The Science of Sex
Dr. Zhana & Joe Pardavila
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Top 10 The Science of Sex Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Science of Sex episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Science of Sex for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Science of Sex episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
#48 – Why Are People Into BDSM?
The Science of Sex
11/13/18 • 56 min
Some people are into sexually aggressive and humiliating acts, from biting & spanking, to spitting and verbal humiliation. This is usually referred to as paraphilias, or uncommon sexual desires, but how uncommon are these sexual desires, actually? And, perhaps more controversially, could there be some evolutionary bases for some of our BDSM desires?
In Episode 48, Dr. Zhana and Joe talk to Dr. Menelaos Apostolou from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus about his evolutionary theories on why people are into BDSM and the research he’s conducted trying to test them. In a large (though non-representative) sample of Greek Cypriots, he found that over 70% of people reported interest in at least one (and ~50% in at least three) different sexually aggressive and humiliating acts, both on the giving and the receiving end. Not so uncommon after all! Could people’s interest in these acts come from humanity’s long history of sexual violence and aggression, from war conquest to forced marriages? Listen to find out more about these fascinating, controversial evolutionary theories.
You can read the full study discussed in the episode here.
This week, we decided to skip the Foreplay and answer one of your questions instead! Dr. Zhana and Joe answer a listener question about our The Truth About Female Infidelity episode.
About our Guest
Dr. Menelaos Apostolou is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. He was born in Athens, Greece and he completed his post-graduate and graduate studies in the United Kingdom. He has published several peer-reviewed papers, books, and chapters in books in the area of evolutionary psychology. His research focus is human mating behavior.
You can visit his website here.
Before Next Time...
Remember to like The Science of Sex Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
For more sex science articles, events and discussions please join our Science of Sex Facebook group!
Check out Dr. Zhana on November 20th at her Think & Drink NYC series event at the bar Subject where she will be debunking some common myths about the female orgasm, learn while enjoying a drink! Buy tickets here.
We have a new sponsor! Visit Lelo to fulfill your high-quality vibrator needs with a wide selection of vibrators for all! Use discount code SCIENCE to get 20% off on your new vibrating toy.
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Remember to submit comments, questions, and everything in between on our Get in Touch Page!
Do you love The Science of Sex Podcast and all the work Dr. Zhana does? Support her by becoming a monthly Patreon Supporter!
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#30 – High Infidelity
The Science of Sex
05/08/18 • 64 min
In episode 30, Dr. Zhana and Joe talk to Dr. Dylan Selterman about the motivations for infidelity!
There are many factors that play into the cause of infidelity including anger, stress, neglect, a general lack of love or passion, and more. Infidelity and cheating is interesting to study on the quantitative side. We can look at how many people cheat, the demographics of cheaters, etc., but what about the psychological motivations for cheating? What exactly drives a person to cheat? This week we spoke to Dr. Dylan Selterman who has conducted some great research on what motivates people to cheat.
Read the full study here.
About Our Guest
Dylan Selterman received his B.A. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Johns Hopkins University in 2006 and his Ph.D. in Social/Health Psychology from Stony Brook University in 2011. He currently teaches at the U of Maryland, where he also runs the DREAM Lab, where they research romantic attraction/dating, emotions (e.g., jealousy), attachment in interpersonal relationships, patterns of dreaming, sexual behavior, and morality/ethics. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Selterman leads a mindfulness meditation group for students, and writes for popular media.
Don’t Miss This Week’s Foreplay...
A new survey found 56% of first-time sex with a partner are AWKWARD, or downright terrible. However, only 30% said they would end things because of a bad first encounter. 70% said that the first time doesn’t define the relationship. “A study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Pure Romance examined the first-time sex habits and experiences of 2,000 Americans. The #1 thing that can ruin a first encounter for men is not finishing. And 29% said trouble performing because they DRANK too much has ruined a first-time hook-up. The #1 complaint from women is not enough FOREPLAY. And 37% said a guy’s dirty SHEETS can ruin the mood.” Read full article here.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn 0Shares#17 – Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Cuckolding
The Science of Sex
02/02/18 • 62 min
Could cuckolding be a positive thing for some couples?
A new study investigates fantasies about and experiences with cuckolding in a large and diverse sample of gay-identified men. The study received media attention, with CNN reporting “Cuckolding could be positive for some couples.” One of the study’s authors is not a scientist but is probably a familiar name to most listeners: Dan Savage. We spoke with the lead author of the study, Dr, Justin Lehmiller.
About Our Guest
Dr. Justin J. Lehmiller received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Purdue University. He is currently the Director of the Social Psychology Graduate Program at Ball State University. Dr. Lehmiller is also a Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute.
Don’t Miss This Week’s Foreplay...
A new survey of more than 20,000 U.K. employees uncovered nearly 90 percent of them admitting to some form of sexual interaction in the office. Although office relationships are often discouraged in most corporate environments, the dating app survey found that sexual activity inside office workplaces is quite common. Among the 20,238 British people surveyed by Saucy Dates, 87 percent said they “have engaged in sexual activity” in the office at some point throughout the span of their career. Read full article here.
Afterglow
New research from Confi, a digital health startup founded at Harvard Business School, shows that men and women have different expectations when it comes to sex. The survey looked at 1,200 young people between 18 and 25, the majority of whom identified as straight. 45% of men surveyed said they expect vaginal sex from someone who goes home with them after a party. But when you consider the fact that just 31% of women said the same, you can really see the problem: there’s a 14 percent disparity of expectations. That means that 14 percent of the time there may be men expecting sex that women aren’t planning on having. Read article discussed here.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn 0Shares#10 – How Common Are Sexual Problems?
The Science of Sex
12/01/17 • 53 min
How common are sexual problems and when should they be cause for concern?
On this week’s episode, Joe and Dr. Zhana speak with Dr. Kirstin Mitchell about her research on sexual function and dysfunction. Dr. Mitchell is a Senior Research Fellow at the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, where she leads a theme of research on Families and Intimate & Sexual Relationships. We spoke with her about a few studies that she has published in regards to sexual dysfunction.
About Our Guest
Over the last 3 years, several studies have been published on the sexual functioning and dysfunction among UK residents. They are all based on the Natsal-3, a nationally representative sample of over 15,000 men and women aged 16–74 years in Britain. The questions included everything from lack of interest in sex, orgasm difficulties, erection and lubrication difficulties, dissatisfaction with and distress about their sex lives, discrepancy in sex drive between partners, and seeking help.
Don’t Miss This Week’s Foreplay...
This week’s foreplay steered back into our discussion about sexual assault when we talked about the accusations against NBC’s Matt Lauer and the investigation by Variety. Lauer was fired from the network on Wednesday after a complaint was made about his behavior in the workplace. There is no news on whether the network will honor his $25 million contract that is not set to expire until the end of 2018. Read article discussed here.
Afterglow
The President of Wilfrid Laurier University has officially apologized to teaching assistant Lindsay Shepherd for a meeting where faculty members reprimanded her for showing students a video clip of a debate involving controversial professor Jordan Peterson. The clip was of a debate regarding gender-neutral pronouns. Read article here.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn 0Shares#43 – The Other Condom
The Science of Sex
10/09/18 • 36 min
In Episode 43, Kaci Mial joins Dr. Zhana and Joe to talk about the female condom. Some people (including Joe) don’t even know what a female condom is! But this stops with this episode where we learn a lot more about the female, or internal, condom. Kaci discusses the benefits and differences of the internal condom, compared with the more familiar external condom as well as the limited availability of the condom and the reasons and implications behind that. Tune in to find out!
Read the full study here!
About our Guest
Kaci Mial has always been passionate about helping others and making a difference. Kaci recently graduated from the Masters of Human Sexuality Education track at Widener University where she pursued her passion for research, academia, as well as community outreach. As a sexuality educator, Kaci successfully applies a trauma informed, sex-positive, and medically accurate approach to a variety of sexuality presentations at international conferences, agencies, schools, universities, and residential programs. Kaci is currently offering infant massage workshops for parents and caregivers within her community to help facilitate bonding, consent practices, and loving touch. To contact Kaci and to learn more about infant massage, you can visit her website at kacimial.com or follow her on Instagram @kacimial. To read the study discussed in the episode click here.
Don’t miss this week’s foreplay...
Are millennials better at staying in marriages than their parents were? A new study has found that divorce rates have dropped by 18% over the last 10 years. One possible reason could be that millennials might be getting married later, choosing to focus more on their careers and reaching economic stability before getting married which often leads to more marital stability. Furthermore, fewer millennials are getting married in the first place, therefore not contributing to the divorce rate at all. There are many possible answers to this new, unprecedented finding. Click here to find out more.
Before Next Time...
Remember to like The Science of Sex Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and check out our website at scienceofsexpodcast.com!
For more in-person sex science, check out Dr. Zhana at the Touchpoint Town Hall on October 15th for her seminar on How to Be In An Open Relationship . See the event live at the Assemblage, or listen in on the Touchpoint Podcast. RSVP here to reserve your ticket for this free event!
Check out Dr. Zhana’s next Sex Science Social: Debunking Sex Myths That Ruin Lives, on October 18th. She will be discussing some common myths that get pushed around that can be detrimental to relationships! Click here to reserve your tickets for the event!
Remember to submit comments, questions, and everything in between on our Get in Touch Page!
Do you love The Science of Sex Podcast and all the work Dr. Zhana does? Support her by becoming a monthly Patreon Supporter!
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn 13Shares#32 – Porn Ed.
The Science of Sex
05/21/18 • 64 min
In episode 32, Dr. Zhana and Joe talk to Dr. Emily Rothman about the benefits of educating kids about porn.
A new study reported on joint efforts by folks at Boston University and the Boston Public Health Commission to educate young people about pornography, in hopes that they would develop a more realistic understanding of what porn is, how it’s made, and how it relates to real-life sex and bodies. These programs have been proven to work and be extremely beneficial for young people. On this week’s episode we spoke to the lead author on this study, Dr. Emily Rothman.
Read study discussed here!
About Our Guest
Emily F. Rothman, ScD, is a Professor at the Boston University School of Public Health with secondary appointments at the Boston University School of Medicine in Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine. She is also a visiting scientist at the Harvard Injury Control Research Center. Dr. Rothman has authored more than 80 publications that span the areas of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, firearm violence, and pornography. She has been a PI or co-investigator on numerous federal research grants from entities including the NIH and NIJ , and worked closely with multiple state sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions, state health departments, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on issues related to sexual assault prevention. Dr. Rothman received her master’s and doctoral degrees in public health from Harvard University.
Interested in incorporating porn literacy for teens in your school or youth group? Sign up for this June 30th training in Boston! This training is for teachers, counselors and youth workers who want to learn how to deliver this curriculum to youth in their locale. You can register on the website for this event here!
Don’t Miss This Week’s Foreplay...
A new study suggests that millennials are waiting longer to have sex with one in eight still virgins at the age of 26. This could be due to a “fear of intimacy” that is thought to be caused by social media. Many young people feel intense pressure due to the exposure of hyper-sexualized images in the mass media plus their own social media presence. Previous generations reported that one in 20 were virgins at this age. Read full article here!
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn 0Shares#22 – Wrap Your Thing Right
The Science of Sex
03/13/18 • 60 min
What are some of the most popular condom errors and how common are they?
In episode 22, Dr. Zhana and Joe talk to Dr. Cynthia Graham about the different ways people misuse condoms and make condom errors.
We’ve been actively talking and educating about condoms for decades now, and if people would only listen to scientists and public health professionals, everyone would be wrapping it up all the time! But that doesn’t seem to be the case, and too often, condoms don’t get used, and sometimes they get used but fail, and people end up with unwanted pregnancies and STIs. So Dr. Zhana and Joe sat down with Dr. Cynthia Graham and discussed her research on these errors.
About Our Guest
Cynthia Graham is a Professor of Sexual and Reproductive Health at the University of Southampton. She is also a Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. Cynthia obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from McGill University and her Masters in clinical psychology from the University of Glasgow. She is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. Cynthia is is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sex Research. She has published over 140 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 40 book chapters. Her research interests focus on women’s sexual and reproductive health, in particular the behavioural effects of hormonal contraceptives, sexual excitation and sexual inhibition, sexual problems in women, and condom use errors and problems.
Don’t Miss this Week’s Foreplay...
According to a survey, only 12% of females have asked a male to send a dick pic.
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that women LIKE one-night stands as long as these two conditions are met: they’re the one who initiated it and the other person was good at getting-it-on. And that second condition is definitely important. The researchers found that both women AND men are more likely to regret a one-night stand if the other person was mediocre in bed.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn 0Shares#14 – Let’s Talk About Sexts
The Science of Sex
01/11/18 • 59 min
What do the sexting habits of adults 21 and over look like?
In a recent paper, researchers surveyed a nationally representative sample of almost 6,000 single US adults ages 21+ about their sexting experiences, sending and receiving sexually explicit text messages or photos. Dr. Justin Garcia, from the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University joined us to talk about the study.
About Our Guest
Dr. Justin Garcia is Ruth Halls Associate Professor of Gender Studies and Associate Director for Research and Education at The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington. His research interests focus on the evolutionary and biocultural foundations of variation in monogamy, intimacy, dating, and sex. He has also been a scientific advisor to several industry partners, including K-Y Brand, Teva Women’s Health, WomanCare Global, and the online dating company Match.com.
Don’t Miss This Week’s Foreplay...
The dating site, Plenty of Fish, released a survey of over 2,000 adults about who their holiday hookups tend to be. Surprisingly, a common response was...the ex. Another popular response was hooking up with a coworker. Read full article here.
Afterglow
A new study out of a University in the Netherlands found that there’s really no such thing as love at first sight. The researchers found that if someone said they’d fallen in love with someone at first sight, it was actually just because they thought the person was SUPER attractive. So maybe we should start calling it infatuation at first sight? Read article discussed here.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn 0Shares#12 – Understanding Male Sexual Aggression
The Science of Sex
12/14/17 • 58 min
Our news cycle has been filled with countless examples of male sexual misconduct, from sexual assault, to harassment, to just general creepiness across virtually every profession and social sphere. With the exception of our groper-in-chief, this has professionally hurt pretty much all of these men, and while we seem to be doing better at holding the perpetrators of these crimes accountable, we are still having trouble identifying why these acts of sexual misconduct are so widespread. To help us explore this question, we interviewed someone who’s been studying male sexual aggression for almost four decades: Dr. Neil Malamuth at UCLA.
About Our Guest
Dr. Malamuth is an interdisciplinary social scientist who’s most famous in psychology circles for developing the so-called Confluence Model of male sexual aggression, which takes a more comprehensive approach toward identifying the various factors (including personality traits, attitudes and values, past experiences, opportunity) and the synergistic way in which they come together to form the “perfect storm” for sexual violence.
It’s an absolutely fascinating conversation that was SO good, that we decided to keep it going for longer than usual and skip our usual Afterglow segment.
Don’t Miss This Week’s Foreplay...
In a victory for expecting parents, the New York State Paid Family Leave Law (PFL) will go into effect on January 1st, requiring virtually all private employers in New York to provide paid family leave benefits to eligible employees. The US is the only developed country in the world that doesn’t have federally mandated paid parental leave, with devastating consequences for maternal and infant mortality, health, and development. This NY state law is the most comprehensive in the country thus far. Read full article here.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has decided to not remove a painting that has caused some controversy, lately. The painting, called “Thérèse Dreaming” (1938), depicts a young girl in a suggestive pose in which her underwear is visible. An online petition calling to remove the painting received 8,000 signatures, citing the current climate around sexual misconduct as grounds for removal. Read article discussed here.
Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn 4Shares#42 – What Your Sexual Fantasies Say About You
The Science of Sex
10/02/18 • 65 min
In Episode 42, Dr. Justin Lehmiller returns to talk with Dr. Zhana and Joe about sexual fantasies and what they say about us!
Most people have sexual fantasies, and some fantasies are not as rare as you might think. What do our fantasies mean? Should we act on them and if so how? Dr. Justin Lehmiller talks about his new book Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life. Listen to find out which are the most common sexual fantasies, how our fantasies differ according to our age, gender and political beliefs, as well as the ways we can normalize sexual fantasies and potentially make them realities.
About our Guest
Dr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist, Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute, and author of the new book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator and a prolific scholar who has published more than 40 pieces of academic writing to date. Dr. Lehmiller’s research focuses on topics including casual sex, sexual fantasy, sexual health, and friends with benefits. Dr. Lehmiller has run the popular blog Sex and Psychology since 2011 and he is a popular freelance writer, penning columns and op-eds for major publications, including Playboy, USA Today, VICE, Psychology Today, and New York Magazine. He has been named one of 5 “Sexperts” You Need to Follow on Twitter by Men’s Health, and is a go-to expert on sex for several major media outlets.
Visit his website. Or follow him on Instagram @justinjlehmiller or on twitter @JustinLehmiller.
Don’t miss this week’s foreplay...
A new study shows that it takes just a third of a second to realize you are attracted to someone and only a quarter of a second to recognize a person’s gender. Spotting attractiveness and gender so quickly could better increase our chances of finding a mate. We associate attractiveness with intelligence and better health which helps us make snap judgments about potential mates. Click here to find out more.
Before Next Time...
Remember to like The Science of Sex Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and check out our website at scienceofsexpodcast.com!
Check out Dr. Zhana at a comedy variety show Wednesday October 3rd at 8 pm! Click here for more details.
For more in-person sex science, check out Dr. Zhana at the Touchpoint Town Hall on October 15th, for her seminar on How to Be In An Open Relationship. See the event live at the Assemblage, or listen in on the Touchpoint Podcast. RSVP here to reserve your ticket for this free event!
Check out Dr. Zhana’s next Sex Science Social: Debunking Sex Myths That Ruin Lives, on October 18th. She will be discussing some common myths that get pushed around that can be detrimental to relationships! Click here to reserve your tickets for the event!
Remember to submit comments, questions, and everything in between on our Get in Touch Page!
Do you love The Science of Sex Podcast and all the work Dr. Zhana does? Support her by becoming a monthly Patreon Supporter!
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Science of Sex have?
The Science of Sex currently has 61 episodes available.
What topics does The Science of Sex cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Football, Medicine, Podcasts and Sports.
What is the most popular episode on The Science of Sex?
The episode title '#48 – Why Are People Into BDSM?' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Science of Sex?
The average episode length on The Science of Sex is 81 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Science of Sex released?
Episodes of The Science of Sex are typically released every 7 days, 1 hour.
When was the first episode of The Science of Sex?
The first episode of The Science of Sex was released on Oct 1, 2017.
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