Big Mood, Little Mood with Daniel M. Lavery

Comedian Myq Kaplan joins Prudence for a heated conversation about stoves. Then, onto your letters: Is meat a good enough reason to end a relationship? Should I fight for more money to close the gender wage gap even though I’m fairly paid? My son won’t let me talk to his wife without going through him. Help! And finally, a listener weighs in on pig’s milk. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus:...

First up, an opening statement from Prudence on the merits of 3D BC movies. Then, your letters! When is it okay to ask for exclusivity in a relationship? Can I cut down my reclusive neighbor’s dead tree? I’m trying to get back into the dating world, but last time I dated Tinder wasn’t even a thing. How do I do this? My boyfriend wants to be a “known” sperm donor for his friend, but I’m against it....

Prudie’s brother-in-law Zack Turner joins to advise on your family, workplace and relationship dilemmas! First up: How can I get my mom to stop shaming me for gaining weight my first year at college? Then: my introvert boyfriend refuses to socialize with my friends. My former boss resents me for taking over her old position. Should I say something to a slovenly employee whose bad hygiene is making...

Prudence is joined by novelist Esmé Weijun Wang to advise on a batch of your family and relationship issues. First up: I fell in love with my dead husband’s best friend – then my in-laws found out and all hell broke loose. Help! When’s the right time to tell a date I’m asexual? My parents expect me to be their free marriage counselor! How do I tell my verbally abusive father to stop visiting me at...

Prudie learns about birthday spankings this week! Plus, how smartphones ruined pushing your friends into pools. Then, your letters! Should I report the employee who creeped me out at an internship I no longer have? How do I let my friends and family know I’m upset they bailed on my big birthday? I’m in a dishwasher war with my mom. Help! I just came out to my husband and kids – how do I leave my m...

Prudie and guest Ben Gullard get real about handling criticism. Then they tackle your letters! First up, a new take on cat conundrums: My wife thinks I love our cat more than her and I think she may be right! I’m upset that my husband doesn’t want my son to live at home for the summer. And lastly, I want to be free to talk about gross things at the dinner table but my husband won’t have it. Plus,...

Prudie kicks it off on a light note this week: we’re all going to die someday and the sky is scary. Then, onto your letters! My love worries that I’ll be giving up too much if we move across the country so he can take a rare opportunity. My husband refuses to go to the dentist and I don’t even want to kiss him anymore. How can I convince my partner I’m not going to “get over” autism? My boyfriend...

First off, Prudie’s open door policy: open doors for people when it makes sense. Then onto your questions: My MIL is telling my nine-year-old to give up on school because she’ll be a stay-at-home mom one day. My wife says she supports my transition, but doesn’t want me to come out or ask people to use appropriate pronouns. I think my cousin is using his girlfriend to get into a better med school –...

First, a plug for more rivalries to be battled out through the giving of jewels. Then, Prudence is joined by gem Ashley C. Ford to answer your questions! I got stuck with the dramatic girl in my night class to work on a group project – how do I handle this? My work suffered because I have depression and my bosses noticed – should I be open with them about what happened? My boyfriend gets jealous o...

Prudence is joined by award-winning Bay Area writer Charlie Jane Anders to give award-winning advice. First up: my sister remembers a completely different childhood than me and it’s driving a wedge in our relationship. Then, some parental problems: My parents are controlling all my life decisions and it’s ruining my life; my mom forced me to get an abortion when I was young and I’m still traumatiz...

Prudie says, nine times out of ten it is not a good idea to steal someone else’s pet. Then, your questions: My husband refuses to do anything about his snoring and it’s keeping my family up at night. My friend overcharged me for rent and lied about it, so I moved out and now our mutual friends think I’m the jerk. I’m not comfortable using the singular “they” to refer to trans people – could you ma...

Jos Lavery is back to help with more of your questions! First, two very different letters about depression: my husband has disengaged from our marriage; a friend I’m not very close to anymore is using me as his only emotional outlet. Then, I like my stepdaughters better than my own kid – am I a terrible mother? (Plus, the secret to getting a young Dear Prudie to behave is revealed!) Hear more Prud...

Prudence is joined by writer and academic Jos Lavery to answer your questions! First, my adult child just came out as trans – I support her, but when do we get to start talking about things other than being trans? A guy in my dorm sets an obnoxious alarm for early morning hours and then lets it sound for hours! I love everything about my boyfriend except his drug habits – is that enough of a reaso...

First up: A beginners guide to Star Trek. Then, onto your questions: Should I stay with my narcissistic husband to protect my kids from him? Was I wrong not to tip a masseuse that overcharged me? Is it inappropriate for me to go to the funeral for my high-school ex’s mom? I’m a recovering homophobe – how do I get more comfortable with my lesbian roommate and her girlfriend? Gabriel Roth, host of S...

A request from Prudence: be the kind of Starfleet that you wish to see in the world. Then, onto your questions with awkward situation pro Emily McDowell. My friend surprised me by covering my hotel room for her wedding – do I need to up the ante on the gift? How do I politely inform my all-female office that women can pee on toilet seats, too? And some parental conundrums: Do I need to reconnect w...

Objectively, the worst thing that can happen is getting a thumbs down while driving. Prudence is joined today by writer Jasmine Sanders to advise a woman who’s worried her husband wants to adopt a child and she doesn’t. Then: how to act if you secretly disapprove of your friends sexuality; and how to handle a toy that may or may not be haunted. Plus, get your scary-doll-movie recommendations here!...

Prudie is joined by herself on a very special solo episode of Dear Prudence. First up, a listener voicemail: My partner is worried our role playing is bad for me, but I don’t think it is. Then onto your letters! Then onto your letters! Will strangers ever stop commenting on my daughter’s red hair? My wife had an emotional affair with a friend, now that friend is trying to convince me it was more t...

If you don’t like it when people say “no problem,” then you’re the one with the problem, Prudie says. Then onto your questions: How do I talk to my adopted black daughter about race? My husband won’t keep his hands off me in public! I’m gay – what next? Speaking of coming out, why does my friend call inanimate objects lesbians? Prudence is joined by friend and biochemist Brandon Taylor. Hear more...

Feeling hopeless about the state of the world? Prudence has some advice for how to carry on without totally losing it. Then, writer Shafiqah Hudson joins Prudie to answer your questions: How do I convince my friend that he benefits from white privilege? My friend abandoned me after her boyfriend assaulted me – now she’s trying to pretend nothing happened. And, lastly, I did a huge D.I.Y. project f...

First off, some cold hard truth from Prudence: it never works to have a chore wheel. Then, onto your questions. Should I confront an acquaintance if I think he may be cutting himself? Then, my boyfriend’s business partner is a horrible house guest and stays with us all the time. How can I cope with this? My sister thinks my family’s homophobic, but we just don’t like her racist girlfriend. And, ho...

A friendly reminder from Prudence: advice is not one-size-fits-all! Writer and podcaster Christina Grace joins Prudie to help a woman break it to her in-laws that her family won’t be going to church; a military mom decide who should care for her daughter; and a gay man find his identity after sleeping with a woman (spoiler alert: bisexuality is a thing). Then, a wife finds out her husband has been...

Prudie says it’s okay to ghost your social media followers, but not a child who thinks you’re her family. Then, MTV writer Jane Coaston joins in to advise on what to do if your mom uses surviving cancer as an excuse to spoil your kids. How to tell a family friend her husband is being a creep. And, how to tune out a loud co-worker. And finally, Prudence outlines more of the “Lost at Sea” dating han...

Prudie puts in a plug for queries about good fortune only. Then, she and writer Caille Millner tackle more serious problems: I’m convinced my husband had an affair with his boss, but he denies it. My mom is terrible with money. How can I get her to save for retirement so I don’t have to bail her out? My slacker brother-in-law has his parents duped into supporting him financially. I want to stage a...

Prudie and guest Juan-Pablo Brammer explore the fine line of low-key racism. Then, your questions: How can I keep my sister from terrorizing my new boyfriend? Can I tell my husband’s parents not to hook up in my kid’s bed? How do I tell my husband I’m bisexual? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I lent a family heirloom to a friend and she’s going to burn it in honor of her deceased child – can I ask for it back? “Nope!” says Prudence. Then your questions: Can I delay my breakup for financial gain? My partner won’t stop waking me up for trivial reasons! I found out my best friend had an affair with my now-dead husband — should I confront her about it? Author Saladin Ahmed joins Mallory to...