Fox News recoils at the idea of pup play—but we're looking closer. In this episode of Taboo Science, we dive into the fascinating subculture of humans who enjoy roleplaying as puppies. We'll explore the origins of this kink, from post-WWII leather culture to the rise of online pup communities, and learn what draws people to don a pup hood and bark. Kink researcher Dr. Liam Wignall and sex educator and pup play enthusiast Pup Amp share insights on the gear, the headspace, and the joys and challenges of being a pup. We also tackle the stigma and misconceptions surrounding this kink, and why it's important to approach it with an open mind. So, sit, stay, and listen up—this episode will satisfy your curiosity about the world of pup play, and maybe even inspire you to unleash your own inner puppy.

See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/042-pupplay/

Resources from Dr. Liam Wignall:

• His book, Kinky In The Digital Age: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/kinky-in-the-digital-age-9780197503195?cc=us&lang=en&
• Faculty page: https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/liam-wignall

Resources from Amp Somers:

• Website: https://www.wattsthesafeword.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WattsTheSafeword
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/WattstheSafeWord

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The furry fandom gets a bad rap. But on this episode, we're digging beneath the stereotypes to uncover the truth about this misunderstood community. We'll chat with furry researcher Dr. Courtney Plante along with Riley Black, a science writer and a furry herself, to explore what the furry culture is really all about, from the artistry of fursuits to the appeal of fursonas. And yes, we'll go there—investigating whether being a furry is actually a fetish (spoiler alert: for most, it's not, but for the others, we'll explore why). So put your preconceptions aside and get ready to learn what makes the furry community so fascinating—and maybe even find yourself with an urge to join in the fun.

Resources from Dr. Courtney Plante:

• FurScience: https://furscience.com/

Resources from Riley Black:

• Website: https://rileyblack.net/
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/restingdinoface.bsky.social

See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/041-furries/

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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:

• Ask a Sub podcast: https://askasub.substack.com/podcast
• Newsletter: https://askasub.substack.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askasub2.0/

Resources from Kayla Lords & John Brownstone:

• Loving BDSM podcast: https://lovingbdsm.net/loving-bdsm-podcast/
• Website: https://lovingbdsm.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovingds1/

See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/040-bdsm/

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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/
• Research on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&q=c+joyal&oq=

See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/039-kink101/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Dirty Sexy History

Check out Dirty Sexy History at https://dirtysexyhistory.com/

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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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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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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Mentioned in this episode:

Nice Genes

Listen to Nice Genes right here: https://pod.link/1622851335

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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Mentioned in this episode:

A CRISPR Bite

Listen to A CRISPR Bite here: https://pod.link/1706287071

Indecent With Kiki Andersen

Listen to Indecent with Kiki Andersen here: https://pod.link/1687409567

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

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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Mentioned in this episode:

Indecent With Kiki Andersen

Listen to Indecent with Kiki Andersen here: https://pod.link/1687409567

Avoiding climate news? Do thoughts of the apocalypse keep you up at night? Feeling guilty about unsustainable habits? With climate change becoming a stark reality, more and more of us are grappling with anxiety over our planet's environmental crisis. Today, environmental psychologist Thomas Doherty sheds light on the emerging field of climate-conscious therapy — a response to this very real mental health impact. He explains how therapists are equipping themselves to counsel those struggling with climate anxiety, and how people can restructure their 'pyramid of issues' to create healthier coping mechanisms that will help them navigate these challenging times. You’ll hear about the three-pronged mental health impact of climate change: the direct disaster effects, far-reaching social implications, and the indirect repercussions. You’ll also learn strategies to help you express your environmental values and narratives so you can feel more empowered to get out there and do something. 

Resources about Thomas Doherty:

• Climate Change and Happiness podcast
• Thomas Doherty’s practice, Sustainable Self

See citations and a transcript here: https://www.tabooscience.show/s3e10-climateanxiety/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Indecent With Kiki Andersen

Listen to Indecent with Kiki Andersen here: https://pod.link/1687409567