The following is a conversation with Aela, a sex researcher who does some of the largest

human sexuality survey studies in the world on everything from fetishes to relationships.

She is fearless in pursuing her curiosity on these topics by asking challenging and fascinating

questions and looking for answers in a rigorous data-driven way and writing about it on her

blog knowingless.com.

She is also a sex worker, including only fans and escorting, and is an exceptionally

prolific creator of thought-provoking Twitter polls.

Aela and I disagree on a bunch of things, but that just made this conversation even more

interesting.

I like interesting people.

In the full range of the meaning that the word interesting implies.

I'm currently reading on the road by Jack Kerouac, and would be remiss if I didn't mention

one of my favorite quotes from that book that feels relevant here.

The only people for me are the mad ones.

The ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at

the same time.

The ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous,

yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.

In the middle, you see the blue satellite pop, and everybody goes, ah.

And now a quick few second mention of each sponsor.

Check them out in the description.

It's the best way to support this podcast.

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