Talking Kink With Alex + Ellie

It seems like a cliche, but today we truly are more digitally connected than ever while we drift farther and farther apart socially. People are increasingly lonely, and the number one way of meeting partners is subject to algorithms build by those who profit off us mindlessly swiping left and right. And so, an old idea is coming back to life, powered by new leaps in AI and robotics: a perfect, custom built partner delivered to you with just a click of a button. At least in theory. The reality? Well, it's a lot weirder and more complicated.

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and said that you'd look better with a little ink, or a piercing, or a little cosmetic procedure to truly feel confident, happy, and ready to get down and dirty? You're far from alone. From tattoos, to piercings, to forked tongues, to genital modification, a lot of people have turned to science to help their self-esteem, feel more like themselves, give themselves an extra edge, or just restore or commemorate something an illness or accident took away.

Traveling around the world is usually an eye-opening experience. You get to see different cultures, learn different histories, hear different languages, and if you're lucky, or just on a mission, get to have sex with interesting new people in exciting new places. But if that's one of your goals, you're going to need to learn about the interesting ways people around the planet think, talk about, and legislate sexual encounters...

Being an adult can be quite the bummer. Bills, responsibilities, work, fewer chances to let loose... But what if we told you that bringing back some roughhousing, tickling, and physical challenges can really liven things up? Alex and Ellie will tell you how often sex and martial arts can intersect, and how you too can join in on the fun, in a safe, sane, and responsible manner, of course.

Imagine if you could just let go of all your inhibitions and bad habits, and let yourself drown in the bliss of your experiences, or open yourself up to adventures you never thought you'd be up for with just a snap of a finger. Or a trigger word. Or a carefully constructed phrase. That's the promise of erotic hypnosis; a way to nudge yourself into all the things you really want to do with all the fun and none of the responsibility. Erotic author Hardison Parker joins us to dive deeper into the joys, the science, and the nuances of all things hypnosis.

There's a concept in psychology known as the hedonic treadmill. It says that when we're used to a certain level of pleasure or opulence after a major life event or experiences, we return our base level of happiness, and then want more. But unless you're an ascetic monk, you probably want to taste some of the finer things in life and feel some of the more intense pleasures without feeling like returning to your normal life is a step down. In this wild -- and admittedly boozy -- episode, SafferMaster and Lady Petra of The Kinky Cocktail Hour Podcast, take us through the ins and outs of being an ethical, and responsible hedonist.

Nothing lasts forever, including relationships. This is especially true if you're in alternative and non-monogamous lifestyles where you may need to part ways with partners who have very different places in your life. And despite being so unpleasant, breakups are an almost inevitable part of life unless you're amazingly lucky. Surely there has to be a way to work through them and come out with minimal emotional damage on the other end, right? This is why we asked relationship and intimacy experts Dr. Alison Ash and Sebastian Clarke of TurnON Love for some expert advice...

Since the dawn of humanity, it was the uniform of soldiers, aristocrats, and rulers. Today, it symbolizes luxury, sophistication, and sexual adventure. It's warm, stretchy, durable, and the sound of brushing against it makes enthusiasts' hearts skip a beat. And for some, it's a must have when it comes to playtime. Writer, ASMR artist, and leather and latex expert Alex Keeper joins Alex and Ellie to talk about where the now default image of a dominatrix clad in leather really comes from, and why so many people love everything about it. Yes, that's right, this week you two Alexes for the price of one.

At first blush, you may think that all sexualities are openly accepted today and the only debates around it are between those who want to accept everyone for who they are, and those who don't believe we should be in charge of our own lives if they don't follow rigid tradition. But that's not necessarily true. This week, we sit down with our friend and author Christian Pan to talk about bisexuality and the past, present, and future of those who embrace this identity.

Sharing is caring and spread the love, we're all told. So, what happens when you have so much love to give and so much to share that one partner seems... limiting? While there are a lot of ways to explore non-monogamy today, polyamory offers more than just novelty and exploration. It offers something that's becoming rarer and more difficult to maintain: community. Sex educator and relationship expert Susan Bratton is back to teach us about the ins and outs of creating a thriving polycule.