

Proxy with Yowei Shaw
Y3 Productions
It’s the knot you can’t untangle - a problem so specific, it makes you feel alone. But what if you could talk to someone who gets it? On Proxy, we find just the person you were looking for, a stranger who's lived something close enough to help you get a little less stuck. It’s not therapy - it’s emotional investigative journalism™️. Yowei Shaw, former co-host of Invisibilia, at your service.If you’re just discovering the show, a good place to begin is Bisexual Wife Guy, Mic Chooses the Wrong Life, or Amanda and the Nonstop Narrator. The team is hard at work investigating another batch of cases, with new episodes returning April 14th 🚀Proxy is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join our Patreon for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 12, 2025 • 37min
How to Cope with Now
New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s where many listeners fall in love with the show.Anya Kamenetz was having trouble coping with the state of the world. So she decided to report on those feelings. In this conversation, Anya shares what she learned from talking to scientists, activists, and thinkers about our collective emotions - why we feel the things we do, the limits of those feelings, and how to move through them to take action. From the episode:
Learn more about Anya Kamenetz and her work
Read Anya's newsletter The Golden Hour
Listen to We Are the Great Turning, a podcast Anya produced with eco-spiritual teacher Joanna Macy about love, courage, and connection in the climate crisis
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 ad-free listening, access to our group Zoom hangs, and bonus episodes, like this extended conversation with Anya Kamenetz. You can also join for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

Jul 15, 2025 • 40min
Zakiya Used to Be So Fun
New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s where many listeners fall in love with the show.The case of the people person who fell out of love with people. From the episode:
Learn more about Zakiya Gibbons
Follow Zakiya on Instagram @zak_sauce
Learn more about Dr. William Chopik and his research
Follow Bill on Bluesky @Chops310 or X @Chops310
Proxy is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free-listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

Jul 1, 2025 • 55min
Amanda and the Nonstop Narrator
New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s where many listeners fall in love with the show.The case of Amanda, a writer whose internal monologue won't stop narrating her life, instead of just letting her live it.From the episode:
Read Amanda Montell's books The Age of Magical Overthinking, Cultish, and Wordslut
Listen to Amanda's podcasts Magical Overthinkers and Sounds Like a Cult
Follow Amanda on Instagram @amanda_montell
Learn more about Jonathan Adler's work
Follow Jonathan on X @JonathanMAdler, Bluesky @jadler.bsky.social, and LinkedIn
Proxy is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free-listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

Jun 17, 2025 • 52min
Brian Can't Stop Fact-checking His Mother-In-Law
New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s where many listeners fall in love with the show.The case of Brian, a journalist whose mother-in-law has Alzheimer's. Even though Brian knows she can’t help misremembering things, he can’t stop losing his patience with her, and with himself. From the episode:
Listen to Brian Reed's podcast Question Everything
Follow Brian on Instagram @brihreed and X @BriHReed
Caregiving resources from Claudia Drossel
Proxy is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free-listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

Jun 3, 2025 • 56min
Is It Time To Break Up the Band?
Evan Bernard, a musician from The Superweaks, navigates the grieving process of losing his brother and bandmate. Chris Baglivo shares how ADHD impacts his creativity and organization within the band. Ryan Dusik, former drummer of Maroon 5 and a therapist, provides insights into band dynamics and personal struggles. They discuss the challenges of collaborating through grief and personal issues, emphasizing the importance of communication and support in maintaining friendships and creativity amidst adversity.

May 20, 2025 • 42min
Aparna and the Self-Loathing Introvert
Aparna Nancherla, a stand-up comedian and author of 'Unreliable Narrator,' engages in a candid discussion about the trials of introversion. She shares her journey through self-doubt and imposter syndrome in a world that favors extroverts. The conversation highlights the importance of self-acceptance and embracing one’s quirks. Aparna also reflects on her unique path in comedy, revealing how she navigates societal expectations while maintaining authenticity. Together, they challenge stereotypes and celebrate the richness of introverted experiences.

May 6, 2025 • 46min
Mic Chooses the Wrong Life
New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s where many listeners fall in love with the show.The case of Mic, who feels like he defied his fate and now has no purpose in life. We find someone uniquely able to help him break out of his regret loop. From the episode:
Follow Mic Nguyen on Instagram @nicepantsbro and subscribe to his podcast Asian Not Asian
Read Amy Summerville's paper, one of the most cited articles on regret
Proxy is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free-listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

Apr 22, 2025 • 52min
Bisexual Wife Guy
If you're new to Proxy, welcome. This episode is a great place to begin. The 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.If this episode resonates, you might also try Mic Chooses the Wrong Life, Amanda and the Nonstop Narrator or Brian Can't Stop Fact-Checking His Mother-In-Law.From the episode:
Listen to Hanna’s podcasts Radio Atlantic and Chutzpod!
Follow her on X @hannarosin and Instagram @hannarosin
Our Path, a listener-recommended support group for for straight partners of LGBTQ+ folks
Proxy is an independent podcast, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free-listening, and access to our lunch Zoom hangs. You can also join for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

Mar 19, 2025 • 18min
The Utility of Self-Delusion (and Big Show Update)
New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s where many listeners fall in love with the show.Yowei 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, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free-listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com

Dec 3, 2024 • 52min
The Group That Gets It
New to Proxy? Start with Bisexual Wife Guy — it’s where many listeners fall in love with the show.The 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, supported mostly by listeners. If you want to help the show keep going, consider joining our Patreon. Membership starts at $5 a month and includes bonus episodes, ad-free-listening, and access to our group Zoom hangs. You can also join for free to get the newsletter 🍏Follow us on Instagram: @proxypodcast @yoweishawGet in touch at proxythepod@gmail.com


