We often think good sex mostly comes down to physical technique. But many people feel disconnected from their bodies, stuck in their heads, or unable to access desire and pleasure. And that’s something technique alone can’t fix. Today, we’ll explore how attending to unconscious factors like shame, anxiety, and trauma can open the door to deeper pleasure. I am joined once again by Juliane Maxwald , a licensed psychoanalyst, couples therapist, and AASECT-certified sex therapist based in New York C...
Jan 23, 2026•31 min•Ep. 469
When people experience sexual problems, the instinct is often to ask, “What’s wrong with me?” or “How do I fix this?” But what if those struggles are actually meaningful signals or clues that something deeper needs attention? In today’s show, we’re exploring a different way of understanding sexual difficulties: as doorways to unconscious emotional and relational truths. My guest is Juliane Maxwald , a licensed psychoanalyst, couples therapist, and AASECT-certified sex therapist based in New York...
Jan 20, 2026•30 min•Ep. 468
When people hear about certain kinks, the reaction is often one of confusion or judgment. The question that comes up again and again is, “Why would anyone be into that ?” Today, we’re exploring some lesser-known and often misunderstood kinks, not to sensationalize them, but to understand the psychology behind why different people are drawn to different things. I am joined once again by Gigi Engle , a certified sex and relationships psychotherapist, and sex educator. Gigi is an associate clinicia...
Jan 16, 2026•30 min•Ep. 467
When people hear the word “kink,” they often imagine something extreme. However, kink is actually far broader and more common than most people realize. In today’s show, we’re unpacking what kink is, what it isn’t, and why people want what they want. If you’ve ever wondered “why are people into that?”, this episode is for you. My guest is Gigi Engle , a certified sex and relationships psychotherapist, and sex educator. Gigi is an associate clinician at The Therapy Yard, where she specializes in w...
Jan 13, 2026•30 min•Ep. 466
“Sex-positive” is a term that gets used a lot these days, but it doesn’t always mean the same thing to everyone. Sometimes it’s about sexual openness or enthusiasm, other times it’s about respect for sexual diversity, and sometimes it’s even used in coercive ways. In this episode, we explore what sex-positivity actually is, and what it isn’t. I am joined once again by Dr. Carol Queen , the staff sexologist, Company Historian, and Curator of the Antique Vibrator Museum at Good Vibrations . A note...
Jan 09, 2026•31 min•Ep. 465
Sex shops are more than just retail spaces. In fact, they’re often where people actually learn about sex. When formal sex ed fails, sex shops step in to answer questions about bodies, pleasure, and desire. In this episode, we’re exploring how sex shops became unexpected sex educators, and what we can learn from that. My guest is Dr. Carol Queen , the staff sexologist, Company Historian, and Curator of the Antique Vibrator Museum at Good Vibrations . A noted cultural sexologist whose work has bee...
Jan 06, 2026•36 min•Ep. 464
A lot has changed very quickly lately, and nowhere is this more evident than in LGBTQ+ health. In just a short period of time, we’ve seen shifts in research funding, data collection, public health infrastructure, and the broader social climate, all of which have real, measurable consequences for people’s mental, physical, and sexual well-being. In today’s episode, I’m joined by two experts who study how stress, stigma, and uncertainty affect LGBTQ+ people, and what these rapid changes mean for h...
Jan 02, 2026•42 min•Ep. 463
What can you do to build stronger, happier, and healthier relationships in the coming year? In today’s show, we’re going to explore practical resolutions for strengthening your connection, reducing conflict, and breaking out of the ruts and routines that often make relationships feel stale. I am joined once again by Ashley Weller . She is a Human Sexuality and Health Psychology Professor at Chapman University in Southern California. Ashley also has a podcast called What’s Your Position that tack...
Dec 30, 2025•32 min•Ep. 462
Most New Year’s resolutions fail, but it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode, we’re going to explore how to set sexy goals that actually stick. Learn how to turn intention into intimacy and make this your best year yet for connection and pleasure, whether you’re in a relationship or flying solo. My guest is Ashley Weller . She is a Human Sexuality and Health Psychology Professor at Chapman University in Southern California. Ashley also has a podcast called What’s Your Position that tack...
Dec 26, 2025•29 min•Ep. 461
If you’re feeling hornier than usual right now, it’s not just you! The winter holidays are a time of year when sexual interest and behavior reliably increase. We see this in everything from a spike in condom sales to an increase in sexual injuries to a peak in STD rates early in the new year. So why is that? That’s what we’re going to explore in today’s episode. Some of the specific topics we’re discussing include: How (and why) does sexual behavior change with the seasons? Why is Santa such a p...
Dec 23, 2025•32 min•Ep. 460
Erectile dysfunction has long been treated with guesswork and one-size-fits-all solutions. But new technology is changing that by making erections measurable. In this episode, we explore the FirmTech TechRing, a wearable that tracks erection data during sleep and sex, and what insights from over 136,000 erections reveal about erectile fitness, overall health, and the future of data-driven sexual medicine. I am joined once again by Dr. Elliot Justin, the CEO and founder of FirmTech , a sextech co...
Dec 19, 2025•28 min•Ep. 459
What actually has to happen inside the body for an erection to occur? And what is the most common cause of erectile dysfunction (ED)? In today’s show, we’re diving into the science of how erections work, as well as why men sometimes struggle to get or maintain them. We’ll also unpack some common misconceptions about ED and discuss why the standard “just take a pill approach” overlooks a bigger issue. My guest is Dr. Elliot Justin, the CEO and founder of FirmTech , a sextech company focused on ke...
Dec 16, 2025•26 min•Ep. 458
Most people think men’s sexual orientation is pretty straightforward: if you’re gay, you only sleep with men, and if you’re straight, you only sleep with women. But things aren’t always that simple. In today’s show, we’re exploring a reality that doesn’t fit the script—gay men who are out and confident in their identity, but who sometimes sleep with women. I am joined once again by Dr. Joe Kort, the clinical director and founder of The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health in Royal Oak, Mich...
Dec 12, 2025•30 min•Ep. 457
Although gay men are often seen as being pretty uninhibited when it comes to sex, their fantasy lives tell a more complex story. Like everyone else, many gay men experience shame, confusion, or conflict around their fantasies. In today’s show, we’re diving into common themes that show up in gay men’s fantasies, the psychology behind them, and how to drop the shame. My guest is Dr. Joe Kort, the clinical director and founder of The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health in Royal Oak, Michigan....
Dec 09, 2025•28 min•Ep. 456
People’s definitions of cheating are evolving. Infidelity isn’t just about physical betrayal anymore. It’s emotional, it’s digital, and sometimes it doesn’t even involve another human at all. In today’s show, we’re diving into the new rules of cheating. We’re also going to talk about how modern technology is making it harder than ever to keep infidelity a secret. I am joined once again by Dr. Amanda Gesselman a research scientist and head of the VIBES research team at the Kinsey Institute at Ind...
Dec 05, 2025•33 min•Ep. 455
Popular GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound aren’t just transforming weight loss. They’re also changing our intimate lives in surprising ways. In today’s show, we’re diving into results from a new national study finding that a majority of people taking one of these medications reported a change in their sex and dating lives, for better or for worse. My guest is Dr. Amanda Gesselman a research scientist and head of the VIBES research team at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana Univer...
Dec 02, 2025•32 min•Ep. 454
How do you make a non-monogamous relationship work? In today’s show, we’re diving into a brand-new study that set out to map the most common and effective relationship practices for consensually non-monogamous (CNM) people. We’re going to discuss the key strategies that help people maintain multiple partners with intention, stability, and harmony. I am joined once again by Dr. Justin Mogilski , an associate professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, where he teache...
Nov 28, 2025•37 min•Ep. 453
Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is something everyone seems to have an opinion on, but many people’s views are decidedly negative. For example, people often say things like “open relationships never work,” and “how is that any different than cheating?” In today’s show, we’re going to dive into common CNM myths and misconceptions and separate fact from fiction. My guest is Dr. Justin Mogilski , an associate professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, where he teaches c...
Nov 25, 2025•36 min•Ep. 452
Many parts of female sexual anatomy have long been misunderstood, but the clitoris is chief among them. Throughout history, the clitoris is something that has repeatedly been discovered, described, and then forgotten. In today’s show, we’re going revisit one of my favorite conversations from the archives and talk all about the history and science of the clitoris. My guest is Dr. Maria Uloko , a board certified urologist specializing in comprehensive sexual health, reconstruction and prosthesis. ...
Nov 21, 2025•34 min•Ep. 451
It’s November again, and that means a bunch of people on the internet are giving up masturbation for the month. While “No Nut November” is a relatively recent phenomenon, it actually has deep roots and reflects humans’ longstanding and very complicated relationship with self-pleasure. In this show, we’re talking about the history of masturbation and why people are so conflicted over it. My guest is Dr. Eric Sprankle , an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and the co-director of the Sexua...
Nov 18, 2025•43 min•Ep. 450
Think back to your sex education for a moment. Were you advised to “save yourself for marriage?” Were you asked to sign a “purity” pledge? For millions of people, that was their experience. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at abstinence pledges, including how they became so widespread, whether they actually work as intended, and the unseen consequences they leave behind. I am joined once again by Lauren Elise Rogers , a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy &...
Nov 14, 2025•35 min•Ep. 449
For a lot of people who grew up in religious or conservative environments, they learned to fear sex and/or feel ashamed of. Purity culture teaches folks that their personal value is tied to their sexual choices: “good” people wait to have sex, while “bad” people don’t. In this episode, we’re going to talk about what it’s like to grow up in purity culture, how to move past it, and whether it’s possible to still hold onto your faith while letting go of purity culture. My guest is Lauren Elise Roge...
Nov 11, 2025•35 min•Ep. 448
Have you ever heard that vibrators will desensitize you and ruin partnered sex forever? That sex toys are just for women, singles, or kinky folks? Or that if you need a toy, something must be wrong with your sex life or relationship? These are common beliefs, but they’re not grounded in reality. So let’s set the record straight. My guest is Venus O’Hara , a pleasure educator, author, and content creator. She became Spain’s first professional sex toy tester, and since 2014 has tested and reviewed...
Nov 07, 2025•32 min•Ep. 447
A sex toy is so much more than just a fun gadget. Toys can help us to explore our bodies, rekindle the connection in a relationship, improve sexual communication, and more. In this episode, we’re going behind the scenes of how sex toys are designed and developed. We’re also going to talk about what makes a toy truly great, as well as how to tell which toys are worth your money and which ones aren’t. I am joined by Venus O’Hara , a pleasure educator, author, and content creator. She became Spain’...
Nov 04, 2025•36 min•Ep. 446
From sayings like “freak in the head, freak in the bed” to the hot/crazy matrix to memes about “daddy issues,” the internet is full of content suggesting that mentally and emotionally unstable people make for hotter sex partners. But is that really true? In this episode, we’re breaking down some of the biggest myths about sex and relationships that dominate social media. I am joined once again by Joe Nucci , a licensed psychotherapist, writer, and social media influencer. His debut book, Psychob...
Oct 31, 2025•32 min•Ep. 445
Social media has turned therapy into a language that almost everyone seems to speak these days, which is why your feed is probably full of posts about topics like trauma, boundaries, and gaslighting. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at the rise of “therapy speak” and how, for better or for worse, it’s reshaping the way we talk about emotions, conflict, and relationships. I am joined by Joe Nucci , a licensed psychotherapist, writer, and social media influencer. His debut book, Psychob...
Oct 28, 2025•36 min•Ep. 444
All too often, survivors of sexual violence are treated as though they’re permanently broken. However, healing and recovery are possible. My guest today has written a new book that explores how survivors reclaim sex, intimacy, and desire after assault. It’s unlike most other books on trauma because it dares to ask not just how people survive, but also how they thrive again. I am joined by Katie Simon (they/them), a sexuality journalist and author of Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of...
Oct 24, 2025•34 min•Ep. 443
When it comes to sex, we often think about safety and pleasure as being at odds with one another. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode, we’re talking about some new Kinsey Institute research looking at people’s experiences with Lorals for Protection , a product designed to offer both protection and pleasure during oral sex. I am joined by Dr. Cynthia Graham, a senior scientist at the Kinsey Institute . She is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sex Research and conducts research on ...
Oct 21, 2025•34 min•Ep. 442
Most people in long-term relationships think their sex life could be better. So what can you do if you and your partner don’t really seem to be in synch anymore when it comes to sex? In today’s show, we’re going to explore how to respark your sexual connection. We’ll also dive into the topic of sexual initiation, including how we can learn to initiate in ways that are actually going to stimulate desire in our partners. I am joined once again by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy , an AASECT-certified sex t...
Oct 17, 2025•32 min•Ep. 441
Becoming a parent changes everything in your life, including your sex life. It’s common for new parents to struggle with desire, let alone finding time for intimacy. So what can parents do to get things back on track? In today’s show, we’re talking all about how parenthood changes sex and tips for reigniting intimacy. My guest is Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy , an AASECT-certified sex therapist who helps couples navigate sex, desire, and connection. She is also author of the new book Parents in Love: ...
Oct 14, 2025•31 min•Ep. 440
