Let’s Talk About Sex

Sarah and her guest are here to talk about sex. Christine Emba, a columnist for ...

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Sarah and her guest are here to talk about sex. Christine Emba, a columnist for the Washington Post and author of the new book Rethinking Sex, examines our current sexual mores and finds them wanting. What’s the cause of today’s sexual malaise? What does a new sexual ethic look like? Listen (but maybe not with your young children) for those answers and more.

Show Notes:

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  1. Casey M

    I think there should be a subscribers-only reaction video where we get to watch David listening to this episode.

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    PaulH

    This was an excellent interview. While she eschews being an advice columnist, I was wondering if Ms. Emba would consider writing a book aimed at the Young Adult (i.e. teen) market. As the father of a daughter approaching that age, it would be much appreciated. While I don't think much of "abstinence-only" sex education, "abstinence-positive" sex ed would probably be a good thing. Ultimately, I would like my daughter to have the knowledge and confidence about sex and her sexuality so that she can make decisions that make her happy -- but I really have no idea how to make that happen in today's world.

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    Ben Connelly

    This interview was way better than I expected.

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  4. Payette

    Sarah and Christine, this was really a great podcast! This could easily have been relevant 20-30 years ago. It's sad that things have not improved since then.

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    Clifford from WA

    This podcast reminds of some lyrics from the AJR song “3 O’clock Things”:

    “And maybe sex is overrated but we're too shy to ever say it (say it)
    So we pretend we're all amazing”

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  6. J. Cavaliere

    I am sure this was mentioned in one of the 167 comments, but I am not sure how one “consents” to a “surprise choke” unless it was discussed beforehand or there was some advance notice that a choke would occur with that particular person. Maybe I have an antiquated definition of consent.

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      Kmregan7

      You do not. It's not consent if you're uncomfortable and still do it (I'm sympathetic- women especially are still raised to be more accommodating rather than comfortable speaking up and clearly about the things they want/do not want and that's a very hard habit to break). Anyone pressuring someone to have sex and they go along with it - they're consenting, yes, but they probably shouldn't be and it's not "yes means yes" which is what consent is supposed to be.

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    Bill Dyer (aka Beldar)

    Love's Shadow, by Frederick Sandys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love%27s_Shadow#/media/File:Love's_Shadow_-_Anthony_Frederick_Augustus_Sandys.jpg

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    M.E.

    I quite enjoyed this discussion and hope to hear more social/cultural though from The Dispatch! I don't know where you'd fit it, though -- while it's been interesting to hear the advice for Caleb, it's not really AO's remit. Maybe on Dispatch Live so we can all see David blushing? :) Or, dare I say it, another podcast! Kidding -- I know you all have other work to do, just saying, more like this please.

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    Zachary Mccartney

    This was such a good conversation I bought the book and read it yesterday. Thank you Sarah for a great interview.

    As an evangelical who was semi raised in purity culture but who went to Austin Public schools and had mostly secular folks in my classes I felt like Ms. Emba was someone who knows me very well! While we have some disagreements—her thoughts were so helpful. It was also incredibly helpful hearing this from the female perspective in general.

    Christians have lots to learn from this—we may not have an ethic of consent—but too often we embody the ethic of consent and simply add “marriage” alongside it. This is an improvement insofar as we are attached to our spouses and thus less likely to degrade. But such degradation still can happen.

    Abstinence only till marriage then act like a porn star on your wedding night is not a workable solution—but, since these discussions are delicate, and many are hooked on porn… that’s what ends up being the expectation.

    God help us all treat each other with more dignity and respect.

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    Kyzyl Tuva

    Now that you’ve opened this topic, will you do an episode on dating for those of us over 70. I learned one thing from this episode: I’m so happy that I am over 70!

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