Dying for Sex is an eight-episode FX/Hulu limited series, based on the true story of Molly Kochan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. The show follows Molly (played by Michelle Williams), a woman in an unhappy marriage with her husband Steve (Jay Duplass), who learns her cancer is terminal during a couples therapy session. Facing a 30% chance of surviving five years, Molly leaves her husband and embarks on a journey of sexual exploration, driven by a heightened libido (partly due to her medication, tamoxifen) and a desire to experience pleasure she’s missed out on, including never having had an orgasm with another person.
Supported by her best friend Nikki (Jenny Slate), who takes on caregiving duties, Molly explores her sexuality through various encounters, from online hookups to BDSM, kink apps, and a sex party, while confronting past trauma, including childhood sexual abuse.
The series, inspired by Kochan’s 2020 Wondery podcast of the same name and her memoir Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole, blends comedy, drama, and sex-positivity. It explores themes of female empowerment, friendship, healing, and living fully in the face of mortality. Molly’s journey is depicted with humor and sensitivity, focusing on her inner desires and the deep bond with Nikki, who navigates her own challenges as a caretaker.
The show, created by Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock, premiered on April 4, 2025, and has a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, praised for its performances and bittersweet tone. It includes mature content like nudity, explicit sexual scenes, and discussions of death, but emphasizes the value of supportive friendships and self-discovery.
The exact number of people Molly Kochan slept with is not explicitly detailed in the available sources about the FX/Hulu series Dying for Sex or the Wondery podcast and memoir on which it is based. The series, inspired by Kochan’s real-life story, depicts her exploring her sexuality after a terminal cancer diagnosis, engaging in various sexual encounters through online hookups, kink apps, BDSM experiences, and a sex party. Reviews and summaries describe her as having multiple partners as part of her journey to embrace pleasure and heal from past trauma, but no specific count is provided.
A TheWrap review mentions Molly’s “robust sexual journey” involving “hookups and explorations into BDSM and other kinks,” implying multiple partners without quantifying them.
A Collider article notes her “exploration of her sexual proclivities” through various encounters, but again, no precise number is given.
The podcast and memoir, per summaries, focus on her sexual awakening and experiences without listing a tally of partners.
Since the series blends fact and fiction (e.g., changing names and dramatizing events), it’s unclear how closely it mirrors Kochan’s real-life encounters. Kochan’s memoir, Screw Cancer: Become Whole, might contain more personal details, but no public excerpts or reviews specify a number. Without direct access to the memoir or explicit statements from Kochan, the question cannot be answered with a precise figure.
Dying for Sex is currently available on Hulu.
