved connecting with fans. She had many, from her breakout role in the 1983 horror film Christine to her years playing a lifeguard on Baywatch. In 2011, Paul's career was slowing down, but it was also the year that she met her biggest fan: a woman who would come to stalk her for over a decade, costing Paul tens of thousands o…

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Allison Williams on Botox, Privilege, and Gen Z’s Love of Marnie From ‘Girls’ 1:13:20

1M ago1:13:20

1:13:20

On June 11th, actress Allison Williams joined Anna live onstage at the Tribeca Festival in New York City for a conversation that was equal parts introspective and hilarious. Allison talked about everything from botox and how it impacts her work (and the faces she’s able to make to her young son) to her very complicated and controversial film and TV…

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How Much Can Your Love Life Change in One Summer? 36:17

2M ago36:17

36:17

In 2018, we followed eight listeners as they dated over the course of the summer. We heard about having sex for the first time, being ghosted, downloading and deleting dating apps, and grieving one partner while falling in love with someone new. In this episode, you’ll hear the final check-in with our eight daters (you can listen to the first and s…

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Money Advice For This Weird Moment 1:10:39

2M ago1:10:39

1:10:39

At a time when inflation, tariffs, and stock market fluctuations are creating confusion and financial strain, we’ve assembled an unlikely panel of experts to answer your money questions, big and small. Our panel includes: Bethel Habte, a financial coach and author of the Deconstructing Money newsletter; Mark Blythe, economics professor at Brown Uni…

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How a Matchmaking Job Inspired a Film About Dating's Secret Economy 43:04

2M ago43:04

43:04

Long before Celine Song was nominated for an Academy Award for her directorial debut, Past Lives, she was a struggling playwright in New York City with a side hustle: matchmaking. In this episode, Celine talks about how that experience inspired the plot of her new A24 movie, Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. This…

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Betraying a Friendship to Get a Viral Story 1:01:37

2M ago1:01:37

1:01:37

When blogger AJ Daulerio broke the Brett Favre sexting scandal in 2010, it became one of the biggest stories of his career. But it came at a cost: he had betrayed Jenn Sterger, the woman at the center of the story, who had confided in him as a friend and explicitly asked him not to name her. The fallout was immediate and lasting. Jenn became the ta…

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Why Chef José Andrés Googled ‘How to Be a Father’ 38:05

3M ago38:05

38:05

José Andrés is at the helm of more than a dozen restaurants and is famous for the humanitarian work that his organization World Central Kitchen does everywhere from Haiti to Gaza. But when it comes to parenting, José says he’s often felt less than confident. In this episode, he discusses his somewhat rocky upbringing in Spain, his successes and str…

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Your IRL Dating Stories 51:35

3M ago51:35

51:35

A man delivers an unforgettable pickup line. A woman asks her Uber driver out on a date. A rancher swears off men and then, years later, suddenly develops feelings for the guy down the road. This week, listeners share offline dating stories for the ages, including charming meet-cutes, frustrating missed connections, and happily ever afters. We also…

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Isabel Allende on Grief, Ayahuasca, and Dating After 70 50:01

3M ago50:01

50:01

Isabel Allende didn’t publish her first book until she was 39, after losing nearly everything in the wake of the Chilean military coup. More than four decades later, she’s become one of the most beloved Spanish-language authors, with over 80 million copies of her books sold worldwide. After political exile, writing books became Allende’s way of mak…

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The Patient and Cunning Work of Defending LGBTQ Rights with a Republican Supermajority 53:14

3M ago53:14

53:14

In West Virginia, Republicans hold one of the largest supermajorities in the country, and it’s growing. Just 11 Democrats — down from 14 last year — are in the 134-member Legislature. It's a political reality that isn't necessarily conducive to advancing LGBTQ rights. But that's Andrew Schneider's job. As head of Fairness West Virginia, Andrew has …

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Are Airline Pilots Allowed to Be Depressed? 51:32

4M ago51:32

51:32

To fly a plane, pilots must prove to the Federal Aviation Administration that they’re physically and mentally fit. But when it comes to mental health, the rules are complicated and, some say, outdated. Pilots who need antidepressants are limited to a short list of approved medications and must take a mandatory six-month leave. Even common diagnoses…

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How the ‘Subway Takes’ Guy Became His Own Nepo Baby 53:19

4M ago53:19

53:19

Kareem Rahma, host of the viral web series Subway Takes, says he’s been working since he was 14 and hasn’t really taken a break. In high school, he worked service jobs. In college, he bought and re-sold motorcycles, jeans, and whatever else he thought he could flip. This week on the show, Kareem explains why he’s had so many jobs, including posts a…

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Scorpion Venom and Coffee Enemas Didn't Cure My Mother's Cancer 41:18

4M ago41:18

41:18

At a time when skepticism about conventional medicine has become even more mainstream, we’re revisiting a story about the causes and effects of that mistrust. Archie Matlow’s mother refused to get a surgery that could have saved her life, which led to her and Archie trying to love each other while bitterly at odds. You can listen to the full audio …

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Laughing About Hard Things 1:08:29

4M ago1:08:29

1:08:29

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…

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A Middle-Aged Couple Made Porn to Spice Things Up. Then One of Them Got Fired. 49:33

5M ago49:33

49:33

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 expl…

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Life After Blowing It All Up: A Sugar Baby Story Revisited 46:31

5M ago46:31

46:31

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 navigat…

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Call It ‘A Midlife Awakening’ 55:21

5M ago55:21

55:21

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…

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From Uncertainty to Total Chaos, Your Stories About the New Trump Term 52:14

5M ago52:14

52:14

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 peopl…

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I Was Ready to Write About My Domestic Abuser—Then Lawyers Said No. 59:10

6M ago59:10

59:10

When comedian Chelsea Devantez began writing her memoir, she knew exactly where to start: with a teenage relationship that spiraled into domestic violence. But when she submitted her draft, lawyers informed her she legally couldn't name her abuser or detail what happened. "I threw the book in the trash for a few months," Chelsea recalls. After cons…

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Manhood: It’s Complicated 47:05

6M ago47:05

47:05

Six and a half years ago, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, we asked our listeners how they think about manhood–how to be, what’s hard, where they feel lost. Fast forward to 2025, and the norms and trends around manhood are even more varied and complicated. So we thought it would be a good time to revisit the stories from 2018 and provide updates…

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After Sobriety, Chasing Goosebumps Instead of Highs 46:07

6M ago46:07

46:07

When the poet and writer Kaveh Akbar likes something, he really likes it. As a high school student, he got hooked on poetry. In college, it was alcohol. This week, Kaveh talks to Anna Sale about the factors that led to his sobriety, and he explains exactly how he manages a life that’s full of healthy, wonderful obsessions as well as problematic one…

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The “Chest-Clenching Fear” of My Ex-Husband’s Jan 6 Commutation 55:36

6M ago55:36

55:36

In 2023, Anna and On The Media’s Micah Loewinger traveled to Montana to talk to Tasha Adams, the ex-wife of Stewart Rhodes, who founded the far-right paramilitary group, the Oath Keepers. Stewart had been charged with seditious conspiracy for his participation in the January 6 Capitol riots, and Tasha was eagerly awaiting sentencing: “I need him to…

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The Kind of Man a Bullied Boy Becomes 48:10

6M ago48:10

48:10

Comedian Gary Gulman is used to dealing with bullies. He grew up with older brothers, who he describes as "aggressive" and “unenlightened,” and he’s witnessed plenty of unkind behavior from his peers in the New York City comedy scene. This is all despite being, in his words, “very, very sensitive.” This week, Gary talks about managing that sensitiv…

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‘Babygirl’ Director Wants Women Not to Suppress Their Beast 55:05

7M ago55:05

55:05

Babygirl, the new erotic thriller starring Nicole Kidman, features an age-gap romance and a power imbalance. But according to the filmmaker Halina Reijn, it’s more about “what part of us is civilized…and what part of us is still driven by primal forces.” It’s also extremely entertaining, sexy, and dryly hilarious. This week, Halina Reijn talks abou…

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Paid to Care: When Class, Power, and Caregiving Collide 48:43

7M ago48:43

48:43

When Delores moved to New York City from Jamaica nearly thirty years ago she didn’t know anyone. But soon she found a community of other nannies and learned how to navigate job interviews and “fussy” parents who don’t like nannies to tell their children no. In this week’s episode on paid caretaking, we explore the class and power dynamics inherent …

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Paid to Care: The Magic, and Mess, of Care Work 47:17

7M ago47:17

47:17

Whether it's a nanny taking us to school or a home health aide helping us age in place, most of us will rely on paid caregivers at some point in our lives. For the next two episodes, we'll talk to professional caregivers about the emotional and economic reality of the intimate work they do. In episode one, we hear from two eldercare workers: Rahn*,…

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Love Actually: Real Romance Stories From Mahershala Ali, Jane Fonda, and More 44:25

7M ago44:25

44:25

For our last episode of 2024, we’re sharing a handful of stories about what love actually looks like, with all its flaws and complexities. The late poet Nikki Giovanni kicks things off by discussing the complicated love she had for her parents. We also hear from actor Mahershala Ali and comedian Chris Gethard and their romantic partners, and Jane F…

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Should You Divulge a Disability in Your Dating Profile? 57:34

8M ago57:34

57:34

Todd is looking for love, but he’s unsure about disclosing something in dating profiles: his multiple sclerosis. On Slate’s How To podcast, Todd got some crucial advice from Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp, authors of Dateable: Swiping Right, Hooking Up, and Settling Down While Chronically Ill and Disabled. This week, we’re sharing that wonderful e…

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Chaz Ebert on Loss, Intuition and Her 'Cougar' Group Chat 44:44

8M ago44:44

44:44

Ten years ago, Chaz Ebert talked to us about grief and loss as she was mourning the 2013 death of her husband, movie critic Roger Ebert. Her deep sense of connection to Roger continued after he was gone, including, she described, hearing his voice and feeling like they were still in conversation. When Chaz talked about this a decade ago, though, sh…

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Betting on America: Two Gamblers, One Presidential Election 38:16

8M ago38:16

38:16

On election night, while many voters across the country were focused on who would win the presidency, a growing number of Americans were watching the returns with another question in mind: will I win or lose money? That’s because, just weeks before November 5th, a judge ruled that for the first time in almost a century Americans could bet large amo…

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From Social Work to Improv to the Best Show on HBO 55:15

8M ago55:15

55:15

When actor and performer Jeff Hiller first tried improv comedy, he was instantly amazing at it. Jeff is an excellent listener. He’s also accommodating, flexible, and undeniably hilarious. This week on the show, Jeff discusses his role on the critically acclaimed HBO series Somebody, Somewhere and the personal quirks and qualities that have made him…

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Why I Chose Estrangement 48:24

9M ago48:24

48:24

When is it time to go no contact? In this episode, we talk to four listeners who have recently become estranged from loved ones. This episode was originally aired in 2022, and is part of a three-part series on estrangement. You can listen to the other episodes here: Estrangement Purgatory - Our episode about the contemplation stages of estrangement…

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How a Betrayed Spouse Became an Infidelity Expert 52:55

9M ago52:55

52:55

Therapist Lauren LaRusso has spent the past few years learning everything she can about infidelity–why people have affairs, how to cope with an unfaithful spouse, and how to move forward with or without your partner after a betrayal. And she’s been sharing this wisdom with her 100,000 followers on Instagram. This week, Lauren explains why she appro…

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Will He Still Love Me When I'm Off Ozempic? 1:17:05

9M ago1:17:05

1:17:05

In 2021, we released an episode called The Weight of Love, where listeners shared stories about weight, body size, and how those factors affect their romantic relationships. Fast-forward to 2024, and weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have complicated these issues even further. This week, listeners share stories and questions about dating, r…

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A Celebration (and Critique) of American Freedom 47:10

9M ago47:10

47:10

From an early age, Alynda Segarra saw the people they loved grind it out in an American system that offered them little reward. Their father, a musician and Vietnam War veteran, suffered from PTSD, and their aunt and uncle, with whom they lived, were stretched beyond their means. Alynda decided they would take a different path: drop out of school, …

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The Making and Unmaking of a Productivity Perfectionist 48:18

10M ago48:18

48:18

This week, author and podcaster Kendra Adachi explains how she took perfectionism and strict time-management way too far and was forced to radically change her ways. Her new book is called The Plan: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius, and it aims to be what most time-management books aren’t: flexible, kind, and applicable to people with busy sched…

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Haley Joel Osment Is Not Your Typical Former Child Star 44:27

10M ago44:27

44:27

When he was 11 years old, actor Haley Joel Osment was nominated for an Oscar. His resume was already long and impressive, but his role as Cole Sear in M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller The Sixth Sense cemented him as an acting prodigy and a big star. Money, fame, and accolades rapidly flew in his direction. But Osment managed to avoid a l…

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Search Engine: When Is It Time to Stop Drinking? 1:21:01

10M ago1:21:01

1:21:01

Anna talks to PJ Vogt, host of the podcast Search Engine, about his distinct writing and interviewing style. Then we share one of our favorite episodes of Search Engine, which poses the question: When do you know it's time to stop drinking? In that episode, you'll hear PJ talk to A.J. Daulerio, who writes a newsletter and hosts a podcast about reco…

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My Father Planned His Death. I Didn’t Stop Him. 47:25

10M ago47:25

47:25

One day on his morning Uber route, Jason Armstrong got an email from his father. The message: at 85, he'd decided to end his life by stopping eating and drinking. Jason's first reaction? This was the "ultimate act of narcissism." But over the next few months, as Jason witnessed his dad's careful preparations, his perspective shifted. In this episod…

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My Secret Life as a Hoarder 47:56

10M ago47:56

47:56

Elizabeth* has a secret life as a hoarder. None of her colleagues or family members know that her apartment is filled to the brim with garbage bags, discarded hobbies and beautiful writing paper. Instead, she hosts an anonymous podcast detailing her struggles and efforts to declutter. In this episode, she talks to Anna about her complicated relatio…

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Bob the Drag Queen says Polyamory is Expensive 36:04

11M ago36:04

36:04

If you lived in Columbus, Georgia in the 90s, you might remember a queer club called Sensations. But Bob the Drag Queen knew Sensations by day, not night – she was in elementary school when her mom owned the place. Bob eventually moved to New York City, and now, she’s an international stand-up comedian and drag star. In this episode, Bob talks to A…

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Martha Wainwright on Post-Divorce Confidence and ‘Folk Tits’ 52:10

11M ago52:10

52:10

Martha Wainwright was born into a world of music and folk fame, with songwriter parents Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle and brother Rufus. In this episode, Martha opens up about love and jealousy, the profound impact of losing her mother to cancer, and how she discovered new sexiness following her divorce. Martha Wainwright’s memoir is ca…

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One Man’s Meticulous Quest to Cure Grief 45:20

11M ago45:20

45:20

After Cody Delistraty’s mom died in his early 20s he decided to turn his grief into a research project with one central question: can grief be cured? In this episode, he talks to Anna about all of the various remedies he tried, what worked, and what lessons he learned along the way. Cody’s book is called The Grief Cure: Looking For the End of Loss …

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The Weight of Love 51:02

11M ago51:02

51:02

Your stories about how navigating weight and body size inside a relationship has sometimes made your partnerships stronger…and sometimes broken them apart. Since we originally recorded this episode in 2021, the way we talk about weight loss has changed with drugs like Ozempic. We want to hear more of your stories about weight and love especially if…

My Kind Of Weird Productions Podcasts