Sex, Porn, and Knowing the Difference — with Cindy Gallop

Podcast Summary

• Importance of authentic sexual experiences vs. porn: Excessive porn use can negatively impact young men's understanding of sexual intimacy and their ability to form healthy relationships. Promoting healthy sexual experiences and values is crucial.

  The use of porn by young men in American society is a complex issue with far-reaching implications. Cindy Gallup, the founder of Make Love Not Porn, discussed the importance of open communication and authentic sexual experiences in contrast to the often unrealistic and objectifying portrayals found in mainstream porn. She highlighted the negative effects that excessive porn use can have on young men's understanding of sexual intimacy and their ability to form healthy relationships. Additionally, she spoke about the monopoly of the porn industry and the opportunities for investment in sex tech to promote positive sexual behavior and values. Gallup emphasized that great sex is born out of great communication and encouraged open dialogue about sex and sexuality. Overall, the conversation underscored the importance of promoting healthy sexual experiences and values in our society, particularly for young men.

• Lack of open conversations about sex leads to reliance on porn: The absence of open discussions about sex perpetuates unrealistic and harmful depictions in porn, making it a primary source of education for many. Societal taboos hinder effective communication between partners, worsening the situation.

  The lack of open and honest conversations about sex in real life leads many people to rely on porn as their primary source of education and understanding of sexual behavior. This situation is problematic because porn often presents unrealistic and harmful depictions of sex, and the absence of alternative viewpoints can perpetuate harmful attitudes and behaviors. Additionally, societal taboos around discussing sex openly make it difficult for individuals to communicate effectively with their partners, leading to further confusion and insecurity. Overall, this lack of open communication and education about sex creates a widespread issue that negatively impacts individuals and relationships. It is essential to promote open and honest conversations about sex to challenge the harmful influence of porn and promote healthy attitudes and behaviors.

• Disrupting the sex industry with authentic experiences: Make Love Not Porn aims to revolutionize the sex industry by offering authentic, real-world sexual experiences as a complementary alternative to mainstream porn, normalizing open discussions about sex and fostering innovation and equity for creators and consumers.

  Effective communication is key to great experiences, including sex. The sex industry, dominated by a monopoly, stifles individual creativity and innovation. Make Love Not Porn aims to disrupt this by positioning itself as a sex tech venture, a massive and underfunded sector due to societal taboo and fear of judgment. The mission is to provide a social platform for authentic, real-world sexual experiences, offering a complementary alternative to mainstream porn. By normalizing open discussions about sex, Make Love Not Porn aspires to revolutionize the industry and create a more equitable and innovative space for creators and consumers alike.

• Navigating the challenges of finding investors for sex tech ventures: Creativity, resilience, perseverance, and the right tools are crucial for securing investors in the sex tech industry

  Identifying investors for sex tech ventures is a unique challenge due to the personal nature of sexual experiences and preferences. The speaker's strategy has been to publicly promote their venture and make synaptic connections with potential investors. However, finding investors in this sector is difficult and unconventional compared to traditional tech startups. It requires a personal approach and reliance on making connections based on shared experiences and perspectives. The speaker's experience highlights the need for creativity and resilience in finding investors for sex tech ventures. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the importance of having the right tools and resources for investing and collaboration. Betterment was introduced as a solution for investors looking to maximize returns, while Atlassian's software was presented as a tool for teams to collaborate effectively. Overall, the conversation emphasized the importance of perseverance, creativity, and the right tools in navigating the unique challenges of the sex tech industry and achieving success.

• Lack of infrastructure hinders growth in adult industry: The adult industry's potential for growth is limited due to insufficient infrastructure. Investors and entrepreneurs can capitalize on this opportunity by building an ecosystem for sex tech, enabling legal, ethical, and transparent businesses to flourish.

  The adult industry, despite receiving significant attention, is held back by a lack of adequate infrastructure. This inhibits the industry's potential for growth and innovation. The industry faces challenges in obtaining basic business services and infrastructure due to the stigma associated with adult content. The solution lies in building an ecosystem for sex tech that addresses these infrastructure needs, enabling legal, ethical, and transparent adult businesses to thrive. This untapped market presents a massive opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs who are willing to tackle the infrastructure challenges head-on. The potential rewards are significant, as the adult industry continues to evolve and disrupt traditional media.

• Impact of Pornography on Relationships: Watching porn and masturbating can negatively affect relationships, especially for young people, by promoting self-centered attitudes towards sex. Seek out alternative sources for healthier perspectives.

  The normalization and consumption of pornography can negatively impact relationships, particularly for younger generations, by reinforcing a self-centered mentality in sexual encounters. The marijuana industry serves as a parallel, as some businesses struggle to operate legally and face challenges like banking restrictions. In the context of relationships, this can lead to an expectation that sex is all about the individual's pleasure, rather than mutual enjoyment. Cindy, the speaker, emphasizes the importance of feeling good about watching porn and masturbating without guilt. However, she encourages seeking out alternative sources, such as social sex and porn made by women for women, to foster healthier attitudes towards sex and relationships. Ultimately, the goal is to move beyond pornography and embrace authentic connections and experiences.

• Promoting good sexual values for a happier world: Openly teaching children about sexual values can lead to a society where empathy, sensitivity, generosity, kindness, honesty, and respect are the norm in sexual encounters, empowering women and contributing to world peace.

  Cindy Gallup, the founder of Make Love Not Porn, believes that promoting good sexual values and behavior is essential for creating a happier world and ending issues like rape culture and sexual harassment. She envisions a future where parents openly teach their children about sexual values in the same way they do for other aspects of life, leading to a society where empathy, sensitivity, generosity, kindness, honesty, and respect are the norm in sexual encounters. This, in turn, would empower women and girls and contribute to world peace. Gallup is working towards this vision through her social sex tech platform, Make Love Not Porn, and her sex tech fund, Sky Holdings. She emphasizes that good sexual behavior and values are just as important as those taught in other areas of life and that open discussions about sex can help end the silence and shame that perpetrators rely on to continue harmful behaviors.