The FX-produced series Dying for Sex, now streaming on Hulu, explores one woman’s intimate and darkly comic reckoning with terminal illness.

Starring Michelle Williams as Molly, a woman diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, the eight-episode limited series is based on the true story of Molly Kochan, whose unconventional response to her diagnosis became the subject of a 2020 Wondery podcast hosted by her best friend, Nikki Boyer.

The show, co-created by Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock, both of whom come from New Girl, balances humor and heartbreak, delving into themes of autonomy, sexuality and the complexities of long-held trauma.

What Is the Plot of ‘Dying for Sex’?

The series centers on Molly, a long-married woman whose cancer returns after a period of remission. Instead of retreating inward, she decides to leave her husband and embark on a journey of sexual exploration. She seeks experiences that reconnect her to her body, autonomy and identity—all while grappling with a terminal prognosis.

Molly’s close friendship with Nikki, portrayed by Jenny Slate, is at the emotional heart of the series. Their bond provides moments of levity and sincerity amid the show’s darker revelations, including Molly’s reckoning with past sexual trauma.

Is ‘Dying for Sex’ Based on a True Story?

Yes. Dying for Sex is based on the real-life story of Kochan, who co-created the original podcast with Boyer during the final months of her life. Kochan was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2015 and left her marriage shortly afterward to begin what she described in her memoir as a “sexual journey of exploration,” as reported by Forbes. Her memoir, Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole, was published in 2020.

While the show fictionalizes some elements—including setting the story in New York instead of Los Angeles and merging several suitors into a single character played by Rob Delaney—the emotional truths of her story are preserved.

“A lot of people think, ‘She’s just having sex, f****** around to make herself feel good,'” Boyer told Forbes. “But it wasn’t just about that. There was healing of old wounds. Her whole life she felt fragmented and during sex she was allowed to make her own choices and put the pieces together for herself.”

In real life, Molly was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 40s and had a sexual awakening. She left her husband when her cancer returned and the two remained friends, according to Vogue.

In the final months of her life, Kochan created the Wondery podcast with Boyer, also called Dying for Sex. According to Forbes, Kochan spoke candidly on the podcast about how her cancer treatment had triggered a disconnect in her sexual relationship with her husband. Molly also ran a blog on her website, Everything Leads to This.

Kochan died in 2019 at 45 years old. One year later, both her memoir and the podcast were released.

What People are Saying

Jenny Slate, who plays Boyer, posted to Instagram: “Dying For Sex is yours to enjoy now on FX and Hulu. Thank you thank you thank you to everyone on this production. I had the time of my life.”

Lucy Mangan, TV critic for The Guardian, wrote in her review: “It is a lot to deal with and, perhaps uniquely in the annals of modern television history, Dying for Sex feels like it could do with longer episodes or a longer season, so that more justice could be done to all parts of Molly’s life. But perhaps the pell-mell rush is in keeping with her pressing need to do all that she wants before the inevitable arrives. There is never enough time.”

What’s Next

All eight episodes of Dying for Sex are now streaming on Hulu. While no sequel is planned, the series adds to a growing trend of adapting personal podcast stories for screen and could inspire similar dramatizations centered on women’s lived experiences.