Do We Know Things?

Aunt Flo, Shark Week, Time of the Month. What is your favourite euphemism to avoid saying the word menstruation? Menstruation happens to half of the population at some point in their lives, but it is taboo in many places. This taboo prevents us from talking openly about menstruation and the menstrual cycle because it is seen as icky and gross. Of all the topics related to sex, the menstrual cycle might be the most shrouded in mystery.How much pain is normal during your period? Is PMS real? When during the cycle is pregnancy a risk? Can you answer these questions? Listen in to learn about things you might not know about the menstrual cycle. Periods? What do we know? Do we know things? Let's find out! Links mentioned in this episodeWikipedia entry about the menstrual cycle.Ask questions anonymously here.Download the script here.Hosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Production and script assistance by Matt Tunnacliffe

On the last episode of DWKT, I promised an episode on the menstrual cycle, but something urgent came up. That urgent matter was the birth control discussion on Love is Blind season 6. One of the couples decides not to have penis-vagina sex because they really, really don't want to get pregnant. At first I judged them, but then thanks to an Instagram post, I came around and realized I was a jerk. Listen as I talk about why we shouldn't judge them, comment on the horror that is sex ed and reproductive health in the U.S., and give a crash course on birth control. Birth Control! What do we know? Do we know things? Let's find out!Links mentioned in this episodeThe IG post is in this reel Vasalgel websiteThe next episode is about all thinks menstruation: Ask questions anonymously here.Download the script here.Hosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Production and script assistance by Matt Tunnacliffe

What the heck is the Coolidge Effect? Sex research nerds will be familiar with this term, but others might not. It is a specific sexual phenomenon named after an urban legend about U.S. President Calvin Coolidge. Sound odd? It is! And the researcher who named it that did it as a hoax. This episode will take us on an oddly detailed journey through rat sex research, examine our human biases about sex, and look at whether or not men need more sexual variety than women.The Coolidge Effect! What do we know? Do we know things? Let's find out!Links mentioned in this episodeThe next episode is about all thinks menstruation: Ask questions anonymously here.Download the script here.Hosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Production and script assistance by Matt Tunnacliffe

Part 2 of my 2 month road trip. I visit the Kinsey Institute, attend a kink convention, and contemplate the many abortion-related billboards on my journey through the U.S.A. I also go to the foggy land where the Twilight Vampires live. Sex stuff! What do we know? Do We Know Things? Let's find out!Things mentioned in this episode:The Kinsey Institute Unabashed ConProabort.comPlan C PillsDo you have any burning questions for us to cover in a future episode? Or do you want to give some anonymous feedback? Please fill out the Do We Know Things? surveyDownload the script here.Hosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Production and script assistance by Matt TunnacliffeMusic and editing Jeremy Dahl https://www.palebluedot.ca/

Being single comes with a lot of stigma! We live in a world where being part of a couple is seen as #goals and anything outside of this, whether it be having multiple partners or choosing to be single come with societal judgment. For single folks, thankfully, there are people like Dr. Peter McGraw who hosts the podcast Solo: A Single Person's Guide to a Remarkable Life who shares the joys of being a solo. In this episode Peter will define what makes someone a solo vs. just single, tackle some myths about single life, and celebrate the awesomeness of solos.Being single! What do we know? Do we know things? Let's find out!Links mentioned in this episode:Do you have any burning questions for us to cover in a future episode? Or do you want to give some anonymous feedback? Please fill out the Do We Know Things? surveyFind the script for this episode hereHosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Production and editing by Matt TunnacliffeMusic and mastering by Jeremy Dahl https://www.palebluedot.ca/

On episode 53, I made the questionable choice to delve into the debates around circumcision. I asked for listener feedback, and boy did I get some!On this episode, I am joined again by resident man, Matt Tunnacliffe and we will dig into some of the responses we got after the last episode. As expected, the responses were divided! We talk bias, science, and how many things we still don’t know.Circumcision! What do we know? Do We Know Things? Let's find out!Links mentioned in this episode:Do you have any burning questions for us to cover in a future episode? Or do you want to give some anonymous feedback? Please fill out the Do We Know Things? surveyFind the script for this episode hereHosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Music and editing Jeremy Dahl https://www.palebluedot.ca/Script assistance and cohosting by Matt TunnacliffeHosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.

Stories are fundamental part of the human existence and have existed since we have had language. We form our cultures and belief systems around stories. Writers of fiction have the gift of being able to create entire worlds through the stories they tell. I partnered with the Frye Festival to interview authors who do just that. This episode is different than most Do We Know Things? episode where I dive into the research on a specific sexuality topic. Instead of science, this episode focuses on art. I am joined by authors and translators Aimee Wall, Clémentine Beauvais, and Sonya Malaborza. We discuss sex, sexual assault, and abortion in fiction, as well as the nuances and tensions of translating works into different languages. Find the script for this episode hereLinks from the Episode:Frye FestivalHallie Lieberman's essay on the history of the vibratorLinks to my guest's latest books:Décomposée by Clémentine BeauvaisWe, Jane by Aimee WallL’accoucheuse de Scots Bay translated by Sonya MalaborzaHosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Music and editing Jeremy Dahl https://www.palebluedot.ca/Script assistance by Matt Tunnacliffe

Penile circumcision. It’s a big deal! People have very strong feelings about it. For some it is a religious rite of passage, for others it is a health imperative, and for others it is genital mutilation and should be banned.On this episode, I will explore the controversies around penile circumcision: does it affect penile sensitivity? Does it offer any health benefits? Is it ethical? And why do we see penile genital surgery as different than other kinds of genital surgery.Circumcision! What do we know? Do We Know Things? Let's find out!Links mentioned in this episode:Worldwide Circumcision Stats from @india.in.pixelsFind the script for this episode hereHosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Music and editing Jeremy Dahl https://www.palebluedot.ca/Script assistance and cohosting by Matt TunnacliffeHosted by Dr. Lisa Dawn Hamilton, psychology professor and sex educator.Music and editing Jeremy Dahl https://www.palebluedot.ca/Script assistance by Matt Tunnacliffe