Faking It with Ariel and Morgan – Details, episodes & analysis

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Faking It with Ariel and Morgan

Ariel Leigh Cohen & Morgan Smith

Tv & Film

Frequency: 1 episode/12d. Total Eps: 32

Two intimacy coordinators reveal what actually happens behind the scenes of film and TV's most iconic intimate moments.

We're Ariel and Morgan, two professional intimacy coordinators who choreograph sex scenes for film and TV. We pull back the curtain on how intimacy is really made—from the awkward logistics to the craft that makes it look effortless.

On Faking It, we break down:

Heated Rivalry: the back arch, the bed share, and why good gay sex wins over hockey
The hottest no-contact scene in cinema history (Secretary)
Why Brokeback Mountain's tent scene needed more lube
The invisible Buffy sex scene that required flawless pantomime
Barbarella's orgasm machine
PEN15's honest depiction of teenage arousal

Get behind-the-scenes secrets, absurd Hollywood stories, real talk about love and sex, and a front-row seat to the art of pretending.

New episodes every week. Subscribe now so you don't miss the next breakdown.

Catch us on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and all podcast platforms.

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https://www.patreon.com/fakingitthepod
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Score global : 83%

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Hacks: Hot Showers, Stage Fright, & Fake Gay Panic

Season 2 · Episode 2

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 35:36

Hacks gave us nudity, nightmares, and a fake lesbian relationship, so we're breaking down three intimacy scenes and the intimacy coordinators behind them.

A filmmaker's lens on intimacy in Hacks

This week we cover Ava and Ruby's shower scene, Deborah's bizarre no-clothes nightmare, and that kiss between Ava and Deborah. We get into staging, body doubles, actor boundaries, power dynamics, chemistry, and why sometimes an intimacy scene just doesn't quite... sync up.

Plus: we put all three scenes through the Spice Scale, and one of them somehow got a D.

Hacks: Season 3, Episode 2 & Season 5, Episode 7
Intimacy Coordinators: Chantal Cousineau, Sarah Scott & Adrienne Couper Smith.

Watch along timestamps:

S3E2 (Better Late) | "Ava and Ruby's Shower Scene": 5:16 – 6:21
S5E7 (Montecito) | "Deborah's Nightmare": 0:00 – 0:43
S5E7 (Montecito) | "Ava and Deborah's Kiss": 16:44 – 17:01

Subscribe to Faking It the Pod for behind-the-scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Stay real, Fakers.

#Hacks #IntimacyCoordinator #SpiceScale #TVbreakdown

Research sources:

Rappler (AFP): Nude scenes "incredibly liberating," says Hacks star Hannah Einbinder

Support the show

Connect & Support the Show
Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube.
Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes.
Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod
Website: FakingItThePod.com
Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz

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Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us.

Stay real, Fakers.

For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

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The Invite: Consent, Chemistry & Couple Swapping

Season 2 · Episode 1

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 38:01

The Invite (2026) intimacy scene breakdown: intimacy coordinators react to Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton's sexy, cringe swinging comedy.

This week on Faking It, intimacy coordinators Morgan Smith and Ariel break down The Invite (2026), Olivia Wilde's A24 comedy about a married couple, Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde), whose upstairs neighbors Piña (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) invite them into something far outside their comfort zone. It's one of the most deliciously awkward sex scenes we've covered, and we're here for all of it.

We're talking:

Why authenticity can be more valuable than instant chemistry
What happens when one partner's ready to go when the other is not
How characters' personalities can continue when scenes get spicy
The psychology of kink, control, and surrender in a sex scene
Whether this scene really needed an intimacy coordinator

Watch along timestamps:

The Invite: "The Scene": 1:13:05

About the film

The Invite (2026) is directed by Olivia Wilde, written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, and distributed by A24. It's an English-language remake of Cesc Gay's 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs (Sentimental). It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, opened wide July 10, 2026, and is streaming on digital platforms now, with HBO Max to follow.

Subscribe to Faking It the Pod for behind the scenes breakdowns of the most iconic sex scenes in film and TV from two working intimacy coordinators. New episodes every other week wherever you get your podcasts.

Comment below with the movie or TV intimacy scene we should analyze next!

Stay real, fakers.

#TheInvite #OliviaWilde #SethRogen #IntimacyCoordinator

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 [PLAYBACK]

Season 1 · Episode 24

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 37:38

We're on vacation, but this episode was too good to stay in the vault.

We're revisiting our breakdown of Edward and Bella's unforgettable Twilight scenes, from that infamous meadow moment to the wedding night, the honeymoon, and all the continuity questions that still keep us up at night.

Two intimacy coordinators unpack why these scenes work so well emotionally, where the choreography gets… questionable, and why Twilight manages to make everything feel simultaneously incredibly romantic and deeply complicated.

Watch along timestamps:

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1: "Honeymoon Scene": 34:35 – 37:40

Did Twilight redefine the teen romance genre, or are we all just overlooking some truly wild vampire-human logistics?

Subscribe for bi-weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes.

#Playback #Twilight #EdwardAndBella #IntimacyCoordinator #FilmBreakdown

Support the show

Fifty Shades of Grey [PLAYBACK]

Season 1 · Episode 25

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 • Duration 38:39

Two intimacy coordinators break down the sex scenes in Fifty Shades of Grey and explain what the film gets wrong about BDSM.

In their PLAYBACK series, the cohosts revisit two fan-favorite episodes from The Hoa Hoa Universe while Ariel and Morgan take their summer break. They’ll be back in September with new episodes of Faking It.

Ariel and Morgan break down the infamous first Red Room scene. What was supposed to be mainstream BDSM became basically vanilla, questionable choreography, and music doing the heavy lifting.

In this episode:

Why the Red Room reads more like spectacle than negotiated intimacy
How the film confuses dominance with control and intensity with compatibility
How music, montage, and production design work overtime to create heat that isn't really there
What a more grounded, informed, and sexier version of this scene could have looked like
Why Christian Grey is a disappointing Dom and lover

A filmmaker's lens on consent and power dynamics

This episode isn't about kink-shaming. It's about unpacking why a movie that centered BDSM failed to show how consent, agency, and erotic tension actually function in practice. It's part critique, part craft analysis, and part public service announcement for anyone who thinks vibes count as communication.

Watch along timestamps:

Fifty Shades of Grey: "Red Room Scene": 1:22:10 – 1:29:34

Subscribe for bi-weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes.

Credits

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) | Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson | Focus Features

Hashtags

#FiftyShadesOfGrey #BDSM #RedRoom #IntimacyCoordinator #FilmBreakdown

Research sources:

Duke University, "Unsuitable": Fifty Shades and the BDSM community backlash

Off Campus: The Greenest Green Flag in TV?

Season 1 · Episode 23

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 • Duration 40:56

Consent can be hot. Who knew? (Us. We knew.)

In this episode, two intimacy coordinators break down the sex and relationship scenes in Off Campus — and ask whether it's really the greenest green flag on TV.

What starts as a classic hockey romance somehow turns into one of the healthiest, hottest conversations about intimacy we've seen on screen.

Together, they discuss why this scene works so well, how consent builds chemistry instead of killing it, and why emotional safety might actually be the sexiest thing a character can bring to the bedroom.

In this episode:

How Off Campus approaches sex after sexual assault experiences
Why awkward and silly can be incredibly sexy
The filmmaking choices that sell emotional intimacy
Ariel's very STRONG opinions about the show's nudity choices
Three completely ridiculous ways we'd ruin the scene

When foreplay becomes... fiveplay? Sixplay?

Plus, they kick things off with a spicy industry rant about fake intimacy coordinators, why proper training matters, and why "straight to penetraysh" is almost always the wrong answer.

Watch along timestamps:

S1E4 (The Breakup) | "Garrett and Hannah's Scene": 13:34 – 23:13

Subscribe for bi-weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes.

Credits

Hashtags

#OffCampus #RomanceTV #IntimacyCoordinator #BehindTheScenes #TVBreakdown

Obsession (2025): The Horror of Non-Consent | Intimacy & Stunt Coordinator Jen Albert

Season 1 · Episode 22

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 • Duration 41:44

Intimacy coordinators Ariel and Morgan are joined by Obsession's own intimacy and stunt coordinator Jen Albert to break down the 2025 horror film's most disturbing intimacy, violence, and non-consent scenes.

Together, they explore how Obsession evolved from script to screen, where the line between stunt coordination and intimacy coordination begins and ends, and why one of the film's most unsettling moments is terrifying without relying on gore.

In this episode:

Why the infamous bedroom scene is so disturbing
How intimacy coordination differs from stunt coordination
The theatrical cut vs. the streaming cut
Behind-the-scenes stories from filming Obsession
Bloody dolls, Sugar glass, and Foam Bricks
How actor collaboration and rehearsal shaped the final scenes

When horror and intimacy collide

Plus, Jen shares what changed from the original script, how the cast approached portraying non-consent, and what really went into filming the movie's iconic brick scene.

Watch along timestamps:

Obsession: "Nikki and Bear's Intimate Scene": 44:46 – 45:32
Obsession: "Bear Finds Sarah": 1:36:56 – 1:37:24

Subscribe for behind-the-scenes breakdowns of film and television's most iconic intimacy scenes.

Credits

Obsession (2025) | Written & Directed by Curry Barker | Starring Inde Navarrette, Michael Johnston, Megan Lawless | Intimacy Coordinated and Stunt Coordinated by Jen Albert

Hashtags

#Obsession #HorrorMovies #IntimacyCoordinator #StuntCoordinator #FilmPodcast

Research sources:

Collider: Obsession Has a Blink-and-You'll-Miss-It Scene That's More Unsettling Than Those Brutal Kills

Pose: Directing Intimacy & Queer Love | Co-Creator Steven Canals

Season 1 · Episode 21

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 52:43

Two intimacy coordinators sit down with Pose co-creator Steven Canals to break down how the FX series directed intimacy, queer love, and its groundbreaking sex scenes.

They discuss how the scene evolved from script to screen, the challenges of directing intimacy before the role of intimacy coordinator was fully established, and why portraying queer love with tenderness, not spectacle, mattered so deeply.

In this episode:

The collaborative process between director, actors, and intimacy coordinator
Balancing choreography with actor freedom and authenticity
How intimacy coordination has evolved over the past decade
Why queer intimacy deserves the same emotional depth as any love story
The importance of consent, vulnerability, and trust in intimate storytelling

A filmmaker's lens on queer intimacy

Plus, Steven shares behind-the-scenes stories from making POSE, reflects on the show's lasting cultural impact, and tells us exactly how he'd ruin his own scene if he had to.

Watch along timestamps:

S2E8 (Revelations) | "Ricky and Pray Tell": 3:38 – 5:47

Subscribe for bi-weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes.

Credits

POSE (Season 2, Episode 8: "Revelations") | Creators: Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy | FX (2019)

Hashtags

#PoseFX #QueerTV #QueerIntimacy #IntimacyCoordinator #TVBreakdown

Research sources:

Metro UK: POSE star breaks down Ricky and Pray Tell's Season 2 love scene

Support the show

Sense8 Finale: Going Out with a (Cluster) Bang [Bonus]

Season 1 · Episode 20

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Duration 24:54

In this bonus episode, two intimacy coordinators break down the orgy scene from the Sense8 series finale — how it was choreographed and why it remains one of the most ambitious intimacy sequences ever filmed.

From choreography and consent practices to lighting, camera movement, and the challenge of coordinating a massive ensemble scene, they break down how the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski created a sequence that feels emotional, sensual, and deeply connected rather than purely explicit.

In this episode:

Why foreplay matters for the audience, not just the characters
The logistics of coordinating large-scale intimacy scenes
Boundary-setting techniques, including touch mapping and traffic-light systems
Why scenes of this scale require multiple intimacy coordinators
The importance of diversity, representation, and body variety in intimate storytelling

A filmmaker's lens on ensemble intimacy

Then, as always, they hand out their Spice Scale scores before completely ruining the scene with some truly terrible creative notes.

Watch along timestamps:

S2E12 (Amor Vincit Omnia) | "The Finale Orgy Scene": 2:21:00 – 2:26:00

Subscribe for bi-weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes.

Credits

Sense8 (Season 2, Episode 12: "Amor Vincit Omnia") | Creators: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski | Netflix (2018)

Hashtags

#Sense8 #Wachowski #BehindTheScenes #IntimacyCoordinator #TVBreakdown

Research sources:

Sense8: The Psychic Orgy | How the Cluster Sex Scenes Got Made

Season 1 · Episode 19

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Duration 38:52

Two intimacy coordinators break down the famous psychic orgy from Sense8 and explain how the cluster sex scene was actually made.

From gym workouts and hot tubs to morning cuddles and group intimacy across continents, they're unpacking what makes this sequence so memorable and why it still feels unlike anything else on TV.

They get into it all:

The surprisingly complicated consent questions that come with sharing other people's experiences
The challenge of choreographing a massive multi-location orgy without rehearsal
The actors' experiences behind the scenes and how an intimacy coordinator could have helped

Plus: German bathhouses, intimacy coordinator wedding hacks, Britney Spears throwbacks, and an extended discussion about what happens if someone in your cluster decides to have sex during your grandmother's funeral.

Watch along timestamps:

S1E6 (Demons) | "The Cluster Orgy Scene": 32:08 – 39:32

-----------------------------------------

CREDITS — Sense8 (S1E6 "Demons")
Creators: Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski; J. Michael Straczynski
Directors: Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski
Writers: Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski; J. Michael Straczynski
Producers: Grant Hill; J. Michael Straczynski; Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski
Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Jamie Clayton; Freema Agyeman; Miguel Ángel Silvestre; Alfonso Herrera; Brian J. Smith; Max Riemelt; Tina Desai; Doona Bae; Tuppence Middleton
© 2015 Netflix / Studio JMS / Anarchos Productions / Georgeville Television. All rights reserved.

-----------------------------------------

It's Pride Month! Give back to your community this month by donating to some of our favorite organizations:

The Trevor Project

Dicks: The Musical | The Incest Factor Explained

Season 1 · Episode 18

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 34:24

Two intimacy coordinators break down the sex and "incest factor" scenes in Dicks: The Musical and what the film is really doing with them.

Megan Thee Stallion. Nathan Lane. Puppet penises. A gay sex scene between twins that somehow becomes a camp masterpiece.

The A24 musical is absurd, offensive, and genuinely hilarious. They go behind the scenes that are not safe for work, unless your work is really cool.

In this episode:

Why unrealistic sex can be funnier than realistic sex
Walking 69s and spit takes
LGBTQ+ representation on screen
Puppet intimacy in theater

This episode is for you if:

You love A24's weirdest movies
You want to hear intimacy coordinators lose their minds
You need queer comedy that isn't serious for once

Watch along timestamps:

Dicks: The Musical: "Opening Scene": 0:50
Dicks: The Musical: "Sleepover Scene": 1:10:26

Subscribe for bi-weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes.

Credits

Dicks: The Musical (2023) | Director: Larry Charles | A24

Hashtags

#DicksTheMusical #A24 #IntimacyCoordinator #QueerComedy #FilmBreakdown

Support the show

Connect & Support the Show
Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube.
Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: & @FakingItThePod Website: Theme Song: by Mike Goetz

Faking It with Ariel and Morgan – Details, episodes & analysis

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Faking It with Ariel and Morgan – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other53

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YouTube11

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

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Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other53

Patreon3

YouTube11