Turn Me On

Welcome back to another edition of Carnal Knowledge! A weekly rendezvous between sex and science. This week, Anna delivers some interesting research on the impacts that virtual reality erotica can make on feelings of presence, arousal, and sexual desire for women viewers. Could this be a new frontier of sexual exploration of desires and preferences? The study illuminates differences in effectiveness between VR and 2D viewing, as well as first-person POV vs a more voyeruistic third-person experience. Closing the orgasm gap, one erotic story at a time!Link to Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217303898?casa_token=HAk1Qsqy6AcAAAAA:1ngfqQ9WoEiFE3hJu43BiSpRQUsVt7qvnX-9XFsAzTZs8yiWzB2x6jh401DBiNU8KbritIaXrQ

When life gives you lemons, sometimes it also gives you endometriosis. April Maria (aka Venus Libido) shares her transformative journey from patient to advocate to sex educator highlighting the labyrinthine path to a proper diagnosis and the frustrating lack of awareness surrounding endometriosis. Delving into the impact on sexual pleasure and intimacy, April underscores the importance of breaking the silence around this often misunderstood condition. She explains the ins and outs of endometriosis, from painful symptoms to the challenges of induced menopause. Through candid discussion, April explores how pelvic pain can derail mental health and daily life, while championing holistic wellness and self-care as vital tools for managing chronic pain. With her expertise as a sex educator, she empowers her followers to take charge of their health and seek support. Follow April:InstagramWebsiteLinktree

Are you cliterate or a cliteridiot? Dr. Laurie Mintz is an author, therapist, speaker and Emeritus Professor at the University of Florida, where she teaches the Psychology of Human Sexuality to hundreds of undergraduate students each year. Bryde and Jeremie chat with Dr. Mintz about the evolution of her course and the challenges of teaching in this field. She shares insights on the changing landscape of gender identity, the impact of new research on teaching, and the intersection of sexual pleasure with body image and self-consciousness. And don’t miss it - keep your ears open for the one takeaway that has all the apiarists abuzz!Keywordshuman sexuality, gender identity, teaching challenges, inclusive language, debunking myths, personal stories, sexuality, gender, language, education, cultural norms, sexual pleasure, orgasm gap, gender inclusivity, body image, self-consciousness, cultural impact

We're back with another edition of Carnal Knowledge! A weekly rendezvous between sex and science.This time around Anna explores the findings of a study on women's experiences with genital touching, sexual pleasure, and orgasm. The study reveals that there is a wide range of preferences and techniques when it comes to pleasurable stimulation (duh). Some key findings include the importance of clitoral stimulation during intercourse, the preference for light to medium pressure on the vulva, and the various styles and patterns of touch that women enjoy. But guess what else is important? Emotional intimacy and communication with a partner! Pleasure isn't a one size fits all folks!Link to studyCitation:Herbenick, D., Fu, T. C. (Jane), Arter, J., Sanders, S. A., & Dodge, B. (2018). Women’s Experiences With Genital Touching, Sexual Pleasure, and Orgasm: Results From a U.S. Probability Sample of Women Ages 18 to 94. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44(2), 201–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2017.1346530

Know what isn't a big deal? Herpes. Don't take it from us. Cassie Black, also known as Safe Slut, joins the conversation to discuss her experience with genital herpes and the stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections. She shares her journey of advocacy, sex positivity, and the evolution of her brand, Safe Slut. Cassie dives into topics such as safe sex, communication, and the normalization of STI testing and disclosure. Cassie's life isn't just about advocacy though. She is also a porn star! Cassie lays out her evolution from Safe Slut to Cassie Black, the challenges of branding and marketing in the adult industry, the transition from OnlyFans to mainstream porn, and the censorship and stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections and diseases on social media platforms.KeywordsSTIs, sexually transmitted infections, herpes, sex positivity, advocacy, safe sex, communication, stigma, disclosure, sex education, Safe Slut, Cassie Black, branding, marketing, adult industry, OnlyFans, mainstream porn, sexually transmitted infections, stigma, censorship, social mediaFind Cassie: Instagram: @safe.slut AND @thecassieback Tiktok: @safe.slutOnlyFansYouTubePatreon Website

Welcome back to Carnal Knowledge! A weekly rendezvous between sex and science. This week Anna take Jer and Bryde down a deep dark rabbit hole exploring the mating psychology of incels (involuntarily celibate individuals) and challenges some common misconceptions about them. This study explores the three big M's when it comes to incels; Misfortunes, Misperceptions, and Misrepresentations. A conversation that emphasizes the importance of compassion when talking about a group who's beliefs and behaviours stems from deep rooted issues and trauma. Link to studyCitation:Costello, W., Rolon, V., Thomas, A. G., & Schmitt, D. P. (2023). The Mating Psychology of Incels (Involuntary Celibates): Misfortunes, Misperceptions, and Misrepresentations. The Journal of Sex Research, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2023.2248096

Purity pledges are a thing of the past, right? Portia Brown is a sex coach and educator, and a purity culture drop out. Hailing from the Midwest, Portia knew from an early age that anything she wanted to understand about sex she was going to have to read about at the library. A religious upbringing paired with abstinence only sex ed didn’t stop Portia from becoming the teenager who was thrilled to be handing out condoms at her college fresh week. This week Jeremie and Bryde chat with Portia about purity culture and its impact on society and reproductive rights, evident in the overturning of Roe v Wade, the rise of modesty influencers, and the increase in conservative ideologies. They discuss how the Covid pandemic may have pushed society even further in this direction. Jeremie learns about Father Daughter Balls, or, Purity Balls, commonplace in some conservative a Christian groups in the US.Portia's Links:InstagramTwitterTiktokWebsite Keywordssex coach, purity culture, religious beliefs, oppression, women, LGBTQ+ community, challenge, dismantle, inclusive, sex-positive, purity culture, reproductive rights, societal norms, conservative ideologies, COVID-19, political divide, abstinence-only sex education, comprehensive sex education,

Turn Me On presents: Carnal Knowledge! Our new weekly rendezvous between sex and science. In this conversation, TMO's resident sex researcher, Anna, discusses a paper titled 'Does Clitoral Knowledge Translate Into Orgasm? The Interplay Between Clitoral Knowledge, Gendered Sexual Scripts, and Orgasm Experience.'The paper explores the inequality in orgasm rates and sexual pleasure between heterosexual women and men. Do women have more clitoral knowledge than men? Does gendered sexual scripts impact sexual pleasure? What is more important for the optimal orgasm experience; a knowledge of our genital anatomy or our ability to advocate for the pleasure that we desire? Science is sexy, folks.Link to studyCitation:Dienberg, M. F., Oschatz, T., Kosman, E., & Klein, V. (2023). Does Clitoral Knowledge Translate into Orgasm? The Interplay Between Clitoral Knowledge, Gendered Sexual Scripts, and Orgasm Experience. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 49(5), 484–496. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2022.2147112

If masturbation needs anything, it’s some fresh new idioms. Welcome to Season 5 of Turn Me On, a season where hosts Bryde and Jeremie are excited to dive even deeper into their mutual love for words, science, and perspective shifting conversations in the name of bettering the sex and love lives of all. Welcome, Anna! A fabulous addition to this season, Anna is a passionate graduate student from Columbia University who is excited to share the latest in sex research every week in a brand new segment. Fans of Turn Me On, get ready for a second episode every week to help you keep that pilot light lit.In this host episode, Bryde presents Jeremie with some unasked questions about common masturbation habits, and tests him with some hard hitting trivia including how and when masturbation shows up in humans and non-human animals, and which famous person said what on the subject of autoeroticism.TakeawaysMasturbation is a common and healthy behavior in humans and animals.Masturbation can have mental health benefits, such as stress relief and increased confidence.Sex toys can enhance the experience of masturbation, but personal preferences vary.Different animals engage in self-pleasure using various techniques and objects.Famous individuals have shared their thoughts and experiences related to masturbation.