Past Due with Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle

Wrestler and podcaster Colt Cabana joins Ana and Mike to talk about building a life in wrestling. From getting fired by WWE to becoming a blueprint for sustainable DIY success, Colt breaks down the real economics of creative work—merch tables, mattress money, and all—and why betting on yourself might be the best decision you ever make. Hear the full interview at patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and podcaster Babs Gray joins us to talk about staying creative in the long middle—the part where the dream hasn’t died, but it hasn’t fully arrived either. We get into the quiet power of community, the joy of weird little projects, and why success isn’t always loud. From survival jobs to self-trust, Babs reminds us that showing up for your work, even when no one’s watching, might be one of the most important things you can do. Hear the extended episode and more at patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and actor Will Hines joins Ana and Mike to talk about trading a salary for freedom, and why time might be the only currency that really matters. From leaving a corporate job at 33 to building an improv school from the ground up, we get into the real economics of creative work: how to manage taxes, protect your energy, and figure out what’s worth outsourcing (and what’s not). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor and comedian Jacquis Neal joins us to talk about the strange space between doing good work and still feeling like you haven’t arrived. From voiceover gigs to the long-haul hustle, we explore what it means to trust the process when the results don’t always look like what you imagined. Want more? On the bonus episode, Jacquis opens up about the thing he keeps doing—whether or not anyone’s watching. Subscribe at patreon.com/pastdue for that, plus early access, ad-free episodes, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian River Butcher joins us for a conversation about what happens when the gigs stop coming—and the world doesn’t end. We talk about the fear of slowing down, and how gratitude, perspective, and a working fridge might just be the real signs of success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer and video essayist Michael Burns joins us to talk about what happens when the platform you helped build stops serving the work and starts serving itself. After Wisecrack, he set out to make something smaller, stranger, and more his own. We get into the emotional cost of reinvention, the illusion of creative security, and why doing it yourself might be harder… but also the only honest way left. Get more at patereon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ana and Mike compare notes from the road: Ana’s on assignment in small-town Maine chasing a political story she believes in, and Mike’s in between tour legs, chasing rent. They get into the economics of chasing meaning when the math doesn’t make sense, the disappearing budgets of real journalism, and why a DIY ethos is both a burden and a blessing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and actor Ron Funches joins us for a deeply funny and unexpectedly honest conversation about the strange economics of creative work. We talk about surviving on joy, staying positive when nothing’s going right, and why failure is sometimes part of the paycheck. Originally recorded in 2022 for Mike’s podcast "Secret Skin." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Chris Gethard joins us to talk about walking away from the version of success he spent years chasing, and why that might be the reason he's still standing. We get into the grief of giving up the big dream, the joy of making weird stuff for the people who get it, and the radical act of building a career that actually fits your life. We’ve got more with Chris Gethard on patreon.com/pastdue - In this week’s bonus episode, Chris shares the hardest, weirdest, and most soul-crushing gig he’s ever taken. Hear that and more, and help support our show at patreon.com/pastdue⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adult performer and podcaster Siri Dahl joins us to talk about the emotional and economic realities of sex work in an era that calls itself creator-friendly, but still censors, exploits, and erases. We talk about the myth that OnlyFans is easy money, the rising pressure to be everywhere at once, and what it means to be both the product and the platform. Bonus episode on Patreon: patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Musician and writer Rhett Miller joins us to talk about staying creative in an industry that keeps changing. From fronting the Old 97’s to writing children’s books, Rhett opens up about the financial rollercoaster of life on the road, the loneliness of independence, and the challenge of keeping faith in your work when the world stops clapping. There's even more waiting for you on our Patreon. In this week’s bonus segment, Rhett tells us the behind-the-scenes story of filming the music video for “The End.” Including what it was like sitting in a bathtub full of (non-alcoholic) beer bottles after more than a decades of sobriety. Hear it only when you subscribe, plus ad-free episodes and more bonus content, at patreon.com/pastdue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ana and Mike get real about what creative work actually looks like behind the scenes, breaking down the economics of touring, Substack’s Nazi problem, how platforms trap creators, audiences, and the psychology of performing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast host and producer Jody Avirgan joins us to talk about walking away from big platforms like ESPN and NPR, and what it takes to build something sustainable on your own terms. We get into the pressure to grow, the trap of prestige, and the trade-offs between stability, scale, and creative freedom. In the end, rethinking success might be the real win. Hear the full episode and more at https://patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Video essayist Ian Danskin joins us to talk about the exhausting economics of doing thoughtful work online—and what it means when your most meaningful content can’t pay the bills. From burnout to bad faith backlash, Ian opens up about what it takes to keep going when attention is currency... and you're broke. Bonus episodes + extras: https://patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Screenwriter Bob DeRosa joins us to talk about what it really takes to build a long-haul creative career—one that doesn’t go viral, but keeps going. We break down 20+ years in Hollywood by the numbers, and what it reveals about persistence, rejection, reinvention, and the myth of overnight success. If Bob’s Bluesky post made you feel seen, wait until you hear what didn’t make it into the main episode. In the bonus edition, Bob shares how a beloved project came close but never sold. Also we might have accidentally developed a Ted Cruz bio pic. Subscribe at patreon.com/pastdue to hear it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist and podcast host Sam Sanders joins us to talk about what happens when the thing you thought you wanted turns out to be too small. We get into the emotional and financial cost of walking away, what it means to do it yourself in a collapsing industry, and how to balance ambition with reality. Want to know what the scariest career pivot Sam Sanders had to make? You can find out at ⁠patreon.com/pastdue⁠. Each week the episode continues with bonus questions, extended interviews… And if you subscribe, you get access to our discord, special episodes, early access, and more. Subscribe at patreon.com/pastdue and tell a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Josh Gondelman and writer Maris Kreizman join us to talk about surviving the creative economy as individuals and as a couple. We dig into the emotional labor of staying hopeful, the financial logistics of making art with no guarantees, and what happens when even the “success stories” feel precarious. If you want more from Josh and Maris, there’s bonus conversations waiting for you at patreon.com/pastdue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite writing bestsellers and landing a Reese’s Book Club pick, Xochitl Gonzalez opens up about the lingering shame of precarity, the invisibility of working-class success, and why we need to drag money talk out into the light. Love this? Hear more from the conversation with Xochitl Gonzalez at patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ana and Mike talk about what it means to sell out... financially, creatively, and emotionally. From brand deals to burnout, they ask whether survival in the creative economy means compromising your values, or just being honest about what pays the bills. For bonus content and more, visit patreon.com/pastdue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer and podcaster Jamie Loftus joins us to talk about financial anxiety, inherited frugality, and the emotional cost of choosing creative freedom. From 7-Eleven coffee to viral fame, we explore what happens when you build a life around surviving—long after you’ve made it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer Parker Molloy joins us to talk about the invisible costs of creative independence, from burnout to the search for meaning in an industry built on metrics, and why it’s so hard to believe your work matters, even when it clearly does. This week on our Patreon exclusive, Parker Malloy names names. She tells us who’s thriving in media right now that absolutely shouldn’t be, and who’s doing such great work it makes her forget to be jealous. Subscribe at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/pastdue⁠⁠⁠ to hear it and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer, performer, and YouTuber Maggie Mae Fish joins us to talk about financial survival, burnout, and the hard-earned lessons of giving up hustle culture. We unpack the toll of having five jobs, the shame of rest, the fear of slowing down—and why stability doesn’t magically erase anxiety. Every episode, we save the most surprising, unfiltered stories for our Patreon. In this week’s bonus segment, Maggie Mae Fish tells us what happened when she dared to criticize Zack Snyder on YouTube. Let’s just say… the fanbase had thoughts. Subscribe at patreon.com/pastdue to hear the full clip, get early access, bonus episodes, and a little solidarity in this chaotic creative economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Taylor Lorenz joins us to talk about the hidden costs of writing online today, from the terrifying reality of working without health protections, to the pressure of being a one-person brand, and why real survival might mean building community from the ground up. If you want to hear more from Taylor Lorenz about the emotional whiplash of losing just one subscriber, join us at ⁠⁠patreon.com/pastdue⁠⁠. You’ll get exclusive extras, extended interviews, and first dibs on upcoming surprises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Adam Conover joins us to unpack the real costs of the so-called "creator economy" from algorithmic gatekeeping to the crumbling of stable creative jobs. If you want to hear more from our episode with Adam Conover, including his worst ever gig, join us at ⁠patreon.com/pastdue⁠. You’ll get exclusive extras, extended interviews, and first dibs on upcoming surprises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer Lyz Lenz joins us for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to survive the creative economy. From maxed-out credit cards to a New York Times bestseller, we talk about money shame, dental debt, raising kids without a safety net, and why community, not success, is the real measure of a good life. If you want to hear more from our conversation with Lyz Lenz, including the very chaotic, very real story of what it actually felt like to hit the New York Times Bestseller list, head over to ⁠patreon.com/pastdue⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and actor Paul F. Tompkins opens up about career insecurity, creative joy, and why the secret to survival in a crumbling industry might just be doing it yourself. If you want to hear more from today’s conversation with Paul F. Tompkins, including his dumbest money decision ever and the surprisingly smart investment he made that paid off big, join us at patreon.com/pastdue. You’ll get exclusive extras, extended interviews, and first dibs on upcoming surprises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Overworked, underpaid, & somehow still optimistic? Join us on "Past Due" as we navigate surviving an economy that doesn’t play fair. Starting May 7th, 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The creative economy is broken, and yet, we’re still here. Past Due is a new podcast from Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle about what it really takes to survive as a creator today. One job isn’t enough, three still won’t cover your bills, and success doesn’t guarantee stability. With honesty, humor, and guests like Paul F. Tompkins, Liz Linz, Taylor Lorenz, Adam Conover, and more, we talk wins, losses, and the myths of "making it." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final episode of Another Day, Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle unpack the quiet panic of not-quite-enough, from spreadsheets and therapy bills to racism, war, and creative burnout. Along the way, they talk literal and figurative agendas, how America speed-runs authoritarianism, and what makes people finally take to the streets. Also: they reveal what’s next. (Spoiler: it’s their new show.) Welcome to the soft launch of Past Due: a podcast about surviving as a creative in a world that doesn’t want you to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when living your dream doesn’t pay the bills? Ana and Open Mike Eagle talk about how unexpected gigs can save the day, but needing work still feels uncool. They reflect on shame, resilience, and the reality of making it as a creator in a world that doesn’t always reward your art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ana and Open Mike Eagle break down the weird, absurd, and infuriating ways politics and pop culture collide—from a TikTok song about a hostile government takeover to the frustrating reality of media grifts and viral fame. They dig into how labor is devalued, why independent artists are forced to hustle harder than ever, and why newsletters won’t save us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ana and Open Mike Eagle explore the fine line between resilience and overextension—digging into rock climbing injuries, political burnout, and why real strength comes from sustainability, not just survival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ana and Josh Gondelman explore the power of presence, reflecting on how connecting with others, embracing creativity, and asking for what you need transform everyday acts into resistance and joy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Richter joins Ana to reflect on life in the public eye, navigating politics in a fractured America, and what mental health looks like, all while sharing insights from his podcast and reflections on progress and privilege. — For all episodes, exclusive content, and to join the conversation, support us on Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/AnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Day After: Comedian Josh Gondelman joins Ana to unpack the reality of Trump’s victory, process what it means, explore paths forward, and tackle an important question: Is hope a sign of strength or an indulgence? — For all episodes, exclusive content, and to join the conversation, support us on Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/AnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 3 of 90 Days with Ana Marie Cox. Today Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan joined Ana to discuss resiliency, playing to win, feeding kids, protecting trans rights and everyone's least favorite thing: silly season. Go vote!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 5 of 90 Days with Ana Marie Cox. Today Ana talked with community organizer Emily Hauser about her atomic GOTV Google Doc, how to have hard talks, and getting the yet gettable votes for Harris Walz without making Thanksgiving suck! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 6 of 90 Days with Ana Marie Cox and the triumphant return of our friend Parker Malloy who joined Ana to talk about the Washington Post non-endorsement, the role trans rights has played in the election, vote tally dream scenarios and of course the usual anxiety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 10 of 90 Days with Ana Marie Cox. Today, Ana talked to executive producer Beau Friedlander about fascism, mutual support groups, 12-foot skeletons and ecological collapse! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 12 of 90 Days with Ana Marie Cox. Today Ana was joined by comic book writer, filmmaker and avowed lefty booster Greg Pak to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly in what has become a no-holds barred fight between good and evil as we slouch towards Election Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 13 of 90 Days with Ana Marie Cox. Today, Washington Post national columnist Philip Bump joined Ana to gut check polls, high stakes, the consequences of a Trump victory and the unknowable reproductive rights vote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 17 of 90 Days with Ana Marie Cox. Today, labor journalist Hamilton Nolan joined Ana to talk about courting the union vote, the many challenges labor unions face this election, and why activism is crucial not only in the lead up to Election Day but after, too. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 19 of "90 Days with Ana Marie Cox." Ana talked to New York Times bestselling author Kevin M. Kruse about the Colin Allred/Ted Cruz debate, fascism, and why the upcoming election could be the most pivotal moment in American history. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 20 of "90 Days with Ana Marie Cox." Today writer and comedian Josh Gondelman is back to talk with Ana about down-ballot voting on local policy, balancing activism with self-care, and the difference between courage and hope when it comes to political engagement. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 24 of '90 Days with Ana Marie Cox.' In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Ana talked to Emily Atkin, founder of the Substack newsletter "Heated," about climate disinformation, the political rhetoric around fossil fuels, and why courage—not hope—drives action. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 26 of "90 Days with Ana Marie Cox." Today, Ana and Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion and former NBC News guy, talked about the misinformation beat, humor as a cure to our chaotic media landscape, political trauma and mental health and how satire is both coping mechanism and political resistance. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 27 of "90 Days with Ana Marie Cox." Today Ana talked to Rebecca Nagle, author of By the Fire We Carry and a citizen of Cherokee Nation, about historical injustice and today's political climate, the Supreme Court’s adversarial vibe and why Indigenous issues matter this election year. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 31 of "90 Days with Ana Marie Cox." Today Ana talked to Democratic pollster Terrance Woodbury about the Democrats quest for a young and diverse base and reclaiming the mantle of patriotism and family values from Republicans. — Voting Alert! If you haven't registered to vote yet, time is running out. Many states have strict registration deadlines and other may have booted you from they rolls, so make sure you're ready for Election Day. Visit your state's election website or vote.gov to check your registration status, or register today. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 33 of "90 Days with Ana Marie Cox." Today Ana talked to activist and veteran Paul Rieckhoff about white men in the middle, the VP debate, two-party politics and then spar over the future of the Democratic party. — Voting Alert! If you haven't registered to vote yet, time is running out. Many states have strict registration deadlines and other may have booted you from they rolls, so make sure you're ready for Election Day. Visit your state's election website or vote.gov to check your registration status, or register today. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Day 34 of "90 Days with Ana Marie Cox." Today Ana talked to New York Times bestselling author Jemar Tisby about white Christian nationalism, democracy in a divided nation and the role race may play on Election Day. — Voting Alert! If you haven't registered to vote yet, time is running out. Many states have strict registration deadlines and other may have booted you from they rolls, so make sure you're ready for Election Day. Visit your state's election website or vote.gov to check your registration status, or register today. — Watch along on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@90DaysWithAnaMarieCox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices