About this episode

The episode explores the life of Shannon Wilsey, known as Savannah, and her impact on the adult film industry during the 90s.

Savannah was the most famous porn performer of the 90s — she ushered in a totally new era of celebrity for other adult film stars. At her peak she made six-figures and was a tabloid mainstay. But behind the scenes, she gained a reputation for bad on-set behavior as her drug addiction spiraled out of control. In the first episode of a two-part series, Lena and Alissa examine Savannah’s origins as Shannon Wilsey, a teenager struggling to move on from a violent childhood and developing what would become a lifelong passion for older male rock stars. This episode was first published on 03/11/2021. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Lena Dunham, Alissa Bennett

Topics covered

• pornography
• celebrity culture
• drug addiction
• adult film industry
• biography
• 90s culture

More episodes of The C-Word

• Frances Farmer, Part 2 · May 7, 2026 · 49 min
• Bai Ling · April 23, 2026 · 57 min
• Introducing Family Lore · April 21, 2026 · 3 min
• Shannon Wilsey aka Savannah, Part 2 · April 16, 2026 · 41 min
• Sulli · April 2, 2026 · 1h 16m
• Welcome to Becoming You with Suzy Welch · March 30, 2026 · 2 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The C-Word podcast page.