Securing Sexuality

RSA is one of the biggest Information Security conferences in the country, drawing 50,000 people to San Francisco from around the world to learn from some of the leading voices in technology... and for some reason? They gave Stefani a microphone. This week's episode, recorded live at RSA, features her thoughts on how the internet is rewiring our erotic identities, the role that hackers and technologists can play in protecting intimate relationships, and why the Elf on the Shelf is an existential threat to society. You should check it out! ⁠Show Notes⁠

Friend of the show and all-around badass, Kurt Fowler is back with us to discuss his new book The Rise of Digital S3x Work out now from NYU Press. The internet has revolutionized s3x work perhaps more than any other profession and Kurt is here to tell Wolf & Stefani all about how innovative workers are using the internet to attract clients, shape personas, share information, screen potential clients, and build community. Show Notes

Stef & Wolf were invited to be Guests of Honor at PenguiCon 2024 and they are here to report on 48 hours of pure awesomeness. Lots of talks (they gave four separate presentations) and LOTS of great questions later... they're here to tell you all about it. Have you ever wondered what you get when you combine Open Source, Sci Fi, and S3x Toys? You'll find out this week on Securing Sexuality! Show Notes

Hey there, Mr(s) Incognito Mode! You're doing all the right things when you browse online. No one knows what you're searching for and you know better than to actually make an account on the sexywebz, right? Yeah... we've got some bad news for you. This week Stef and Wolf are joined by Alessandro Polidoro, technology attorney and digital rights activist who's here to tell us all the sneaky ways that websites (yes, those websites) are tracking your searches and how this information can be weaponized against you. Alessandro is working to make sure your private pleasures remain just that. Because after all, you didn't sign up to be a data p0rn star. Show Notes

Stefani is out sick, but don’t worry- it’s not Covid! Speaking of the pandemic? Since 2020, the rise of Zoom dates has become a fascinating phenomenon. These virtual meet-cutes not only offer a practical solution for distance or health concerns but also introduce a whole new dynamic to the dating scene. Weaving in tips on avoiding romance scams with tips for fun-yet-secure Zoom dates, Wolf does his best to carry on alone. Show Notes

This is the 80th episode of Securing Sexuality. Each week, Stef and Wolf sit down at their desks to chat about the world of intimacy and technology... or do they? How can you tell if the voices you're hearing right now belong to the people you think they do? Can you be sure that the faces you see on your screen are real? Do the Goerlichs exist at ALL?! Lucky for you, Information Security and Risk Management expert Joshua Marpet is with us this week to give you the answer... and that answer is "damned if we know." Show Notes

One of the top questions listeners ask the Securing Sexuality Home Team is how to minimize the amount of data they feed to "the machine." Unfortunately, we don't have a good answer for you, especially now that AI seems to be developing...gaydar? Tune in this week as Wolf and Stef discuss the subtle, even subliminal data points that Large Language Models are using to figure out your most personal information- whether you intend to share this info or not. Show Notes

Keigh-Lee Paroz is a U.K. based data privacy expert who is deeply passionate about human rights, accessibility, gender equality, and the ways in which technology can influence all three. This week, she's joining Wolf and Stef to explain Europe's General Data Protection Regulation and how better security practices can build a better world. Show Notes

We're all familiar with the way that big businesses collect, analyze and sell our personal data. No one LIKES it, but most of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that the stuff we share on social media is going to be, well, shared. But what happens when the entity tracking your location, sharing your personal data (address, religion, political views) is not a website you've chosen to use but the stranger in line behind you at the pharmacy? How do we respond when our neighbors are the ones monitoring- and sharing- our most private details with the world? This week, Wolf and Stef talk about the rise of peer-to-peer surveillance tech and the ironic lack of information about who's behind these apps. Show Notes

What do you get when you cross a Structural Engineer with a pleasure products home party? If you're super lucky, you get Raven Faber- the brilliant mind behind EngErotics! This week she's joining Stef and Wolf to discuss materials science, multilevel marketing, and why everyone needs to pay close attention to what their favorite toys are made of. Before you purchase your next buzzy buddy (whether it's internet connected or not!) you're going to want to listen to our chat with Raven. See the Show Notes here.

Have you ever wanted to lounge at home while devoted minions pay your bills and send you presents? Living that fantasy might seem relaxing, but in reality? It's a whole lot of work. This week, Stefani is telling Wolf all about the world of FinDomme (or Financial Domination) a majority-female online form of power exchange. Join us as we learn about how this niche er0tic interest exploded on social media, what the appeal is for those loyal followers opening up their wallets, and best practices for staying safe.

This week, we're learning all about pig butchering! No, Stefani is not forsaking her Jewish roots to go "whole hog," but she is going to learn all about this insidious and devastating form of romance scam. Join Stef and Wolf as they chat with Sean Gallagher, Principal Threat Researcher for Sophos X-Ops. Prior to joining Sophos, he was an information security and technology journalist for over 30 years, including 10 as information security and national security editor for Ars Technica and he's here to tell us if it's possible to protect ourselves and our loved ones from online information that's not quite... kosher?

Ah, the old No-Tell Motel, where Film Noir gumshoes conduct parking lot stakeouts, illicit lovers find forbidden romance, and every 3rd episode of COPS- Tallahassee is filmed. Sadly, the glory days of by-the-hour shenanigans have largely been replaced by the app-based vacation rental. In every city in the world, folks can check into a private spot far from the prying eyes of hotel desk clerks... right? Just how private ARE these peer-to-peer rental properties? Who's welcome to stay and what (or who!) are we allowed to do when we get there? Coming to you live from the road in Denver, Stef and Wolf are airing all the dirty laundry this week... because the owner told them they had to before they could leave. See the Show Notes here.

This week, Stefani ventures into dark places she's never been before. That's right! This week, we're gonna get Psychodynamic. Stef and Wolf are joined by robotics researcher and all around badass Dr. Jo Ann Oravec to have a conversation about ego-centrism, artificial intelligence, and the hope that someday we might marry our robots....or become one ourselves. From Freud to Feminism to the perils of aging, Dr. Oravec is here to try and convince us all to get comfortable with the idea of human-robot relationships. See the Show Notes here.

From the Republican Party to the local sports bar, everyone in America is talking about Taylor Swift this week. But why are they so obsessed with her and WTF does it have to do with Securing Sexuality? This conversation starts out with Stefani's desire to finally convince Wolf that football is fun... but it quickly becomes an exploration of misinformation, deepfakes, artificial intelligence, and how one precocious middle schooler might be our best hope to save America. See the Show Notes here.

From the Republican Party to the local sports bar, everyone in America is talking about Taylor Swift this week. But why are they so obsessed with her and WTF does it have to do with Securing Sexuality? This conversation starts out with Stefani's desire to finally convince Wolf that football is fun... but it quickly becomes an exploration of misinformation, deepfakes, artificial intelligence, and how one precocious middle schooler might be our best hope to save America.

From the Republican Party to the local sports bar, everyone in America is talking about Taylor Swift this week. But why are they so obsessed with her and WTF does it have to do with Securing Sexuality? This conversation starts out with Stefani's desire to finally convince Wolf that football is fun... but it quickly becomes an exploration of misinformation, deepfakes, artificial intelligence, and how one precocious middle schooler might be our best hope to save America. See the Show Notes here.

This week Stef and Wolf are joined by the cybersecurity's Ring Master, Ean Meyer! He's here to tell us all about manatees, muppets, and how to make scary topics accessible- a challenge many clinicians and educators also wrestle with. How can we get folks to learn skills to keep themselves safe? Why is making them even more afraid not an ideal strategy to reinforce learning? And how can we harness the power of FUN to keep people safe on the interwebz? Ean's got us covered!

This week Stef and Wolf are joined by the cybersecurity's Ring Master, Ean Meyer! He's here to tell us all about manatees, muppets, and how to make scary topics accessible- a challenge many clinicians and educators also wrestle with. How can we get folks to learn skills to keep themselves safe? Why is making them even more afraid not an ideal strategy to reinforce learning? And how can we harness the power of FUN to keep people safe on the interwebz? Ean's got us covered! See the show notes here.

From fashion trends to SCOTUS rulings, this episode has a something for everyone. Join us as we try to get a cover-all on the 2024 Predictions Bingo card put out by one of Stefani's favorite brands. There's no sponsored content here- just rollicking conversation about abortion pills, TradWives, and the RenFaire. Laugh along with us- but be sure to shout BINGO to claim your winner's status in the year ahead. Show Notes for this episode.