Episode 343: The Fascinating History Of Sex Toys
November 8, 2024 by Justin Lehmiller
Sex toys are far from a modern invention. Humans have actually been making them for millennia! So let’s dive into the fascinating history of sex toys. In today’s show, we’ll tell you about the oldest dildo ever discovered, the true story behind the invention of the vibrator, and so much more.
I am joined by Esmé Louise James, who is best known for her Kinky History podcast and social media series which has amassed nearly 3 million followers. She is author of the new book Kinky History: A Rollicking Journey Through Our Sexual Past, Present, and Future.
Some of the specific topics we discuss in this episode include:
- How long have humans been using sex toys?
- When did people start mass-producing dildos?
- When was the vibrator invented, and why were the first versions geared toward men?
- When were cock rings first developed and what were they like?
- What did people use for contraception before condoms or birth control pills existed?
You can check out Esmé’s website to learn more about her work and follow her on the socials @esme.louisee.
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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