logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
51 m

Listen Again: The Biology Of Sex

NPR
About this episode
Original broadcast date: May 8, 2020. Many of us were taught biological sex is a question of female or male, XX or XY ... but it's far more complicated. This hour, TED speakers explore what determines our sex. Guests on the show include artist Emily Quinn, journalist Molly Webster, neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi, and structural biologist Karissa Sanbonmatsu.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Yesterday
Using ancient philosophy to cope with your modern problems
Philosopher Meghan Sullivan says during tough times, ancient wisdom can serve as a guide. From politics to religion to AI, she poses big questions to help you find out what the good life means today.TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas fro ... Show More
49m 57s
Apr 10
The hidden forces shaping your choices
Every day, we make countless choices—but are these decisions guided by desire or design? This hour, TED speakers on what shapes the food we eat, how we power our homes, and how we communicate. Guests include food systems expert Sarah Lake, infrastructure engineer Deb Chachra, cro ... Show More
49m 51s
Apr 3
Could AI help us, not replace us?
The time has come for humanity to make a choice: Will we build AI to replace humans or enhance them? This hour, the "humanistic AI" philosophy, a test case, and a glimpse into the future of work.Guests include Siri co-creator Tom Gruber, CENTURY Tech CEO Priya Lakhani and Robinho ... Show More
49m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2025
Agustín Fuentes, "Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary" (Princeton UP, 2025)
Being human entails an astonishingly complex interplay of biology and culture, and while there are important differences between women and men, there is a lot more variation and overlap than we may realize. Sex Is a Spectrum offers a bold new paradigm for understanding the biolog ... Show More
45m 11s
Aug 2025
Nature’s Sexual Spectrum Breaks the Binary
Biologist Nathan Lents joins Science Quickly to explore the vast sexual diversity found across the animal kingdom. His new book, The Sexual Evolution: How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender, and Mating Shape Modern Relationships, challenges the binary framework that has long shaped ... Show More
12m 27s
Aug 2024
Sex is Weird: Ep 3- Sexy females fight back
<p>The energy required to grow, birth and raise young is intense, so it's only fair that the female body has some tricks to make sure reproducing is worth it.</p><p>From cryptic choice to immune system sperm blockers, the female reproductive system can be a literal maze for those ... Show More
25m 56s
Jun 2020
Neuroendocrinology (SEX & GENDER) Part 1 with Daniel Pfau
<p>How many genders are there? How do you know if you’re queer? Is sexual orientation biological, and if so, how? The amazing Michigan State University neuroscientist and endocrinology researcher Dr. Daniel Pfau joins to share their path in academia finding the perfect research, ... Show More
1h 9m
Apr 2021
Sex + Intimacy | How do you know if you're enjoying sex? w. Dr Sarah Ashton
<p>Hello friends! <br/><br/>Today we have a very insightful and important conversation to share with you all. <br/><br/>We are delighted to have Dr Sarah Ashton (psychologist, founder + director of SHIPS psychology in Melbourne) on this episode, who answers some of our listener q ... Show More
59m 20s
Jan 2025
5. ORIGINS OF SEX + should I pursue my taken labmate??
<p>🍆 welcome BACK to season 4 episode 5 of the @SoCulturedPodcast ! This season is all about discovering science through the lens of history, and in today’s episode we are delving into the origins of Sex! </p><br><p>❓Where did Sex originate? Where did humans think babies came fr ... Show More
42m 30s
Sep 2024
483. Woodstock for the Adventurous and Responsible | Bret Weinstein & Heather Heying
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with Dr. Bret Weinstein and Dr. Heather Heying to discuss the state of our country, the evolution of corruption, and the unified vision of the future we can all rally behind.   Dr. Weinstein is an evolutionary biologist who specializes in adaptive ... Show More
1h 39m
Sep 2024
Episode 326: Sex Tips For Women
<p>Female sexual pleasure is a topic that is not often covered in traditional sex education. In fact, it’s extraordinarily rare for the word “clitoris” to even be mentioned in sex ed! The unfortunate result is that many women (and their partners) never learn the information they ... Show More
33m 20s
Nov 2016
Anna Machin on Romance
<p>Imagine if we could find the secret to romance and love, the <em>real</em> secret, one vetted by science. Wouldn't that be … well, what would that be. According to Anna Machin, an anthropologist who actually does study romance, it would be disheartening.</p> <p>"I don't want t ... Show More
20m 49s
Jul 2018
3 | Alice Dreger on Sexuality, Truth, and Justice
The human mind loves nothing more than to build mental boxes -- categories -- and put things into them, then refuse to accept it when something doesn't fit. Nowhere is this more clear than in the idea that there are men, and there are women, and that's it. Alice Dreger is an hist ... Show More
1h 20m