The Oldest Profession Podcast

On the historic Election Night of 2020, Kaytlin Bailey and Dr. Charlene Fletcher of The Oldest Profession Podcast sat down for a candid discussion about Melania Trump. The conversation explored whether or not Melania can be considered an old pro, if she is part of our movement, and how Kaytlin had circus performers at her wedding. A panel discussion truly for the ages.

Shirley Cavanaugh, a down on her luck sex worker, blew the lid off a corrupt police department in Pittsburgh in the 1950s. By chance she was falsely accused of shooting a cop, but instead of backing down, she fought back. What happened to her triggered a major investigation that ended in the disbandment of the Pittsburgh Vice Squad. In this episode, Kaytlin Bailey explores Shirley's story, her ent...

Trigger warning: this episode discusses suicidal thoughts. Coming out as a sex worker can be an act of courage, a moment of rupture, or a slow, ongoing negotiation with the world. In this holiday special of The Oldest Profession Podcast, Kaytlin Bailey shares powerful listener-submitted stories about coming out, being outed, and finding—or losing—community. Released in recognition of December 17,...

For decades, Rhode Island effectively decriminalized indoor, consensual sex work—and the sky didn't fall. It got safer. Kaytlin traces the legal fight, the raids, and the politics, then digs into new evidence: a ~40% drop in gonorrhea among women and ~30% fewer reported rapes during the decrim window. With voices from attorney Michael Kiselica, ACLU's Steven Brown, COYOTE RI's Bella Robinson, and...

In this second and final episode on the decriminalization of sex work in Australia, host Kaytlin Bailey picks up where we left off: the 1995 vote to decriminalize sex work in New South Wales. We look at what happened after decrim passed, what it actually changed for sex workers and their neighbors, and how the fight has moved from the streets and brothels to city councils, state legislatures, and...

In 1995, New South Wales, Australia became the first place on earth to fully decriminalize adult consensual sex work. How did that happen – and what can today's decrim campaigns learn from it? In this first of two episodes, host Kaytlin Bailey traces the long arc of sex worker organizing in Australia, from colonial brothels and early feminist allies to the HIV/AIDS crisis and a massive police corr...

New Zealand became the first country to decriminalize sex work in 2003. NZPC leaders Catherine Healy and Annah Pickering tell the story of how it happened—and what came after. For more information, including a complete list of sources visit our website. You can buy  Taking the Crime Out of Sex Work here . And learn more about NZPC here. We'd like to thank our Season sponsors M e g a P e r s o n a...

Georgina Beyer made global history as the world's first openly transgender mayor and member of parliament. In this episode, host Kaytlin Bailey traces Beyer's path from boarding schools and strip clubs to the halls of power. We explore how her lived experience shaped her political courage and the critical role she played in decriminalizing sex work in New Zealand. This is a story of survival, dign...

Carmen Rupe was many things—drag queen, sex worker, business owner, activist, icon—and almost the mayor of Wellington. This week, Kaytlin Bailey tells the story of New Zealand's most beloved old pro, tracing her journey from hula dancer to trans pioneer. Carmen's life was one of glamour, resistance, and love. She built safer spaces, fought unjust laws, and carved a path for generations to follow....

Nevada is the only U.S. state with legal brothels—but is it working for sex workers? In this episode, Kaytlin Bailey sits down with Jupiter Jetson, who works in a legal brothel, Dr. Barbara Brents, sociologist and expert on legal brothels, and Amy-Marie Merrell, executive director of The Cupcake Girls. From outdated STI testing laws to the dangers of arrest outside the brothel, we explore why Neva...

Candida Royalle was a 1970's porn star who went on to found Femme Productions, the first feminist production company that made porn for women. In this episode, Kaytlin Bailey tells Candida's extraordinary story covering her art, activism, and lasting legacy. Featuring commentary from historian Jane Kamensky, whose stunning biography and archival work helped preserve Royalle's story, this episode d...

The End Demand model, also called the Nordic model, claims to protect sex workers by criminalizing clients. The evidence is in; this model doesn't keep sex workers safe. In fact, it makes things worse. Kaytlin Bailey sits down with sex workers who have worked under this policy for decades in Sweden, Norway and Iceland and breaks down how this policy, first implemented in Sweden in 1999, was export...

Robin Byrd was more than a porn star—she was a pioneer creating one of Manhattan's most iconic cable shows, The Robin Byrd Show which she produced and starred in from 1977-1998.  In this episode Kaytlin Bailey dives deep into the story of a woman who built her own stage and invited the world to join her. This episode explores Byrd's sex-positive activism, her quiet role in the AIDS crisis, her bat...

This week in Open to Debate a sex worker rights advocate and a human rights attorney have a passionate and vigorous debate about these laws, with the common goal of figuring out what's best for sex workers. Arguing "yes" it is ok to pay for sex, is Kaytlin Bailey, who is the founder and executive director of a nonprofit organization that seeks to change how society views sex workers. Arguing "no"...

In this episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey celebrates the life of Pamela Churchill Harriman, a remarkable woman whose journey kept her at the forefront of history through the 20th century. Born in 1920, Pamela came of age on the cusp of WWII, marrying Randolph Churchill days before Hitler began bombing London. After divorcing the prime minister's son she embarked on a ca...

n this thought-provoking episode of The Oldest Profession podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey explores the shared historical context of the stigma and criminalization of homosexuality and prostitution. Kaytlin discusses the origins of negative attitudes towards homosexuality and "non-traditional" sexual practices in the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This episode highlights how...

In this eye-opening episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey dives into the dark history of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland and the homes for unwed mothers in the United States. These institutions were once touted as charitable organizations for "fallen women" and pregnant teens, but concealed a dark reality of exploitation and abuse. Kaytlin Bailey exposes the shocking tre...

In this episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, your host Kaytlin Bailey explores the life of prolific madam, Carol Erwin, who daringly thrived across the American West during the Great Depression and World War II. Kaytlin Bailey brings Carol's journey to life, with a particular focus on her establishment in Fairbanks, Alaska. Set against the backdrop of gold rushes and boomtowns, Carol's story...

In this episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey explores the significance of December 17th, which is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. This day has been observed by sex worker advocates and allies worldwide since December 17, 2003. Originally conceived as a memorial for the victims of the Green River serial killer in Seattle, this event reignited the...

Join host Kaytlin Bailey on The Oldest Profession Podcast as she uncovers the chilling history of The American Plan, a government program that aimed to target promiscuity and prostitution in the United States from 1917 into the 1970s. Initially conceived as a necessary tool to protect enlisted men from venereal disease, these laws led to the forced institutionalization and imprisonment of thousand...

Join us on The Oldest Profession Podcast as we pay tribute to the remarkable life and legacy of Margo St. James. Known as the mother of the contemporary sex worker rights movement in the United States, Margo's impact was immeasurable. In 1973, she founded COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), a pioneering organization that championed the rights of sex workers. She organized the first and second...

In this episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, hosted by Kaytlin Bailey, we go on a journey to uncover the history and lasting legacy of the Mann Act, also known as the White Slave Law. Enacted in 1910, the Mann Act made it illegal to transport women across state lines for "immoral purposes." Sold to the American people as a way of combating "white slavery" the Mann Act was broadly interpreted...

In this episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey pays tribute to Carol Leigh, a hero in the sex worker rights movement. Carol Leigh, also known as "The Scarlot Harlot," was a multi-talented artist, author, performer, filmmaker, advocate, and political provocateur. She is credited with coining the term "sex work," which became a cornerstone of the sex worker rights movement. Ca...

In this episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey dives into the life of Anthony Comstock who dedicated his life to eradicating "obscenity" and restricting women's reproductive rights.  This episode uncovers how Anthony Comstock's lobbying efforts resulted in the Comstock Act, which criminalized the distribution of "obscenity" which included information about contraception. It...

Exciting news!⁠ Get ready for the triumphant return of The Oldest Profession Podcast — Season 5 is coming your way!⁠ Hosted by Kaytlin Bailey, this season will feature 10 compelling episodes focused on historical old pros, the origins of bad laws that continue to wreak havoc on our lives today, and resource guides to help our audience become even better allies in the movement for sex worker rights...