Dr. Megan Stubbs joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her book Playing Without A Partner: A Single’s Guide to Sex, Dating, and Happiness (Cleis Press). They explore being single in the U.S. today, body mapping and acceptance, sex with near strangers, and how to live your best single life. Special thanks to Dipsea and Intensity by Pour Moi for their support of this episode.
Comedian and co-host of the popular podcast Sex Talk With My Mom , Cam Poter joins Tristan Taormino to catch up and cover as many topics as they can! They talk about pandemic sex, polyamory, dating apps, the relationship escalator, talking about sex with your mom, and the complex magic of kissing (and why it’s sometimes underrated). Special thanks to Dipsea and Lorals for their support of this episode....
Political theorist Lorna Bracewell joins Tristan Taormino to discuss her new book Why We Lost the Sex Wars: Sexual Freedom in the #MeToo Era . Bracewell breaks down what has been lost in the history of the sex wars and creates a revisionist history which breaks down the narrative of only two “sides” (anti-pornography feminists and sex-radical feminists), reveals how classic liberal ideas infiltrated the arguments of the time, and why the voices of women of color are unrepresented in the history....
Dr. Marie Thouin joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her research on compersion in non-monogamous relationships. She defines compersion as “our wholehearted participation in the happiness of others. It is the sympathetic joy we feel for somebody else, even when their positive experience does not involve or benefit us directly. Thus, compersion can be thought of as the opposite of jealousy and possessiveness.” They discuss compersion as a feeling, a practice, and a goal and some practical ways t...
Professors and longtime scholars on sex work Barb Brents and Ron Weitzer join Tristan Taormino to talk about their work with Scientists for Sex Worker Rights. They talk about hysteria and lack of solid research around sex trafficking, the fight to decriminalize sex work, and what’s happening on the local level in various states. Barb Brents is a co-author of Paying for Sex in the Digital Age (One World/Random House) and The State of Sex: Tourism, Sex and Sin in the New American Heartland (New Yo...
Michael Lowenthal reads from his new book Sex with Strangers (University of Wisconsin Press) and he and Tristan talk about the polymorphous perversity of the stories which include a sexy hook up for aging gay man, a hot priest and some surprising confessions, and an unexpected honeymoon night. They also reminisce about missing LGBTQ bookstores, the rise of LGBTQ publishing, and other tales from the 1990s. Michael is the author of four novels: The Same Embrace , Avoidance , Charity Girl (a New Yo...
Sagan Morrow, author of the Polyamorous Passions romcom series, and Tristan Taormino talk about the evolution of romance novels, breaking new ground with different love and relationship styles, grappling with common polyamorous challenges, and the power of representation. In addition to writing, Sagan helps other multi-passionate creatives and solopreneurs save 10+ hours every single week, maximize productivity based on their personality, and take strategic action to finally achieve their dreamy...
Lucie Fielding joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her new book, Trans Sex: Clinical Approaches to Trans Sexualities and Erotic Embodiments (Routledge). She argues we must move beyond trans narratives that are defined by trauma, oppression, genitals, sexual loss, and sexual function. She urges us to reject cis heteronormative ideas about bodies (“The presence of a part should not necessarily lead one to presume that an individual wishes that part interacted with in culturally prescribed ways”)....
Stella Harris joins Tristan Taormino and they chat about a favorite subject: threesomes! Harris has the goods in her new book The Ultimate Guide to Threesomes which explores everything from myths and common pitfalls to logistics and power dynamics. Tristan and Stella do a deeper dive into the subject, talking about how to take baby steps, setting expectations, finding other folks, and unicorns. Stella even tells us how to explore a threesome fantasy without other people! Stella Harris is a Certi...
Torrey Peters joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her national bestselling novel Detransition, Baby (One World/Random House). They talk about her unapologetic approach to writing the book (“I wrote this book for trans women”), the sex scenes that Tristan loved, being seen, multiple kinds of transitions, gender anxiety, community, bad decisions, womanhood, and motherhood. And they roll around with the question: how did such a trans and queer book become a mainstream runaway bestseller? Torrey Pe...
Vic Liu joins Tristan Taormino to kick off Masturbation May and talk about her new book Bang! Masturbation for All Genders and Abilities (published by Microcosm Press). They cover masturbation stigma, double standards, myths, including other people’s voices, and the creation of this book through design. Then Tristan’s friend Tonya stops for some real talk about jerking off and her honest review of the Satisfyer Curvy. This episode is brought to you by Satisfyer in honor of Masturbation May!...
Leanne, the creator of Poly Philia joins Tristan Taormino to discuss her sex-positive personal blog and meme page dedicated to polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, and personal growth in open relationships. With some of Leanne’s memes reaching hundreds of thousands of people, they discuss the power of memes to validate, entertain, correct misconceptions, inspire discussion, and even change minds. Leanne talks about when she uses humor and pop culture and when she is more serious and political. She a...
The incomparable sexual health rock star Dr. Ina Park joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her new book Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs (Flatiron Books)—a fascinating, readable page-turner! The history of sexually transmitted infections is full of fascinating characters, stories, and, of course, sex. In addition to the past, Dr. Park gives us on the low down on the current state of STDs/STIs in the U.S including: the significance of sexual n...
Arielle Greenberg joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her latest book, I Live in the Country & Other Dirty Poems (Four Way Books). Arielle gives listeners a taste of her dirty mind as she reads several poems from this wonderful collection. They talk about her move from a big city to a small town in the country, the opening of her marriage, and how that affected her life and relationships. They go over many of the themes of the book: animals and primal instincts, rough sex, queerness, polyam...
Dr. Heather Berg joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her groundbreaking book Porn Work: Sex, Labor, and Late Capitalism . Berg analyzes the work of porn performers, producers, and directors through the lens of Marxist feminist thought to truly dive into the complexities of the work of porn. She details how porn is similar to other gig economy jobs and also uniquely different. She covers some of the elements of her research and book including life on a porn set, manager/worker tensions, the role...
Beatrice Dixon, Founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company joins Tristan Taormino to tell her story about how a case of bacterial vaginosis led her to found a multi-million company. She talks talk about entrepreneurship, disrupting the “feminine hygiene” industry, and making natural products for vulvas and vaginas. She shares what kind of sex education information and sexual attitudes she was exposed to growing up and how they inform her approach today. Dixon was 1 of the first 40 women of color t...
Julia Rothman and Shaina Feinberg join host Tristan Taormino to talk about the book they co-created Every Body: An Honest and Open Look at Sex From Every Angle . In it, they collected hundreds of stories about sex both anonymously and credited which they share in this delightful book. It covers every conceivable topic from first times to hook ups to mental health and polyamory to BDSM and pegging. They talk about the process of collecting the stories, which included asking strangers on the stree...
Licensed acupuncturist and herbalist Christine DeLozier joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her book Diet for Great Sex: Food for Male and Female Sexual Health. Christine talks about how what we eat affects what she calls “the holy trinity of great sex”—hormonal balance, nerve integrity and vascular health. Her approach to sexual health and sexual issues exists outside of Western medicine. She covers what foods, vitamins, and herbs can help us improve our hormone balance, nerve impulses, blood ...
Veteran adult performer, director, writer, and producer Joanna Angel and host Tristan Taormino sit down for a frank, funny discussion that spans 15+ years of friendship. They talk about when they first met, Joanna’s early days stripping, relationships with non-performers and performers, and her life as a groundbreaking woman who’s been in the adult industry for 20 years. Then Joanna reads from her second book, Club 42: A Choose Your Own Erotic Fantasy from Cleis Press which tells the story of ne...
New York Times “Modern Love” essayist and author Leslie Lehr joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her new book A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession with Breasts Shaped me…and You (Pegasus Books). The book has just been optioned for an HBO Max series by Salma Hayek! They discuss how breasts played a central role throughout Leslie’s life, from flat-chested adolescent to breastfeeding mom to divorcee with breast implants all the way to breast cancer survivor. Along the way, Leslie details her chi...
Journalist Tracy Clark Flory joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her new memoir Want Me: A Sex Writer's Journey into the Heart of Desire. They discuss her early interest in sex and how her attitudes were influenced by her hippie parents, the media, and HBO’s Real Sex. As a young adult, she struggles with failing at being a woman, and she searches for “what men want” and her own desirability through porn, strip clubs, sex writing, and a lot of casual sex. She comes clean about being an orgasm fa...
In part 2 of a 2 part series on the new book We Too: Essays on Sex Work and Survival , contributors join Tristan Taormino to read from their chapters in the book and discuss how sex workers have been left out of the #MeToo movement. Selena the Stripper, host of the podcast Heaux in the Kneaux, shares faer foreword where fae talks about first forays into SW and becoming a stripper and activist for stripper’s rights. Writer/activist Vanessa Carlisle tells the story about forming Hooker’s Army, a p...
Editor Natalie West joins Tristan Taormino in part 1 of a 2 part series on her new book We Too: Essays on Sex Work and Survival . In the wake of the #MeToo resurgence, sex workers of all kinds were hesitant to tell their stories of harassment, coercion, and assault. If sex workers (SWers) tell stories of being victimized, it confirms what people already think they know: sex work is degrading and dangerous. If they don’t speak, they can’t get community support, resources, a chance to speak their ...
Dr. Elisabeth “Eli” Sheff joins Tristan Taormino to talk about her latest book Children in Polyamorous Families , which is based on her groundbreaking 20+ year Polyamorous Family Study, which is the only longitudinal study of polyamorous families with children to date. She talks about the advantages for children raised with polyamorous parents as well as the unique challenges they face. Plus: how does growing up in a polyamorous household affect their attitudes about communication, relationships...
Director/co-producer Jeff M. Giordano and interview subjects Imani Johann and Jade Theriault join Tristan Taormino to talk about the groundbreaking full length animated documentary Romantic Chorus . The film is focused on sex and romantic connections featuring 21 diverse interviews with people from a wide range of genders, cultural backgrounds, abilities, and sexual orientations as they discuss sex, monogamy, fear and technology. Jeff talks about the process of making the film and what surprised...
Tristan Taormino welcomes relationship, leadership and business coach Shana James to explore men, masculinity, and vulnerability. They talk about the rigid gender roles men are expected to embody, the effects of toxic masculinity, and the challenges many men face in sex and relationships. They cover the problematic nature of some men’s coaches and “men’s work.” She shares some of the most common issues her clients come to her with including confusion, fear, and desire and the importance of men’s...
Sex and relationship coach Stacie Ysidro joins Tristan Taormino to talk about sex and sobriety. We discuss the challenges people experience with sex and relationships when they get sober, including anxiety, depression, fear, and disconnection. She uses many different modalities to help navigate these often new and complex waters, including sexology education, breathwork, movement, sounding, zen philosophy, somatic coaching, and Tantra. She explains what “spiritual death” and how her approach is ...
Kaytlin Bailey joins Tristan Taormino to talk about the history of sex work in the U.S—a piece of history that has been undocumented and ignored. She shares stories from her YouTube video “U.S. History from a Whore's Eye View” including the life of black trans sex worker Mary Jones in the 1800s and the connection between World War I, the military, STDs, and policing sex worker bodies. As in her podcast, she profiles a diverse array of people, and we dig into the lives and careers of Valerie Sola...
Journalist, activist and author Kelly Cogswell joins Tristan Taormino to talk about the history of Lesbian Avengers, queer activism and lots more. She talks about the inception, rabble rousing, direct actions, and ultimate end of the Lesbian Avengers. We discuss how the group internally grappled with race, class, culture as well as different goals; she shares her insight into social justice activism, what remains similar and what has changed. She shares her thoughts on the state of democracy and...
Sex and intimacy coach and educator Dr. Alison Ash joins Tristan Taormino to talk about desire, intimacy, embodiment and caring for our nervous systems. We discuss the power of both desire and sexual shame and how to confront both. She covers some basics about how our nervous systems work, defines embodiment, and offers strategies for nervous system care. We talk about how to respond to stresses, triggers, and emotional dysregulation in ourselves and our partners. She explores why embodiment and...
