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: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. I bought my son’s girlfriend a pregnancy test and her mom found out. Did I do something wrong? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 everyone sick? Can I accept a promotion while training to work in an entirely different in my free time? I’m a full-time retail employee with benefits, but my family keeps asking when I’ll get a “real job.” Help! Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 college? My relatives are blaming me for my sister’s wedding choices! Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 marriage without hurting them? Executive Producer of Slate Podcasts Steve Lickteig joins Prudence. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, Dear Prudence investigates the origins of vaginal glue.Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 proposed and now refuses to talk about our wedding. How do I deal with an annoying employee? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 – should I say something? And more on cat-stealing: how do I ask my neighbors if I can take their neglected cat? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of my Facebook interactions so I blocked him – did I do something wrong? I’m overqualified for my job, but love the happiness it affords me – should I be more ambitious? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 traumatized. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 make something else up for me? My girlfriend is jealous of my masseuse – what do I do? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 reason to leave? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Slate’s podcast “Mom and Dad Are Fighting” joins Prudence. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 with my abusive mother? My mom wants me to call her creepy boyfriend “Dad.” Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! And be aware: Prudence is down to adjudicate your questions about the astral plane. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 than that. Help! I’m pregnant with a child I don’t want, while my sister can’t conceive. How do I talk about this with her? And finally, how do I tell my co-workers I don’t want to talk politics, even if we agree? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 for my sister, only to have her rip it up and start again. Can I ask her to apologize? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, how can I be a good friend to someone who hates being single? Vice Canada columnist Sarah Hagi joins Prudence this week. Hear back episodes of Prudence at Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 sneaking around to help his sister leave her abusive husband. Is it fair to feel betrayed after months of secret heroism? (Note: The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers help and support to those who need it. Find it at www.thehotline.org or 1-800-799-7233.) Lastly, the case is closed on the cot. Thanks for playing! Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 handbook. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 an intervention, but his mom won’t have it. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 advise on these dilemmas. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rocky returns! The aspiring poker player writes back to make the case for quitting his day job (and if this makes no sense, check out the 11/29 “Anger Management” show). We’re rooting for you, man. Then, Mallory and comedian Avery Edison tackle your questions: A friend made a cruel comment at a party, I made a scene, and no one will let it go — how do I shut this down? I love my boyfriend, but he’s asexual and I’m not. Is our relationship doomed? Finally: my boyfriend struggles with body image, and I don’t know how to handle it. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mallory and guest Andrea Silenzi of Slate podcast “Why Oh Why” take on big issues, starting with the weighty question of how long you should wait to move on when someone you’re dating goes missing at sea. Then to your letters: I was ready to forgive my mom for how badly she handled my coming-out, but I just learned she also outed me to my whole family — what now? I set a goal to start a relationship in 2016, and it didn’t happen — what’s next? I’m worried that my son isn’t mine — should I take a paternity test? Finally: Mallory gives Andrea some radical dating advice. And a special note this week: we’ve got a letter concerning someone having suicidal thoughts. If that sounds like you or someone you know, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, or you can chat with them or find resources at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A soon-to-be bride wants to buck a patriarchal wedding tradition. A wife wants her husband to buck up and tell his father he can’t come over every weekend. A man wants to leave a longterm relationship, but he’ll leave his partner without any bucks. Mallory is joined by Anna Sale, host of the WNYC podcast Death, Sex & Money, to tackle these problems. Plus, some genuine life advice from Mallory’s favorite satirical biopic. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mallory and guest Samantha Powell come to you live from the Now Hear This festival in LA. And a warning: things get rowdy! An American man wonders if he can divorce his non-English-speaking wife … because he’s bored explaining things to her. Then, the reverse: a woman moved to her husband’s home country to care for his mom — now mom’s dead, and she’s stuck there. Plus, an elopement throws an already-dysfunctional family into disarray, writers complain of too little sex and too much money, the audience gets an earful of live advice, and more! Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mallory’s dad v. William Shatner. Then your questions: first, how do I relate to a dad who was absent and abusive while I was growing up, and now demands regular, personalized gifts? Then: I had an affair with my pastor, and just met the daughter I gave up for adoption. Now she wants to meet him, too — should I tell and ruin his life, or stay silent and hurt her? Finally, let’s get serious: how do I convince my wife that she should let me quit my job for three months to play poker? Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you see dirty pictures on someone else’s phone, that’s your problem. And a reminder: Dear Prudence is not a tax attorney, and neither is her guest, Toast co-founder Nicole Cliffe. Your questions today revolve around missing the mark. I’m always the one chasing down my sometime lover — am I being a stalker? My friend’s husband asked me to donate towards a surprise luxury car I know she doesn’t want — should I intervene? I had a fight with a longtime friend —and I don’t miss him. Do I have to try and mend things? Plus: Ditching one party for another hosted by someone you like better. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A note on the election and the limits of civility. Then, religion, inheritance, sibling rivalry: Prudie and guest Noah Kulwin discuss binaries. If you’re not close with your nephew, should you give him your old car instead of gifting it to your goddaughter? Should your live-in boyfriend take your side against your crazy landlord— and help you bear the financial burden of her craziness? What do you do when you find out your best friend/fiancé said awful things about you on Twitter? Plus: non-monogamy, and beware of fake Dear Prudence. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Queer women, Carly Rae Jepsen, and what’s up with people confessing crimes on Facebook? Prudence and guests Jaya Saxena and Matt Lubchansky take on your problems of timing, including: do you have to let your fiancé’s ill mother live with you indefinitely? What if you want to quit your job — which you only started two days ago? How long should you stay with a husband who disappeared from your life for years, and now won’t go away? Plus, Mallory advocates for the CGI lesbians of the Gilmore Girls. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A listener offers her guide to figuring out if the white guy she’s dating has an Asian fetish. Then, Prudence and writer Brook Shelley get to your letters. First up, a mixed-race letter writer is dismayed to wake up to chain of racist texts — sent by her close friends. Then, the case of the Ambien Zombie Husband, a rent-based roommate Cold War, and an Eartha Kitt fantasy. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nancy Ortberg, AKA Mallory’s mom, joins us for questions today. How do you to talk to a stepdad who tries to boost your confidence by making borderline-creepy remarks about your appearance? What do you say to stop your parents from complaining to you about their marriage? Plus: Anti-vaxxers, handling disappointment, and how to keep the peace when you get the better office at work. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carvell and Mallory jump right back in. A letter-writer complains that her brother is a “man whore” — but first, we need to talk about who’s throwing glass at your family events. Then, should I tell my fiancé that I’m pretty sure I once slept with his best man? And finally: a knock-down, drag-out fight over whether a letter-writer should humor her father’s insistence that her boyfriend ask permission to marry her. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just say no to the “Don’t Tread On Me” snake. Mallory and returning listener favorite Carvell Wallace tackle and disagree over thorny questions like: should you intervene when your sister invites your mom to her wedding — but not your stepdad? When your adult sister is a cheater, how do you support her through her divorce? And finally, how do you break it to your white friend that she’s not as “woke” as she thinks she is? Plus: a love letter to bisexuals.We want you to tell us about the podcasts you enjoy, and how often you listen to them. So we created a survey that takes just a couple of minutes to complete. If you fill it out, you'll help Panoply to make great podcasts about the things you love. And things you didn’t even know you loved. To fill out the survey, just go to www.megaphone.fm/survey.Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, your questions discussed in the cozy setting of Prudie’s literal bedroom. That might sound overly-intimate, but it’s not as intimate as going to a sweat lodge with your coworkers! Our guest is writer Lauren O’Neal, and together she and Prudie tackle how to set boundaries when your boyfriend’s family comes over every day without knocking, what to say to a mother who’s shunting her paid nanny duties off onto her teenage children, how to give your friend with cancer the support you never got, and whether to dump a boyfriend who refuses to call you by your name (uh… yep). Plus: tips for traveling through time on TV.We want you to tell us about the podcasts you enjoy, and how often you listen to them. So we created a survey that takes just a couple of minutes to complete. If you fill it out, you'll help Panoply to make great podcasts about the things you love. And things you didn’t even know you loved. To fill out the survey, just go to www.megaphone.fm/survey. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ann M. Martin and the gay Baby-Sitters Club, plus some unsolicited advice to a letter-writer who’d like to ruin his sons’ lives from beyond the grave and can’t find a lawyer to help him do it. SkyMall nostalgia. Then, Prudence and guest Rebeca Sanchez answer your questions as creatively as they’re able: how to talk to in-laws so obsessed with death they may as well be funeral crashers? How to repair the friendship between your husband and your best friend — which you most likely ruined? Your friend charged you $2 on Venmo for a dinner he cooked at his house — WTF? Should you marry a man you don’t love so you can be the mother his daughter needs? Finally, reflections on watching movies whose plot line is basically, “Something Bad Didn’t Happen.” Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The great lie that is, “they don’t really mean it.” Mallory and her sister, writer Laura Turner, bring some family wisdom to this week’s show. First: is it alright to ask your family to stop texting you the news of relatives’ deaths? What about when your family expects you to take in five young children — indefinitely? Then: how do you talk to a friend who’s always been your creative companion, but suddenly won’t acknowledge your success? Plus: the ethics of sharing cigarettes with your 18-year-old daughter, and — spoiler alert, Mallory loves spoilers — some reflections on the bullies of Stranger Things. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

End the tyranny of the snooze button. Prudie and writer Mikki Kendall answer your questions, and let’s just get one thing out of the way right now: don’t try to attempted-murder Mikki by turning on an electric fence while she’s touching it; that won’t go over any better than writing your adopted daughter completely out of your will, then asking her to host Thanksgiving for 50 people. Plus: killing your mean-girl co-worker with kindness (and some friendly plant-poisoning tips); whether a lifelong bachelor will ever change his mind on marriage (and whether that matters); and how exactly to handle a colleague who’s vowed to keep you from ever adopting a dog. Finally: the case for 2016-B. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedians W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu of the podcast Politically Re-Active join Prudie to dispense advice — sometimes in song! — about how to get a needy ex out of your house, how best to deal with a deadbeat husband, and how to figure out if your boyfriend is only into you because you’re Asian. Plus, Ayn Rand and the true identity of Chuck E. Cheese. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prudence and guest Lisa McIntire on when you should rock the boat, why people feel entitled to be rude to their friends, and how time passing does not equal an apology. First though, you should go see Bad Moms… the audience, that is. More thoughts on HR and how capitalism is a hellscape, with apologies to the robber barons among our listeners. Now to your questions: A parent is allowing their 18-year-old daughter to work out of the house as a phone sex operator, on the condition that she doesn’t talk to her younger siblings about the job — and doesn’t trust her to keep that promise. A woman’s friend keeps telling her that she’ll change her mind about marriage and kids — and setting the her up on dates she doesn’t want to go on. And finally: the case for plausible-deniability ashtrays. Hear more Prudence by joining Slate Plus: Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A woman dropped family, friends, and job to move across the country for a relationship that didn’t work out — and things got worse from there. Is she doomed to make poor decisions for the rest of her life? A man dies, and his obituary lists a woman who barely remembers him as “the love of his life.” Should she try to find out what happened, or let him take his secret to the grave? A daughter mentioned long-term care insurance to her mom — and got an earful from her aunt about what a terrible person she is. Wait, what? Dear Prudence and Slate’s Dan Kois consider these questions and issue some reminders: we’re all gonna die someday, and being a couple of hours late to a grown man’s birthday party is only a crime in the movies. Hear back episodes of Prudence at Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prudence flies solo and argues with — or against — her better angels. She anoints the Worst Commercial of the Year and advises a woman wondering if she has to let a family member with money trouble live in her empty investment apartment. But Prudie loves it when you send her letters that don’t have to do with someone possibly getting put out on the street, and vastly prefers questions about things like meat-eating parents trolling their vegetarian daughter-in-law. For example: should those parents pay the hospital bill when they feed their grandson a cheeseburger he’s not supposed to eat — and he gets serious food poisoning as a result? Plus, whether or not you’re “reading too much into it” when your friend offers your husband a massage, and how much say your family gets over your armpit hair. Hear more episodes of Prudence at by joining Slate Plus: Visit Slate.com/Prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does HR really work for employees — or is it just there for the company? Prudence shares a listener perspective. Then, Prudie and friend of the show Jos Lavery counsel a woman who’s essentially written in just to say how great her life is. A listener asks how to restrain their financially irresponsible fiancé before they both end up broke. Continuing the theme: a husband won’t stop smoking even though his doctors have ordered him to — and he blames his wife for conspiring with them. And finally: is this what a midlife crisis is like? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jasmine Guillory is back in the studio with Prudie to talk about how to handle a partner who doesn’t believe in antidepressants, counsel a woman in an emotionally abusive relationship with a physically disabled man, and, for a bit of relief, adjudicate a parking-space dispute. Plus: do you, or do you not, have to go see the new Ghostbusters movie? Hear the most Prudie you can by joining Slate Plus: visit slate.com/prudiepod to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s questions are about life’s unfairness and the meaning of unconditional love; Dear Prudence and writer Carvell Wallace roll up their sleeves and get tough. A woman writes with a question about what she owes her troubled, and now-adult, adopted daughter; and an aunt wonders whether she must spend her savings on a treatment that might -- or might not -- save her terminally-ill nephew’s life. Remember, you can always hear more questions and advice by subscribing to Slate Plus: visit slate.com/prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mallory and Slate’s Aisha Harris talk about butting in where you don’t belong. Should you call Child Protective Services because you think someone’s kids aren’t learning enough algebra? How do you deal with a colleague making inappropriate remarks about your employees’ personal lives? And as always, there’s more of everything at Slate Plus -- visit slate.com/prudiepod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dear Prudence and Slate’s Christina Cauterucci take on behavior that goes from bad to worse: a “toxic friend” who uses her mental health issues to get away with abusing her friends; a man trying to shame his wife into having a “regret baby” seven years after they both agreed to an abortion; and a father who wants to tell his preteen sons how much he doesn’t love their mother. Plus, Prudie advises a woman wondering if she can move into her own place even though she’s happily married, encourages a listener to go for it with an eager ex, and meditates on weak endings and the deadening managerial mantra, “If there’s time to lean, there’s time to clean.”Full episodes of the Dear Prudence podcast are available exclusively to Slate Plus members. Listen to old episodes at Slate.com/Prudiepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.