Taboo Science – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

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Philias: Why Do People Like BDSM? ("It Was Like Taking Drugs")

Season 4 · Episode 2

Thursday, April 4, 2024 • Duration 38:50

Whips, chains, and... legal pads? In this episode of Taboo Science, we dive deep into the world of BDSM to explore its long history, the science behind subspace, the submissive rich guy stereotype, and why aftercare is essential for everyone (even vanilla folks!). With help from paraphilia researcher Dr. Christian Joyal, the Ask a Sub podcast's Lina Dune, and the Loving BDSM podcast's Kayla Lords and John Brownstone, we're debunking misconceptions and shedding light on the reality of safe, consensual BDSM practices. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just curious about the lifestyle, this episode is a must-listen. Hey, it's way better than Fifty Shades of Grey.

(02:50) What kinksters think of Fifty Shades

(04:49) BDSM definition

(05:07) BDSM history

(07:37) What the DSM has to say

(09:32) Why do people like BDSM?

(14:56) Powerful man stereotype

(27:04) Subspace

(27:48) Domspace?

(31:17) The Dom's role

(37:40) Aftercare

Resources from Christian Joyal:

University of Quebec faculty page: https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/pls/public/genw050.afficher_fiche_perso?owa_cd_secteur=0800&owa_cd_fonction=49&owa_no_personne=134064&owa_contexte=$211-37
Philippe-Pinel Institute faculty page: https://pinel.qc.ca/christian-joyal-ph-d/
Research on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&q=c+joyal&oq=

Resources from Lina Dune:

Philias: How Many Kinks Exist? The Science of Kinks and Fetishes

Season 4 · Episode 1

Thursday, March 21, 2024 • Duration 33:38

It's here! The premiere episode of Taboo Science's new miniseries "Philias": an exploration into the science of kinks and fetishes. In this 101 episode, we learn the difference between a kink, fetish, paraphilia, and paraphilic disorder; we'll take a tour of the many, many kinds of kink that exist; and we'll find out what scientists know about where these desires come from—and what they don't know. With insights from renowned paraphilia researcher Christian Joyal and pornstar/internet celebrity/kink researcher Aella, we'll dismantle society's narrow definitions of "normal" sex and shed light on humanity's boundless sexual creativity. Whether you're a seasoned kinkster or you're just here for the science, this premiere is a salacious must-listen.

Resources from Aella:

Big kink survey: https://www.guidedtrack.com/programs/u4m797m/run
Mini kink survey, if you don't have time: https://www.guidedtrack.com/programs/am6xux0/run
Website: https://knowingless.com/
Blog: https://aella.substack.com/
X: https://twitter.com/Aella_Girl
Aella's appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFSrxSBrgSc

Resources from Christian Joyal:

University of Quebec faculty page: https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/pls/public/genw050.afficher_fiche_perso?owa_cd_secteur=0800&owa_cd_fonction=49&owa_no_personne=134064&owa_contexte=$211-37
Philippe-Pinel Institute faculty page: https://pinel.qc.ca/christian-joyal-ph-d/

Coming Soon: Philias from Taboo Science

Friday, March 1, 2024 • Duration 03:01

Philias is a new miniseries from Taboo Science about the quirky, colorful world of kinks and fetishes. The first episode drops on March 21 — hit the follow/subscribe button in your podcast app of choice to make sure you get it.

Citation for the first sentence: https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1139034

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Newsletter: https://www.tabooscience.show/newsletter

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RERUN: Necrophilia (with Dr. Victoria Sullivan & Dr. Jens Foell)

Thursday, October 26, 2023 • Duration 33:21

Think necrophilia is just creepy morticians and serial killers? Think again. With the help of psychologist Dr. Victoria Hartmann and neuroscientist Jens Foell, this rerun episode explores the wide spectrum of death and dying fetishes, from Disney movies to consensual roleplay. Dive into Dr. Hartmann’s research on members of online necrophilia communities, and examine how necrophilic acts after murders often aren’t sexually motivated. The conversation covers the fuzzy legal lines around necrophilia, creating ethical erotic horror films, and finding self-acceptance. If you want to confront taboos with empathy, this frank discussion brings humanity to the complicated reality behind necrophilia.

This is the last episode of season 3! Taboo Science will be back in a few months with an all-new themed season.

See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/009-necrophilia/

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Newsletter: https://www.tabooscience.show/newsletter

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Attraction to Monsters (with Ella Gallego)

Season 3 · Episode 13

Thursday, October 19, 2023 • Duration 41:40

Beauty and the Beast. Twilight. The Shape of Water. What do these stories have in common? Humans and monsters getting down and dirty. This episode explores the surprising psychology behind "monsterf*ckers" — people attracted to creatures like vampires, werewolves, and tentacled beasts. Hear from researcher Ella Gallego about her study on monstrous desire, which reveals how and why women and LGBTQ+ people are particularly entranced by these inhuman love interests. We’ll trace the history of monster erotica through the medieval church’s preoccupation with demon sex, the horny throughline of vampire movies, and the incredibly surprising history of tentacle porn. Bare your neck and put on your hottest swamp bikini: it’s time to discover the connection between monsters, sex, and our deepest desires.

Resources from Ella Gallego:

Monstrous Desire Study: https://monstrousdesirestudy.com/
Monstrous Desire TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@monstrousdesire
Monstrous Desire Study podcast: https://pod.link/1707753667

Listen to S1E3 Penises (with Dr. Emily Willingham): https://www.tabooscience.show/003-penises/

See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/s3e13-attraction-to-monsters/

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Animal Testing (with Dr. Katherine Roe & Dr. Emily Trunnell)

Season 3 · Episode 12

Thursday, October 5, 2023 • Duration 39:04

We've all heard the arguments against animal testing: it's cruel, it's unethical. But you may not know the dirty truth: it doesn't even work most of the time. This week on Taboo Science, we dive deep into the animal testing controversy. We talk to researchers and neuroscientists Dr. Katherine Roe and Dr. Emily Trunnell from PETA’s Science Advancement and Outreach Division about unethical experiments and flawed disease models. While scientists all over the world still rely on animal data, new technology like organs on chips and AI models offer a lot of promise. Tune in to hear what’s being done to end animal testing—and whether that’s really the best path forward.

Learn more about the PETA Research Modernization Deal: https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/PETA-2021-Research-Modernization-Deal.pdf

See citations (a lot of them) and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/s3e12-animal-testing/

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Newsletter: https://www.tabooscience.show/newsletter

Website:

Introducing: How to Do the Pot

Thursday, September 28, 2023 • Duration 22:44

We're back between episodes with a quick feed drop! Taboo Science will return next week.

How to Do the Pot is a fun weekly show helping you dabble in weed — and feel confident about cannabis for health, well-being, and for fun!

Episodes of How to Do the Pot share stories from women who have turned to cannabis for stress, sleep, pain relief, or better sex. If you’ve got questions that range from “what is good weed?” to “what is good weed for sex”, host Ellen Scanlon has you covered, along with knowledgeable, trusted experts.

If you want to hear how other women are exploring cannabis and have all of your questions answered, listen to How To Do the Pot right here: https://pod.link/1486444821

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IQ / Intelligence (with Dr. Steven Piantadosi)

Season 3 · Episode 11

Thursday, September 21, 2023 • Duration 28:38

The IQ test is supposed to be a measure of human intelligence. But is it? Today, we're joined by UC Berkeley professor Dr. Steven Piantadosi to understand why the diversity of human intellect can't be captured by a single number. We'll explore the history of IQ, from its innocent beginnings in French schools to its dark role in the eugenics movement. We'll understand why IQ testing is fallible, thanks to rising scores, the effects of motivation, and cultural bias, and learn about a test in the 1970s that was designed to flip that bias upside down. Go full galaxy brain and tune in to hear why IQ isn't all it's cracked up to be.

See Dr. Piantadosi's website here: http://colala.berkeley.edu/people/piantadosi/

See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/s3e11-iq-intelligence/

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