Dan Savage is officially the first guest of The Love Drive relaunch and it's the perfect way to kick off the relaunch.

Dan is a legend in the world of sex, love, and relationships. He is the host of the Savage Lovecast, the writer of the long-running Savage Love advice column, and someone whose work has shaped how many of us think and talk about sex.

In this episode, Shaun shares the story of double texting Dan to beg him to be on the show, how he used to refer to himself as the ‘younger and straighter Dan Savage,” and gets into why he downloaded Grindr.

They get into herpes stigma, Shaun’s personal experience, Dan’s GGG philosophy, polyamory, age-gap relationships, and the politics shaping modern dating. They also talk about why straight men are often judged more harshly for sexual curiosity, why erections do not always equal arousal, and Dan’s pushback on the Burned Haystack Dating Method.

There is also a candid conversation about Shaun’s past work as an erotic masseur in San Francisco, along with detours into Heated Rivalry, sexual openness, and the campsite rule.

This one is sexually explicit, very funny, and full of honesty.

Timestamps:

(00:42) Shaun introduces Dan Savage

(04:12) Dan Savage joins The Love Drive

(09:36) Herpes stigma and the truth about disclosure

(15:54) Heated Rivalry and what straight people can learn

(21:33) Why straight sex needs more honesty

(25:05) Shaun’s erotic massage story

(28:26) Sex work, loneliness, and human connection

(33:38) Politics, masculinity, and modern dating

(40:46) Burn the haystack or stay open to love

(52:39) Why straight men are judged for curiosity

(01:09:20) Age gaps, the campsite rule, and leaving people better

Send Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at podcast@thelovedrive.com. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too.

To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen.

Links:

https://savage.love

https://www.instagram.com/dansavage/

Love Camp: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/p/summer-camp-isnt-just-for-kids-love

Connect with Shaun:

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/

Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive