Around the Kinky Kampfire Podcast

Send us Fan Mail New year, fresh data, and zero shame—we kick off 2026 by digging into the most-watched porn categories of 2025 and what they reveal about culture, power, and pleasure. From hentai’s fascinating origin story in censorship to the rise of ethical studios and the steady normalization of anal, we connect the dots between what people click and the stories we tell about bodies, desire, a...

Send us Fan Mail Ever sit across from someone you’re wildly attracted to and realize you’re both waiting for the other to start? That’s the quiet chaos of dating as a queer switch—where presentation invites assumptions, desire doesn’t follow a clock, and the hottest scenes fizzle when roles aren’t clear. We open the campfire to talk about being “single” in non‑monogamy, the pressure of labels, and...

Send us Fan Mail Ever parked outside a munch, heart racing, and turned the car around? We’ve been there, and we built a roadmap for getting past that moment—from the first hello to feeling like you truly belong. With Shannon Elliott joining in person, we trade stories and hard-won lessons on lowering barriers to entry in kink and swinger spaces using playful design, clear consent culture, and smar...

Send us Fan Mail Ever walked into a new community and felt the room go quiet? Julius takes a match to clique culture and lights a clearer path to belonging, blending real talk, humor, and a little tequila to explain why groups can feel icy and how to melt the wall without losing yourself. We explore the tension between upbringing and chosen identity, the pull of religious guilt, and the liberating...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to trade hesitation for momentum? Julius takes us to the edge of comfort and names the leap: escape velocity, the instant you decide to outgrow fear and become more. We reframe libido through a Jungian lens as life energy—motivation that fuels creativity, connection, and change—so you can stop waiting for inspiration and start generating it. I share how this show began: tire...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into headspace before, during, and after scenes—how nerves shift into focus, how communication sets the tone, and how aftercare steadies the landing. Along the way we share real talk on public vs private play, music, flow state, consent, and post‑scene drop. • defining headspace as mood, intention and attention  • pre‑scene planning and capacity checks  • private vs public...

Send us Fan Mail We sit at the fire with Shannon Elliott to unpack losing yourself in a relationship, finding your values again, and building boundaries that hold. From red flags to safe words to dating parents while child-free, we trade fixes for clarity and negotiation. • solo poly identity versus escalator expectations • awareness, willingness, and capacity to change • partner as collaborator n...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when couples reveal their kinks for the first time on camera? We pull up to the fire and break down the viral Truth or Drink format—where women confess desires like pegging, food play, and medical roleplay—to show how real-world communication can be safer, kinder, and way hotter than shock value. This isn’t about judging anyone’s turn-ons; it’s about building the skil...

Send us Fan Mail We explore how to stop therapizing friends and partners, set clean boundaries, and keep consent front and center when the urge to fix takes over. We share scripts, signs of receptivity, and how to find kink-aware, non-monogamy-competent support without burning out. • consent before giving advice • listening over fixing with partners • energy management and burnout cues • why frien...

Send us Fan Mail We explore how “vocal image” transforms consent talks, small talk, and relationship check‑ins, especially in kink and non‑monogamy. We share practical tools—melody, pace, volume, pauses, gestures—and reflect on shedding labels like “shy” or “introvert” through practice. • why communication habits matter more than labels • using melody, pace, volume, pause, and gesture • upgrading...

Send us Fan Mail We celebrate 100 episodes with gratitude, humor, and a clear message: just show up. From podcasting to conventions, improv, and ace-spectrum allyship, we share how tiny steps built a community around honest kink talk. • why the campfire theme holds space for taboo topics • what 100 episodes taught us about persistence and progress • how podcasting led to volunteering, teaching, an...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into how communication, boundaries, and honesty make non‑monogamy work, and why adding “ethical” to the label misses the point. Julius shares practical skills for active listening, handling jealousy, scheduling across partners, and repairing after mistakes. • reframing “ethical” non‑monogamy as skills and consent • core pillars of communication, boundaries, and truth • pers...

Send us Fan Mail Julius shares his third year volunteering at Smut Lovers Convention 2025 while reflecting on the challenges and joys of being an introvert in social spaces.  • Teaching an improv panel for writers to help them develop characters and scenes for their books • Supervising the convention registration area and demo dungeon while wearing a crown and kilt • Experiencing cognitive dissona...

Send us Fan Mail We dive deep into the fascinating concept of Puer Aeternus or "eternal youth" – a psychological pattern where adults remain stuck in adolescent mindsets well into adulthood. This episode unpacks how this manifests in fear of commitment, inability to follow through on projects, and constant daydreaming about potential without taking action. • Puer Aeternus describes charm...

Send us Fan Mail Julius shares his experience performing and teaching at Ecchi Expo Orlando 2025, an adult anime convention combining anime fandom with alternative lifestyle education in a consent-focused environment. • Explaining what "ecchi" is – the middle ground between mainstream anime and explicit hentai content • Performing adult improv comedy on the main stage at the convention •...

Send us Fan Mail Evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Anna Machin delivers groundbreaking research revealing monogamy as a social construct rather than our biological destiny, with satisfaction levels being equal between monogamous and polyamorous relationships. • Monogamy developed as a social control mechanism when civilization became more complex • Approximately 50% of supposedly monogamous househol...

Send us Fan Mail Julius Marques dives into the wild world of Primal Play - the raw, instinctual expression of dominance and submission through animalistic behaviors. He shares his personal experiences and insights on this lesser-understood aspect of kink that revolves around instinct over structure. • Primal Play involves raw, instinctual expressions different from structured BDSM scenes • Disting...

Send us Fan Mail Relationship Anarchy is not just a buzzword but a lifestyle philosophy emphasizing intentional connections where each relationship exists independently, free from predetermined expectations or hierarchies. This episode explores why the relationship with yourself should be your primary focus and how Relationship Anarchy principles can benefit everyone, regardless of relationship st...

Send us Fan Mail Julius Marques returns to the podcast after a hiatus, introducing his new vision as a "relationship spotter" rather than a coach or therapist. He shares his journey through imposter syndrome and his plans to teach relationship anarchy with unconventional techniques. • Taking time away from podcasting after questioning qualifications despite being invited as a guest on an...

Send us Fan Mail Julius explores how different communities operate similarly despite their diverse interests and activities. He dives into his experiences navigating kink, board games, non-monogamy, geek culture, and improv communities, highlighting the universal patterns that emerge in each social group. • All communities have an approximately 90-day "probationary period" before truly a...

Send us Fan Mail Julius explores the fundamental differences in how men and women communicate and the painful lack of education we receive about these differences before entering relationships. • Communication styles differ significantly between genders based on both biology and socialization • Men are typically raised to be solution-focused while women often communicate to process emotions • Acti...

Send us Fan Mail We explore relationship anarchy's core principle that each relationship exists independently, challenging traditional hierarchies while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself first. • Relationship anarchy means treating each connection as independent from others, including your relationship with yourself • Growth happens through interac...

Send us Fan Mail Starting life on the back foot doesn't mean you're destined to stay there. This raw, vulnerable episode challenges the notion that our beginnings dictate our endings, offering a candid look at overcoming disadvantage and finding forward momentum when everything seems stacked against you. We dive deep into what it means to grow up with fewer advantages – whether economica...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating the dating world as someone on the asexual spectrum comes with unique challenges that many dating platforms simply weren't designed to address. Drawing from decades of personal experience across various dating platforms, I'm pulling back the curtain on what it really means to date when sexual attraction isn't your primary motivation. The digital dating la...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a riveting conversation at the Kinky Kampfire as we explore the kaleidoscopic experiences of kink, alternative lifestyles, and the colorful journey of non-monogamy. In this episode, we chat with Melanie Carolyn, the dynamic host of Moms Unboxed podcast, whose personal insights into bisexuality, swinging, and group play spark genuine and thought-provoking dialogues. Mel...