Podcast
Past Due with Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle
Hosted by Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle · EN
Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle explore what it takes to survive as a creative today. From juggling side gigs to redefining success, we dive into the real stories behind making a living when one job just isn’t enough
54episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What If Merit Was Never the Metric? with Karen K. Ho
Jan 1401:15:08Tap to summarizeJournalist Karen K. Ho joins us to talk about what it really means to navigate the creative economy as an immigrant, a freelancer, and a former "success story." We talk about the myth of meritocracy, the emotional and financial toll of precarity after grad school, and the difference between community and networking when your visa—and your future—are on the line. Karen shares how ADHD, burnout, and the invisibility of care shaped her path, and why finding the right support system might matter more than any byline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →What If 30 Years Is Just The Beginning? with Rhett Miller
Aug 20Tap to summarizeMusician 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
Transcribe →What If Scarcity Never Really Leaves You? with Jamie Loftus
Jun 18, 2025Tap to summarizeWriter 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
Transcribe →Substack, Sampling, and Selling Out with Open Mike Eagle
Mar 26, 202500:14:44Tap to summarizeAna left Substack. Mike loves Twitch. Both feel weird about it. Can you make stuff, get paid, and still sleep at night? This episode is about the messy ethics of making a living online.—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
Transcribe →The Hustle Never Ends
Mar 19, 202500:04:14Tap to summarizeAna and Open Mike Eagle have been digging into what it actually takes to survive as a creative right now. We’re working on something special about all of this. And for those on the Patreon, we’ve got an exclusive look at our conversation with Adam Conover.—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
Transcribe →The Rules Are Gone And That’s the Problem with Open Mike Eagle
Mar 12, 202500:12:56Tap to summarizeAna and Open Mike Eagle break down the absurdity of tiny residual checks, the real value of labor, the power of unions, and how industries isolate workers to weaken organizing. And they reflect on the surreal Trump-Zelensky meeting—why it felt more like a disastrous family dinner than international diplomacy and what it says about the crumbling norms of political discourse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Politics Isn’t Optional, But Optimism Might Be with Open Mike Eagle
Mar 5, 202500:55:35Tap to summarizeAna 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
Transcribe →Hustle vs. Hustler with Open Mike Eagle
Feb 26, 202500:11:48Tap to summarizeAna and Open Mike Eagle break down the relentless grind of the gig economy, the weight of financial uncertainty, and why creative survival means constantly reinventing yourself. They unpack the fine line between making ends meet and losing yourself in the hustle, the emotional toll of monetizing personal trauma, and whether there’s a way to create that doesn’t just feed the algorithm—but actually feeds the soul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Your Whelm Cup Overfloweth with Open Mike Eagle
Feb 19, 202500:13:15Tap to summarizeAna and Open Mike Eagle dig into the weight of too much—too much chaos, too much uncertainty, too many whelms. They unpack how trauma reshapes our coping mechanisms, the slow-motion gutting of democracy, and political burnout, while searching for ways to stay grounded when everything feels like it’s spiraling.—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
Transcribe →The Government Should Be a Trampoline, Not a Net with Open Mike Eagle
Feb 12, 202500:50:52Tap to summarizeAna 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
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