Taboo Science
Episodes
Trans 101: How to Be an Ally Without Making It Weird
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Good intentions, it turns out, are not the same thing as good allyship — and sometimes they can actually make things worse. In this season finale, d...
Trans 101: What Detransitioners Want You to Know
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
(00:00:00) Trans 101: What Detransitioners Want You to Know (00:03:44) What Is Detransition? (00:08:52) Maddie's Story (00:13:40) Eri's Story (00:21:0...
Trans 101: Trans Athletes & What the Science Actually Says
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How many studies does it take for something to be "settled science"? For trans athletes—who face state bans across the country, which recently reach...
Trans 101: Dating While Trans (with Julia Serano)
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Every notification is a gamble: Is this a genuine connection or another person who swiped right just to tell you you're disgusting? Welcome to dating ...
Trans 101: When a Loved One Comes Out, What Should You Do?
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When someone in your family comes out as trans, what do you actually do? Turns out "I love you, I believe you" goes a long way—but it's also way mor...
Bonus Interview: Trans Technologies with Oliver Haimson
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, Ashley sits down with Oliver Haimson, associate professor at the University of Michigan's School of Information and author of T...
Trans 101: Finding Healthcare That Won't Kill You
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a wild statistic: nearly a quarter of trans people in the U.S. avoid going to the doctor specifically because they expect to be disrespected. A...
RERUN - Asexuality: The Sexual Orientation Missing From Your Sex Ed
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's Thanksgiving here in the US, so we're re-running one of the most popular Taboo Science episodes of all time. We'll be back in two weeks with an e...
Nonbinary 101: Beyond the Binary
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the government declared you don't exist? In 2025, that's exactly what happened to nonbinary people—but they're not going anywhere. This epis...
Trans 101: Trans Kids & the Reality of Youth Transition
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The right says doctors are mutilating children. The left says nothing permanent is happening. They're both oversimplifying, but they're not equally wr...
FEED DROP: Sing for Science
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Another podcast Taboo Science listeners may enjoy: Sing For Science!Sing for Science is a science-and-music podcast where musicians sit down with scie...
Trans 101: How Transgender Hormone Therapy Changes Body and Brain
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, doctors tried to psychoanalyze trans people out of being trans. Spoiler: it didn't work. This episode dives into the medical reality of g...
Trans 101: Everything You Think You Know (But Probably Don't)
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Got a rainbow sticker? Follow trans creators? Have trans friends? Cool. But if you're like most people—even the well-meaning ones—you probably kno...
Coming Soon — Season 5: Trans 101
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to transgender issues, most of us are working with incomplete information—and that's a problem when real people's rights hang in the b...
Housekeeping: Audience Survey Results + Taboo Science Patreon!
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Still working on Season 5 (Trans Science!). In the meantime, go to https://patreon.com/tabooscience to support the show—and get updates and behind-t...
Introducing: CRAMPED
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CRAMPED is an investigative podcast that answers the question "Why are so many people with uteruses in unexplained & untreated pain?"Listen to th...
Philias Bonus: The Q&A Episode
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You requested and I delivered: I'm answering your Philias questions on the podcast. With the help of interviewer and podcast industry extraordinaire A...
Philias: Foot Fetishes Kick the Stigma
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered why some people have a thing for feet? In this final Philias episode, we're flying feet first into foot fetishes. Social psychologist Dr...
Introducing: Spellbound and Gagged (Plus an Announcement!)
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spellbound and Gagged is a podcast about all things that fascinate, unsettle, and disgust. It's back from hiatus with an episode all about the sex cul...
Philias: 7 Kinks That Push the Envelope
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Consider today's episode a sampler platter of unconventional kinks. We're talking exhibitionism, financial domination, wet and messy fun, fat fetishes...
Philias: Diapers, Age Play, and the Psychology of ABDL
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You've definitely wondered why some grown adults like to wear diapers—so let's get into it. In today's episode, we rip off the velcro to understand ...
Philias: Zoophilia and the Hidden Community That's Into Animals
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready to learn about the underground and frequently misunderstood world of zoophilia. With the help of paraphilia researcher Alexandra Zidenberg a...
Philias: Cuckolding Is More Than Just Cheating
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Cuck" is way more than an internet insult. In this episode of Taboo Science, we're stepping out and diving in to cuckolding, the real-life kink and l...
Philias: Why Pup Play Appeals to Grown Adults
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fox News recoils at the idea of pup play—but we're looking closer. In this episode of Taboo Science, we dive into the fascinating subculture of huma...
Philias: Furry Isn't a Fetish (Most of the Time)
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The furry fandom gets a bad rap. But on this episode, we're digging beneath the stereotypes to uncover the truth about this misunderstood community. W...
Philias: Why Do People Like BDSM? ("It Was Like Taking Drugs")
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whips, chains, and... legal pads? In this episode of Taboo Science, we dive deep into the world of BDSM to explore its long history, the science behin...
Philias: How Many Kinks Exist? The Science of Kinks and Fetishes
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's here! The premiere episode of Taboo Science's new miniseries "Philias": an exploration into the science of kinks and fetishes. In this 101 episod...
Coming Soon: Philias from Taboo Science
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Philias is a new miniseries from Taboo Science about the quirky, colorful world of kinks and fetishes. The first episode drops on March 21 — hit the...
RERUN: Necrophilia (with Dr. Victoria Sullivan & Dr. Jens Foell)
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Think necrophilia is just creepy morticians and serial killers? Think again. With the help of psychologist Dr. Victoria Hartmann and neuroscientist Je...
Attraction to Monsters (with Ella Gallego)
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Beauty and the Beast. Twilight. The Shape of Water. What do these stories have in common? Humans and monsters getting down and dirty. This episode exp...
Animal Testing (with Dr. Katherine Roe & Dr. Emily Trunnell)
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We've all heard the arguments against animal testing: it's cruel, it's unethical. But you may not know the dirty truth: it doesn't even work most of t...
Introducing: How to Do the Pot
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're back between episodes with a quick feed drop! Taboo Science will return next week.How to Do the Pot is a fun weekly show helping you dabble in w...
IQ / Intelligence (with Dr. Steven Piantadosi)
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The IQ test is supposed to be a measure of human intelligence. But is it? Today, we're joined by UC Berkeley professor Dr. Steven Piantadosi to unders...
Climate Anxiety (with Dr. Thomas Doherty)
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Avoiding climate news? Do thoughts of the apocalypse keep you up at night? Feeling guilty about unsustainable habits? With climate change becoming a s...
Remastered: Depression (with Dr. Gerard Sanacora)
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much do we really know about depression? In this remastered episode, Gerard Sanacora, director of the Yale Depression Research Program and Co-dire...
Menstruation (with Dr. Kate Clancy)
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Menstruation is so much more than a useless byproduct of the reproductive cycle — it's a dang biological miracle. With the help of Dr. Kate Clancy, ...
Makeup (with Ilise S. Carter)
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's both a method of empowerment and a tool of control — but it sure is pretty! Today's episode delves into how makeup reflects and perpetuates soc...
Heterosexuality (with Dr. Hanne Blank Boyd)
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Heterosexuality isn't what you think it is. In this episode, historian Hanne Blank Boyd flips the script on how we view sexual orientation, showing ho...
Race (with Agustín Fuentes, Ph.D.)
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready to rethink everything you know about race. With the help of anthropologist Agustín Fuentes, this episode debunks the idea that race exists ...
Nudity (with Ruth Barcan, Ph.D.)
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do the Pioneer 10 plaque and communal bathhouses of Renaissance Europe have in common? Today we're stripping down the complicated concept of nudi...
Introducing: Based on a True Story
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Taboo Science will continue next week with a regularly scheduled episode, but I wanted to give a nod to Pride Month by sharing a podcast episode I lov...
Breastfeeding (with Bridget McGann & Sascha Mayer)
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know lactation is older than the dinosaurs? Latch onto the mysteries of breastfeeding with help from lactation scientist Bridget McGann and Ma...
Poop (with Bryn Nelson, Ph.D.)
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Grab your squatty potty and put your squeamishness aside: we're going elbow-deep into human waste with science journalist and author Bryn Nelson. This...
Asexuality (with Canton Winer & Sarah Costello)
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we challenge the common perceptions of attraction and explore the complexities of asexuality. Sociology PhD candidate Canton Weiner shares ...
Addiction (with Judy Grisel, Ph.D.)
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're diving into the world of addiction and drug use with Judy Grisel, a behavioral neuroscientist who's been down the road of addiction hersel...
Season 3 Is Coming
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The long wait is nearly over — Season 3 drops on 4/20.Taboo Science is a podcast that answers the questions you’re not allowed to ask. It’s host...
Butts (with Dr. Jeanne Bovet)
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we have such big butts? Why does society admire women's butts more than men's? And what does race have to do with all this? Featuring Dr. Je...
Disability (with Emily Ladau)
09 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It affects 1 billion people worldwide, so why is disability considered a niche issue? How can we make life easier for people with disabilities? And wh...
Depression (with Dr. Gerard Sanacora)
26 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is depression, really? Do antidepressants actually work? And how can ketamine and psilocybin possibly help? Featuring Gerard Sanacora, directo...
Body Hair (with Rebecca Herzig)
12 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we remove our body hair? Why do humans have less hair than our primate cousins? And why was Darwin obsessed with beards? Featuring Rebecca H...
Hormones (with Randi Hutter Epstein, M.D.)
29 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
They're complex, mysterious, and easy to blame for everything from unexplained symptoms to seemingly superhuman abilities. Find out how we discovered ...
Critical Race Theory (with Janel George)
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are kids really learning critical race theory in class? What IS critical race theory, anyway? And why is it so uncomfortable to talk about race? Featu...
Money (with Ted Klontz, Ph.D.)
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it impolite to talk about money? Why are many of us uncomfortable with our own money habits? And how do we change things? Featuring Ted Klontz,...
Head Transplants (with Dr. Brandy Schillace)
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why don't we have head transplants? Why would someone need one? And how much of you is in your head — and how much is everywhere else? Featuring Dr....
STIs (with Ina Park, MD)
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How long have STIs been around? Why don't we have anything higher-tech than the condom? And when did we stop saying "STD," anyway? Featuring Ina Park,...
Bodily Fluids (with Erika Engelhaupt)
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Snot and pee and earwax, oh my! Why are we so full of gross substances? What do our fluids do for us? And is there really a chemical to catch people p...
Ageism (with Dr. Hannah Swift)
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we tease each other about getting old? Why don't you see 70-year-olds partying with 20-year-olds? What age is "old," anyway? Featuring Dr. Hann...
Eating Animals (with Dr. Melanie Joy)
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we treat some animals as food and others as family? Is animal agriculture really as bad as vegans say it is? And if I want to change things, is...
Marriage (with Stephanie Coontz)
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What was the original purpose of marriage? What's up with all those wedding traditions? And what makes a marriage last? Featuring Stephanie Coontz, re...
Dying (with Jennie Dear)
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How will most of us die? How do our expectations of death go wrong? How can we all have a good death? Featuring Jennie Dear, author of “What Does It...
Childbirth (with Tina Cassidy)
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we keep early pregnancy a secret? How long have we been giving birth in hospitals? And why is childbirth so painful? Today's guest is Tina Cass...
Lying (with Judi Ketteler)
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is honesty really the best policy? What's the difference between a good lie and a bad lie? And how much do we lie to ourselves? Today's guest is Ju...
Necrophilia (with Dr. Victoria Sullivan & Dr. Jens Foell)
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Where does necrophilia come from? What makes people desecrate corpses? And do you have to be a serial killer to have a death fetish? Today's guests ar...
Infidelity (with Lucia O'Sullivan)
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's the #1 cause of breakup and divorce. What if we're approaching infidelity all wrong? Today's guest is Dr. Lucia O'Sullivan, a social psychologist...
Vaginas (with Rachel E. Gross)
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we know so little about female anatomy? Why are so many of women's reproductive organs named after dudes? And hold up, the clitoris looks like ...
Acne (with Dr. Alexa Shipman)
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why are we so grossed out by acne? What is it that makes popping pimples so satisfying? And why doesn't acne go away after adolescence? Today's guest ...
Obesity (with Dr. Yoni Freedhoff)
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What do we get wrong about weight? Where did BMI even come from? And is there really an obesity "epidemic"? Today's guest is Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, an As...
Cannibalism (with Bill Schutt)
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why do humans have such an aversion to eating each other? How many cultures really practice cannibalism? And does cannibalism happen in the Western wo...
Penises (with Emily Willingham)
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How does the human penis measure up to the rest of the animal kingdom? What can the shape of the penis tell us about human mating? And what is up with...
Pornography (with Joshua Grubbs)
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What makes porn, porn? Why is a Playboy centerfold porn when the Venus de Milo isn't? How long have we been making porn? And importantly, is porn addi...
Profanity (with Benjamin K. Bergen)
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a word profane? Why are my swear words different from my parents'? If swearing is so bad, why do we do it? And what can a culture's swear w...
Introducing: Taboo Science
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Taboo Science is a podcast that answers the questions you're not allowed to ask. It's hosted by Ashley Hamer, a science writer and podcaster. Every ep...