Today we’d like to introduce you to KarenLee and Cam Poter. They and their team shared their story with us below:
KarenLee Poter and Cam Poter are a mom-son comedy duo. As Cam’s Mom, KarenLee had a lot to do with Cam’s start. She created Cam and then she created a podcast with Cam called Sex Talk With My Mom.
Their creative journey together was catalyzed by the murder of their husband/father in 2006. This unexpected tragedy flipped their lives upside down and formed a tight-knit bond between them. At the same time, it provided them with a new perspective on the things worth worrying about and liberated them from social taboos, like having a sex talk with a parent.
Eventually, KarenLee started dating again, and she quickly learned that there were few dating resources on YouTube for women her age. She decided to create this YouTube channel herself and then published a book with the insight that she collected called “A Cougar’s Guide to Getting Your Ass Back Out There.”
At the time, Cam was just out of college and performing stand-up comedy around Los Angeles. At first, he had one joke about his mom having a YouTube channel about sex and relationships. He quickly learned that his mom’s content was a goldmine for his own laughs, especially when he quoted her videos like the one entitled “Oral Sex Tips: Part II.” Soon, he was doing full sets about his mom’s show and began to read excerpts from her book. He even sold several copies to his audiences, which KarenLee appreciated.
Around Thanksgiving 2015, Cam went back from LA to Chicago, where KarenLee was living at the time. They decided to combine forces and create a comedic video together, all about their dating and sex lives (or lack thereof). People enjoyed the video, and they wanted to continue collaborating. A friend strongly recommended that they check out this new thing called “Podcasts” because it would allow them to remotely create something together. They tried it out and have been hooked ever since.
After eight years, 507 episodes, and 2 million+ downloads, the show has taken on a life of its own. It has landed them on world-class stages, like the Hollywood Improv and Second City in Chicago. They’ve been interviewed on Comedy Central and the Today Show. Above all, it connected them with a community of some of the most kind-hearted and open-minded “Sneaky Freaks” (a.k.a. their listeners) from around the world. They’re grateful for this super fun and bizarre ride that has made people laugh while breaking down the boundaries of what family members typically talk about.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Doing anything every week for eight years straight will inevitably come with challenges. Surprisingly, working with family has not been one of those obstacles. The difficulty typically comes from publicly sharing our perspectives and personal experiences, while making sure not to inadvertently offend our listeners or accidentally expose information about our guests or the people in our lives. Also, due to the nature of our show, the social media Gods are not huge fans of ours and often choose to censor our content. Who knew talking with your mom could be so controversial?
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We host the best (and only) mom-son podcast about sex, called Sex Talk With My Mom. Our goal is to make the uncomfortable comfortable. In doing so, we hope to inspire others to open up a bit more to those who they love and trust. The topics of our weekly, hour-long conversations range from masturbation and one-night stands to cannabis and our GI issues. We’ve been featured as a top sex podcast by Esquire, Huffington Post, and LA Mag. We love to hear that the show has made our listeners cry laughing and has inspired many of them to become more open about their sex with the people who they care about.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
We doubt anyone will be starting a sex podcast with their mom. However, if you’re trying to become a bit more open about your own sex and sexuality with those around you, we recommend taking baby steps. See if you could share just a little bit more than you’re comfortable with and observe how the person responds. They might greet you with a surprising open-mindedness, and in turn, you will grow closer. If they shut you down or think you’re weird, follow the first rule of our manifesto: “Give no f*cks!”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sextalkwithmymom.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sextalkwithmymompod/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stalkwithmymom
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SexTalkWMyMom
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sextalkwithmymom
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sextalkwithmymom
Image Credits
Joseph Harold (UPodcaster) Joel Harold (UPodcaster) Betyel Kahsai
