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Artwork for Proxy with Yowei Shaw

Proxy with Yowei Shaw

Yowei Shaw
Mental Health
Layoffs
Psychology
Podcasting
Introversion
Emotional Intelligence
Forgiveness
Narcissism
Patreon
Narrative Psychology
Child Abuse
Emotional Investigative Journalism
Grief
Emotional Health
Alzheimer's
Trans Rights
Dementia
Caregiving
Trauma
Personal Relationships

Proxy investigates the emotional mysteries 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 editorial lead of Invisibilia.

For more dispatches from the emotions beat, get our free newsletter File Under Feelings at proxyhq.org. You can also become a paid member to support the show and ge... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes38Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Proxy with Yowei Shaw

Latest Episodes

When a stroke leaves Henry Evans unable to speak or move on his own, his wife Jane becomes his caregiver and his voice. What happens to a marriage when one person becomes so completely dependent on the other?

From STORIES, the new podcast by Peabody... more

Why don't men ask follow-up questions? Not just on dates, but with their own friends. How can two guys be best friends and know so little about each other's lives?

From No Such Thing, Manny, Noah, and Devan investigate with masculinity expert Liz Pl... more

Kyle is losing faith in humanity. How can anyone still support Trump? Are they stupid? Crazy? Or just terrible people?

Yowei brings Kyle together with two former MAGA supporters to find out. 

Get Brian and Ashton's recommendations for books, docume... more

Georgia Hampton knows the Titanic can't hurt her. So why does just looking at a picture fill her with dread? And can she make the fear go away?

We find her a proxy who has spent decades helping people overcome their most irrational fears.

Get Georg... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Liz Plank
Masculinity expert and author of For the Love of Men.
Episode: Why don't men ask follow up questions? (From NO SUCH THING)
Brian Batts
Former MAGA supporter who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020
Leaving MAGA
Episode: Kyle Thinks MAGA Supporters Are Stupid
Kyle Pulley
Engineer and music producer who mixes Proxy
Episode: Kyle Thinks MAGA Supporters Are Stupid
Ashton Reed
Former MAGA supporter from Missouri who works in engineering
Leaving MAGA
Episode: Kyle Thinks MAGA Supporters Are Stupid
Georgia Hampton
Culture journalist whose beat is the Internet
NeverPost
Episode: Georgia Is Terrified of the Titanic
Martin Antony
Psychology professor who studies anxiety-related problems and treatments
Toronto Metropolitan University
Episode: Georgia Is Terrified of the Titanic
Jay Caspian Kang
Reporter, New Yorker staff writer, and author of The Loneliest Americans
The New Yorker
Episode: Can you want to succeed without losing your mind?
Ryan Jay
27-year-old Filipino-American guest sharing his experience with friendships turning romantic
Former friend group member interviewed for the episode
Episode: Ryan Jay Keeps Falling For His Friends
Andrew Smiler
Psychologist specializing in working with men
Clinical psychologist, author
Episode: Ryan Jay Keeps Falling For His Friends

Host

Yowei Shaw
Journalist and former co-host and editorial lead of Invisibilia.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Love this show

    This podcast is consistently

    so good and I get so much out of every episode. Sometimes I have a niche problem and the new proxy episode exactly addresses it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tiena E
    United Statesa month ago
  • so glad this exists

    sometimes, you need to talk to someone who has been in a similar difficult situation. I’m glad you’re sharing these stories

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jo mccall
    United Statesa month ago
  • Phenomenal story telling combined with empathetic exploration of the struggle to be human in this modern day.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Amcaleer
    5 months ago
  • Love

    Can’t believe I’m just discovering this podcast! I loved yowei on invisibilia and feel super excited to listen to more of her work! Love this concept.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ninarene711
    United States5 months ago
  • found at the perfect time

    this podcast is helping heal me i am getting so much out of each episode. thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kendallrain
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners find behind-the-scenes conversations and fundraising updates too prominent, particularly when they focus on the host's husband.
Listeners praise Shaw as compassionate, smart, and engaging, and value her ability to make difficult conversations feel approachable.
The firsthand stories and thoughtfully chosen proxies are often described as moving, relatable, and emotionally resonant.
Listeners appreciate the mix of personal narrative, expert context, practical advice, and careful storytelling.
Production is often praised for its editing and sound, though some listeners find the background music too loud or the presentation over-edited.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why don't men ask follow up questions? (From NO SUCH THING)
Q: Do men and women behave differently in conversation? Do we have different goals?
Plank describes men's friendships as more often side by side and activity-based, and women's as more face to face and intimate. She links conversational differences to social rewards that encourage men to demonstrate status and women to build connection, and says vulnerability can feel more threatening to men.
Why don't men ask follow up questions? (From NO SUCH THING)
Q: In your experience, how have you dealt with this? Have you run into this in your personal life?
Plank says men failing to ask questions is common on dates, where women may leave feeling that the other person learned little about them. She recommends that people avoid hiding their boredom or discomfort just to keep a date comfortable.
Kyle Thinks MAGA Supporters Are Stupid
Q: What was the hardest part about changing your mind?
Ashton says some people on the left reject former Trump voters even when they apologize, making leaving MAGA feel risky because the movement still offers community.
Kyle Thinks MAGA Supporters Are Stupid
Q: So when you changed your mind, how did your family react?
Ashton says his family does not know he changed his views, though he now challenges relatives and friends when they make discriminatory comments.
Can you want to succeed without losing your mind?
Q: How did you show up in interviews, before you got to where you are in your career, and you were up for a job interview, were you trying in your job interview?
Kang recalls wearing sneakers and a button-up to a New York Times interview and later hearing that he appeared not to take it seriously. He thinks his ambivalence, rather than his clothes alone, may have created that impression.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Proxy with Yowei Shaw

What is Proxy with Yowei Shaw about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Reported stories and intimate conversations examine the emotional questions that shape relationships, identity, work, money, fear, and belonging. Journalist Yowei Shaw guides people through personal dilemmas, often pairing their accounts with a proxy who has faced something similar and an expert who can add research or practical perspective. The format combines documentary storytelling, candid interviews, expert explanation, and occasional behind-the-scenes reflections on making an independent production.

The focus is less on broad self-help advice than on the particular details of a person's experience and what those details reveal about a wider human problem. Topics range from intimacy and gender to ambition, addiction, political change,... more

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How many listeners does Proxy with Yowei Shaw get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Proxy with Yowei Shaw?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Proxy with Yowei Shaw:

1. Heavyweight
2. Death, Sex & Money
3. This American Life
4. Articles of Interest
5. Hyperfixed

How many episodes of Proxy with Yowei Shaw are there?

Proxy with Yowei Shaw launched 2 years ago and published 38 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Proxy with Yowei Shaw?

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What guests have appeared on Proxy with Yowei Shaw?

Recent guests on Proxy with Yowei Shaw include:

1. Liz Plank
2. Brian Batts
3. Kyle Pulley
4. Ashton Reed
5. Georgia Hampton
6. Martin Antony
7. Jay Caspian Kang
8. Ryan Jay

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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