Best Dear Prudence Podcasts (2025)

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Dear Prudence, Who Hurt You? When Online Advice Goes Off the Rails and Lands in a Pot of Mush 10:18

Play Pause

7d ago10:18

10:18

Some days, while easing into the morning and pretending the world makes sense, I stumble across online advice so astonishing it makes sarcoidosis feel like the most logical part of my life. And recently, “Dear Prudence” delivered guidance so unhinged—I had to sit there blinking like a confused owl, wondering who exactly we’ve trusted with our emoti…

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When TikTok “Doctors” Go Rogue: Real Healing Isn’t a Trend 6:27

3h ago6:27

6:27

Herbal and homeopathic medicine can absolutely help chronic illness like sarcoidosis and heart failure—but TikTok wellness hacks and unverified “miracle cures” are another story. In a world where influencers push detoxes, conspiracies, and half-baked science, it’s time to talk about what real healing looks like—and why you should trust research, no…

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The “What If” Game and the Man Who Didn’t Know He Was Sick Yet 8:02

6d ago8:02

8:02

There was a version of me in 2002—forty years old, a working chef, exhausted in ways that made no logical sense, and listening to doctors insist that every alarming symptom was “stress.” Now that sarcoidosis is a familiar part of my vocabulary, looking back on that time feels like watching a movie where you want to yell at the character to turn aro…

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The Vacation That Tried to Break Me (But I’m Still Here, Sarcoidosis and All) 10:25

9d ago10:25

10:25

Living with sarcoidosis can feel like starring in a long-running medical sitcom where the plot twists pop up at the most inconvenient times, including when you’re on vacation trying to rest. Without giving too much away, let’s just say my quiet beach getaway took an unexpected turn—and you’ll have to read the full post to see how a simple trip turn…

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What You Don’t See: A Chef’s Reflection on Living With Sarcoidosis 6:45

13d ago6:45

6:45

Living with sarcoidosis is like starring in a medical drama no one else can see—one where you look perfectly fine on the outside while your organs do the cha-cha backstage. Back in 2011, when all of this felt new and terrifying, I kept most of it to myself. Now, looking back from 2025, I can’t help but revisit how invisible everything looked… espec…

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Maybe Your Life’s Purpose Isn’t Huge—But It’s Still Enough 7:12

16d ago7:12

7:12

Between the dishes, the meds, and the chaos of chronic illness, it’s easy to wonder if you were meant for something bigger. But what if your true purpose isn’t grand at all—just one quiet, human act that changes everything? This heartfelt reflection explores finding meaning in small kindnesses while living with sarcoidosis and all of life’s messy i…

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Why I Don’t Complain: A Chef’s Guide to Surviving Chronic Illness Without Losing My Mind (or My Manners). 6:42

24d ago6:42

6:42

Living with chronic illness and heart failure has taught me one thing—complaining doesn’t fix a damn thing. As a chef juggling sarcoidosis, a leaky heart, and life’s general nonsense, I’ve learned that silence isn’t denial—it’s survival. Here’s how I stopped whining, started adapting, and found a strange kind of peace in just getting on with it. Se…

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Why I Walked Away From Support Groups (And Found My Voice Instead) 7:35

25d ago7:35

7:35

Living with sarcoidosis is already its own exhausting full-time job, so the idea of a support group sounded…promising. Or at least not disastrous. But back in the early 2010s, when my lungs and heart were misbehaving like rebellious teenagers, the search for “people like me” turned into something far stranger than comforting. I won’t spoil the whol…

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When Hospital Check-In Feels Like an Interrogation: A Chef, an MRI, and Too Many Personal Questions 7:08

29d ago7:08

7:08

Before my MRI next week, a simple online check-in turned into a bizarre quiz about my private life, sprinkled with the usual sarcoidosis-related precautions—but what came next left me blinking at the screen and wondering who exactly was getting scanned here. Let’s just say the questions took a turn I did not see coming. Send us a text Connect with …

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Losing My Voice but Not My Humor: Living With Sarcoidosis, Symbicort, and a Stubborn Set of Lungs 6:38

1M ago6:38

6:38

Sarcoidosis may steal your breath, your energy, and—if you’re lucky—your voice, but it can’t take your sense of humor. As a chef living with chronic illness and heart failure, I’ve learned to navigate breathing tests, inhalers, and vocal cord drama with sarcasm, garlic, and a pinch of grit. Here’s what happens when Symbicort and I go another round …

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The New Trend in Unhygienic: 72-Hour Deodorant and the Death of Daily Showers 4:30

1M ago4:30

4:30

Send us a text Connect with me via BlueSky Social or at https://tatebasildon.comBy Tate Basildon

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The Night I Met My Inner Warrior: A Mini Memoir 4:14

1M ago4:14

4:14

At sixteen, a quiet walk home turned into the scariest night of my life — and the moment I found the fighter hiding inside me. What began as terror became transformation, proving that courage doesn’t wait for permission. This is the story of how I went from frozen in fear to running on pure fire. Send us a text Connect with me via BlueSky Social or…

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The $280,000 Question: Do I Change My Doctors or My Insurance? 5:42

1M ago5:42

5:42

When your doctors of twenty years suddenly drop your insurance, sarcoidosis and heart failure become the least of your problems. Here’s what happens when loyalty meets bureaucracy, and why choosing between good doctors and great insurance feels like gambling with your health—and your sanity. Send us a text Connect with me via BlueSky Social or at h…

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The War After the War: A Chef’s Salute to Veterans, Especially the Forgotten Ones. 6:09

2M ago6:09

6:09

On Veterans Day, I find myself thinking about the soldiers who fought in wars they never chose—especially the Vietnam vets who came home to rejection instead of honor. As someone living with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I understand battles that never really end. This is a personal thank-you to those who fought for a country that didn’t always fi…

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Why I'd Rather Crawl Than Ask For Help: A Chronic Illness Reality 5:58

2M ago5:58

5:58

Living with sarcoidosis and heart failure has taught me many things—chief among them? Asking for help often leads to more stress than it’s worth. If you’re chronically ill, fiercely independent, or just tired of being disappointed by well-meaning offers gone sideways, this one’s for you. Subscribe or comment here Send us a text Connect with me via …

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I’ll Take My Coffee With Oat milk And Zero Judgement. Thanks. 5:04

2M ago5:04

5:04

Coffee snobs may insist that “real coffee lovers” drink it black, but I’m here to say flavor and joy matter more than bitterness and bravado. Whether it’s a caramel macchiato, a hazelnut oat milk latte, or a straight-up espresso shot, coffee is personal—and your morning cup doesn’t need anyone’s approval to be real. Comments: https://tatebasildon.c…

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BONUS: Why I Absolutely Can’t Stand Halloween (And What It Says About Us) 7:52

2M ago7:52

7:52

As a chef battling sarcoidosis and heart failure, debris from a life that refuses to behave, I’m here to tell you why Halloween — creepy skeletons, gore-fest lawns, serial-killer mannequin dioramas and all — feels wrong in a way that psychology backs up. If you’ve ever felt alienated by the “fun” of Halloween or want to understand why it grates on …

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Silence, Sass, and Self-Control: How I Learned Not to Clap Back at Every Rude Receptionist 7:20

2M ago7:20

7:20

Tired of rude medical staff and customer service that feels more like combat? As a private chef living with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I’ve learned that silence and self-control—not clapbacks—are my best defense against everyday negativity. Here’s how staying calm transformed my life, my work, and even landed me a management job. Send us a text…

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Why I Ditched PillPack: The Truth About Mail-Order Pharmacies and Medication Chaos. 5:51

2M ago5:51

5:51

After six months of delayed shipments, missing meds, and endless insurance headaches, I finally ditched Amazon’s PillPack and went back to my local pharmacy. If you live with chronic illness or juggle multiple prescriptions, here’s what you should know before trusting your meds to a mail-order pharmacy. Send us a text Connect with me via BlueSky So…

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Rediscovering Joy: Why Asterix & Obelix Became My Unexpected Chronic Illness Therapy 5:58

2M ago5:58

5:58

Living with chronic illness can be exhausting—but sometimes, the best medicine isn’t in a prescription bottle. For me, it came in the form of two tiny Gauls named Asterix and Obelix. This heartfelt reflection explores how nostalgia, humor, and childhood comfort shows like Asterix & Obelix help me cope with sarcoidosis, heart failure, and the un…

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Cooking Through the Chaos: My Life With Sarcoidosis, Heart Failure & Debut Novel Dreams 6:26

2M ago6:26

6:26

I’m a chef, husband, pet-parent, and emerging novelist living with pulmonary sarcoidosis, heart failure and the wild ride of long-term prednisone treatment. If you’re juggling a chronic illness, creative ambitions and ordinary life chaos—you’re in the right place. Let’s talk survival, cooking, writing and finding hope in the hidden kitchen of chron…

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Nineteen Years Since Diagnosis: My Open Lung Biopsy Story 6:24

2M ago6:24

6:24

Nineteen years after my sarcoidosis diagnosis, I’m finally sharing the story of my open lung biopsy—the surgery that changed everything. From failed bronchoscopy to five hours on the operating table, this brutally honest account reveals what recovery from an open lung biopsy really feels like. If you’re preparing for surgery or living with sarcoido…

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About Me 5:00

2M ago5:00

5:00

Welcome. Let’s get to know each other. First, I’ll tell you a little about me., and then it’s your turn to share in the comments. Send us a text Connect with me via BlueSky Social or at https://tatebasildon.comBy Tate Basildon

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Trailer 1:05

2M ago1:05

1:05

In this deeply personal and often darkly funny podcast, Tate Basildon shares stories about life, chronic illness, and the fragile art of keeping hope alive when the body doesn’t always cooperate. From hospital rooms to kitchen tables, each episode blends honesty, humor, and reflection — exploring what it really means to live fully when every breath…

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I Need My Best Friend to Give Me Some Space. Help! 1:05:15

7M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

On the final episode of Dear Prudence, Jenée is joined by Lonnae O’Neal – a senior writer for ESPN/Andscape and the author of the forthcoming book Bibb Country: Unearthing My Family Secrets of Land, Legacy and Lettuce. Together, they’ll answer questions like: what do you do when your friends’ husband calls you his wife’s hot lookalike? Is it worth …

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Are My Friends Becoming Doomsday Preppers? Help! 40:41

7M ago40:41

40:41

In this episode, Jenée is joined by Seema Yasmin, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, poet, medical doctor, author, and professor. Together, they’ll help a listener set on decorating their home with their old burlesque photos and posters without looking too narcissistic, another feeling isolated when her friends invite her ex-girlfriend to parties an…

1
Politics Is Ruining My Family. Help! 34:33

7M ago34:33

34:33

In this episode, David Roth and Drew Magary (the hosts of Defector Media’s The Distraction) join Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about what to do when your parents are cosigning your brothers’ political values just because he’s the favorite, how to be an optimistic dater after a near-decade of failed dating, and how to …

1
My Wife Uses Bacon Grease As Lotion. Help! 54:15

8M ago54:15

54:15

In this episode, Jenée is joined by Helen Rosner, an award-winning staff writer at The New Yorker. Together, they answer questions from listeners in serious conundrums. Do you tell your grieving sister-in-law that your now-deceased brother cheated on her years ago? Are you allowed to punish a child you're babysitting when they’re being an extremely…

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I Look Just Like My Boyfriend’s Dead Wife. Help! 50:24

8M ago50:24

50:24

In this episode, Jenée is joined by Brittany Luse — the host of NPR’s It’s Been a Minute. Together, they answer questions from a reader distraught that their fiance won’t stop publishing smutty fiction about real-life historical figures, another unsure what to do after her husband stole a $500 bottle of wine from their friends’ dinner party, a spoo…

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My Best Friends Hate Each Other. Help! 49:50

8M ago49:50

49:50

In this episode, Jenée is joined by Daria Burke – an award winning business leader, board director, and author. Together, they answer questions from a listener unsure whether to invite their feuding friends to a party next month, a CPA figuring out how to climb the corporate ladder without a defined job title, a daughter contemplating hosting a sob…

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We All Hate My Sister’s Husband. Help! 56:45

8M ago56:45

56:45

In this episode, Jenée is joined by Willa Paskin, the host of Slate’s podcast Decoder Ring. Together, they answer questions from a listener hoping their sister will “gain sanity” to leave her husband soon, another from a self proclaimed girls’ girl who can’t stop getting into disagreements with other women at work, a step-mother wondering if it’s t…

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My Wife’s Kids Sleep In Our Bed. I Hate It. Help! 52:20

9M ago52:20

52:20

In this episode, Jenée returns from parental leave and is joined by Solomon Missouri — a pastor at AME Zion Church in Snowhill, North Carolina, and author of the forthcoming “Not a Biblical Dating Book.” Together, they answer questions about a listener rekindling with his ex (and her children), someone who’s nervous about starting a romantic relati…

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My Controlling Fiancé Says He Loves Me. Help! 32:33

9M ago32:33

32:33

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by sports journalist and author Frankie de la Cretaz. Together, they answer questions about confronting your dad’s hoarding partner, moving forward after a fight with your mom, and dealing with a controlling fiancé. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episodes. P…

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My Mom, An Alcoholic, Is Traveling Solo. Help! 27:52

9M ago27:52

27:52

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by award-winning journalist and founder of TransLash media Imara Jones. Together, they answer questions about being taken advantage of by a friend, confronting an alcoholic parent, and supporting your cousin when her mom is being delusional. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unloc…

1
I Want To Go No-Contact With My Parents. Help! 31:58

9M ago31:58

31:58

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by Ada Calhoun, the author of Crush and Why We Can’t Sleep. Together, they answer questions about going no contact with your parents permanently, reconciling after a messy divorce, and cutting ties with an ungrateful kid. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episo…

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I Love My Sister But I Don’t Like Her. Help! 45:37

9M ago45:37

45:37

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by Traci Thomas, the creator and host of the critically acclaimed literary podcast The Stacks. Together, they answer questions about dealing with rude stepchildren, loving but not liking your sister, and being sick and tired of watching other people’s kids. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to i…

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I Don’t Like Being My Coworker’s Therapist. Help! 36:45

10M ago36:45

36:45

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by comedian and actress Heather McMahan. Together, they answer questions about believing abuse accusations, getting in the middle of a sibling’s relationship, and making boundaries with a friend. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access a…

1
Was I The Problem In My Marriage? Help! 33:38

10M ago33:38

33:38

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by Real Housewives alumna and Humble Brag podcast host Crystal Kung Minkoff. Together, they answer questions about feeling conflicted over an ex living their best life post-divorce, navigating a friendship after someone breaks the other’s trust, and asking for financial help. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe…

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My Mom is Self-Centered. Am I, Too? Help! 35:59

10M ago35:59

35:59

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by writer and YouTube essayist Princess Weekes. Together, they answer questions about reconciling with a daughter after a huge fight, navigating toxic inlaws and making boundaries with selfish parents. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll ac…

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My Husband’s Family Needs So Much Of His Money. Help! 45:51

10M ago45:51

45:51

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by advice columnist Adrienne Lee and James Beard Award nominee and writer Nylah Iqbal Muhammad. Together, they answer questions about whether a spouse actually owes their partner an apology, a fiance anxious about future family finances, and someone trying to figure out whether or not to follow their superviso…

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I Have Enough Friends and Don’t Want More. Help! 34:35

11M ago34:35

34:35

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by Lori Gottlieb – a psychotherapist, an Ask the Therapist Columnist for The New York Times, and a bestselling author. Together, they answer questions about being honest with a friend about their mental health, how to politely turn down an offer of friendship, and getting family to understand and respect bound…

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Time and a Tide 6:28

11M ago6:28

6:28

This was recorded fall 2023 at Bruce Hoff studio in St Paul MinnesotaBy Jay Socrates

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My Husband’s a Slob and I Want Out. Help! 34:30

11M ago34:30

34:30

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by Peloton instructor, author and podcast host Cody Rigsby. Together, they answer questions from someone who wants to end their marriage over housework, a person struggling to pronounce people’s names correctly, and someone navigating the grief of a homophobic bigot. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate…

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I Hate Getting Gifts. My Spouse Doesn’t Get It. Help! 35:50

11M ago35:50

35:50

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by Tuck Woodstock – a journalist, educator and host of the award-winning podcast Gender Reveal. Together, they answer questions about how to tell your friends not to bring their baby everywhere, what to do when you’re being pressured to connect with a sibling you want nothing to do with, and how to kindly tell…

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My Mom Thinks My Husband Is Abusive. He’s Not. Help! 44:27

11M ago44:27

44:27

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by Vanessa Zoltan, the CEO and Founder of Not Sorry Productions. Together, they answer questions about abuse accusations, how to introduce your parents to the person you’re dating, and how to resolve an explosion of a fight with a sibling. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock …

1
My Stepdaughter Is Ruining My House. Help! 43:39

12M ago43:39

43:39

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by culture critic and writer Anne Helen Petersen. Together, they answer letters about secretly contributing to a kid’s college fund, asking a friend to apologize for their internalized fatphobia, and resolving a massive fight with a stepchild. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unl…

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My Mom’s Freaking Out Over My Gender Identity 43:14

12M ago43:14

43:14

Guest Prudie Anna Sale – host of Slate’s Death, Sex & Money – is joined by illustrator and author JP Brammer. Together, they answer letters about a mom who can’t understand her kid’s gender identity, a painting causing unexpected jealousy, setting the record straight after a bad break up, and how to make things work at a job after it took a long ti…

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My Husband’s a Nurse… and an Alcoholic. Help! 45:34

12M ago45:34

45:34

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by podcast producer Vic Whitley-Berry. Together, they answer letters from a concerned spouse over their husband’s drinking, a mom trying to get her daughter to apologize to her aunt, and someone who can’t avoid going down the rabbit hole of social media. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to imme…

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Encore: A DNA Test Revealed a Secret Sibling. Help! 36:11

1y ago36:11

36:11

In this episode, Jamelle Bouie (New York Times opinion columnist) joins Prudie (Jenée Desmond-Harris) to answer letters from readers about how to turn down gifts that make you cringe, what to do when you discover a sibling was given up for adoption before you were born, and when it’s too late to chase your dreams If you want more Dear Prudence, joi…

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I Feel Like The Grinch. Help! 50:54

1y ago50:54

50:54

Guest Prudie Kristen Meinzer is joined by author and Slate writer Dan Kois. Together, they answer letters about holding on to holiday traditions, thinking your sister is a bad therapist, and how to convince your mom she doesn’t have to knock everytime she comes over. Want more Dear Prudence? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock weekly bonu…