
The Oldest Profession Podcast
The Oldest Profession Podcast reminds listeners that sex workers have always been part of the story. Each episode focuses on an “old pro” from history, contextualizing that figure in their own time and connecting their story to the ongoing struggle for sex worker rights.
Your host, Kaytlin Bailey, is a nationally touring stand up comic, notorious old pro, and sex worker rights advocate. She’s partnered with the whole team at Old Pros to create an accessible and entertaining resource for anyone who wants to learn more about sex workers and our place in history.
https://oldprosonline.org/the-oldest-profession-podcast
Latest episodes

Apr 13, 2022 • 43min
Brothel Owner Mrs. Lake's Secrets Revealed in Boston's "Big Dig"
Together Old Pros Historian, Dr. Charlene J. Fletcher, and podcast host, Kaytlin Bailey, discuss Boston’s infamous “Big Dig,” a construction project that unearthed a trove of archeological treasures from a 19th century brothel. According to census records, the “parlor house” in question belonged to brothel owner Mrs. Lake, who set high standards for her SWers’ self-care and personal hygiene. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/brothel-owner-mrs-lake

Apr 8, 2022 • 40min
We Are All Worthy - with Alexandra Hunt
This week, on Old Pro News, we’re talking about decrim in Belgium, a stripper strike in North Hollywood, and financial discrimination in the sex industry. Our guest is Alexandra Hunt, a congressional candidate from Philadelphia who has made her background as a stripper a part of her campaign while refusing to be reduced to that one aspect of who she is and what she stands for. And then Keesha connects Alexandra Hunt’s fight for dignity to the worthiness of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-005/ GUEST BIO AND LINKS https://www.alexandramhunt.com/ Alexandra Hunt is a public health researcher, a girls’ soccer coach, an advocate for social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, and an organizer fighting for the 3rd district of Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of two teachers and a sister to a twin brother. Alexandra’s twin brother grew up with a learning disability. Seeing the systemic obstacles her brother faced inspired Alexandra to become an advocate and challenge barriers on the basis of race, gender, class, and ability. HEADLINE 1 | Belgium Decriminalizes Prostitution “Belgium is the first country in Europe to decriminalize selling and paying for sex.” https://reason.com/2022/03/23/belgium-decriminalizes-prostitution/ https://www.nswp.org/featured/utsopi HEADLINE 2 | NoHo Strippers Strike “North Hollywood exotic dancers walk off job to protest unsafe work environment” https://www.foxla.com/news/north-hollywood-exotic-dancers-walk-off-job-to-protest-unsafe-work-environment https://www.instagram.com/stripperstrikenoho/ https://www.strippersunited.org/ HEADLINE 3 | Lube and Condom Company Denied Insurance “Lube and Condom Company Denied Insurance Because It Sells Lube and Condoms” https://www.vice.com/en/article/4aw8dm/lube-and-condom-company-denied-insurance-hartford-company-paradise HEADLINE 4 | OnlyFans Porn Ban Watch “OnlyFans could ban porn again in its push for an IPO” https://www.inputmag.com/culture/onlyfans-ban-porn-public-ipo-spac MUTUAL AID NAME AND LINK Black Sex Worker Collective https://www.blacksexworkercollective.org/

Mar 30, 2022 • 40min
Ella “Cattle Kate” Watson: Trailblazer of the Wild West
It’s unclear if Ella “Cattle Kate” Watson was a SWer, but what we do know is she was a renowned pioneer of the Wild West. She was a ranch owner, entrepreneur, and woman who sought to challenge gender norms to live life her own way. Why then is her name notorious throughout American history? Join your host Kaytlin Bailey as she reclaims the often misremembered story of the infamous Ella “Cattle Kate” Watson. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/cattle-kate

Mar 25, 2022 • 48min
A Song of Freedom - with Yeonhoo Cho and Esther Kao
This week, on Old Pro News, we’re talking about transgender housing justice, Safe Reporting in Colorado, and the dictionary. Our guests are Yeonhoo Cho and Esther Kao from Red Canary Song, who are here to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings with a conversation about Asian migrant massage workers rights. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-004/ GUEST BIO AND LINKS Yeonhoo Cho and Esther Kao, organizers with Red Canary Song, a grassroots coalition organizing with migrant & Asian massage workers in NYC https://www.redcanarysong.net/ Un-Licensed: Asian Migrant Massage Licensure and the Racialized Policing of Poverty, a A Report by: Red Canary Song, Massage Parlor Outreach Project, Butterfly, in collaboration with Bowen Public Affairs & Brown University Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice Human Trafficking Research Cluster https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e4835857fcd934d19bd9673/t/6218d9316e93a74b051c9f00/1645795656006/2022_Un-Licensed.pdf HEADLINE 1 | Dictionary dot com “Term “Sex Worker” added to Dictionary dot com” https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sex--worker HEADLINE 3 | Colorado Safe Reporting Bill “Safe Reporting Assaults Suffered By Sex Workers Bill introduced in Denver” https://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/17/sex-workers-safe-reporting-colorado-legislature/ http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB22-1288 http://www.rlri.org/ https://www.cpr.org/2022/03/21/colorado-sex-workers-reporting-crimes-protection-legislation/ HEADLINE 4 | Protect Trans Youth “Legislation Affecting LGBTQ Rights Across The US” https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights https://www.aclu.org/legislation-affecting-lgbtq-rights-across-country HEADLINE 2 | St James Infirmary trans shelter “SWer health org St James Infirmary opens San Francisco’s first shelter dedicated to trans and gender non-conforming communities” https://www.sfpublicpress.org/sf-launches-first-navigation-center-to-serve-homeless-transgender-people/ https://twitter.com/comebystjames/status/1502034177142657024 https://www.stjamesinfirmary.org/ OTHER RELEVANT LINKS TO TOPICS IN EPISODE Featured in this episode: In response to the charges being pursued by the District Attorney’s offices of Fulton and Cherokee County in Georgia for the murders of Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, Daoyou Feng, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Yong Ae Yue, and Sun Cha Kimon March 16, 2021 Red Canary Song and Survived & Punished released the following statement: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e4835857fcd934d19bd9673/t/61981921d8b4367907c4ba1a/1637357859533/Response+to+Charges+ENG.pdf 8 Lives Vigil March 16 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKv2rjUWrl0 MUTUAL AID NAME AND LINK Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network https://www.butterflysw.org/

Mar 16, 2022 • 37min
Lycoris the Mime was the Most Influential Courtesan in Ancient Rome
Evidence of the oldest profession can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. Volumina Cytheris, also known as Lycoris the Mime, is among the oldest and most influential courtesans in history. This week on The Oldest Profession Podcast, travel back in time with Kaytlin Bailey for a history lesson on ancient Rome and Lycoris the Mime. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/lycoris-the-mime

Mar 11, 2022 • 38min
Unapologetically Generational - with Desi
This week, on Old Pro News, we’ll update you on exciting new pieces legislation regarding sex worker safety at the state and federal levels, as well as some troubling developments from Russian Only Fans creators. Our very special guest this week is host Lakeesha Harris’ daughter, Desiree. They share a personal conversation on generational sex work. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-003/ GUEST BIO AND LINK HEADLINE 1 | John Oliver’s Sex Work Segment “Sex Work: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gd8yUptg0Q HEADLINE 2 | 8 Lives Vigil for Atlanta spa shootings and Massage License Decriminalization Act (A8281) introduced in New York “Advocates Call for State Legislature to Pass González-Rojas’ Bill to Decriminalize Unlicensed Massage Parlors” https://astoriapost.com/advocates-call-for-state-legislature-to-pass-gonzalez-rojas-bill-to-decriminalize-unlicensed-massage-parlors https://events.humanitix.com/8lives-vigil https://www.redcanarysong.net/ HEADLINE 3 | Russian OnlyFans Creators Banned “Russia’s Blameless OnlyFans Stars Say They’ve Been Banned After Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine” https://www.thedailybeast.com/russias-blameless-onlyfans-stars-say-theyve-been-banned-after-putins-invasion-of-ukraine HEADLINE 4 | Sex Worker Safety Legislation developments in Vermont, Oregon, and US Congress “Burlington Voter Referendum” https://safesexworkvt.org/burlington-voter-referendum/ https://www.ishtarcollective.org “Sex Worker Rights Campaign Refiles Petition for Decriminalization” https://www.wweek.com/news/2022/02/21/sex-worker-rights-campaign-refiles-petition-for-decriminalization/ “The SAFE SEX Workers Study Act” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WqZn5qsrA3TnmJPbGrrcGnN9UiCayw7w/view GUEST: Please refer to our guest in print only as “Desi” to protect her privacy. You can link to her IG in show notes and social media: https://www.instagram.com/goddessvibesent_/ Mutual Aid Shout-Out Whose Corner Is It Anyway? gofundme.com/f/whose-corner-is-it-anyway

Mar 2, 2022 • 49min
The Legend of Punk Rockstar & Hustler Dee Dee Ramone
The Ramones are perhaps one of the most iconic rock bands in American music history. Founded in 1974, the Ramones are known for hits like “Animal Boy,“ "Poison Heart,'' and “53rd & 3rd,” written by the band’s bassist and former front man, hustler Dee Dee Ramone. Not only did he invent punk rock, but he also side hustled as a SWer to pay for his bad heroin addiction. Join Kaytlin Bailey for a deep dive into Dee Dee Ramone’s rockstar life and legacy on this week’s episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/hustler-dee-dee-ramone

Feb 25, 2022 • 25min
EARN IT v. Sex Worker Safety - with Daly Barnett
This week, on Old Pro News, we’ll update you on a former stripper who is running for Congress, and an exciting new exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London. Then, host Lakeesha Harris will explain why the EARN IT Act is the new FOSTA SESTA. Our guest today is Daly Barnett from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She’s here to break down the return of EARN IT, and how it could allow the government to violate your privacy. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-002/ Daly Barnett is a staff technologist at the EFF. She is also an artist, activist, and community organizer. She was the founder of t4tech, a trans forward tech collective based in NYC. She is also a part of Hacking Hustling, a sex workers advocacy organization, where her title is Witch. https://www.eff.org/about/staff/daly-barnett ALEXANDRA HUNT | “I’m A Former Stripper Running For Congress. I Refuse To Be Ashamed.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alexandra-hunt-stripper-congress-soccer-coaching_n_620fa613e4b08ed7cf6ee45c VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA | “After Decriminalisation, Local Councils Are The Next Battle For Sex Workers” https://www.starobserver.com.au/opinion/after-decriminalisation-local-councils-are-the-next-battle-for-sex-workers/209948 BACKPAGE TRIAL | “Judge declares mistrial at trial of Backpage.com founders” https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-declares-mistrial-trial-backpage-founders-80013257 DECRIMINALISED FUTURES https://www.ica.art/exhibitions/decriminalised-futures SUPER BOWL | “214 Sex Workers Arrested in Super Bowl 'Human Trafficking' Mission” https://reason.com/2022/02/16/214-sex-workers-arrested-in-super-bowl-human-trafficking-mission/ EARN IT | “Anti-exploitation bill advances in Senate despite free speech concerns” https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/10/22927346/earn-it-act-markup-senate-judiciary-section-230-csam-non-consensual-porn FOSTA-SESTA https://hackinghustling.org/what-is-sesta-fosta/ THIRD WAVE FUND https://www.thirdwavefund.org

Feb 16, 2022 • 55min
Belle Brezing Was Lexington, Kentucky’s Most Successful Madam
With razor sharp wit and a keen eye for business, Belle Brezing (1860 – 1940) clawed her way out of humble beginnings and eventually claimed her space as Lexington’s most successful Madam. Belle Brezing’s reputation was nationally known and served as the inspiration for the Belle Watling character in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. Join Kaytlin Bailey as she recounts the story of Belle Brezing on this week’s episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast. For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/belle-brezing Stock Media provided by sounddogs / Pond5

Feb 11, 2022 • 28min
PILOT: Destigmatize It! Breaking Down Sex Work Myths with Rep. Mandie Landry
Welcome to the first episode of Old Pro News, with your host, Lakeesha Harris! For more resources on this episode, visit our website: https://oldprosonline.org/oldpronews-pilot/ Headlines: New York District Attourney Bragg Includes Landmark Sex Work Reform in Policy Statement / Decriminalize Sex Work https://decriminalizesex.work/ny-district-attorney-bragg-includes-landmark-sex-work-reform-in-policy-statement In Light Of Dallas’ New SOB Ordinance, Imagine What Could Be Possible If We Transformed The Way We Respond To Violence In Our City / Central Track https://www.centraltrack.com/strip-clubs-city-hall-and-the-politics-of-care/ The Dangerously Fake Link Between the Super Bowl and Human Trafficking / LA Times https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-02-06/super-bowl-trafficking-link Monologue: “To stigmatize someone means that you withhold power from them, denying them access to reach their full human potential and restricting their ability to thrive and live.” — Lakeesha Harris, host of Old Pro News