This is a collection of podcast series and episodes that discuss important issues related to the decriminalization of consensual adult sex work.
Featured Podcasts
Running Red-Lights: Survival to Security
From Texas Public Radio, this is episode four of a miniseries examining sex work and San Antonio’s historic red light district. In the shadow of Texas’s new law making it a felony to buy of sexual services, this episode asks “How do changing laws impact the day to day lives of sex workers? And where is the line drawn between work and trafficking?”
Beyond the Image: Sex Sells Pt 3 – Decriminalizing Sex Work with Ariela Moscowitz
This episode unpacks the act of having sex as a means of labor, and is an economic exploration into the world’s oldest profession and efforts to decriminalize sex work. “If you really hate it so much and you don’t want people to do it, the best thing you can do is to decriminalize it.”
This American Life: There. I Fixed It.; Catching Deer When You Wanted Lions (SESTA/FOSTA)
The United States Congress thought they could eliminate sex trafficking by passing SESTA/FOSTA. Producer Lina Misitzis looked into how the law played out for its targets and the others swept up in the “fix.”
You’re Wrong About: Human Trafficking
This episode examines how NGOs, activists, and George W. Bush resurrected the ‘stranger danger’ panic for the modern era. The commentators use cited research to distinguish myth from reality and demonstrate how orchestrated moralist zealots are actually harming trafficked people and voluntary adult sex workers.
Reply All: No More Safe Harbor (SESTA/FOSTA)
After the government passed SESTA/FOSTA and shut down backpage.com, Reply All investigated the consequences and spoke with a group of people who say that was a huge mistake.
Episode Library
Aella: Libertarian Sex Worker Turned Data Scientist
Meet Aella, the daughter of evangelical Christians, turned sex worker, turned data scientist. Reason’s Liz Wolfe interviewed Aella for a wide-ranging conversation about everything from how sex work made her a better data scientist to why many successful practitioners in her industry are selling not only sex but also the personal connections that so many of us are missing in our lives.
Running Red-Lights: Survival to Security
From Texas Public Radio, this is episode four of a miniseries examining sex work and San Antonio’s historic red light district. In the shadow of Texas’s new law making it a felony to buy of sexual services, this episode asks “How do changing laws impact the day to day lives of sex workers? And where is the line drawn between work and trafficking?”
Beyond the Image: Sex Sells Pt 3 – Decriminalizing Sex Work with Ariela Moscowitz
This episode unpacks the act of having sex as a means of labor, and is an economic exploration into the world’s oldest profession and efforts to decriminalize sex work. “If you really hate it so much and you don’t want people to do it, the best thing you can do is to decriminalize it.”
HeidiWorld: The Heidi Fleiss Story, Chapter 1
A podcast about the rise and fall of the young Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss in early 90s Los Angeles, but also a narrative about the long overdue need to Decriminalize Sex Work. Link is to the show on Spotify; episodes can be found on all major podcast platforms.
The Capitol Pressroom: Shifting the state’s perspective on sex work
DSW’s Legal Director Melissa Sontag Broudo, discusses DSW’s 2022 report “By the Numbers: New York’s Treatment of Sex Workers and Trafficking Survivors.”
How We Work: Sex work gave her agency. The pandemic had other plans.
A sex worker in Michigan is interviewed about how the pandemic and the criminalization of consensual adult sex work has impacted her life.
Serious Inquires Only: What the Science Actually Says on Porn Consumption
Part 2 of 2 of their “sex stuff” series. Dr. Lindsey Osterman takes listeners on a deep dive into porn related research.
Serious Inquiries Only: “Banning Sex Work and Sex Work Websites Is Bad and We Should Stop Doing It”
Part 1 of 2. Dr. Lindsey Osterman presents empirical evidence against the war on porn and sex work, which is supported by conservatives, anti-porn feminists, and misguided prominent thinkers like New York Time’s Nicholas D. Kristof.
Kennedy Saves Your Fall Employment
In this episode, Kennedy sits down with DSW founder and former communication director, comedic writer, and former sex worker Kaytlin Bailey. Kaytlin discusses how she originally got into that line of work, the history of her industry and why she disagrees with the policing of prostitution. Kennedy and Kaytlin also talk about why criminalizing certain industries ultimately makes everyone less safe.
This American Life: There. I Fixed It.; Catching Deer When You Wanted Lions (SESTA/FOSTA)
The United States Congress thought they could eliminate sex trafficking by passing SESTA/FOSTA. Producer Lina Misitzis looked into how the law played out for its targets and the others swept up in the “fix.”
Truer Crime: The Botched Investigation of Samuel Little
DSW’s team was interviewed for this show, which discusses murders of sex workers. This episode explores who is looked for, who is seen, and who is forgotten.
Babble On: Episode 6
DSW’s Ariela Moscowitz is featured in this podcast that asks “who is talking about sex workers and why?”
Babble On: Episode 1
DSW’s Ariela Moscowitz is featured in this podcast that asks “who is talking about sex workers and why?”
Secular Sexuality: The case for decriminalizing sex work, with Christy Powell, Nate Smith and Jack Parker
Sex Worker activist Jack Parker is interviewed by Secular Sexuality about why it is past time to decriminalize sex work.
New York Gritty: Episode 9 – Pandemic Sexposure
DSW’s Legal Director Melissa Broudo was interviewed for this episode about what happened to sex workers in New York city after the shut down in March of 2020.
You’re Wrong About: Wayfair and Human Trafficking Statistics
Mike tells Sarah about the Wayfair sex trafficking conspiracy theory and the sketchy statistical screenshots that have shown up in its wake. It is recommended to listen to this after hearing the You’re Wrong About “Human Trafficking” episode.
Six Feet Apart with Alex Wagner: Sex
DSW’s J. Leigh was interviewed for this episode about how covid has impacted sexual appetites.
You’re Wrong About: Human Trafficking
This episode examines how NGOs, activists, and George W. Bush resurrected the ‘stranger danger’ panic for the modern era. The commentators use cited research to distinguish myth from reality and demonstrate how orchestrated moralist zealots are actually harming trafficked people and voluntary adult sex workers.
The Takeaway: The Movement to Decriminalize Sex Work
Senior Vox reporter Anna North, and activist Monica Jones were interviewed to understand what the decriminalization of sex work means in practice.
Criminal: Cecilia
Cecilia Gentili runs a policy reform organization called Trans Equity. She’s active in efforts to decriminalize sex work in New York, and to repeal SESTA-FOSTA.
Reply All: No More Safe Harbor (SESTA/FOSTA)
After the government passed SESTA/FOSTA and shut down backpage.com, Reply All investigated the consequences and spoke with a group of people who say that was a huge mistake.
Podcast Series
Running Red-Lights: The History of Sex Work in San Antonio
San Antonio had one of the busiest red-light districts in the country, where brothels and other vice businesses thrived. Running Red-Lights is a limited series podcast from Texas Public Radio about the history of sex work in San Antonio. The journalists uncover the women who ran the industry, but who weren’t allowed to make history.
HeidiWorld: The Heidi Fleiss Story
A podcast about the rise and fall of the young Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss in early 90s Los Angeles, but also a narrative about the long overdue need to Decriminalize Sex Work. Link is to the show on Spotify; episodes can be found on all major podcast platforms.
Babble On
Babble On is a podcast that asks “who is talking about sex workers and why?” This six part series dive’s into the stories of sex workers, and features interviews with DSW’s Ariela Moscowitz.