The Best Podcasts to Celebrate International Whores’ Day
June 2nd is International Whores’ Day (IWD) / the birth of the sex worker rights movement
By Kaytlin Bailey
Each week at EarBuds Podcast Collective, we send a weekly themed list of podcast picks. Each week’s picks are curated by a different person. And anyone can curate a list. Sometimes, we put out those lists as blog posts. Podcaster Kaytlin Bailey, host of The Oldest Profession wanted to curate a list of podcast recommendation on the theme of sex work to celebrate International Whores’ Day. Here we go!
More about our curator:
Kaytlin Bailey is the host of The Oldest Profession podcast, comic, and sex worker rights advocate. She founded Old Pro Productions, Inc. to tell better sex worker stories. Sign up for their newsletter to ‘be in the know like an old pro.’
Why this theme:
June 2nd is International Whore’s Day, IWD, which commemorates when, in 1975, sex workers occupied churches all over France to protest police brutality and violence against women. The podcasts we’ve highlighted are about the ongoing struggle for sex worker rights.
Podcast Recommendations:
Why Are People Into That?!:
Why Are People Into That?! Is a long-running indie conversation show that centers queer, kinky, slutty, and pervy cultures. Tina Horn and invited guests explore sex toys, BDSM, non-monogamy, porn, intersectional feminism, and sex worker rights across disciples, from biology, technology, politics, psychology and beyond. She shares a ton of pleasure centered education as well as deeply personal stories. Every time I listen I feel smarter and a little flushed.
SexualiTEA
SexualitiTEA is a recorded conversation between colleagues at Elon University’s Gender & LGBTQIA+ Center. Team members discuss pop culture, tackle myths, answer questions, and share personal stories about their lived experience. Host Mx.Pucks A’Plenty is infectiously charming, deeply informed, and a pleasure to listen to.
You’re Wrong About
You’re Wrong About (specifically their episode about Human Trafficking) is a conversation between Mike Hobbes and Sarah Marshal, who are both journalists obsessed with the past. Every week they reconsider a person or event that's been miscast in the public imagination. I’m specifically enthralled with their episodes debunking widely held beliefs about sex trafficking, and help explain why laws intended to stop it are so harmful. But if you prefer your facts in print, you can read Mike’s article about sex trafficking here.
Peepshow Podcast
Every episode Jessie Sage, and often her husband PJ, bring you sex worker rights related news stories. They have an incredible archive of interviews with sex workers, artists, writers, academics, and sex worker rights activists. Each podcast features a roundup of recent news stories and interviews. Peepshow Media brings you news and stories from the sex industry. Both Jessie and PJ are insider pros and you should join their newsletter and do a deep dive into all their content. They make a lot of stuff and it’s all great.
The Oldest Profession Podcast
The Oldest Profession Podcast is an irreverent history podcast that reminds listeners that sex workers have always been part of the story. Kaytlin Bailey, stand up comic, writer, and sex worker rights advocate, tells stories about the old pros who came before her and why these stories are relevant to listeners today. Historian Dr. Charlene Fletcher writes an accompanying essay and annotated bibliography to make it easy for listeners to find more information. A talented professional, Dr. Fletcher hosts The Old Pro Panel, interviewing academics, advocates and sex workers about the themes that come up researching each episode. The whole team at Old Pro Productions works toward creating a resource for anyone who wants to learn more about sex workers in history.
Hey, readers! Did you enjoy this blog post? We wanted to combine two of our favorite things: podcast listening and guest contributions. Do you have an idea for a blog post that combines podcasts with your favorite things? Let us know! We’d love for you to write a guest blog post for us.
