Episode 485: The Surprising History Of Fetishes And Porn
March 20, 2026 by Justin Lehmiller
Humans have always been kinky, but what we fetishize and why has changed over time. In this episode, we’re revisiting the fascinating history behind some of the most common fetishes. From leather and nylon to the enduring appeal of feet, we’ll unpack how culture, technology, and history shaped these desires. We’ll also dive into the unexpected history of pornography and explore how hentai emerged as a major form of erotic storytelling.
My guest is Esmé Louise James, who is best known for her Kinky History podcast and social media series which has amassed nearly 3 million followers. Esmé is author of the book Kinky History: A Rollicking Journey Through Our Sexual Past, Present, and Future.
Some of the specific topics we explore in this episode include:
- How did leather and nylon come to be associated with sex?
- When did foot fetishes start to become popular?
- How long have humans been making porn?
- Historically, why was porn often used for political purposes?
- When did cartoon/animated porn begin to rise in popularity?
To hear more from Esmé about our kinky history, check out her previous appearances on the show in episodes 207, 208, and 343.
Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.
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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Founder & Owner of Sex and PsychologyDr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He runs the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast and is author of the popular book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, and a prolific researcher who has published more than 50 academic works.
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