Podcast
Proxy with Yowei Shaw
Hosted by Yowei Shaw · EN
Proxy investigates the weird, specific feelings that run our lives and world — sometimes by finding someone who gets it, sometimes by reporting from the emotions beat. Hosted by Yowei Shaw, former co-host and senior producer of Invisibilia.
We’ll be back with new cases this fall — and we’ll be dropping a few treats in the feed this summer. Follow the show so you don’t miss the next case.
Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishaw
Get in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
If you’re new, try: Bisexual Wife Guy, Yowei Can't Speak Bro, or Jane Doesn't Like Her Dogs.
57episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Bisexual Wife Guy
Apr 22, 202500:53:13Summary readyThe case of George, the bisexual wife guy who got dumped. In this episode, we find a proxy to stand in for a listener's ex - another queer woman who left her straight relationship. From the episode: Listen to Hanna’s podcasts Radio Atlantic and Chutzpod! Follow her on X @hannarosin and Instagram @hannarosin ----------Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews.Sign up for our free newsletter. Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
The Utility of Self-Delusion (and Big Show Update)
Mar 19, 202500:17:59Summary readyYowei shares exciting show news and goes on a self-delusion bender with the team at Proxy HQ. Is she being delusional? Or is delusion just necessary for starting any new project?From the episode: Useful Delusions: The Power & Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain, by Shankar Vedantam Radiotopia from PRX ----------Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews.Sign up for our free newsletter. Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
Presenting: Alternate Realities (from NPR's Embedded)
Mar 6, 202500:35:46Summary readyConspiracy theories have been gaining traction all the way to the highest seats of power. So, are there emotional dynamics at play that we could understand to be able to do something about it? Last year, Zach Mack’s dad sent him a strange email, asking to bet $10,000 to settle once and for all who was correct and who was the brainwashed one. From NPR’s Embedded podcast, this is episode 2 of the Alternate Realities series: Down the Rabbit Hole. From the episode: Listen to the rest of the Alternate Realities series from NPR's Embedded Follow Zach Mack's work ----------Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews.Sign up for our free newsletter. Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
Presenting: "Stings for Our Enemies. Honey for Our Friends." (from Our Ancestors Were Messy)
Feb 26, 202501:07:38Summary readyFor as long as she can remember, Nichole Hill has had a complicated relationship with Black history. Then in 2020, she stumbled on a digital archive of pre Civil Rights era Black newspapers and got obsessed with the scandalous stories she found. Our Ancestors Were Messy is her new podcast that explores Black history through the lens of gossip and drama. In this episode, Nichole tells the story of a Victorian era love triangle that rocked the elites of DC. From the episode: Listen to Our Ancestors Were Messy Support the show by becoming a member Learn more about Nichole and follow her on Instagram @nicholewthanh ----------Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews.Sign up for our free newsletter. Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
Presenting: I felt too seen. Um, dragged. (from Basket Case), Plus an Update
Feb 6, 202500:39:25Summary readyBasket Case is a new show about mental health. In this episode, host Nicole Kelly (NK) takes on perfectionism, an issue that Yowei has personally struggled with. Plus, some breaking news about Proxy. From the episode: Basket Case is a show from Molten Heart and iHeart Podcasts, created and executive produced by Jasmine (JT) Green, and hosted by Nicole Kelly (NK) Listen to Basket Case podcast Learn more about NK ----------Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews.Sign up for our free newsletter. Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
Presenting: An Evil Man (from Little Devils), Plus a Year-End Recap
Dec 30, 202400:45:49Summary readyWhen Yowei heard about the new podcast Little Devils, she was like: finally, someone being honest about a thing we all do. On Little Devils, Jasmin Bauomy interrogates the snap judgments she makes of other people, to find the story behind that annoying thing they do. In this episode, we share a story from Little Devils and we toast 2024 with a year-end recap. From the episode: Listen to Little Devils Support the show Follow @littledevilsshow and @jasminbauomy on Instagram and BlueSky ----------Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews.Sign up for our free newsletter. Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
The Group That Gets It
Dec 3, 202400:52:27Summary readyThe story of someone who suffered alone in secret for 8 years with a problem he was too afraid to Google - and then he stumbled into a support group. In this episode, we dive into the emotional dynamics of support groups with Jason Yu. Why did support groups help him, when nothing else did? From the episode: Listen to Jason Yu's podcast Fidget Follow Fidget on Instagram @fidgetpodcast The TLC Foundation, an organization for body-focused repetitive behaviors Jason's book recs for learning how to build community: The Art of Gathering and How We Show Up ----------Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus interviews.Sign up for our free newsletter. Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
Is there anything we can actually do about polarization?
Oct 29, 202400:41:48Summary readyWhoever wins the election, Americans will still want to rip each other's heads off. Social psychologist Jay Van Bavel helps us understand why we should care about polarization, how we got here, and what, if anything, we can do about it. From the episode: Jay Van Bavel's book The Power of Us: Harnessing Our Shared Identities to Improve Performance, Increase Cooperation, and Promote Social Harmony The paper on political sectarianism Jay co-wrote Find out more about Jay Van Bavel and his work Follow Jay on X and Instagram: @jayvanbavel Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely mostly on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon starting at $5 a month. You’ll get exclusive premium episodes, ad-free episodes, and access to the chat. To just get our newsletter, join our Patreon for free 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
So many tears but what do they say?
Sep 26, 202400:24:28Summary readyWe all know that moment - when you feel like you need to cry in front of other people, but don't want to cry. In this episode, Yowei talks to Heather Christle, the author of The Crying Book, to parse what’s happening in that moment, what tears are saying and how we should respond to them. From the episode: Heather Christle's The Crying Book Heather's new book In the Rhododendrums: A Memoir with Appearances by Virginia Wolf Follow Heather on X and Instagram@heatherchristle The Thai Life Insurance commercial from our crying experiment Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely mostly on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon starting at $5 a month. You’ll get exclusive premium episodes, ad-free episodes, and access to the chat. To just get our newsletter, join our Patreon for free 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Summary
Did we make our goal???
Sep 5, 202400:08:05Tap to summarizeFinally, a campaign reveal. Did we get additional funding to hire Kim for more hours? Plus, some updates for what’s in store for Proxy. Proxy is an independent podcast and we rely mostly on listeners. To support emotional investigative journalism™️ and help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon starting at $5 a month. You’ll get exclusive premium episodes, ad-free episodes, and access to the chat. To just get our newsletter, join our Patreon for free 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
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