In this episode, we’re unzipping the wild, confusing, and often misunderstood world of the adolescent brain — and what that can mean for risk-taking and decision-making between the ages of 13 and 25.

Dr. Sue shares what decades of teaching teens, college students, and future educators have revealed about how young people actually think about risk, pressure, and identity. (Spoiler: they are thinking — just with a brain that’s wired differently than an adult’s.)

We dig into why peers matter so much, why “bad decisions” often make developmental sense, and why adults tend to forget what it felt like to be in that stage themselves. We also unzip the mixed messages baked into our laws — from the variation in consent laws, driving at 16, joining the military at 18, renting a car at 25 — and how they fail to reflect what we now know about the developing brain.

This episode is all about compassion, clarity, and cutting through the judgment. Adolescence is messy. It’s emotional. It’s confusing. And it’s a phase every single one of us survived — even if we’ve conveniently romanticized our way out of remembering how chaotic it really was.

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here: ⁠Show suggestions

This week on Unzipping Taboos, we unzip the myths around the so-called “sexual revolution.” When one hears “sexual revolution” they tend to picture flower crowns, free love, and a big cultural exhale—but underneath all that was a much deeper fight for bodily autonomy, women’s rights, and freedom from patriarchal control.

Our conversation explores how the 1960s and 70s reshaped everything from access to birth control to who could open a credit card—and how, decades later, those same battles are still being fought in new forms. We unzip how power shows up in the way we talk about sex: who’s allowed to speak, who gets blamed, and how “morality” is often used to police women and marginalized groups.

We examine how controlling the story means controlling the truth—from how data on maternal health and STIs gets reported (or not reported) to the way headlines frame social change as “moral decline.” The result? A fascinating look at how progress and backlash are intertwined—and why allyship, curiosity, and critical thinking matter now more than ever.

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here: ⁠Show suggestions

“Stranger danger” has long been the go-to phrase for teaching kids about safety—but it’s outdated and misleading in many ways. In this episode of Unzipping Taboos, we talk about what really protects children—teaching them consent, trust, and situational awareness.

We talk about why giving children the correct names for their anatomy matters, how to create space for curiosity without shame, and what it looks like to empower kids with confidence rather than fear. Just as importantly, we explore how danger isn’t always about faceless strangers, but can come from people children know — which makes it even more critical that adults listen to kids when they say something feels off.

At the heart of this conversation is a shift from fear-based warnings to respect-based trust. Because when we empower kids to name their bodies, trust their instincts, and know they’ll be believed, we’re doing more than keeping them safe — we’re teaching them that their boundaries and voices matter.

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here: ⁠Show suggestions

In this post-election episode, we take a breath—and a moment to celebrate. After the November elections, we found ourselves feeling something we hadn’t in a while: optimism. In this episode, we talk about what it means to hold onto that feeling and how to turn it into action.

We talk about the power of showing up and how to move from celebration to sustained action. From reproductive rights to education, equality, and justice, we explore how real progress depends on everyday engagement, not just election cycles. Highlighting that inclusive education and community care, and everyday actions—big and small—can shift the conversation and create lasting change.

Hope isn’t passive—it’s a practice. And keeping it alive means continuing to question, challenge, and participate in shaping the world we want to live in.

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here: ⁠Show suggestions

Not every parent or guardian has a Dr. Sue in their back pocket when questions about sex or sex health. And yet, kids are curious, their questions are valid, and the way adults respond can shape how they understand bodies, consent, and relationships for years to come.

In this episode of Unzipping Taboos, we call in both compassion and responsibility: What does it mean to give children honest, age-appropriate answers without shame? How do we dismantle outdated, fear-based approaches and replace them with respect, trust, and curiosity? We explore how parents or caregivers can step into the role of safe, trusted guides—even if they never got this kind of guidance themselves.

We also share practical tools and resources—like amaze.org and state-by-state curriculum guides—to help parents prepare for conversations that may happen anywhere, anytime: at the dinner table, in the car, or while watching TV together. At the heart of it all, we emphasize honesty, boundaries, and respect—because kids don’t just need facts, they need adults willing to listen and talk without shame.

To find out how your state scores on sex education, check out the SIECUS State Profiles

If you want to see an overview for the requirements for sex education for your state, including requirements for parental notification check out Guttmacher’s State Laws and Policies

For resources for parents/caregivers to learn how to talk to kids about sex, check out amaze’s website

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here: ⁠Show suggestions

We’ve all seen it on TV, in movies or porn: two people lock eyes, clothes fly off, and somehow it’s perfect. But here’s the truth—spontaneous sex might make for great entertainment, yet for most people (especially in long-term relationships), it’s not the everyday reality.

In this episode, we unzip the myth of spontaneous sex and explore the very real, very valid world of responsive desire—the kind that grows with connection, communication, and consent. We talk about how media and porn often set impossible expectations for instant passion, why those narratives can leave couples feeling “less than,” and how planned intimacy can be just as sexy—sometimes even more so—than in-the-moment encounters.

We share our thoughts on building emotional closeness, practicing empathy, and navigating changing sexual dynamics over time. The takeaway? Great sex isn’t about chasing camera-worthy moments—it’s about intention, understanding, and choosing each other, over and over again.

If you want to read more about different levels of arousal, check out the article that we talk about in the show: Giddy article

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here: ⁠Show suggestions

In this episode of Unzipping Taboos, we dive into the intersection of respect, chivalry, and consent in our everyday interactions. We unpack how cultural expectations shape our understanding of respect, particularly through common gestures like holding doors open and using titles like "ma'am". We discuss the importance of honoring individual preferences when addressing others and explore how actions rooted in chivalry, while often intended as acts of kindness, can perpetuate power dynamics if they lack true mutual respect and consent.

Our conversation examines the delicate balance between chivalry and genuine respect, highlighting how even polite actions can sometimes be tied to outdated gender norms or cultural expectations. As we continue to challenge these norms, we emphasize the need for mutual understanding and communication in all interactions. Ultimately, it’s about respecting personal boundaries, preferences, and choices—no matter how big or small the gesture, and no matter who the gesture is directed towards.

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here: ⁠Show suggestions

If you want to ask Dr Sue a sex question for the weekly Q&A you can submit it here: Ask a question

Stealthing—it sounds like something out of a spy movie, but in reality, it’s a serious violation of consent. In this episode, we unzip what stealthing really is: when someone removes a condom during sex without their partner’s knowledge or consent. It’s a practice that crosses every ethical line, yet it’s still only legally recognized as sexual assault in one state (California).

Together with our guest Dr. Jenn Evans, we dig into the legal gaps, the cultural double standards around contraception, and the toxic influence of “red pill” ideology that excuses men’s harmful actions while blaming women. We talk about the human impact—how stealthing robs people of their bodily autonomy—and why shifting societal attitudes about consent is as important as changing the laws.

This conversation also shines a light on broader gendered expectations: why women are still blamed for pregnancies despite using contraception, why men’s reproductive sabotage is minimized, and how harmful online communities groom young men into entitlement and misogyny.

At the heart of it all, this episode is about consent, power, and respect. Because no matter what the law says, removing someone’s choice is never okay.

If you or someone you know has experienced stealthing or any form of sexual assault, you are not alone—and support is available. You can reach out to RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline. They’re available by chat and phone 24/7.

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here: ⁠Show suggestions

If you want to ask Dr Sue a sex question for the weekly Q&A you can submit it here: Ask a question