Shirley Cavanaugh

Shirley Cavanaugh

From The Oldest Profession Podcast by Old Pros

January 3, 2026 · 37 min · Season 6 · Episode 10

About this episode

This episode explores the story of Shirley Cavanaugh, a sex worker who exposed police corruption in 1950s Pittsburgh.

Shirley Cavanaugh, a down on her luck sex worker, blew the lid off a corrupt police department in Pittsburgh in the 1950s. By chance she was falsely accused of shooting a cop, but instead of backing down, she fought back. What happened to her triggered a major investigation that ended in the disbandment of the Pittsburgh Vice Squad. In this episode, Kaytlin Bailey explores Shirley's story, her entanglement with an Officer and the remarkable coalition that rallied around her. Featuring interviews with Shirley's grandson Jason Kirin and Pittsburgh columnist Jessie Sage, this is a forgotten story of bravery, abuse, and resistance. You can buy Jason Kirin's book From the Furnace With Love; The Multigenerational Tapestry of Shirley Cavanaugh , documenting his grandmother's incredible story. Read Jessie Sage's article about Shirley Cavanaugh . We'd like to thank our Season 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. 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…

People in this episode

Host: Kaytlin Bailey

Guests: Jason Kirin, Jessie Sage

Topics covered

  • corruption
  • sex work
  • police misconduct
  • bravery
  • resistance
  • Pittsburgh history

Keywords

  • Shirley Cavanaugh
  • Pittsburgh
  • police corruption
  • sex work
  • Kaytlin Bailey
  • Jason Kirin
  • Jessie Sage
  • bravery
  • resistance

Sponsors

M e g a P e r s o n a l s, Assembly Four, Tryst, A Great Idea, New Moon Network

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pittsburgh Vice Squad, Old Pros

Products: From the Furnace With Love; The Multigenerational Tapestry of Shirley Cavanaugh

More episodes of The Oldest Profession Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Oldest Profession Podcast podcast page.