End Demand in Sweden, Norway, & Iceland

End Demand in Sweden, Norway, & Iceland

Author: Old Pros August 26, 2025 Duration: 1:04:26

The End Demand model, also called the Nordic model, claims to protect sex workers by criminalizing clients. The evidence is in; this model doesn't keep sex workers safe. In fact, it makes things worse. Kaytlin Bailey sits down with sex workers who have worked under this policy for decades in Sweden, Norway and Iceland and breaks down how this policy, first implemented in Sweden in 1999, was exported globally under a false banner of feminism. In this episode you will hear how End Demand laws perpetuate stigma, encourage police harassment, and make it harder for sex workers to screen clients, negotiate boundaries, and seek help. Decriminalization isn't just kinder—it's more effective. 


Thank you to Kira from Red Umbrella Sweden, Leo from Sweden, Astrid and Lilith from PION, Iselin from Norway and Logn and Mia from Red Umbrella Iceland for meeting with me and contributing to this episode.

You can follow Kira on Facebook and Twitter/X, Leo on Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter/X, Iselin on Instagram, and Logn on Instagram.

Check out our upcoming conference in Reykjavik happening on November 1, 2025, Sex Worker Stories and Public Policy, where you can hear directly from many of the people featured in this episode.

The Oldest Profession Podcast is produced by Old Pros, a non-profit media organization that uses storytelling to advocate for sex worker rights. 

If you value our mission, please consider making a tax deductible donation. To learn more visit us at oldprosonline.org, which is also where you can get Old Pros t-shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and more. Of course, proceeds from our shop support our work at Old Pros.

We'd like to thank our Season 6 sponsors M e g a P e r s o n a l s, Assembly Four, Tryst, A Great Idea, and the New Moon Network.


History is often told through the lens of the powerful, but what about those who operated in the shadows? The Oldest Profession Podcast turns the spotlight on the figures who shaped culture from the margins. Hosted by Kaytlin Bailey-a stand-up comic, advocate, and self-described notorious old pro-this series digs into the lives of specific sex workers from the past, placing them firmly within the context of their era. You’ll hear about courtesans who influenced politics, brothel owners who built empires, and street-based workers who fought back against oppression, all while drawing clear lines to the modern movement for rights and dignity. It’s a blend of rigorous historical research and the kind of candid, often humorous perspective that only someone with Bailey’s unique background can provide. Created in partnership with the team at Old Pros, this podcast doesn't just recount anecdotes; it argues that understanding these "old pros" is essential to understanding our collective story. The tone is engaging and accessible, merging the depth of a history lesson with the relatable punch of comedy. For anyone curious about the untold chapters of social history, this show offers a compelling, humanizing, and surprisingly funny journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Oldest Profession Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Candida Royalle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:59
Candida Royalle was a 1970's porn star who went on to found Femme Productions, the first feminist production company that made porn for women. In this episode, Kaytlin Bailey tells Candida's extraordinary story covering…
Robin Byrd [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:49
Robin Byrd was more than a porn star—she was a pioneer creating one of Manhattan's most iconic cable shows, The Robin Byrd Show which she produced and starred in from 1977-1998. In this episode Kaytlin Bailey dives deep…
Open to Debate: "Is it OK to Pay for Sex?" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:35
This week in Open to Debate a sex worker rights advocate and a human rights attorney have a passionate and vigorous debate about these laws, with the common goal of figuring out what's best for sex workers. Arguing "yes"…
Pamela Churchill Harriman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:52
In this episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey celebrates the life of Pamela Churchill Harriman, a remarkable woman whose journey kept her at the forefront of history through the 20th century. Born…
LGBTQ+ Rights & Sex Worker History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
n this thought-provoking episode of The Oldest Profession podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey explores the shared historical context of the stigma and criminalization of homosexuality and prostitution. Kaytlin discusses the ori…
Magdalene Laundries & Homes for Unwed Mothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:32
In this eye-opening episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, host Kaytlin Bailey dives into the dark history of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland and the homes for unwed mothers in the United States. These institutions…
Carol Erwin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:50
In this episode of The Oldest Profession Podcast, your host Kaytlin Bailey explores the life of prolific madam, Carol Erwin, who daringly thrived across the American West during the Great Depression and World War II. Kay…
The American Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:57
Join host Kaytlin Bailey on The Oldest Profession Podcast as she uncovers the chilling history of The American Plan, a government program that aimed to target promiscuity and prostitution in the United States from 1917 i…
Margo St. James [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:40
Join us on The Oldest Profession Podcast as we pay tribute to the remarkable life and legacy of Margo St. James. Known as the mother of the contemporary sex worker rights movement in the United States, Margo's impact was…