Sofia Franklyn is coming into her own.

The confident, straight-to-the-point podcast host spent the past two years finding her footing as a solo act. Fans of Franklyn know her story all too well: a former host of the hit Barstool podcast Call Her Daddy, Franklyn “returned from the dead” (her words) after the podcast publicly fell apart with her own show.

Though she’s best known for giving fans raunchy and oftentimes explicit sexual advice, she wanted to show the world a more realistic, well-rounded version of herself. And thus, Sofia with an F was born.

Though Franklyn still gives listeners a healthy dose of sex tips and stories, she also dedicates time to some G-rated topics, like how to handle relationship drama and tips on managing anxiety, though she never strays too far from the classic wit and sense of humor that made her a star.

Franklyn gave V some insight into her new direction as a podcast host, her personal life, and what advice she has for fans who want her job.

V: You have a lot more creative control over your current show than you probably have with other projects. How has this shaped Sofia with an F in a unique way?  

Sofia Franklyn: On my old show, I felt like I was put in a box where I had to be this hyper sexual, over-the-top persona all the time. I wouldn’t allow myself to have conversations about things that mattered to me. Now that I have full ownership of Sofia with an F, you’ll find episodes where I talk about giving oral sex one in one breath and my crippling anxiety in the next. The creative control has allowed me to be more authentic than ever. 

V: When you began your podcasting career, what types of content did you find your listeners were most engaged with?  

SF: Anything sexual, by a landslide. I didn’t realize how taboo of a topic it was until I started talking about it publicly. To me, it’s just a part of life, but I quickly realized that many people feel shame around it. I try to remove that shame by speaking graphically about sex. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.   

V: How do you decide between what parts of your personal life you want on the show, and what parts you want to keep private?  

SF: That’s the question of the century. I don’t have an answer for that one yet. What I can say is if an episode is scheduled to release that could potentially affect me negatively, my motto is “Let go, and let God.” There is no holding back, and my listeners know that. I’ve already exposed so many personal, embarrassing, and hard truths about myself. But, if I want to share something that could potentially hurt somebody else, I won’t. Or at the very least, I ask them first.  

V: Describe your relationship with your listeners. How much of a two-way street is it?  

SF: The relationship I have with my listeners is unique in the sense that they’ve been to hell and back with me. I try not to bring up the past, but it’s true. They stuck beside me through a highly publicized smear campaign, one of the darkest moments of my life. Whether they believed me from day one or over time were able to see through the bullshit, it took a tremendous amount of loyalty and fortitude to follow me to my new show and to stand by me. So, I actually feel a very deep, sincere, and appreciative love for my listeners. I could cry about it right now. 

V: What’s a topic/episode of your show that meant a lot to you personally? 

SF: Choosing self-acceptance over self-help. I am so over the endless barrage of self-improvement content. I am already so self-critical, the last thing I need is to see all the ways I can be better by drinking green juice and journaling. If you journal, tell your journal about it. I’m over it. And I would be amiss if I didn’t include the “Dick Riding Blueprint” episode as an honorary mention. You’d be surprised how much goes into it. It’s an art form.   

V: What are tips you’d give to women who want to work in media in a similar capacity?  

SF: Just go for it. I never thought I would have a career that I felt passionate about. I thought to myself “that could never be me.” But it can be you, and it will be you. You just need to make the jump, and you need to believe it, and you need to stick with it. Intern at your local radio station. Reach out to people who have your dream job and ask to assist them. Start posting things that you love and stop worrying that people will think it’s stupid. You would be surprised at how many people can relate to your quirks and passions.  

V: What are some of your does and don’ts of “showbiz?” (Besides never saying showbiz) 

SF: My biggest ‘do’ would be to never sign anything without having someone, preferably a lawyer, look over it. The second ‘do’ would be to stay true to who you are. There will be a lot of people trying to pull you in every direction, and you need to have the strength to say no to a lot of things that come your way. Moving on to the ‘Don’ts’… Don’t get carried away once you reach some level of “showbiz success.” Once you let fame, money, or your follower count determine your happiness, you’re fucked. It is fleeting and can leave you on your ass at any moment. Also, don’t pay any attention to the hate you receive, and don’t listen when people tell you “no.” Just prove them wrong. 

V: Have you had any show ideas that you’d like to manifest in the future besides Sofia with an F? 

SF: I have actually… I can’t say too much now, but I do have something in the works that is going to be totally unexpected and insane in the best way. So, stay tuned!