Impolite Society: Exploring the Weird, Taboo & Macabre
113 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago -There are so many things we've been told we can't talk about in polite society. The things your mom told you never to ask about: Sex. Money. Poop. Death. The things that make normal people uncomfortable.
But if you're curious about the truth behind our deepest societal taboos, we're your gals. We dig into the history, science, and straight up weird truths behind these off-limits topics and give you the answers you never knew you needed.
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Episodes
Kissing Cousins, is it so Wrong?
April 15, 2024 08:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MBToday, we’re talking about cousins. Kissing cousins specifically, and some of the genetic malformations it may or may NOT produce. If you live in America, the thought of kissing cousins probably makes you cringe. But outside of the Western world and throughout a lot of time, that wasn’t always the case. Throughout many wealthy families and cultures, it was and is considered par for the course. How was this taboo born and when did it really get it’s wings? That’s what you're in for today on ...
Who are Adult Baby / Diaper Lovers?
April 01, 2024 08:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MBToday we’re digging into the world of diapers and the adults who love them. We’ll dig into how adults role play being babies and how they put the lovers in diaper lovers. We’ll also take a look inside the mind of an adult baby to try to understand what draws them to the diaper lifestyle. We’ll cover all this with many more messytidbits along the way. That’s what you’re in for today on Impolite Society. Email us your impolite questions at [email protected] and visit our websit...
Deadly Fashion Trends of the Past
March 18, 2024 08:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MBFashion is a complicated world. Youthful women, beautiful clothes, and the whiff of culture and privilege is a heady mix. It’s no surprise that the trends and fads in fashion have had us chasing our tails for eons. But before there was heroin chic and body positivity movements, fashion was shaping our health in a completely different way. Turns out it’s not just the culture of fashion that’s toxic. Today we’re exploring the deadly fashion trends of centuries past. Industrial waste, poison h...
The Strange (And Sensuous) Events of the Dolphin House Experiment
March 04, 2024 09:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MBSecret sea labs, extraterrestrial intelligence and LSD experiments…. No this isn’t the plot of a new spy movie. This is the story of a very real experiment that took place in the U.S. virgin islands in the 1960s. Join us as we tell the story of a scientist and intellectual who became obsessed with unlocking the secrets of language and the young, star-crossed lovers who would get entangled in the messy affair. This is a story of strange science, unorthodox experiments and interspecies love. ...
What is Fan Fiction?
February 19, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.3 MBStories are unique to the human race. They inspire us, delight us, and cast the familiar world around us in a whole new light. Everyone has been wrapped up in a good story at some point in their lives- curled up with a book you can’t put down, binge watching television shows late into the night, or being so obsessed with a story you find yourself dreaming about it. And every one of us, at some point, has thought, “What if….” Today we are entering the online world of fanfiction: what is it, ...
Can You Masturbate Yourself to Death?
February 05, 2024 09:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBLa petite mort. This phrase, meaning the little death, is an old school French euphemism for Orgasms. But, what happens when our pursuit of these little deaths results in the big one? Around the globe, thousands die each year from these autoerotic fatalities, and those are just the ones where the family let the coroner put that down on paper. So how does the five finger shuffle turn deadly? Today we're talking about masturbation and all the ways the grim reaper might catch you with your pan...
Poop: The Deadliest Weapon?
January 22, 2024 09:00 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MBIn the 1950s, the Canadian government forced many Inuit people into high artic settlement camps. But one man refused to go, no matter how much his children and grand children begged. The family was scared of what would happen if he refused to cooperate. In a desperate plan to force his hand, his family abandoned the man in his igloo. They took everything- all the food, the furs, and tools- in the hope that he would have no choice but to join them in their journey to the camp. All they left h...
Is the Clitoris a Tiny Penis?
January 08, 2024 09:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MBBetween the covers of a medical school anatomy textbook, you'd expect to find all of the knowledge we've accumulated on the human body over the millennia. Every bone, muscle, and tendon accounted for. But there's one organ that's missing. Throughout history, the clitoris has been ignored, misidentified, and deemed vestigial. Even today, 90 percent of the organ is left out of the textbooks. Is this pleasure producing part of the female anatomy some leftover hand me down from male genetics...
The Darkest Christmas Traditions Around the World
December 25, 2023 09:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MBChristmas bells, candy canes, and hot cocoa by the fire - that’s the idealized American Christmas scene. Our traditions are designed to give everyone in the family the warm fuzzies and in America, the worst thing that could ever happen at Christmas is a lump of coal in your stocking. But this isn’t the case in the Old Country. Europe is the source of many of our grim fairy tales and even Christmas has its own unique cast of monsters. Tales of cannibalism, horse skulls, slaves, and worse al...
Did You Have Work Done?
December 11, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 43.6 MBWe’ve all thought about having plastic surgery, at least casually. And if you haven’t, fuck off. Just right now. Fuck off, go away, you must be a perfect human with a perfect body and no insecurities. We don't want your kind here. For the rest of us, a good way to cure yourself of wanting any of this shit done is to hear more about it. Because getting a new nose sounds great- until you watch it being done. So let’s jump into the gory details of three of the most common cosmetic producers t...
The Wild World of Groupies
November 27, 2023 09:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBToday we're talking about the infamous groupie lifestyle and how you might be able to bed a rock star yourself. We explore the stories of iconic figures of the groupie heyday from Sable Star to Sweet Connie to get an eye-opening view of groupie-dom. We're talking about the golden days of rock and roll in the '70s to the evolution of groupies in the digital age and uncover how fandom and lust cross paths in this scandalous subculture. That's what you're in for today on Impolite Society. ...
The Tragic (and Totally Preventable) Execution of Eddie Slovik
November 13, 2023 09:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBDuring World War II, America executed only one soldier for desertion: Edward D. Slovik,. Slovik would be the first and only soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War. This episode delves into the dramatic circumstances surrounding Edward's refusal to fight and his request for a court-martial, which lead to his dramatic sentencing. Join us as we discuss how the details of Slovik's case were kept hidden from public view for years, and the emotional toll this took on Slalovik's famil...
What is the Human Bone Market?
October 30, 2023 08:00 - 54 minutes - 37.8 MBJoin us as we explore the world of body snatchers, grave robbers, murder syndicates and international smuggling that is the human bone trade. Through this trade, humans beings are turned into medical grade skeletons before being sold to the highest bidder. Journey through the bone factories of India, hallowed halls of Georgian medical colleges and the lobbies of the modern bone traders as we explore the legal (and less so) side of selling human remains. That's what you're in for today, on ...
Are Witch Hats Antisemitic?
October 16, 2023 08:00 - 50 minutes - 35.1 MBHalloween is a time of trick, treats, and culturally insensitive costumes. A bad Halloween costume can do more than just make you look lazy- it can get you cancelled. Native Americans, Geishas, and Southern Belle costumes have gotten people cooler than you cancelled by social media. Should the classic witch's hat be added to the list of cancellable costumes? The origin of the witch's hat is a historical ball of string, and it's been said that witch hats were inspired by anti-Semitic laws ...
What is Satanism?
October 02, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBIt was a sticky summer afternoon when it appeared. A nearly seven foot bronzed Baphomet at the foot of the Arkansas State Capitol. And, just as quickly, it was gone. For a handful of hours the goat headed, winged figure sat vigil outside the white stone building. For many, it represented the forces of evil itself. Darkness, chaos, and the void. But to the members of the Satanic Temple, those behind the statue's appearance, the Baphomet is a symbol of equality, tolerance, and reconciliation...
A Long Overdue Apology....
October 01, 2023 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBWe're sorry. Email us your impolite questions at [email protected] and visit our website for info about the show and your hosts Laura and Rachel.
On Today's Episode....
July 11, 2022 08:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBIt's been a wild ride and we have enjoyed it! Email us at [email protected] and we will actual get your email! Laura and Rachel will be back eventually. In the meantime, check us out on Nerds Talking the Podcast. Email us your impolite questions at [email protected] and visit our website for info about the show and your hosts Laura and Rachel.
Do You Think You're Better Than Me, or Something?
June 27, 2022 08:00 - 58 minutes - 39.9 MBNothing quite gets under our skin like when we feel like someone thinks they’re better than us. But yet, the odds are that you think you’re better than the average person. Today we’re talking superiority. We’ll explore how humans evolved to rank each other and dig into the theories on why we tend to put ourselves higher in those rankings. We’ll also look at what happens when that feeling of superiority goes too far. All to answer to our rude question: Do you think you’re better than me, or...
Is Everyone Having More Sex Than Me?
June 13, 2022 08:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBToday we’re looking into the sex lives of others to see how much everyone else is doing the deed. We dig into sexy surveys to learn who gets it the most and how often really is “normal”. We also look at how sex affects our mood to see if there’s an optimal amount for peak happiness and relationship bliss. All to get to the bottom of our rude question today: Is everyone having more sex than me? That’s what you're in for today, on Impolite Society. Email us your impolite questions at rude@...
Does Having Pets Make Me a Shitty Person?
May 30, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 45.8 MBDo you love your pets like family? Ninety five percent of pet owners in America would say yes. And pet owners are willing to put their money where their mouth is- we’ll spend about $110 billion annually on our furry friends. But does all this love come at a cost? Today we are exploring the wild world of pets, looking at where all these critters come from, how happy pets really are in the human world, and what we might owe to the animals we have bred to be our daily companions. All this t...
Why Won't Men Wear Condoms?
May 16, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBWhile the humble condom might seem like a bit of buzzkill, this 8 one-hundredths of a millimeter is all that separates us from a world of unwanted pregnancies and rampant infection. So why is the condom so controversial? Join us on a journey through the history of the condom from cute, little dick bonnet to our modern-day rubber. We'll also explore how condoms' public image has changed just as much along the way. We’ll meet the clergymen and Casanovas who’ve detested them and explore the re...
Is It Normal to Hate Your Kids?
May 02, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 43.2 MBModern parents have been sold the idea that kids are the tried and true pathway to perfect happiness. But it turns out, there are a lot of bumps on the way to bliss. More than ever, parents are feeling like they have been sold a bad bill of goods. Today on Impolite Society, we’re exploring the myth of joyful parenting, the enormous pressure parents are under, and the very real risks of parental burnout. All this to answer the rude question, is it normal to hate your kids? That’s what you'...
Is It Normal to Hate Your Kids?
May 02, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 43.2 MBModern parents have been sold the idea that kids are the tried and true pathway to perfect happiness. But it turns out, there are a lot of bumps on the way to bliss. More than ever, parents are feeling like they have been sold a bad bill of goods. Today on Impolite Society, we’re exploring the myth of joyful parenting, the enormous pressure parents are under, and the very real risks of parental burnout. All this to answer the rude question, is it normal to hate your kids? That’s what you'...
Why is Animated Porn so Popular?
April 18, 2022 08:00 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MBThere’s no doubt cartoons hold a special place in our hearts… and fantasies? Animated porn is one of the most-popular categories of porn around the world. So how we go from enjoying our cartoons with a bowl of cereal in the family room to watching them alone with a box of tissues? In this episode we explore the fantastical world of hentai and animated porn, We’ll examine why it’s so popular, how it highjacks our caveman to turn us on and if animated porn might actually offer a more ethical ...
What’s It Like To Die?
April 04, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBDeath is the last great adventure. Humans have been curious about what happens after we die for millennia and today, we are unpacking everything you’ve ever wanted to know about kicking the bucket. Like the different definitions of death (there is more than one), the stages of death, and what near death experiences can tell us about a potential afterlife. All this to answer the rude question, what’s it like to die? That’s what you're in for today on Impolite Society. Email us your impo...
Why Are We So Loud in Bed?
March 21, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBA throaty moan, a gasp of pleasure, a shriek of ecstasy - these are all music to our ears. The sounds of sex are unmistakable- But why are humans so loud in the sack? In this episode we are looking at sex sounds: why we make them, the other animals that are shrieking their way through intercourse, and if nature or nurture is responsible for these copulatory vocalizations. All to answer the rude question…. Why are we so loud in bed? That’s what you’re in for today, on Impolite Society. Ema...
Why Are We So Loud in Bed?
March 21, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBA throaty moan, a gasp of pleasure, a shriek of ecstasy - these are all music to our ears. The sounds of sex are unmistakable- But why are humans so loud in the sack? In this episode we are looking at sex sounds: why we make them, the other animals that are shrieking their way through intercourse, and if nature or nurture is responsible for these copulatory vocalizations. All to answer the rude question…. Why are we so loud in bed? That’s what you’re in for today, on Impolite Society. Ema...
Do I Stink?
March 07, 2022 09:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBWhether you’ve caught an odd whiff during a meeting, forgotten to brush your teeth before running out the door or stopped to run an errand after hitting the gym, we know what it feels like to be self-conscious of our odor. But humans smell! Each and everyone one of us comes with our own unique set of smells, scents and, let’s be honest, stank. Odor can attract, bond or even prevent any regrettable dalliances with distant relatives, so why are we so fearful of being deemed “smelly.” In this...
Is Everyone as Lonely as Me?
February 21, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 43.8 MBFeeling lonely is part of our evolutionary makeup. The emptiness in our chests is what drove our ancient ancestors to seek out others, form tribes, find mates, and face the terrors of nature together. But in our modern society, feeling alone is a shameful secret. In this episode we’re breaking down the concept of loneliness: why we feel it, why we’re ashamed of it, and how chronic feelings of loneliness can actually change your brain chemistry for the worse. All this to answer the rude que...
Does Batman Go Down? And Should You?
February 07, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBCunnilingus is as old as the human species, but this sex act is still taboo in our modern society. So taboo that Batman was forbidden to do it in a recent HBO Max series. Why is it that an act for female pleasure is seen as delinquent, but fellatio is being boasted about in locker rooms across America? We’re lapping up the history of cunnilingus across the animal kingdom, what evolutionary benefit this sex act may have had, and why the power dynamics of sex make us so uncomfortable. All thi...
Do Pickup Lines Ever Work?
January 24, 2022 09:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MBWe’re all looking for a little love and human connection, right? So why is it so dang hard for us to talk to someone we’re interested in? Studies show 3 out of 4 of us are terrible flirts and are really bad at identifying when someone likes us. So what’s a lonely heart to do? This episode, we’re talking about the art of the pick up. We dig into human behavior to uncover the subtle signs used to show interest, and more importantly when you should trust them. We see what research says about...
How Much Do You Weigh?
January 10, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 43.6 MBWe all live in fear of the dreaded "F" word... Fat. Our weight might be summed up in the number on a scale, but that's far from where its effect ends. If that number falls into the "fat" zone, it can have real-world effects. Not just on our physical health, but our ability to attract a mate, how much other people like us and how the world sees our value as a person. Yet, not long ago, humans had no idea what they weighed! So how did we so from living in this blissfully ignorant utopia to ou...
The Christmas Clip Show
December 20, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 48.5 MBTwice the week before Christmas And fresh into your ears, Will be poured a selection Of our favorite moments this year. The stories and facts To make your grandmother blush, Told to you by Your two favorite lush. So gather round the fire, Mix yourself a hot tottie. We can bet you weren’t good this year But we much prefer naughty. From menarche to necrophilia, And a camp full of the nude, Hold on to your panties, Because it’s about to get rude. So dive into the episode, No need to fane piety,...
Can Men and Women be Just Friends?
December 06, 2021 09:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBA little over a hundred years ago, men and women didn't really interact. And when they did, it was all about getting down the aisle. But as the times have changed and our society evolves, we've created more and more opportunities for the genders to mix. And when they do, you have an opportunity for complications to arise. And that sticky part of friendships between men and women is what we're talking about today. We look at the history of how men and women used to interact and then dig in...
Society Selects: Can I Eat Myself to Death?
November 25, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MBIn honor of the most gluttonous holiday of the year, we're throwing back to our episode all about eating so much we die. Gluttony might put our immortal soul in danger, but what about our physical bodies? We've all eaten so much we feel like we might explode, but can we eat enough in one sitting to kill us? That's the question we dig into this episode, exploring if we can push our tummies past their breaking points, how our bodies protect us from that grizzly fate and three gruesome stories...
Why Can't I Eat Dog for Dinner?
November 22, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 45.2 MBNothing says Thanksgiving like gathering around a giant, roasted turkey. But did you ever stop to think why Turkey is on the menu rather than horse dog or cat? Food taboos are complicated and vary greatly by geography. There are no cultural universals when it comes to what animals are and aren't on the menu. Today, we're uncovering food taboos around the world. How some unlucky critters ended up as diet staples and what role religion plays in shaping our dinner plates. That's what you're di...
Is Monogamy a Dead End?
November 08, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 46.4 MBWhat do you do, when two just won't do? A rude question from Rocky of Wild Nights with Rocky Powell sends our gals into the world of polyamory. But this isn't your grandma's swingers club. Polyamory centers around the idea of engaging in meaningful, romantic and physical relationships with multiple partners, turning the very core of our monogamous world up-side-down. Are polyamorist showing us an enlightened, co-dependent free life, or can you really have your cake and eat it too. Explore ...
Halloween Special: Why Do We Still Believe in Ghosts?
October 25, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBEven in the age of science and reason, we’re all still fascinated by stories of specters from the beyond. Ghosts may be easily dismissed as folklore or superstition in the light of day, But our tune changes in the middle of the night. It’s dark, you’re all alone, and the things that seem impossible in the sunlight are suddenly very, very real. In our Halloween episode, we’re recording at one of the most haunted places in America to ask ourselves: Why do we still believe in ghosts? We’re di...
Does Being Rich Make You a Jerk?
October 11, 2021 08:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBScrooge. Montgomery Burns. Lex Luther. These and many other great antagonists have something in common… they’re filthy stinking rich. Throughout literature, pop culture and Hollywood, wealth is often linked to villainy, but are the rich really as cold and heartless as they're portrayed? Join us as we dig into the series of studies that examine the behavior of the elite and explore why they act so different than we do. All to get to the bottom of whether we’re just jealous or if being rich r...
How Does My Body Tell if it's a Fart or Poo?
September 27, 2021 08:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MBEach day, your body makes the high-stakes decision that holds together the very fabric of our society… “is that just a fart, or am I about to shit myself?” And with the average person releasing nearly a half gallon of gas a day, your body is making this decision all the time. Turns out, this impressive ability all comes down to how we developed as an embryo. We explore biology behind farts to uncover how society as we know it is held together by a few centimeters of tissue in our anus, al...
How Does My Butt Tell the Difference Between a Fart and Poo?
September 27, 2021 08:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MBEach day, your body makes the high-stakes decision that holds together the very fabric of our society… “is that just a fart, or am I about to shit myself?” And with the average person releasing nearly a half gallon of gas a day, your body is making this decision all the time. Turns out, this impressive ability all comes down to how we developed as an embryo. We explore biology behind farts to uncover how society as we know it is held together by a few centimeters of tissue in our anus, al...
Why is My Naked Body a Crime?
September 13, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 45.7 MBHey there, your fly is down! We put so much effort into covering our bodies, that the idea of exposing ourselves in public, even inadvertently after a trip to the loo, is enough to make us blush. Nudity is a taboo that’s so ingrained that being in the buff has become the cliché stress dream. But it’s more than that. In many places, your naked body is against the law. So how did our birthday suits go from our natural state to being a crime? We expose the history of clothing and get to the n...
Cannibalism, the Oldest Taboo... Or Is It?
August 23, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBThe average human body contains 126,000 calories, or roughly the same amount as 225 Big Macs. This means that each of us is quite the feast, just waiting to be devoured. This episode, we dig into cannibalism--fondly known as the oldest taboo. We trace cannibalism's journey from its prehistoric roots to how a sacred funeral rite became a big no-no in the "civilized" world and an excuse for dooming an entire continent. Join us as we dig into the different kinds of cannibalism, including the f...
What's the Deal with Sex Dolls? (Part 2 - Too Dolls, Too Sexy)
August 16, 2021 08:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBWe continue our study of sex dolls by asking the question: why does any of this matter? But before digging into what these dolls mean for women and sex in general, we dust off the ole crystal ball to take a look at what the future might hold for our darling dolls. Along the way, we meet sex doll influencers, visit the saddest doll brothel in Germany and learn the term "gynoid." Join us for the exciting conclusion to our first-ever two part series for Impolite Society as we ask: "What's the...
What's the Deal with Sex Dolls? (Part 1)
August 09, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBIf you can't love the one you want, love the one you can purchase and completely customize online... that's how the song goes, right? This episode we peel back layer after horrifying layer of the world of lifelike sex dolls, including the long and storied history of "dames de voyage", how your friendly 1980s bachelor party blow up doll became the uncanny valley creature called RealDoll and who are the men (and women) buying these silicon sirens. There's a lot to unpack here, that's why we'...
What's the Deal with Sex Dolls? (1)
August 09, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBIf you can't love the one you want, love the one you can purchase and completely customize online... that's how the song goes, right? This episode we peel back layer after horrifying layer of the world of lifelike sex dolls, including the long and storied history of "dames de voyage", how your friendly 1980s bachelor party blow up doll became the uncanny valley creature called RealDoll and who are the men (and women) buying these silicon sirens. There's a lot to unpack here, that's why we'...
Is Crying Manipulative?
July 26, 2021 08:00 - 58 minutes - 40.2 MBStudies show women cry four times more than men do. Is this evidence of evolutionary biology or have women learned to use crying to get their way? This episode, we discover how crying works, discuss theories as to why we cry and dig into whether crying is manipulative. We all enter this world crying, but let's learn how our relationship with this emotional outpour change as we grow into adults. Email us your impolite questions at [email protected] and visit our website for inf...
Does Having Road Rage Make You a Monster?
July 12, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 41.5 MBROAD RAGE! It’s something we almost all suffer from and it for real kills people. Many of us will admit to having road rage and doing stupid things behind the wheel. But does going off the handle on a complete stranger for almost nothing speak well of your mental and emotional health? Does having Road Rage mean you're monster? Email us your impolite questions, or any other impolite thoughts at [email protected] and visit our website for info about the show and your hosts Laur...
Why Do Bidets Make Us So Squeamish?
June 28, 2021 08:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBNothing says confident like a fresh butthole. While popular for making squeaky clean sphincters across the globe, the bidet has never caught on in the United States. This episode, we get to the bottom of bidets branding problem, including how bidets work, the aristocratic birth of the bidet and how this humble piece of plumbing earned its bad reputation. Email us your impolite questions, or any other impolite thoughts at [email protected] and visit our website for info about t...
FAN FRIDAY: Why Are Periods So Taboo?
June 25, 2021 07:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBMenstruation: so fundamental to our species, and yet such a deeply, deeply engrained taboo. This FAN FRIDAY listener Sarah wants to know "why can't I talk about my period?" Join us as we dig into the origins of the menstruation taboo, explore what religious text say about that time of the month and expose 3 unsolved period mysterious. Email us your impolite questions, or any other impolite thoughts at [email protected] and visit our website for info about the show and your ho...