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Artwork for New Books in Sex, Sexuality, and Sex Work

New Books in Sex, Sexuality, and Sex Work

New Books Network
Sexuality
Marilyn Chambers
Soft-Porn Cinema
Gender Studies
Chuck Traynor
Malayalam Film Industry
The Sexual Revolution
Adult Film Industry
Feminist Media Studies
San Francisco
First Amendment Rights
Transnational Media
1970s America
Censorship
Obscenity Laws
Contraception
Sex Workers Rights Movement
Gentrification
Sex Work
Policing Historical Context

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

12 ratings
PublishesDailyEpisodes492Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksSocial SciencesArtsScience

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Artwork for New Books in Sex, Sexuality, and Sex Work
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Latest Episodes

Maud Anne Bracke, "Reproductive Rights in Modern France: Reproductive Rights in Modern France: Feminism, Contraception, and Abortion, 1950-1980 (Oxford UP, 2025)

The introduction of the principle of women's reproductive liberty in France, tentatively by the family planning movement after 1960 and explicitly by the women's liberation movement after 1970, marked a deep shift, transforming public discourses. Yet... more

9 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 11 min

Mattie Armstrong-Price, "Respectability on the Line: Gender, Race, and Labor along British and Colonial Indian Railways" (U California Press, 2026)

Respectability on the Line: Gender, Race, and Labor along British and Colonial Indian Railways (U California Press, 2026) by Dr. Mattie Armstrong-Price offers a social and cultural history of railway labor in Britain and colonial India from the 1840s... more

7 Mar 2026 • 43 min

Daniel Brook, "The Einstein of Sex: Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, Visionary of Weimar Berlin" (W. W. Norton & Co, 2025)

More than a century ago, Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, dubbed the "Einstein of Sex," grew famous (and infamous) for his liberating theory of sexual relativity. Today, he's been largely forgotten.

In The Einstein of Sex: Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, Visionary of ... more

5 Mar 2026 • 50 min

Clarissa E. Francis, "Black Women's Bodily Autonomy, Sexual Freedom, and Pleasure: Explorations of the Hot Girl Movement" (Routledge, 2025)

Black Women's Bodily Autonomy, Sexual Freedom, and Pleasure: Explorations of the Hot Girl Movement (Routledge, 2025) explores scholarship, practice, and advocacy for Black women’s pursuit of bodily autonomy, sexual freedom, and pleasure. Inspired by ... more

28 Feb 2026 • 1 hr 6 min

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Recent Guests

Mark Steinberg
Author and former professor specializing in urban history
Bloomsbury
Episode: Mark D. Steinberg, "Moral Storytelling in 1920s New York, Odessa, and Bombay: Sex, Crime, Violence, and Nightlife in the Modern City" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Kong Pheng Pha
Interdisciplinary scholar and educator focusing on Hmong communities and queer theory.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Episode: Kong Pheng Pha, "Queering the Hmong Diaspora: Racial Subjectivity and the Myth of Hyperheterosexuality" (U Washington Press, 2025)
Dr. Lauren D. Sawyer
Professor of Theology and Culture at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology
Seattle School of Theology and Psychology
Episode: Lauren D. Sawyer, "Growing Up Pure: White Girls, Queer Teens, and the Racial Foundations of Purity Culture" (NYU Press, 2025)
Juliane Maxwald
Licensed psychoanalyst, couples therapist, and sex therapist based in New York City with over 15 years of experience.
Episode: Juliane Maxwald, "Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy: Exploring the Unconscious Life of Sexuality" (Taylor & Francis, 2025)
Dr. Zoë McGee
Author of "Courting Disaster: Reading Between the Lines of the Regency Novel"
Manchester University Press, 2025
Episode: Zoë McGee, "Courting Disaster: Reading Between the Lines of the Regency Novel" (Manchester UP, 2025)
Dr. Cara Gormally
Author, researcher, and cartoonist
Episode: Everything Is Fine, I'll Just Work Harder: Confessions of a Former Badass
Dr. Julia Meszaros
Associate Professor at East Texas A&M and author.
Episode: Julia H. Meszaros, "Economies of Gender: Masculinity, "Mail Order Brides," and Women’s Labor" (Rutgers UP, 2025)
Dr. Hannah Frydman
Assistant Professor at Harvard specializing in French studies
Harvard University
Episode: Hannah Frydman, "Between the Sheets: Sexuality, Classified Advertising, and the Moral Threat to Press Freedom in France" (Cornell UP, 2025)
Timothy Gitzen
Author of Unscripting the Present, The Security Panic of Queer Youth Sexuality
SUNY Press
Episode: Timothy Gitzen, "Unscripting the Present" (SUNY Press, 2025)

Host

Dr. Miranda Melcher
Host of various series within the New Books Network, focusing on scholarly discussions.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 12 ratings
  • Nope

    I really liked some episodes which had some interviews with researchers and sex workers, but with the May 2023 episode with Mary Eberstadt, I’ve learned this podcast series is just as bad as the mainstream media

    There is no sex worker solidarity without solidarity for trans people. If you’re reading this and thinking “well not everything is black and white, you just don’t want people to express their opinions freely”, please go educate yourself with some recent research on the current statistic... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TinaDeutschland
    Canada3 years ago
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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews highlight concerns about certain episodes' alignment with contemporary social issues, suggesting areas for improvement in addressing diverse perspectives.
Listeners appreciate the scholarly discussions and the depth of research presented in episodes, often praising the expert guests.
The podcast is recognized for bringing attention to important and often marginalized topics in sexuality studies, although not all discussions resonate with every listener's perspective.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#106
Canada/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts
#17
Italy/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts
#138
Australia/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts
#165
Italy/Science
Apple Podcasts
#215
Germany/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts
#11
Finland/Science/Social Sciences

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Clarissa E. Francis, "Black Women's Bodily Autonomy, Sexual Freedom, and Pleasure: Explorations of the Hot Girl Movement" (Routledge, 2025)
Q: How do you see the relationship between the politics of respectability and the politics of joy?
Dr. Francis discussed how respectability politics often leads to internalized judgment within the community and how joy is a radical act that should be prioritized.
Clarissa E. Francis, "Black Women's Bodily Autonomy, Sexual Freedom, and Pleasure: Explorations of the Hot Girl Movement" (Routledge, 2025)
Q: Can you tell us about yourself, your background, and how you came to write this very important book?
Dr. Francis shared her journey from Cleveland, her academic background, and work experience in health care and sexual health, eventually culminating in her focus on Black women's sexual liberation.
Mark D. Steinberg, "Moral Storytelling in 1920s New York, Odessa, and Bombay: Sex, Crime, Violence, and Nightlife in the Modern City" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Q: What were some of the concerns related to sex and sexuality in these cities during the 1920s?
There was a significant obsession with sex that was seen as wayward or out of place and not just an issue of Prohibition, highlighting wider societal anxieties about individuality and self-control.
Mark D. Steinberg, "Moral Storytelling in 1920s New York, Odessa, and Bombay: Sex, Crime, Violence, and Nightlife in the Modern City" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Q: Why then New York, Odessa, and Bombay in the 1920s?
Steinberg sought to explore how morally charged narratives emerged in urban settings despite the unique political contexts of each city, emphasizing both their differences and shared concerns regarding morality and public behavior.
Mark D. Steinberg, "Moral Storytelling in 1920s New York, Odessa, and Bombay: Sex, Crime, Violence, and Nightlife in the Modern City" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Q: What sorts of questions were motivating this project?
Questions of selfhood, morality, and how urban environments in different political systems shaped behaviors related to sex, crime, and violence.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast primarily explores the intricacies of sex, sexuality, and sex work through the lens of scholarly research. Each episode features interviews with experts who discuss their recent publications, fostering a deeper understanding of various intersecting themes such as race, gender, and societal narratives surrounding sexuality. The discussions encapsulate a range of topics, including historical perspectives, cultural critiques, and contemporary challenges faced by marginalized communities. The blend of academic rigor with accessible conversation aims to illuminate pressing social issues while presenting diverse scholarly viewpoints, making this a unique resource for those interested in nuanced discussions about sexuality and sex wor... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Maintenance Phase
2. If Books Could Kill

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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 492 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Mark Steinberg
2. Kong Pheng Pha
3. Dr. Lauren D. Sawyer
4. Juliane Maxwald
5. Dr. Zoë McGee
6. Dr. Cara Gormally
7. Dr. Julia Meszaros
8. Dr. Hannah Frydman

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