Fans of Molly Kochan’s podcast will recognize the story told in FX and Hulu’s latest series, Dying for Sex, which stars Michelle Williams as the host and Jenny Slate as her best friend, Nikki Boyer.
The drama, which premiered on April 4, tells the story of Kochan, who received a Stage IV cancer diagnosis and decided to leave her husband of 15 years to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Supported by her best friend, Boyer—who also executively produced the series—Kochan set out on a quest to learn more about herself and her truest sexual desires. And yes, it’s based entirely on the very true and heartbreaking story of Kochan’s life. Let’s dive in.
Is Dying for Sex based on a true story?
Indeed, it is. By 2015, Kochan had already undergone chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, radiation therapy, and a breast reconstruction when she was re-diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. Knowing that this meant that her diagnosis was terminal, Kochan embarked upon the adventure of a lifetime: She left her husband and endeavored to explore her sexuality in her final years, which she documented in a podcast also called Dying for Sex.
The idea for the podcast, which documented and dissected nearly 200 of Kochan’s escapades, came in 2018 when she and Boyer met for lunch following two dates Kochan had already been on that morning. Eventually released by Wondery in 2020, a year after Kochan’s death, the six-episode podcast quickly became a hit and has since been downloaded five million times.
The podcast synopsis reads: “As they peel back the layers, we learn that Molly isn’t just grappling with breast cancer: She’s also dealing with some trauma from her past. Along the journey, the friends explore bigger themes that affect us all—like healing, forgiveness and what do we do with the time we have left.”
“Sexually, we had difficulties before cancer came along,” Kochan said of her marriage in one episode. “Right before I got diagnosed, I was kind of looking to recharge our sex life… and then cancer showed up.”
Kochan’s memoir, Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole, was also published in 2020, one year after Kochan eventually died at the age of 45. One notable fan of Kochan’s came in the form of New Girl creator Elizabeth Meriwether, who, alongside Boyer, adapted it for the television series.
