Sex and Psychology Podcast

Step into the sex lab

The Sex and Psychology Podcast, hosted by Kinsey Institute Research Fellow Dr. Justin Lehmiller, is here to help you understand the most important sex organ in the entire body: your brain. Each episode offers a deep dive into the psychology of sex and relationships, drawing upon expert interviews and Dr. Lehmiller’s extensive body of research. The Sex and Psychology Podcast is the sex ed you never got in school–and won’t find anywhere else. Catch up with the latest episodes below, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to keep up to date.

2 Million+ Downloads in 2023

“11 sex podcasts that will help you get better in bed.”
“11 sex podcasts that will help you get better in bed.”
“10 best sex podcasts to listen to right now”
“10 best sex podcasts to listen to right now”
“Top 5 sexuality podcasts”
“Top 5 sexuality podcasts”

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Latest Episodes

June 13, 2025

Episode 405: What We Get Wrong About Masturbation (Essential Listen)

There's a surprising amount of anti-masturbation content on social media, much of it suggesting that masturbation is bad for your health. In today’s show, we’re going to delve into whether abstaining from masturbation actually boosts testosterone, whether you can really become “addicted” to masturbating, what science says about the purported health benefits of semen retention, and more. In this episode, we’re revisiting a conversation with Dr. Eric Sprankle, which originally aired back in episode 275. Dr. Sprankle is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and the co-director of the Sexuality Studies program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He's also a licensed clinical psychologist and AASECT-certified sex therapist, as well as author of the book, DIY: The Wonderfully Weird History and Science of Masturbation. Some of the specific topics we explore include:
  • Why is the concept of semen retention increasingly popular?
  • Are there any health benefits to abstaining from ejaculation?
  • Is an orgasm obtained from self-pleasure really any different from an orgasm obtained through partnered sex?
  • Can women become "addicted" to their vibrators?
  • Is there an objective standard for what constitutes "too much" masturbation?
You can check out Eric's website to learn more about his work. Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors!  Boost your sexual confidence and performance with Popstar Delay Spray. Save 20% off your first order by using "Justin" as the discount code at popstarlabs.com/justin I'm excited to announce a new online course I'm teaching on the topic of fantasies at the Kinsey Institute. Be sure to register for "The New Science of Sexual Fantasies" workshop, which will take place on July 19th, 2025. ***

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on FacebookTwitter, or Bluesky to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

Listen and stream all episodes on AppleSpotifyGoogle, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!

Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Episode 405: What We Get Wrong About Masturbation (Essential Listen)
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June 10, 2025

Episode 404: Women Who Pay For Sex

Men are much more likely to report having paid for sex than women; however, there are probably more women paying for sex than we think. In today’s show, we’re going to do a deep dive into the world of women who pay for sex. We'll be exploring what their experiences are like, why some women see paying for sex as being safer than having casual sex, and more. My guest is Dr. Hilary Caldwell, a sex worker, author, academic, and sexologist. Her bold political memoir, Slutdom: Reclaiming Shame-Free Sexuality, challenges the enduring impact of slut shaming and argues for a world in which everyone can pursue pleasure without fear, stigma, or coercion. Some of the specific topics we explore include:
  • Why is there less research on women who pay for sexual services relative to men?
  • How common is it for women to have paid for sex before?
  • Why do some women who patronize sex workers don't consider themselves to have bought sex?
  • What are some of the main motivations for women to purchase sexual services?
  • What are women's experiences with purchasing sex like? Do they tend to feel stigmatized?
You can check out Hilary's website to learn more about her work. Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors!  Expand your sexual horizons with Beducated! Featuring more than 100 online courses taught by the experts, Beducated brings pleasure-based sex ed directly into your bedroom. Enjoy a free trial today and get 50% off their yearly pass by using LEHMILLER as the coupon code. To redeem this offer, visit: https://beducate.me/lehmiller-june  Passionate about building a career in sexuality? Check out the Sexual Health Alliance. With SHA, you'll connect with world-class experts and join an engaged community of sexuality professionals from around the world. Visit SexualHealthAlliance.com and start building the sexuality career of your dreams today. ***

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on FacebookTwitter, or Bluesky to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

Listen and stream all episodes on AppleSpotifyGoogle, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!

Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Episode 404: Women Who Pay For Sex
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June 6, 2025

Episode 403: How To Move Beyond Small Talk And Connect Deeply

Imagine you just met an attractive stranger and want to strike up a conversation. What are you going to say? More often than not, people play it safe and stick to small talk, but that makes it hard to really connect with someone. In today’s show, we’re going to discuss tips for moving beyond the small talk and establishing deeper, more authentic connections, as well as tips for improving sexual communication. I am joined once again by Lindsay Jill Roth, an award-winning television and live-events producer who has created and developed a wide variety of programming globally. She is also author of the new book Romances & Practicalities, which is based on a set of 250 research-backed questions designed to help you initiate tricky conversations and find lasting love. Some of the topics we explore include:
  • What are we doing wrong when it comes to getting to know others?
  • How can we ask more meaningful questions to people we're romantically interested in?
  • What are some other good conversation starters for getting to know someone?
  • How do you normalize conversations about sex with a new partner?
  • How can talking about sex outside of the bedroom help us in the bedroom?
You can check out Lindsay's website to learn more about her work. Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors!  The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has been a trusted source for scientific knowledge and research on critical issues in sexuality, gender, and reproduction for over 75 years. Learn about more research and upcoming events at kinseyinstitute.org or look for them on social media @kinseyinstitute. ***

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on FacebookTwitter, or Bluesky to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

Listen and stream all episodes on AppleSpotifyGoogle, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!

Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Episode 403: How To Move Beyond Small Talk And Connect Deeply
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June 3, 2025

Episode 402: The Secret To Finding A Compatible Partner

The way that many of us are approaching romantic relationships is all wrong. We’re not prioritizing the things that really matter when selecting our partners. In today’s show, we’re going to talk about the conversations you need to be having with a potential partner in order to develop deeper connections and establish long-term compatibility. My guest is Lindsay Jill Roth, an award-winning television and live-events producer who has created and developed a wide variety of programming globally. She is also author of the new book Romances & Practicalities, which is based on a set of 250 research-backed questions designed to help you initiate tricky conversations and find lasting love. Some of the specific topics we explore include:
  • What are we doing wrong when it comes to selecting relationship partners?
  • How can being more pragmatic in your approach to relationships help to build a stronger foundation for love?
  • Why is money management a vital issue to discuss with a potential partner?
  • Beyond finances, what are some other key topics we should be discussing?
  • How do you initiate conversations about topics that many people are uncomfortable discussing?
You can check out Lindsay's website to learn more about her work. Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors!  Expand your sexual horizons with Beducated! Featuring more than 100 online courses taught by the experts, Beducated brings pleasure-based sex ed directly into your bedroom. Enjoy a free trial today and get 50% off their yearly pass by using LEHMILLER as the coupon code. To redeem this offer, visit: https://beducate.me/lehmiller-june  Passionate about building a career in sexuality? Check out the Sexual Health Alliance. With SHA, you'll connect with world-class experts and join an engaged community of sexuality professionals from around the world. Visit SexualHealthAlliance.com and start building the sexuality career of your dreams today. ***

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on FacebookTwitter, or Bluesky to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

Listen and stream all episodes on AppleSpotifyGoogle, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!

Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Episode 402: The Secret To Finding A Compatible Partner
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May 30, 2025

Episode 401: A New Way of Treating Arousal and Libido Problems

In today’s show, we’re talking about a new way of treating women's most common sexual problems. My guest co-developed an online sexual health platform called eSense that’s designed to bring evidence-based treatment for low sexual desire and arousal to the masses at a fraction of the cost of traditional therapy. It could very well be a game-changer in the way we treat sex problems. I am joined once again by Dr. Lori Brotto, an internationally recognized leader in sexual health research. She is a Professor in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a Registered Psychologist, and Canada Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health. She is also author of the book Better Sex Through Mindfulness. Some of the specific topics we explore include:
  • What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and how can it help in treating problems with desire and arousal?
  • How can mindfulness-based therapy be useful in cases of low sexual desire?
  • How does the eSense platform leverage both CBT and mindfulness training to treat sexual difficulties?
  • How effective is therapy administered online compared to things like face-to-face therapy and pharmaceuticals?
  • How will technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality change sex therapy in the future?
You can check out Lori's website to learn more about her work, and you can learn more about eSense at esense.health. Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors!  Practice love every day with Paired, the #1 app for couples. Download the app at paired.com/justin to get a 7-day free trial and 25% off if you sign up for a subscription. ***

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on FacebookTwitter, or Bluesky to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

Listen and stream all episodes on AppleSpotifyGoogle, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast!

Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Sex and Psychology Podcast
Episode 401: A New Way of Treating Arousal and Libido Problems
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