Vault: Ron Jeremy Interview

Summary

The Bert Show – Vault: Ron Jeremy Interview

Date: July 1, 2026
Featured Guest: Ron Jeremy
Episode Theme:
A candid, often humorous conversation with former adult film star Ron Jeremy about the evolution of the adult entertainment industry, changing attitudes towards women as both viewers and creators, and the realities (and misconceptions) of working in porn.

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Main Theme & Episode Purpose

This episode features a light-hearted yet honest interview with Ron Jeremy, exploring how the adult entertainment industry has shifted over time—particularly focusing on women's increasing involvement as consumers, creators, and business leads. The hosts and Jeremy discuss industry realities versus public perception, including the industry's changing gender dynamics, the line between personal and professional sexuality, and the gritty truths behind the glamour.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shifting Audience & Gender Dynamics in Adult Entertainment

• Women as Viewers and Industry Leaders
  • Jeremy highlights that more women now watch and run adult entertainment companies, reflecting broader societal shifts in attitudes toward female sexuality.
    • “The owners are women and they're being run by women. Directors are women. A lot of the women have their own companies. Yeah, they're all becoming very wealthy.” – Ron Jeremy (02:18)
• Role of Reality TV and Female Audiences
  • Ron notes his appearances on reality and talk shows enjoyed by women, including "The Surreal Life," "Fame Games," and "Kathy Griffin’s D-List," as well as interviews on "The View."
    • “I've done a lot of things that women have seen and like, you know.” – Ron Jeremy (01:44)

2. The Impact of Technology and Privacy on Viewership

• Home Video and Female Audiences
  • With the advent of the home video, women became more comfortable consuming adult content privately, leading to a surge in female viewers.
    • “When it was in theaters, before video was invented, women didn't really want to be seen… But then once it went onto video, you could see it in the privacy of your own home. Boom. Huge female audience.” – Ron Jeremy (02:45)

3. Advice to Aspiring Adult Performers (Caller Interaction)

• Permanency and Public Exposure
  • Jeremy cautions potential entrants—especially women—about the lasting impact of being on film.
    • “I tell them to think about it first, because you're established on film... once you do it, it'll be established on film. So I tell women to think real carefully before you do that. Real carefully.” – Ron Jeremy (03:39)
• Industry Struggles Caused by the Internet
  • He also notes current industry challenges, such as the proliferation of free online pornography.
    • “Work is suffering because of the Internet… How do you compete with free? So it's not a very good time to get in the biz.” – Ron Jeremy (04:23)

4. Differences Between Personal Enjoyment and Professional Performance

• The Challenges of On-Camera Sex
  • Jeremy explains professional sex is staged for camera angles, not just enjoyment.
    • “You have to cheat it for the camera… can’t just, you know, when I'm directing a movie, can't just, okay guys, go at it.” – Ron Jeremy (05:43)
• Detachment Between Romance and Sex
  • He argues it's easy for him and many in the industry to separate work sex from personal affection.
    • “That's so amazingly easy... Men have been doing it for years. Women are catching up now… detaching romance from sexual. Everyone can do that.” – Ron Jeremy (06:48)

5. Female Attitudes Toward Sex Work and Emotional Boundaries

• ‘Not Cheating if You Don’t Enjoy It’
  • Some women in sex work draw emotional boundaries to avoid guilt.
    • “If I start to like it, I feel like I’m cheating on my husband… as long as they're doing it physically for the job… They start to like it, then they feel guilty…” – Ron Jeremy (08:08)
• Enjoyment on Set—Myth vs. Reality
  • About half the women in porn enjoy their work, according to Ron, but others participate strictly as a job.
    • “Half the women in the business actually enjoy it. And out of that half, maybe a 10, 20% actually… let go of an ending.” – Ron Jeremy (08:52)

6. Longevity and Lifestyle in the Industry

• Number of Partners (Myth-Busting)
  • Ron addresses exaggerated claims about sexual conquests in the industry, providing personal estimates by comparison.
    • “Me and Gene [Simmons] were more honest. We said between three and a half to four and a half thousand.” – Ron Jeremy (09:48)
• Does It Ever Get Old?
  • He claims variety keeps things interesting, drawing parallels with rock stars.
    • “Variety is always fun… we don't get jaded as quickly.” – Ron Jeremy (10:32)
• Women’s Perspective on Sex Work
  • He notes some women see it as a utilitarian decision: romance or paycheck.
    • “Women will often use expressions for love or money... why bother? Give me a paycheck.” – Ron Jeremy (11:24)

7. Ron Jeremy’s Fanbase and Media Appearances

• Nightclubs vs. Colleges
  • Ron shares that his biggest crowds are usually in colleges, especially for his roles in cult films like "Boondock Saints" and "Orgasmo."
    • “Boondock Saints is a huge film... Orgasmo... Detroit Rock City, the Kiss film... record breaking numbers in colleges. So that's my biggest audience.” – Ron Jeremy (12:03)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sex Work’s Lasting Impact:
  "Once you do it, it’ll be established on film. So I tell women to think real carefully before you do that." – Ron Jeremy (03:39)

• On Detaching Sex from Romance:
  "Men have been doing it for years. Women are catching up now... detaching romance from sexual. Everyone can do that." – Ron Jeremy (06:48)

• On Enjoyment in Porn:
  "Half the women in the business actually enjoy it... out of that half, maybe a 10, 20% actually let go." – Ron Jeremy (08:52)

• On Number of Partners:
  "We said between three and a half to four and a half thousand... Me and Gene [Simmons] were more honest." – Ron Jeremy (09:48)

• On Attitude Toward Sex Work:
  "Women will often use expressions for love or money. When girls run the sex business... a lot of them really do enjoy the sex recreationally as well. But... they're getting recreational sex through the job." – Ron Jeremy (11:24)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:01 – Ron Jeremy enters, discusses reality TV and appeal to women
• 02:10 – Changing industry ownership; rise of women leaders
• 02:45 – Shift from theater to home video and women as audience
• 03:30–05:19 – Caller asks about joining the industry; Ron's frank advice
• 05:43 – Reality of professional sex versus perception
• 06:48 – Separating romance from sex; gender differences
• 08:08 – Emotional boundaries; 'not cheating if you don’t enjoy it'
• 08:52 – How much performers enjoy their work
• 09:48 – On sexual partner numbers; demystifying the legends
• 10:32 – Variety and not getting jaded
• 12:03 – Jeremy’s collegiate following; cult film appearances

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Overall Tone and Style

The episode is casual, cheeky, and direct, in keeping with The Bert Show’s blend of humor and honesty. Ron Jeremy responds with candor and wit, often poking fun at industry myths and himself. The hosts manage a balanced discussion, mixing curiosity and skepticism, and open the floor to a candid chat about changing sexual norms and the lived reality of adult entertainment work.

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Transcript

[Radio Host]

Hey, everybody.

[Lady Luck (Promoter)]

Lady luck here. And we're celebrating America's 250th birthday. Now all summer long, I'm going to be celebrating by playing on spinquest.com which is an American owned social casino. It obviously features over a thousand slot games and live blackjack, live craps, live bubble craps. Head on over to spinquest.com get yourself a $30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[Interviewer]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Commercial Announcer]

All new drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and the Mango Pineapple Refresher with popping Boba. To crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire six? All new drinks are here now at McDonald's.

[Ron Jeremy]

Refreshers contain caffeine. The Birch Show.

[Interviewer]

This is not a segment we would normally do. I mean, this is probably not one that we would book. But Ron Jeremy, adult film star, hall of Famer, really was down the hall with the regular guys. I'm like, there's gotta be something there we can do with this guy that can be entertaining for our audience. So, Ron, our audience is so different from what they do down there that I'm not exactly sure what to do with this next couple of minutes.

[Ron Jeremy]

Churchgoers. Bible bell.

[Interviewer]

No, it's not a churchgoer. We got more women listening to us, so I'm trying to.

[Ron Jeremy]

Well, girls are actually first. I've done a lot of reality shows. Adult. A lot of women watch the Surreal Life.

[Caller/Sherry]

Yeah.

[Ron Jeremy]

And then the Fame Games with Robin Leach.

[Commercial Announcer]

Sure.

[Ron Jeremy]

They show that fight with me and Vanilla Ice on MTV all the time.

[Co-Host/Wendy]

Right.

[Ron Jeremy]

And then of course, I did Kathy Griffin's the D List. I was on that show with her. I've done a lot of things that women have seen and like, you know.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, that's for sure.

[Ron Jeremy]

Not just. Well, besides that. And also even in the world of adult women are becoming a lot now, a new audience. Yeah, women are buying. I was on the Joy Behar show recently on CNN Headline News. I was also on the View when she was on that show. And then they said how women are becoming a very large audience now in the world of adult movies.

[Interviewer]

I was watching an MSNBC special. This must have been months ago. And most of these adult film corporations now are being run by women.

[Ron Jeremy]

Yes, they are.

[Interviewer]

The owners are women and they're being run by women.

[Ron Jeremy]

Directors are women. Yeah. A lot of the women have their own companies. Yeah. They're all becoming very wealthy. You know, Jenna Jamison sold her company to playboy for $14 million.

[Co-Host/Wendy]

Mm. How long have the conventions been going on? Because I've seen, like, advertisements for a lot of adult conventions, and it seems like that is also a more safer space for women. Because I think a lot of times for women, they don't want to feel creepy. They want to feel safe in an environment which there's a lot of adult stars.

[Ron Jeremy]

That's why the video market became so huge. See that when it was in theaters, before video was invented, women didn't really want to be seen in the theaters. They want the neighbors to know where I'm going, you know? But then once it went onto video, you could see it in the privacy of your own home. Boom. Huge female audience. No one expected.

[Co-Host/Wendy]

Right.

[Ron Jeremy]

You know, I mean, they never had a problem seeing adult material. They just didn't want to do it where people see them watching it.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Ron Jeremy]

You know?

[Interviewer]

Well, you. I guess it wouldn't be accurate to say you have as many female fans as you do guys.

[Ron Jeremy]

No, I have more guys.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Ron Jeremy]

I like to brag and say, of course I do. But no, I gotta be honest. You know, how does. But there are plenty of female fans, too.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. It's not like this taboo industry anymore for women.

[Ron Jeremy]

Right.

[Interviewer]

In fact, Sherry has a question about that. Sherry wants to be on the Voice Disguise. You're on with Ron Jeremy.

[Caller/Sherry]

Yes. I'd like to know how you get started in the industry, and is it something that you would try to tell people not to do?

[Ron Jeremy]

I tell them to think about it first, because you're established on film. You know, they had a big debate. I was on a TV show with Dennis Hoff, who owns the Bunny Ranch. He's on hbo, and he was trying to say that, well, in the world of escort, it's legal. He has a legal brothel in Nevada, the Bunny Ranch. And he said that. And the show's called Cat House on hbo, he says, hbo. And he says, at least there when the girl does it. Then when she quits, nothing is there on tape. And she can go to PT meetings with the family and the kids, whereas they do porn films. It'll always be out there. So I always tell women, even though it won't be out there that much because there's always new people coming along. You'll be in the back of the shelf somewhere. But, you know, once you do it, it'll be established on film. So I tell women to think real carefully before you do that. Real carefully.

[Caller/Sherry]

You're like, what? What? Who would you call to find out about it? I mean, how do you like.

[Ron Jeremy]

Well, there's all the agents on the Internet world. Modeling.com or ladirectmodels.com, gold star. You know, there's a choice amount of agents who book the girls. They. They take you for your blood test, take your photographs. And again, work is suffering because of the Internet and that you can get stuff for free now. All these websites are now free.

[Radio Host]

Really?

[Ron Jeremy]

The porn business is seriously in trouble. A lot of companies are going out of business. Sherry, Will, how do you compete? And look at the recording industry. How do you compete with free? So it's not a very good time to get in the biz because there's actually less people working now.

[Interviewer]

Sherry, what makes you think you'd be good in this kind of industry? I mean, do you think, like, because you really love this in your personal life, that you think that you like it just as much professionally?

[Caller/Sherry]

No, I just. I just. I just. An addiction.

[Ron Jeremy]

It's an addiction to watch or performing.

[Caller/Sherry]

Just doing it in general. Just the filming part does. I just like to do that all the time. So I figured, why not?

[Ron Jeremy]

You like to have sex all the time?

[Caller/Sherry]

Oh, yes. I'm actually broken up from relationships because they couldn't do it enough.

[Ron Jeremy]

How so? Can you drive to the studio?

[Caller/Sherry]

Actually, I've been watching you for years.

[Ron Jeremy]

Oh, go. Thank you.

[Interviewer]

Does that translate, though? Like, if you. She's a really great example. Like, if you just really like having sex. Isn't it different when it's professional, like, on screen?

[Ron Jeremy]

Well, it's. You have to cheat it for the camera. Of course. You can't just, you know, when I'm directing a movie, can't just. Okay, guys, go at it. It's like, come on. We can't say, get the hair out of the way. Come on, move. Well, you put. Your arm is blocking. You know, you have to do certain positions and angles that the audience can see what's going on.

[Radio Host]

Is that almost offensive to you, though? Because I gotta admit, sometimes it throws me when people come up and go, hey, you know, I was listening to the radio, and you're funny and I'm funny. I can do what you do. I'm like, okay, no, no.

[Ron Jeremy]

Well, maybe they could. A little bit of instruction, a little bit of, you know, directing. Now with Viagra, Cialis, Villavicia, almost any guy can be a porn actor. You know, there's only a handful of us lasted 20 years or more. But now, you know, with these new drugs, you know, the hardest thing was to be able to do that on camera or perform. A lot of guys, yeah, a lot of guys would get a little nervous, you know, but now with these pills, you know, almost any guy could be a porn star.

[Interviewer]

Answer this for your. For everybody in the industry. How can you possibly do that so often professionally and. And turn the professional switch off and really enjoy it in your personal life?

[Ron Jeremy]

That's so amazingly easy. People. That's not even a challenge because guys are like that anyway. They say, how can you. When I was on the View, Barbara Walters asked that, and everyone thought that was so silly. You know, how can you detach sex from romance? Men have been doing it for years. Women are catching up now. I lecture a lot at colleges and girls have a thing today called a boy toy. That didn't exist back in our era where the guy's just there to give the girl a good time and get out. Well, how about get out, you're done. Thank you very much. And now women, often doing one night stands. And a lot of women. There's a magazine called Boink and Hbomb. Women at Yale and Harvard and Boston University are starting their own magazines. College Girls for women by women, photographed by women, women audiences. And it's just funny. Girls are getting more sexual, not because of us, but hand in hand. The adult industry and women's sexuality seems to be blossoming at the same time. Because again, detaching romance from sexual. Everyone can do that. You did it when you were single. We can go to a bar or a club and meet a beautiful, beautiful woman, not be in love, still have a nice time. Girls can do it too. They were born and raised in our early era, you know, to just make sure it's romantic and you care about the person. And now a lot of girls today go, no, I'm horny. I want to have a good time. I don't have to love the guy.

[Interviewer]

When the attitude was different, you know, years ago. Because like you said, there does seem to be a different attitude now where a woman can get detached. Was there ever a woman on the scene that would cry?

[Ron Jeremy]

I haven't seen it happen. I heard that it could happen sometimes. I knew a case of a girl named Merle Michaels who was so cute, she said that she's not cheating as long as she doesn't enjoy and keeps it totally solid. I've known escorts at the Bunny Ranch said the same thing. If I start to like it, I Feel like I'm cheating on my husband.

[Caller/Sherry]

Oh, really?

[Ron Jeremy]

Yeah. They'd say, stop, stop, stop, stop. What's the matter? I'm starting to like this. I just take a breather, stop, back away. I go, what's the matter? I can't be enjoying it. I feel like I'm cheating.

[Interviewer]

No kidding.

[Ron Jeremy]

They do that. Like they do that line in their head. As long as they're doing it physically for the job, just going through the motions, you know, just, oh, baby, oh, baby, oh, oh, oh, oh. That's all that matters. They start to like it, then they feel guilty on their husband. Isn't that weird? So if not just a few times. But it's funny.

[Interviewer]

That was one of the questions I wanted to ask. If you're watching an adult film, everybody looks like they're having a blast. The truth of the matter is nobody's really enjoying it.

[Ron Jeremy]

Well, they are. It's divided. That's a 50%. We've done surveys. Half the women in the business actually enjoy it. And out of that half, probably maybe a 10, 20% actually. You can let go of an ending. Whereas the men have to.

[Radio Host]

They can be actually.

[Ron Jeremy]

If a guy doesn't really get into it, they have to hire a stand in and his career is not gonna last too long.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Radio Host]

I can actually use that as a selling point. Like, come get with me. You won't enjoy it and you're not cheating.

[Ron Jeremy]

You know what I mean? That's a great line.

[Caller/Sherry]

That's a good line.

[Radio Host]

Like, seriously, I will be available for all of your infidelity needs.

[Ron Jeremy]

Try not to enjoy yourself because I

[Radio Host]

guarantee you, you not like it at all. So no guilt.

[Ron Jeremy]

Make all the wrong moves so you won't feel guilty about it. Is this how you do it?

[Radio Host]

No.

[Commercial Announcer]

Perfect.

[Ron Jeremy]

Enjoying this? Hell no. Perfect.

[Interviewer]

Do you ever. I mean, because you've been doing this for so long, I'm assuming your numbers are in the tens of thousands of women.

[Ron Jeremy]

No. They had me and Gene Simmons on the View weeks apart. Asked us how many girls you know. We tried to tell the truth. You know, Will Chamberlain and John Holmes said 20,000. Both regretted saying it because that's stuck. Me and Gene were more honest. We said between three and a half to four and a half thousand. Three and a half thousand? Yeah. And Gene Simmons is being truthful. Then I made a funny comment. They said, well, look at the girls he gets when he, you know, that look like his gorgeous Playboy playmate, Shannon Tweed. When I'm not making movies, I get girls that look like Gene Simmons.

[Interviewer]

Is it something you still like after? When you've had that many experiences, even as a guy, do you still enjoy every single time as much as you did the first time? Really?

[Ron Jeremy]

Yes. Look, variety is always fun. Look at your average rock star, you know, rap star. The guys who travel around the country, they say the same thing. You know, it doesn't get tiring when they get a little older. Maybe they have a wife, they have kids, maybe they slow down a little bit. We look at some of the older rock stars, but the young ones, they enjoy it. And they're doing huge numbers, huge numbers on the bus, the tour bus. Every stop is another face, you know, and so men are. We're dogs. We don't get jaded as quickly. Women will often use expressions for love or money. When girls run the sex business, whether it be the brothels or the porn films, you know, a lot of them really do enjoy the sex recreationally as well. But there's a good number of them that they're getting the recreational sex through the job. So it's like they use the term for love or money. You know, why be with this guy from. It's not gonna be a romantic relationship, you know, future marriage or something like a boyfriend, girlfriend, why bother? Give me a paycheck.

[Interviewer]

So this almost justifies having sex.

[Ron Jeremy]

It's either romance or just. Yeah, or it's a paycheck.

[Interviewer]

Interesting.

[Ron Jeremy]

So sometimes the girls get a bit jaded.

[Interviewer]

Interesting.

[Ron Jeremy]

Not the guys.

[Interviewer]

Ron Jeremy is in town. He's gonna be at the Pink Pony.

[Ron Jeremy]

Food, drinks, a little comedy, some beautiful women dancing. How can you go wrong?

[Interviewer]

How could you? It's good talking to you, man. Hey, can we cover everything you wanted to cover there, Wendy?

[Co-Host/Wendy]

Well, it's the Pink Pony south, let's just determine, because there's more than one. So Pink Pony south, everything we want.

[Ron Jeremy]

No, I'm just fascinated. I think it's interesting. There'll be a large audience of females too. There is that, right? There always is.

[Interviewer]

Ye people normally show up to these things for you?

[Ron Jeremy]

Oh, I, I, it's hard to say. I mean, I packed colleges, but in nightclubs, it's always hit and miss. Usually there's a decent crowd.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Ron Jeremy]

I did a couple of films that were like huge in colleges. Regular films. Boondock Saints is a huge film. You guys ever see that? I did not know Willem Dafoe, the South Park Boys, did a film called Orgasmo. You know, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Detroit Rock City, the Kiss film. So these are three films I've done. Record breaking you know, numbers in colleges. So that's my biggest audience.

[Interviewer]

That's Ron Jeremy, the Bird Show.

[Ron Jeremy]

Hey, everybody.

[Lady Luck (Promoter)]

Lady luck here. And we're celebrating America's 250th birthday. Now, all summer long, I'm going to be celebrating by playing on spinquest.com which is an American owned social casino. It obviously features over a thousand slot games and live blackjack, live craps, live bubble craps. Head on over to spinquest.com get yourself a $30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[Interviewer]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Commercial Announcer]

All new drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and the Mango Pineapple Refresher with popping boba. To crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire six? All new drinks are here now at McDonald's.

[Ron Jeremy]

Refreshers contain caffeine.