A Broad Sex Education

Hawaiʻi wasn’t always part of the United States. It was a sovereign kingdom. And the story of how that kingdom ended is a lot messier than many of us were taught. In Part 1 of our Hawaiʻi field trip, Cin and Asa trade the resort itinerary for a history lesson. We’re talking about the Kamehameha dynasty, King Kalākaua, the Bayonet Constitution, Queen Liliʻuokalani, and the overthrow of the Hawaiian...

In the 1800s, a pocket-sized book said sex was healthy, described the vulva, and told people how to prevent pregnancy. That was enough to put people on trial. In this mini-lesson of A Broad Sex Education , Cin and Asa look at Fruits of Philosophy by Charles Knowlton, one of the most controversial early sex ed and birth control books. We talk anatomy, contraception, obscenity laws, and how one litt...

The birth control pill changed everything but its history is messier than you think. In this episode of A Broad Sex Education , Cin and Asa explore the complicated history of the pill: Comstock laws, Margaret Sanger, Katharine McCormick, the scientists behind hormonal birth control, the Puerto Rico pill trials, FDA approval, and the court cases that helped make contraception legal. Because the pil...

Before the pill, people were still trying not to get pregnant and trying to avoid sexually transmitted infections. In this episode of A Broad Sex Education , Cin and Brooklyn explore the history of non-hormonal birth control, from ancient condom-like methods and spermicides to sheep-gut condoms, syphilis prevention, wartime condom campaigns, and Thailand’s 100% Condom Use Program. Because the desi...

Think you know birth control? In this game-show style episode of A Broad Sex Education , Cin puts Asa and you to the test with a Birth Control 101 quiz. We cover condoms, the pill, IUDs, withdrawal, emergency contraception, fertility awareness, spermicide, vasectomies, and a few curveballs your high school health class probably skipped. Play along, keep score, and see if you can beat Asa. 📚Resour...

In this mini-lesson, we’re starting the ABSE Birth Control Unit somewhere unexpected: Genesis 38. Cin shares a conversation with Brooklyn about the biblical story of Judah, Tamar, and Onan. This story is often used in arguments about masturbation, withdrawal, “spilling seed,” and birth control. But when we look at the full story, it’s not just about semen. It’s about family duty, inheritance, reli...

In this Book Report special, Cin is joined by fellow Bookworm Baddie Brooklyn to discuss Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, a novel about a tradwife influencer, motherhood, marriage, gender roles, religious expectations, and the fantasy of returning to “simpler times.” We start with a non-spoiler discussion of the book, Natalie as a character, tradwife influencer culture, and what the story says abo...

In Part 2 of “When Are You Having Kids? The Pressure to Procreate, Explained,” Cin is joined again by Asa and Brooklyn to continue the lesson on pronatalism : the policy, practice, or belief that encourages people to have children. This time, we move from personal baby pressure into the darker history of how reproduction becomes political. We discuss “race suicide” panic, eugenics, white nationali...

Having kids is one of the most personal decisions someone can make, so why does everyone else seem to have an opinion on it? In Part 1 of The Pressure to Procreate, Explained: The Language of Baby Pressure, Cin is joined by Asa and Brooklyn to unpack pronatalism : the policy, practice, or belief that encourages people to have children. We break down the language of baby pressure, from “when are yo...

Having children is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make but how many of us actually stop to ask if it's what we want? In this Study Break episode of A Broad Sex Education , Cin is joined by Brooklyn and Asa for an honest conversation about choosing whether or not to become a parent. Together, we explore the reasons people have children, the social expectations around parenthood, pregnancy...

Class is on summer break! ☀️ In this quick life update, I share what's been happening behind the scenes, why we're taking a short pause, and what you can expect when Season 3 returns with a brand-new series on reproductive care, family planning, and pregnancy . Before we go, we answer one fun question: Why do we say someone is "horny"? Explore the surprising history behind one of the English langu...

What if there has never been just one way to understand gender? In this Pride Month special, we're traveling around the world to explore how different cultures have understood gender throughout history. From the Māhū people of Hawaiʻi and Tahiti to the Hijra communities of India, the Fa'afafine of Samoa, the Bissu people of Indonesia, and Two-Spirit traditions throughout Indigenous North America,...

In this episode we're exploring the history of gay men through the lenses of geography and history. From Ancient Greece and Rome to colonial laws, Oscar Wilde's trials, Berlin before World War II, Stonewall, and the AIDS crisis, we'll examine how societies have understood relationships between men across time and place. Along the way, we'll meet activists, artists, researchers, and communities who...

If women who loved women have always existed, why is their history so much harder to find? In this Pride Month special, we're exploring the stories of women who loved women across history and around the world. From Ancient Greece and the poetry of Sappho to the Golden Orchid Societies of Southern China, Anne Lister's coded diaries, Boston Marriages, and the literary salons of Paris, we'll uncover...

In this Office Hours episode for AAPI Heritage Month, we’re unpacking the sexualization and desexualization of Asian people, from the stereotype of the “submissive Asian woman” to why Asian men have historically been portrayed as less desirable in Western culture. We discuss where these stereotypes came from, how media and history shaped them, the impact of fetishization in dating culture, Filipin...

Why are boys told not to cry? Why are women expected to be nurturing? And who decides what masculinity and femininity are supposed to look like in the first place? In this Study Break episode, Cin and Asa unpack gender roles, social expectations, beauty standards, emotional expression, and the pressure people feel to perform masculinity and femininity in everyday life. This conversation explores h...

If sexual violence is so common, why are so many survivors afraid to come forward? In Part 2 of this series, Cin, Asa, and Brooklyn examine the systems, trauma responses, institutional failures, and social conditioning that make rape and sexual assault some of the most underreported and difficult crimes to prosecute. Through sociology, personal experience, legal frameworks, prevention strategies,...

If consent seems so simple, then why does non-consent feel so normalized? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Cin, Asa, and Brooklyn examine rape culture through sociology, history, media, mythology, power, and social conditioning. From legal definitions and consent education to cultural messaging, misogyny, and modern online communities, this lesson explores how society normalizes harmful behavior...

The “Tea and Consent” video is one of the most widely shared explanations of consent. It is simple, clear, and easy to understand. So why doesn’t consent always feel that simple in real life? In this extra credit minisode, Cin and Asa break down the tea analogy and explore what it misses. From power dynamics and social pressure to communication gaps and real-world scenarios, this lesson expands th...

What actually makes someone “good” at sex? It’s probably not what you think. In this mini-lesson, we break down the real skills that create better sex, deeper connection, and more confidence in the bedroom. This is not about performance or technique. It is about awareness, communication, and understanding your body and your partner. We cover: • Why being open-minded changes everything • How learni...

Most people think they know what sex is. But if you had to define it, could you? In this lesson, we go back to the basics and break down what sex actually means. This episode explores how sex is defined, what happens in your brain during sex, and how the experience can change depending on context, connection, and physical dynamics. We cover the role of key brain regions involved in arousal and ple...

In this Office Hours episode of A Broad Sex Education , we’re breaking down attachment theory in a way that actually makes sense. If you’ve ever learned your attachment style but didn’t fully understand what it means, this episode walks you through it. We explore where attachment theory comes from, including the original research and the Strange Situation experiment, and how early relationships wi...

Class is on spring break, but we’re not leaving you without a mini lesson. In this quick update episode, we’re breaking down the meaning behind the phrase “the birds and the bees” and where it actually comes from. Why do we use this euphemism to talk about sex, and what does it say about how uncomfortable we are having direct conversations? Plus, a quick preview of what’s coming next! Follow now t...

Hi study buddies! In this episode, we’re taking a Study Break. Cin and Brooklyn are diving into their dating hot takes and having a real conversation about modern dating, relationships, and what people actually want (or think they want) when it comes to love. This episode a chance to explore real-life experiences, opinions, and the messy realities of dating. We talk about: • The difference between...

In this episode, we talk about dating red flags, relationship values, and what actually matters when building healthy relationships. Dating can feel complicated, especially in the world of modern dating apps and relationship expectations. Through our own experiences, we explore how people learn to recognize red flags in dating, understand their personal values, and figure out what they truly want...