Factually! with Adam Conover Factually! with Adam Conover

The Philosophy of Good Sex with Quill R. Kukla

Aug 26, 2026 · 1h 37m

Summary

Adam Conover interviews philosopher Quill Kukla about their book *Sex Beyond Yes*, which argues that consent is merely a legal minimum rather than a guide to ethical sex. Kukla proposes "consensuality," a model of ongoing, collaborative communication akin to dancing or walking together, to ensure mutual agency and pleasure. The discussion highlights how material conditions, like public transportation and financial independence, scaffold sexual agency, while addressing the nuances of power dynamics in relationships.

Topics discussed

Introduction and guest Quill Kukla Critique of transactional consent models Consensuality and the walking analogy Sponsors: Lisa, Gusto, and WhatNot Agency vs. passive agreement Sex while intoxicated and scaffolding agency Material infrastructure and sexual justice Sponsors: Hungry Root and Squarespace Power imbalances and playful dynamics Mainstream scripts vs. queer/kink communities Toxic masculinity and male insecurity Men as victims and perpetrators of patriarchy The failure of American sex education Focusing on sexual joy and empowerment
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