Porn Nerds

A new podcast mini-series about
the good and the bad of the smutty.
A co-production of Squirm and BOOM.

Coming June 2024!

Join Kels and Tess, Squirm co-founders and self-proclaimed porn nerds, on a penetrating plunge into the world of pornography.

Porn is a thorny topic, full of stigma and intrigue. Porn has been around for centuries, has taken many forms, incited many scandals, and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.

Whether you hate it, love it, or fall somewhere in between, the reality is that porn is a lasting fixture in our culture of sex. It’s a global, billion-dollar industry with billions of monthly clicks. And, just like any other industry, it is messy and complex, with beauty and exploitation.

This sex-positive miniseries explores our collectively complicated relationship with porn. Hosts Kels and Tess approach the topic with levity, curiosity, and research. Plus, hear from an alluring array of industry experts along with everyday folks.

You’ll laugh. You’ll blush. You’ll cringe. You’ll ponder. We guarantee you’ve never heard anything like it.

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Episode Breakdown

01

Porn is a super thorny topic, and even though it’s a global, billion-dollar industry, people don’t really like to talk about it. But when an industry is this massive, it’s deserving of some nuanced conversation.

Just how big is the porn industry?
How internet porn changed everything.
The Central Conflict: A lot of people are watching a lot of porn and feeling very conflicted about it.

Featuring Patricia Nilsson, reporter for the Financial Times and host of the podcast Hot Money.

02

Without safe spaces to talk about sex and porn, it can be easy to wonder if our desires and behaviors are “normal” or not.

Are my sexual desires normal? (And why not to look to Google for the answer.)
The deal with porn addiction (and suspicious online screening tests).
What is a healthy relationship with porn?

Featuring Patrick Bluett, LCPC and Portland-based sex therapist.

03

Everyone brings their own ideas and experiences to the topic of porn. For some, it’s a way to affirm their sexuality. For others, it’s a quick way to scratch an itch. For most, it’s complicated.

The good and the bad of the smutty: how does porn positively and negatively impact us?
Fantasies aren’t always desires, and that’s ok.
The resurgence of (and healing power behind) indie porn film festivals.

Featuring Shine Louise Houston, filmmaker, founding director and producer of Pink and White Productions.

04

Porn is not a monolith — there are a variety of players, practices, and values within the complex world of porn.

Behind the scenes on porn sets: from indie to main stream.
Why “regular movie” sex scenes are so hot, and how erotic filmmakers get you to invest in the sex you see on screen.
Can porn make you more empathetic?

Featuring Jennifer Lyon Bell, founder of Blue Artichoke Films; Laura Bentley, pornographic actress and professional companion.

05

Should we learn how to drive from Fast and the Furious? No. Should we learn how to have sex from porn? Also no. However, there are some people in the industry who are changing that.

Porn: accidental sex education vs. intentional sex education (a very important difference).
Who’s behind the push for porn literacy programs and what can they offer?
The culture of sex and why we should keep having squirmy conversations about porn.

Featuring Lina Bembe, Berlin-based porn performer and director; Avril Louise Clarke, brand manager for Erika Lust Films and the Porn Conversation.

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Porn Nerds

A new podcast mini-series about the good and the bad of the smutty. A co-production of Squirm and BOOM.

Subscribe to be the first to listen

Episode Breakdown

01

02

03

04

05

Stay in the Loop

A new podcast mini-series about
the good and the bad of the smutty.
A co-production of Squirm and BOOM.