The 13 best sex and dating podcasts

If you haven’t yet given ‘Modern Love’ a go, it’s exactly where you should start. This one is for the romantics amongst us. Adapted from a very popular dating column in the New York Times, the success of ‘Modern Love’ is never-ending. In 2016, it became a podcast (which still releases weekly episodes), and in 2019, it became a TV show starring some very big names (hello, Anne Hathaway). The podcast tells the stories into the romantic relationships of real people week by week, and you’ll never want to stop listening. 

‘Sex With Emily’ is one of the most long-running and well-known sex and dating podcasts out there, and for good reason. Sex expert Dr. Emily Morse releases new episodes every three days, about all things sex and sexual liberation. Morse hosts various guests each episode, and merges the tales and tribulations of her own sex life with submissions sent in by listeners. Her mantra? She can improve anyone’s sex life in a minute or less. We stan. 

Following four queer Black feminists in NYC as they navigate the complexities of sex, love and dating in the modern world, Inner Hoe Uprising is as much its own community as it is a podcast. The quartet dive into critical analyses of race, gender, sexuality and more through an unpretentious, explanatory lens. IHU is also full of endearing personalities; rarely is such educational content so effortlessly relatable and hysterically funny.

A podcast that focuses less on personal pleasure and more on those that have taken advantage of it, The Orgasm Cult tells the story of One Taste, a wellness company that pedestalled the self-care value of orgasms for the empowered modern woman. Documenting the company’s descent into a ‘cult’ amid allegations of prostitution and sex trafficking, The Orgasm Cult is a fascinating tale with insights into the relationships between the wellness industry and women’s sexual wellbeing. A must-listen.

Heartbreak doctor Trina Leckie isn’t here to sugar-coat your toxic break-up. On her ’24 hour break-up hotline’, Leckie is a compassionate, funny, downright inspirational host, and while she doesn’t mince her words, she’s managed to pick people up out of some pretty deep emotional holes. And if the more general podcast topics aren’t helping you and you’re still stuck in a heartbreak rut, you can even schedule a personal call with Leckie herself.

Dyking Out is an informative, inclusive space for lesbian and LGBTQIA communities. But, hosted by New York City-based comedians Carolyn Bergier & Melody Kamali, it’s also an exceptionally positive, relentlessly funny way to spend 90 minutes (or so) every week. The duo advises on ways to come out, gossip about queer pop culture, and lead discussions on sex and dating, helping to unmuddle the world with consistently top-drawer content.

Just as disabilities range enormously, so do the experiences of people that live with them. Disability After Dark is here to shed light on as many disabled people’s stories as possible, focusing on the bits that we don’t often hear about; the bits that are, as the title suggests, ‘in the dark’. Host Andrew Gurza dives deep into what it’s like to live with a disability, ranging from coping with chronic pain and championing social equality to navigating sex, sexuality and relationships. An enlightening, demystifying listen.

The premise of 51 First Dates is simple. Kimmy Foskett goes on 51 first dates, which she then discusses with co-host Liza Renzulli in podcast form for all to hear. What could go wrong? Filled with fabulously awkward personal stories and experiences, 51 First Dates is superbly entertaining and terrifically informative. By analysing Foskett’s testimonies, the duo (and often a guest) help examine how both she and others date, talking about everything from communication and hook-ups to body image and couples counselling.

The process of decolonisation involves every area of society, including sexual and reproductive health. Decolonising Contraception’s The Sex Agenda podcast strives to correct the massive inequalities suffered by Black people and people of colour in sex education, utilising the expertise of sex educators, doctors, campaigners, journalists and researchers to do so. With episodes full of guests willing to tackle stigma and expose myths head-on, The Sex Agenda is always challenging and will broaden your mind. 

While its title might sound somewhat kink-shaming, Why Are People Into That? is a remarkably non-judgmental examination of sexual fetishes. From vampires and cannibals to Nazis and enemas, it is amazing what can turn people on. You’ll always come away from WAPIT knowing something new (and, often, something pretty weird), but you won’t necessarily feel judged or icky. And WAPIT doesn’t always focus on kink – host Tina Horn also spends plenty of time having valuable conversations about gender, love and much more.

Fresh from the end of its second season, Bad in Bed is a ‘cast by sex educators and journalists Bobby Box and Gabrielle Kassel that pays proper attention to queer sex ed. Talking through all the stuff that people should know but often don’t, the duo is fun, charming, open and vulnerable. With the help of a weekly guest, Box and Kassel turn their attention to dissecting dating apps, toys, sex parties, sexual astrology and much, much more.

As it says on the tin, here’s your one-stop shop for contemplating the nature of sex in the not-too-distant future. And no, Future of Sex isn’t all about dystopian robots and disturbing metaverse stuff. Exploring the growing sex tech industry, host Bryony Cole delves into sex (obviously), cutting-edge tech, and even the very nature of what it means to be human. Cole, a former tech careerist herself, is a well-researched and inquisitive host as she covers topics like sex dolls, cannabis and sex, and sex in space.

U Up? defines itself as the ‘definitive modern dating podcast’ and, well, it is definitely up there. From interpreting Tinder exchanges to sharing strange sexual encounters, millennials Jordana Abraham and Jared Freid are here to jokingly reassure listeners that it’s not just you: modern dating is stressful, intense, and often downright weird. With its candid assessments and frequent analysis of hot topics, U Up? captures a lot of the chaos of modern romance.