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Maitland Ward
Lemonade.
Steve Burns
Hey, there you are. Come in. Come on in. Come on in. Welcome to Alive. It's good to see you. You, you look great. You look awesome. I'm making tea. You want some tea? So anyway, I was thinking, you know how there are certain things in life that are just common to everyone, that everyone has in common. They're just fundamental parts of the human experience and the human condition. Death, we know, is one of them. So kind of thinking that another one of them is sort of the opposite would be. Sex is something we all have in common. Right. All of us. You know, and none of us would be here unless two people had sex.
Chelsea Clinton
Right.
Steve Burns
And sex and sexuality are things that I find kind of difficult to talk about. I get a little embarrassed about it. I don't know why that is. Maybe it's because I, you know, I didn't really have those conversations as a kid. I think some of it is because I spent so long on in children's television that I feel like I'm not supposed to have a sex life. You know, I mean, I do have, had, have, have had. I have. Here's your tea. Yeah. So I guess that's my question is if sex is such an intrinsic part of being a human being, then why is it that sex is so hard to talk about?
Maitland Ward
Yeah.
Steve Burns
Yeah. I. I mean, yeah. Our guest today is someone who knows a lot about this topic and will certainly have a unique perspective. So why don't we just. We'll just. Yeah, we'll just get started talking about sex, baby. We'll talk about you. Okay. All right. So our guest today is Maitland Ward, who is very successful Hollywood actress. She started on the Bold and the Beautiful, but you probably know her as Rachel from Boy Meets World. Yeah, exactly. And she's also the author of this book here, rated X, which details her journey from, you know, kind of Disney girl next door to an award winning adult film actress. Yeah. So. Right. The porn industry. So she will definitely know a lot about sex and sexuality and sexy stuff. And I'm really excited to talk to her, but also a little bit nervous, to be honest, because as we said, you know, conversations around sex are not always the easiest to have. But she's great and she's. She's here. Okay. Hi, Maitland.
Maitland Ward
Hi. How are you?
Steve Burns
I'm great. How are you? Thank you so much for stopping by. We totally appreciate it.
Maitland Ward
Yes, absolutely.
Steve Burns
You're. You're the best. So.
Maitland Ward
Right.
Steve Burns
So I'm thrilled that you're here, but I was just saying before you showed up that I'M a little nervous just. Just because you, you know, you're nervous.
Maitland Ward
Why are you nervous?
Steve Burns
I am. Just a bit. Just a wee. Just because sex is not always something. Sex, sexuality, it's not something I'm always just super comfortable talking about, you know, it's not something I'm conditioned to speak casually or in depth about. You know what I mean? Yeah. And so we were thrilled to have you here. Maybe you can shed some light on and some perspective on why that is. For so many, sex is the most common thing. Sex is. Is something that everyone has in common. No one would be here without sex. Like, your parents totally did it. They might even still do it. Like it's. It's a thing. Like it's the thing, you know? And yet conversations around sex are hard. So what do you think? Why is that? Why are conversations about sex and sexuality often so difficult to have?
Maitland Ward
Well, it's true. And I think our generation, and of course generations before are just very much conditioned not to talk about sex because it's something taboo. It's something that you should be embarrassed about. I mean, I. I remember being young and not being able to even say vagina without laughing. Like it was like. Just.
Steve Burns
I don't think I could do it. I don't think I could do it.
Maitland Ward
You can't say it to. Can I?
Steve Burns
Should I try it?
Maitland Ward
See, let's see. You say vagina now. Don't say, like, kitty or anything.
Chelsea Clinton
Yes.
Steve Burns
Yeah. No, no, I got you.
Maitland Ward
I want the real word.
Steve Burns
Vagina.
Maitland Ward
I got it.
Steve Burns
That's not a problem. That's not a problem.
Maitland Ward
We're going to be penis later. Because that, that's. That's a whole other level.
Steve Burns
Right?
Maitland Ward
But. No, but it's. It's funny that you say that you're nervous, but you want to talk to me about it today you feel, I guess you feel somewhat comfortable to talk to me about it. And I think that's true for a lot of people that, like, people who are interested in talking about sex but talking about porn, talking about things they think are taboo, but they're very interested in that. They're always very. Like, they want to know, but they're, like, afraid to ask. Like the real sex people that they consider like the scary, taboo porn people, or they feel like it's like a separate thing from them, but they feel like they can talk to me and I can kind of be a go between because they've seen me in their house every Friday night for Boy Meets World or whatever. They've seen me on and know. So I'm more of a comfortable voice to, you know, ask questions. And. And they love it. They love to know about it. And I think by the end of this, you're going to love to know about sex and porn.
Steve Burns
Yeah, I mean, it's. It's not like I don't already love to know about it, but it's just, again, it's hard to have that conversation. I totally related to something you just said, by the way. People feel. People feel remarkably com. People comfortable talking to me about certain things too, because I was in their living rooms as children, you know, and I get. I have a feeling you and I actually do have a lot in common. Surprising amount in common, but we'll get to that. But you were saying we're sort of conditioned to think that talking about sex is a taboo thing and not something we should do. Right. I mean, it's not a conversation, at least, that I got in school, at least not in a way that was. Yeah, that addressed sex as a whole. You know what I mean? It certainly didn't include any conversation about, like, intimacy or pleasure or connection or anything like that. If anything, it was just sort of framed like a super duper forbidden event, you know, something you should avoid at all costs. Which, of course, made me, as an adolescent. It made it the only thing I thought about forever, you know, but, you know, and, and, and I grew up very Catholic. I don't know. Like, and so my sex talk was like five minutes. It was five incredibly awkward minutes. So I, I do think it is kind of a little bit about how we're conditioned growing up, right?
Maitland Ward
Oh, absolutely. And it gets in our brains and you touched on something, saying it made you think about it all the time because it was such a taboo thing.
Steve Burns
Yeah.
Maitland Ward
Which, I mean, I think if there was much more open conversations and health classes that taught about, like you were saying, intimacy and, and pleasure and that it's not this scary thing. We need to be safe, we need to be smart. We need to handle it, you know, handle the situation. Right. But it's a wonderful thing that people should enjoy and look forward to, but not like the taboo element of it is just making people, you know, crazy inside. You know, they don't know what it is really. And they, you know, and 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 like this, but like, with porn scenes and stuff. And people blame the porn industry for, like. Well, they teach kids and stuff. How to have sex. And it's not right. It's. It's all these extreme situations and stuff. Well, they should be teaching sex and, and all of this in school. And they're, you know, growing up, so they are, you know, well equipped with information and stuff and aren't going to the Internet to see something, you know, taboo and get the information there when they can't filter it correctly, like when.
Steve Burns
They'Re learning about it, people are learning how to sex from their experiences of pornography. Yeah, that's happening, right?
Maitland Ward
It's happening.
Steve Burns
Can porn be educational in that it could include some of those missing things that we were discussing earlier, like, what do we say? Connection and intimacy and respect, pleasure and all that stuff. Like, is that even possible? Like, could porn be used to do that?
Maitland Ward
I actually think that would be wonderful. And I don't think people trust porn and the porn stars to do this. And that's not right because I know porn stars don't want to have kids going on their scenes and learning, you know, all crazy, you know, acrobatic antics and stuff. And that's what sex is. But I think there is an element that could educate. And kids growing up, when they get to be the age of where sex is coming into their lives and they're interested in stuff and, you know, are going to explore on their own anyway. I think they need to have the conversations especially. I think, actually, I think porn can really educate, too, about if they would allow us more about being safe and stuff. Because, yeah, yeah, people think porn is such a, like, oh, my gosh, disease and craziness and everything. Like, you know, but we have to, like, test for STDs every two weeks. We have to, you know, have consent on the set. Like, you'd say your do's and don'ts. There's so much, like, consent and conversation around sex. And it's funny because I used to be like, you two. Growing up, sex was very, like. I was so, you know, nervous about it again from, like, our generation and stuff. But now that I'm like, in the world of sex, I never thought I could be like this, but I. I can talk so openly about it and there's no, like, shame behind it. It's such, like, a freeing, liberating thing to feel very powered just to be able to talk and not to, you know, be nervous about it or be shy about it.
Steve Burns
Oh, I can't. I. I can't even imagine having that kind of conf. I just can't. But you said something that just Blew my mind. You're saying within the sex industry, there's all this consent and everyone gets tested every two weeks. And also, that sounds like a lot safer sex than what most people are having.
Maitland Ward
Oh, absolutely. You know what? You are so much safer sex within the porn community than if you go out, like, I'll see girls and stuff, they'll say, oh, I could never, like, be in porn. It's so gross, or whatever. And they're hooking up with random men at bars on, like, Friday nights. And, like, and they don't know anything about. About them. It's like, we have to, like, compare tests and. And consent and all of this stuff. And so the pool and the community is very, very much, much safer than it is just going out in public. Like, I heard somebody, another girl said, oh, my gosh. I went to the doctor and I got tested. Not a porn girl, but said, I got a CD tested. And then I. I wanted to do it again. I don't know if something happened. She with some guy or whatever. And the doctor's like, well, you just had a test like six months ago. And I'm like, six months? How can you wait six months? I forget people aren't always, like, in that mindset of doing that and knowing, like, your stats.
Steve Burns
Right. That's so interesting.
Maitland Ward
Everybody has to go out all the time and do it because, you know. But it's good to be comfortable with also with asking for tests and stuff too.
Steve Burns
Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. That's stuff that you don't talk about. No way. You know what I mean? That stuff you just try to push out of mind. But for you, your sexual health is totally top of mind, and it's totally something that you're aware of and that's better.
Maitland Ward
Yeah. There's a shame, like, if somebody does have an std. And I know, of course, some are much less dangerous than others. Of course. But say the less dangerous ones, if someone gets a STD and they feel so ashamed about it. But would you feel ashamed going to the doctor if you got bronchitis or something or if you, you know, contracted something else that's just. That's treatable with antibiotics and you can, you know, it's something that's just happens sometimes you get an infection or you get sick or you. So certain things do happen. So I think the taboo behind it is just really harmful because it leads to people not getting results that they need and not getting the medication they need, and it gets out of hand, like, anything. What can you imagine, like, having pneumonia not being treated for it.
Steve Burns
Right. And I. And I think you're right. I think that's, that's just fear and shame.
Maitland Ward
Yeah.
Steve Burns
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Well, hi everybody.
Steve Burns
Julia.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
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Steve Burns
Hey, it's me, Steve Burns. And I'm so glad you're here because you and I go way back, right? Yeah. And look at us now, like we're all grown up. We've got this new podcast where we talk about all this grown up stuff and there's special guests like Jamie Lee Curtis and Bill Nye. But for the most part, it's about you. I mean, it's always been about you. From Lemonada Media Alive with Steve burns is coming September 17th. Wherever you get your podcasts or you can watch every episode on YouTube.
Chelsea Clinton
What.
Steve Burns
Kind of conversations can we be having that can help alleviate some of that shame around sex?
Maitland Ward
I think just conversation. I think it's just talking about it and it doesn't have to be a big deal or like a big set apart thing.
Steve Burns
Yeah.
Maitland Ward
And it feels like sex is like the last frontier of taboo. Like, we could talk about a lot of things now and people will get embarrassed about, you know, just talking about sex. But I feel like the younger generations, though, are much more open to talking about stuff because I'll like the reactions that I get from people who are in their, like, 40s or 50s or whatever. Beyond is, porn is like the most, oh, shocking, rattling kind of thing to them. But if I talk to a 25 year old, they're like, oh, yeah, we love this and this. And I like watching this one. And I like this performer. And so it's like they're much more open to that because there's so much more of the Internet generation. Like anybody under 40.
Steve Burns
Yeah, yeah, that. That makes total sense.
Maitland Ward
You know, we didn't have the availability.
Steve Burns
No, not at all. I mean, I remember, you know, when I was a kid, porn was boobies and heinies in a magazine.
Maitland Ward
Yeah.
Steve Burns
You know what I mean? And, and like anything harder core than that was like rare and boobies and hineies in motion was like impossible to find. Like, that wasn't a thing.
Maitland Ward
See? Okay. Breasts and ass.
Steve Burns
Boobies and heinies. Boobies and heinies. Maitland. Boobies and heinies. I'm trying here.
Maitland Ward
I think that was a movie once.
Steve Burns
But you know what I mean? Like, like I remember, like there was. You could occasionally find a scrambled channel between channels. Oh, yes.
Maitland Ward
Oh, my God.
Steve Burns
Oh, right. Oh my God.
Maitland Ward
Right?
Steve Burns
Yeah, exactly.
Chelsea Clinton
Yes.
Steve Burns
It was the Spice Channel that was the scramble. But you couldn't. I don't remember ever being able to really see anything, but my imagination would go insane. And I was like, I just saw boobies and hineies in motion.
Maitland Ward
How was it a scrambled channel? Like, why did that happen? Yeah, why, why was that?
Steve Burns
Does that mean it was always out there waiting and we just didn't have the technology to access it?
Maitland Ward
Maybe it was aliens.
Steve Burns
Maybe it was aliens trying to teach us things. But, but, yeah, so, but, but like you were saying, it's generational Right. There's a generational divide about comfort level with sex and I'm sort, I'm obviously on one side of, of the discussion. But yeah, the Internet. Right, the Internet changed that galactically and exponentially. Right now it's actually. Pornography is essentially ubiquitous. I think it would be impossible, it would be almost impossible to avoid porn. You know, it's, it is just everywhere. So what do you think it's going, Maitland, do you think it will become normalized or.
Maitland Ward
I, I think so. And I think it's important for it to be normalized in a way in order for it to be a safe, respected industry to the public. I think, I think people still think of it as like such a set apart thing. Less than they used to. Definitely. Much less than they used to. But I feel like the kind of productions that I do and are very heavily scripted productions, right, they very much focus on a mainstream type of story that has sex in it. So we do the hardcore sex scenes. But I have like, I have more dialogue than I've had in Hollywood, like just monologues and things. So I think really that is the frontier, at least that I aim for is to have like that mainstream crossover. It's interesting because I actually had a producer from Boy Meets World say, don't say mainstream and porn separately because you're not, you're an actress, different mediums. And that's like separating it or making it other than. And I thought that was a really interesting thing. And I tried to, you know, mentally, psychologically, like, don't do that. Even though I'm trying to like say make it make sense to people, it really, I hope that one day the movies can be seen like mainstream because it really. Porn is mainstream. Everybody's watching it. People know like people watch it more than so many shows.
Steve Burns
Right, right, right, sure. Depictions of human beings having sex is like an absolute constant throughout human creativity. There's a cave somewhere with boobies and hineies, you know what I mean? Like it's an absolute constant. And I like what you're saying about giving that context, giving that story, including the rest of the human experience in, in the pornography, I guess. And then you can include some of those other things we were talking about, like connection and intimacy and all of these other things. And one thing you talk about is including the female perspective more and yeah, a more, a more balanced breakfast of porn.
Maitland Ward
You know, that's what I. Yes, a balanced meal.
Steve Burns
That's what you want, right, right.
Maitland Ward
No, it's very true. That's an excellent way to put it, I really think having a legitimate story and having, you know, actors and chemistry between people and like having that story that you focus on and then seeing the sex, I just think it's. It adds, it adds more to it, of course, but it adds more in the fact that you're not just seeing, oh, sex, sex, sex, and you can turn it off. It's like this terrible thing that you laugh at. And it's, it's. People like to say, oh, porn is so bad, like, and there are a lot of bad scenes out there. There are, sure, but there are a lot. There are filmmakers who really want to do good stuff and are really trying. And I. That, that kind of stuff gets pushed to the forefront and recognized more and more because we're seeing in shows on like, Netflix and things like that, these shows that are this close to being porn.
Steve Burns
Game of Thrones.
Maitland Ward
I mean, yes.
Steve Burns
I remember I was watching Game of Thrones and it was like when I was 14, this was porn for sure, you know, and now it's just hbo.
Maitland Ward
I know it's totally, totally, you know.
Steve Burns
On, on the surface, this interview, I think for some people who might be seeing it, they might think, oh, this is going to tear apart the fabric of space and time. Right? This is Steve from Blue's Clues and Maitland Ward, award winning adult film actress, having a conversation. But I think there are ways in which you and I are super similar, Maitland. And it occurs to me that we both inhabit extremes on a graph of media expectation, you know what I mean? Of what people expect us to be because of our media presence. Right. Are essentially our jobs. Right? So from on my end of that graph, I feel like people expect me sometimes to be Mr. Rogers and they expect me to be this like really like, implausibly pure, wonderful avatar of the Buddha who rides a unicorn and farts rainbows all day or something like that. And, and of course, I am not. I am not that. I'm totally not that. Like, I'm a pretty nice guy, but I'm like a normal person. I'm like deeply flawed, neurotic guy. You know what I mean? Like, I'm just like a normal person. And I feel like you might know what that's like on the other end of that graph, you know, working in the porn industry, like, what sort of expectations do you perceive people have about you?
Maitland Ward
Well, first of all, in the porn industry, they think that I either, like, I'm on heavy drugs, I had major bankruptcy problems. I didn't just go into it because I wanted to But I did, I went into. Because I loved it and I wanted to. And I just found that I was, I loved performing and I loved the kind of scripts that I could act out in this way. And so I think people see me first as, okay, the girl Rachel and Boy Meets World, she's. She's this certain way and then I shock them and say, no, but I want to do all this. Which is totally feels like polar opposite, but it actually feels like me as a total person because I am I the girl a Rachel and boys Willie. Yes, I, I'm a, I am. And then I'm also this other person who's all one person. And I think, I think setting apart pieces of our personalities and making one element of it, what we're known for is we is, is hard for like individuals like us. Because you, you're right, you want to be a total person and you are so many different things of your personality, but people try to set you into one thing.
Steve Burns
Yeah, just, it's. Yeah, just like anybody else.
Maitland Ward
Yeah, just like anybody else.
Steve Burns
So you were saying the industry itself is just filled with like normal hard working people and stuff like that. And something that I've heard a lot is that sex work is work, you.
Maitland Ward
Know, and it's a lot of work.
Steve Burns
Right. That's where I was going. Your job looks very difficult. Like, as someone who spent time on a set, your job looks extremely difficult. Right.
Maitland Ward
Very athletic too.
Steve Burns
And, and very athletic.
Maitland Ward
I had somebody say one time, it's interesting because, you know, porn and performing in adult films and stuff is, is using your body as an artistic instrument interesting? And they said, well, like if like football players and sports players use their bodies, it's not, they're not using their minds in their, in their, in their craft or you know, chosen sport or, and like artists can use, you know, whatever they paint naked bodies and, and everything. And so it's weird that there's a taboo because it's sex, but we're really, our bodies, like are a vessel for creating art.
Steve Burns
That's fascinating. That's never occurred to me before. This idea of sex as an expressive event.
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Steve Burns
How do you connect to your creativity through sex, through your sexuality?
Maitland Ward
It's very much an expressive, like an artistic expression. I think that's. I was like. I remember the first time that I did stuff, like, it wasn't professional porn. It was for my own stuff. And I was like, taking my own sexual journey of discovery and, like, who I wanted to be with my fans. Before I did it, like, on professional sites, I was doing it, like, you know, through content on my own. And so when I first did the first scene that I filmed, I was like, okay, I'm gonna. I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna see how it goes. And I just, like, went for it. And the professional guy that I had hired to do this scene with me for my stuff, he was like. The one thing he remembered about it was I wasn't nervous. That was. He was like, I thought you were going to be nervous. And I was just like, nope.
Steve Burns
That I. That like. Like the confidence that I am imagining that you possess in order to do what you do is absolutely flabbergasting, flummoxing, and astounding to me. Like, I could never. I can't even. I can't even imagine having that kind of confidence, which I think is interesting because I was reading in your book that you said as a younger person, you weren't crazy about your body or the way you looked or. One thing that really hit me is you were talking about you just thought you were too tall, right? Yeah. And you were saying, so you, like, put heavy things on your head to try to. To try to get smaller, you know? And I was like, oh, my God. I felt that because I'm a short person, right. And all I wanted was to change my body.
Maitland Ward
Yeah. Yeah.
Steve Burns
So how has doing all of this. How does that relate to. To those insecurities that you used to have and where are they now?
Maitland Ward
I mean, my insecurities are so, so, so much less. I mean, when I was younger, I could never have done this because I would be too self conscious all the time. But when I started taking this, like, sexual journey really for myself, and then my content that I was filming along the way, I kind of just got swept up in it. And I was like. Because I started off just, you know, selling content to do like, you know, I always like to do like sexy playboy type photos and stuff, but Then the porn journey inch inched a little bit each way. I said, okay, let me try girls, because, you know, I like doing stuff with girls, so I'll do a little slumber party things and. And then it just like snowballed because I just enjoyed it so much and I. I found I was. I was good at it. And I don't. I can't even explain, like, like there wasn't a certain point where I said, I'm confident I can do this. It was like more like just freeing yourself a little by little. And, and that includes, like, I. Getting naked in. In the realest form and, and being that vulnerable really just helped me blossom because I. There was nothing to fear anymore. Like, it was just. It was. Everything was out there. Everything was out there.
Steve Burns
I don't even like being naked by myself. I don't. I can't imagine. I can't imagine. I can. I can't imagine.
Maitland Ward
You know, tell me once I met a guy actor in Holly when he goes, you know what? Men in Hollywood, they're not against porn. They would do it. They're just. Everyone's just a weenie. They just don't want to. They're just too self conscious about themselves.
Steve Burns
I mean, doing porn, I can't even. I can't even bring myself to talk dirty. You know what I mean?
Maitland Ward
That's what, that's kind of like what my bread and butter was.
Steve Burns
How do you. I, I couldn't. I don't. You know what it is, Maitland?
Maitland Ward
I.
Steve Burns
Maybe I could have in another life because I was a voiceover guy forever. Like, that's what I did.
Maitland Ward
Perfect for dirty talk.
Steve Burns
But I feel like. I feel like because of my old job, I'm not allowed to do that. You know what I mean? And I'm just like, I feel like that, like, I would never be. I think it's vestigial from how I evolved professionally. Like, I wouldn't even know. I wouldn't even know how to do it. Like, I feel like if I tried to do it, it would have to be like, super nice guy, you know, like, hey, baby girl, I'm. I'm so valuing your perspective right now. Like, it would be like that kind of thing.
Maitland Ward
Your value. I think it's good, but I, I think it's a little bit different in like your personal dirty talking. Sometimes it can feel, you know, a little silly in your personal. But like, I feel going on porn sets and doing this, I. It's like I'm able to do all of that stuff because it's for a professional job and it's a place where I can like do everything that I want to do and it's the other person. People in the scene are totally into that and it's, it's all part of that. So I feel it's a really freeing experience to explore sexually. I really do.
Steve Burns
I'm getting that about you, like talk, though. What's that?
Maitland Ward
I can hear the grit in your voice.
Steve Burns
Well, no, I mean, I think maybe, you know, I mean, you've really, you've really opened my mind a lot here. I think maybe I should drop an onlyfans where I just do that, right? Where I just say validating things in dirty talk voice. You know, you really could.
Maitland Ward
You really could.
Steve Burns
Like, what have you done to your hair? It just looks absolutely fantastic. Don't change a thing.
Maitland Ward
Like, I think girls would love that, actually.
Steve Burns
No, no, I'm totally listening. I'm totally listening. Please tell me everything about Brenda at work. You know, I feel like I could do that. I feel like I could do that.
Maitland Ward
I. I think you could. I totally.
Steve Burns
Well, Maitland, this has been really great, you know, and I do feel a little more comfortable talking about some of this stuff. I think it's because I used to be on kids TV and people tell me, you know, oh, you. You were a big part of our childhoods. I feel like I'm not allowed to talk about sex or have a sex life, you know, I know that I am, but sometimes it feels that way, you know, and you bring such a joy. There's a lot of joy, joyful energy around the way you talk about this stuff and such a comfort level to it that you honestly have made this a little easier for me. So this has just been great, Malin, and you're a joy. So thank you so much. Thanks for coming by.
Maitland Ward
Thank you so much.
Steve Burns
All right, and tell us. And your book is coming out in paperback with a new title and new content, right?
Maitland Ward
Yes.
Steve Burns
What is the new title, picture and.
Maitland Ward
Every My Escape from Hollywood. So you can pre order it now on all the places and it's coming out September 10th, but the rated X, the hardback of my, is out everywhere now.
Steve Burns
Well, thank you so much for being here and this has been really enlightening and you have a great day.
Maitland Ward
Oh, thanks.
Steve Burns
Bye, Maitland.
Maitland Ward
Bye.
Steve Burns
Let's go outside. All right. You know, I gotta say, all in.
Chelsea Clinton
All.
Steve Burns
That wasn't so bad. You know, that was like a lot better than I thought it would be. I honestly feel like I would be more comfortable having a conversation about sex and sexuality. After that, I don't know. What do you think? How about you? Yeah, well, listen, that was great and sincerely, thank you so much for doing this with me. It actually, it really means a lot. Oh, I gotta get my tea. Alive with Steve Burns is a Lemonada Media original. If you haven't subscribed to Lemonada Premium yet, now's the perfect time. You can listen to the show completely ad free, plus you'll unlock exclusive bonus content from me as I reflect on this episode. Just press subscribe on Apple podcasts, head to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe on any other app, or listen ad free on Amazon Music with your prime membership. That's lemonadapremium.com Alive is hosted by me, Steve Burns, and produced by Jeremy Slutskin. Our editor is Christopher Champion Morgan. Our associate producer is Akshay Tharabailu. Audio engineering by James Sparber. Lemonada's SVP of weekly programming is Steve Nelson. Executive producers are Jessica Cordover, Kramer, Stephanie Whittles, Wax, and me. We'll see you next week. And you look great, by the way.
Maitland Ward
Every caregiving journey is unique. But the isolation, guilt and exhaustion we all feel, that's universal. It's reality. It's life. You know, I wish it could all be happy and joyous, but sometimes it's full of rage. And that is what it is. That's why this show exists, to be a safe place for caregivers to land. Listen to squeezed Wherever you get your podcasts.
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.
“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)
“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)
"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)
“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)
“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)
“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)
“Would you feel ashamed going to the doctor if you got bronchitis?” (Maitland, 13:17)
“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)
“I hope that one day [adult] movies can be seen like mainstream because really, porn is mainstream. Everybody’s watching it.” (Maitland, 22:31)
“One thing you talk about is including the female perspective more...a more balanced breakfast of porn.” (Steve, 24:41)
“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)
“It’s a lot of work. Very athletic too. Our bodies are a vessel for creating art.” (Maitland, 28:50, 29:08)
“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)
“Getting naked in the realest form...helped me blossom because there was nothing to fear anymore. Everything was out there.” (Maitland, 33:48)
“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)
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)
| 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 |
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.