Episode Overview

Podcast: Alive with Steve Burns
Episode Title: Maitland Ward on Sex
Air Date: October 22, 2025
Guest: Maitland Ward – Actress ("Boy Meets World") and Adult Film Performer; Author of Rated X

In this candid and often humorous episode, Steve Burns sits down with Maitland Ward to talk about sex, societal taboos, and Ward's journey from mainstream TV fame to adult film stardom. Touching on generational attitudes, education, shame, and the realities of sex work, the conversation explores why sex is difficult to discuss—even though it’s fundamental to human life—and how honest dialogue can help break down barriers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Taboo of Talking About Sex

• Steve’s Openness & Nervousness: Steve admits he finds sex difficult to talk about, confessing embarrassment that stems from his upbringing and his reputation in children’s television.

  “I spent so long in children's television that I feel like I’m not supposed to have a sex life... I do have, had, have, have had. I have!” (Steve, 01:19)

• Generational Conditioning: Maitland discusses how older generations are conditioned to see sex as embarrassing and taboo—making the topic hard to approach.

  “Our generation, and of course generations before, are just very much conditioned not to talk about sex because it’s something taboo.” (Maitland, 04:59)

2. Language, Shame, and Humor

• Naming Body Parts: Maitland challenges Steve to say “vagina” out loud, highlighting how even anatomical terms are hard to say without giggling due to cultural discomfort.

  "Say vagina now. Don’t say like, kitty or anything." (Maitland, 05:25) "Vagina." (Steve, 05:33) “We’re going to be penis later. Because that, that’s a whole other level.” (Maitland, 05:37)

3. Sex Education & Porn as a Teacher

• Lack of Comprehensive Sex Ed: Both agree that early sex education failed to address intimacy and pleasure, focusing only on warning against the act.

  “It certainly didn’t include any conversation about intimacy or pleasure or connection or anything like that. If anything, it was just sort of framed like a super duper forbidden event...” (Steve, 07:04)

• Porn Filling the Void: Maitland explains how, due to this gap in education, many turn to porn to learn about sex, which isn’t always healthy or realistic.

  “A lot of times porn teaches people about sex, and that’s not like, what I want to do or what I want to educate people [about]... People blame the porn industry: ‘Well, they teach kids how to have sex.’ And it’s not right.” (Maitland, 08:10)

4. Can Porn Be Educative and Safe?

• Safer Than You Think: Maitland reveals the strict testing and consent protocols in professional porn, arguing that the industry is often safer than casual, unregulated sex.

  “You are so much safer [having] sex within the porn community than if you go out... We have to compare tests and consent and all this stuff.” (Maitland, 11:50)

• Lifting the Shame Around STDs: Maitland draws a comparison between shame around STDs and more “mundane” illnesses—advocating for normalizing seeking treatment.

  “Would you feel ashamed going to the doctor if you got bronchitis?” (Maitland, 13:17)

5. Generational Differences in Attitudes About Sex

• Younger Generations’ Openness: Maitland notes that Millennials and Gen Z are more comfortable with porn and discussing sex, likely because of their “internet generation” status.

  “The younger generations...are much more open to talking about stuff... If I talk to a 25-year-old, they’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, we love this and this.’” (Maitland, 19:47)

6. Normalization & Representation in Porn

• Mainstreaming Porn: Maitland hopes for greater recognition of porn as a legitimate form of entertainment and expression—integrating story, connection, and intimacy.

  “I hope that one day [adult] movies can be seen like mainstream because really, porn is mainstream. Everybody’s watching it.” (Maitland, 22:31)

• Female Perspective and Storytelling: She emphasizes the value of story, chemistry, and the female perspective—creating a “balanced breakfast of porn.”

  “One thing you talk about is including the female perspective more...a more balanced breakfast of porn.” (Steve, 24:41)

7. Societal Expectations and Identity

• Breaking Stereotypes: Steve and Maitland relate over being pigeonholed by their public personas—children’s TV host vs. adult film actress—when in reality they are multifaceted people.

  “People expect me sometimes to be Mr. Rogers...And I am not. I’m like a normal person, deeply flawed, neurotic..." (Steve, 26:00) “It actually feels like me as a total person because...I’m a...I am. And then I’m also this other person who’s all one person.” (Maitland, 27:32)

8. Sex Work as Work and Creative Expression

• Challenging Misconceptions: Maitland dispels the notion that sex workers are desperate or troubled, advocating for recognition of sex work as legitimate, demanding labor and artistic expression.

  “It’s a lot of work. Very athletic too. Our bodies are a vessel for creating art.” (Maitland, 28:50, 29:08)

• Sex as Artistic Expression: She compares sex performance to other physical and creative endeavors.

  “Football players...use their bodies...Artists paint naked bodies...It’s weird that there’s a taboo because it’s sex, but...our bodies...are a vessel for creating art.” (Maitland, 29:08)

9. Overcoming Insecurity & Finding Confidence Through Sexual Expression

• Personal Growth: Maitland discusses her transformation from insecurity (wearing heavy things to “shrink” her height) to confident self-expression through her adult work.

  “Getting naked in the realest form...helped me blossom because there was nothing to fear anymore. Everything was out there.” (Maitland, 33:48)

10. The Role of Humor and Relatability

• Playful Banter: Steve considers launching an OnlyFans where he offers dirty talk in his “nice guy” voice, playing with the idea that validation and emotional openness can be sexually affirming.

  “Maybe I should drop an OnlyFans where I just do that, right? Where I just say validating things in dirty talk voice.” (Steve, 35:51) “Like, what have you done to your hair? It just looks absolutely fantastic. Don’t change a thing.” (Steve, 36:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cultural Taboo:

  “Sex is the most common thing. No one would be here without sex. Like, your parents totally did it. They might even still do it!” — Steve (04:16)

• On Sex Ed Failings:

  “My sex talk was like five minutes. It was five incredibly awkward minutes.” — Steve (07:26)

• On Body Confidence:

  “I started taking this, like, sexual journey really for myself...being that vulnerable really just helped me blossom...There was nothing to fear anymore.” — Maitland (33:36)

• On Societal Expectation:

  “People try to set you into one thing.” — Maitland (28:38)

• On Empowering Dialogue:

  “I think just conversation. I think it’s just talking about it and it doesn’t have to be a big deal...” — Maitland (19:38)

• On Humor as Disarmament:

  “Vagina.” — Steve, (05:33); "We’re going to be penis later." — Maitland (05:37) “Boobies and heinies, Maitland. Boobies and heinies. I’m trying here.” — Steve (21:03)

Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Key Topic | |-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:17 – 03:39 | Introductions, Steve’s nerves, Maitland’s arrival | | 04:02 – 05:37 | Why talking about sex is difficult; taboo, language barriers | | 06:37 – 09:20 | Sexual education failures; porn as alternative source | | 09:54 – 13:17 | Porn as education; consent and safety in industry | | 13:17 – 14:07 | Shame and STDs discussion | | 19:33 – 21:37 | Generational differences; impact of internet | | 22:31 – 25:47 | Normalizing porn; storytelling and representation | | 26:00 – 28:42 | Societal expectations and identity as media figures | | 28:50 – 29:50 | Sex work as labor and artistic expression | | 30:40 – 32:36 | Creativity and confidence via sex/sexuality | | 33:36 – 36:22 | Overcoming insecurity; Playful OnlyFans banter | | 36:26 – 37:46 | Closing thoughts; Maitland’s upcoming paperback |

Takeaway

This episode delivers a refreshing, sincere, and inquisitive exploration about why sex—despite being universal—is so hard to talk about. Maitland Ward’s openness and advocacy for honest conversations, comprehensive sex education, and breaking stigma around sexuality and sex work invite listeners to approach the discussion with less shame. Steve’s vulnerability, humor, and curiosity make the episode accessible, relatable, and engaging.

For more, Maitland Ward’s memoir "Rated X" is available now, with an updated paperback ("Picture: My Escape from Hollywood”) dropping September 10th.