Many of us have no idea what it's really like to make porn. Today, we’re joined by two women from different areas of the industry—one a filmmaker, the other an adult film performer and sensuality coach. They share insights on the importance of good casting and representation, the balance between spontaneous pleasure and scripted scenes, what makes “regular” movie sex scenes so captivating, and the unique challenges of being both a parent and a sex worker.

Featured Guests & Links:

Jennifer Lyon Bell, award-winning filmmaker. Jennifer Lyon Bell mixes arthouse cinema with hot explicit sex in her own movies. She has degrees from Harvard University and the University of Amsterdam. In 2004, she founded Blue Artichoke Films (based in Amsterdam) to create unique erotic fiction films and documentaries that illuminate the riveting, intimate, and sometimes delightfully awkward side of sex. She also specializes in sexual cinema as a university lecturer, intimacy consultant, and curator.

Laura Bentley, advocate for sex workers, sensuality coach, pornagraphic actress and professional companion. Born and raised in the south in North Carolina, relocated to southern California to educate and promote human sexuality and destigmatize sex and sex work in our society. Follow: x.com/laurabentleyla,

Materials Referenced:

She Will Cheat - Laura Bentley (Explicit, 18+ only)

Headshot by Jennifer Lyon Bell of Blue Artichoke Films

Kaila Philo. “Porn Stars of Color Face Racial Inequality and the Wage Gap, Too.” Colorlines, Feb. 6, 2020.

Ashley Reese. “Why Is a White Woman Worth So Much More? Inside the Porn Industry’s Racial Pay Gap.” Jezebel, June 16, 2020.

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Porn Nerds is a co-production of Squirm and BOOM Integrated, the podcast division of GRAMMY-winning audiobook leader John Marshall Media. Huge thank yous to Adrien Glover, Uri Mansion, and the team at BOOM Integrated.

Squirm is an educational platform that helps people have productive and compassionate conversations on difficult topics related to sex and relationships. We do this through approachable, inclusive offerings, including games, events, workshops, and audio originals. A lot of sex advice ends with “talk about it.” That’s where ours begins.

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