#488 The New Rules of Sex, Marriage & Power with Wednesday Martin, PhD
This week we're joined by bestselling author, social researcher, and cultural provocateur Wednesday Martin, PhD for a wide-ranging conversation about modern womanhood, relationships, power, and what happens when life refuses to follow the script.
From Manhattan moms to stepfamilies, sexuality to social science, Wednesday has spent decades exploring the hidden rules that shape our lives. The best-selling author of Primates of Park Avenue, Stepmonster, Marlene Dietrich, and Untrue brings her trademark blend of sharp research, wit, and fearless honesty to the mic.
We dive into her latest project, A Year Without Men, and explore why so many women experience a midlife pivot—and why that's very different from a midlife crisis. We unpack what the data says about being a woman in America today, how changing gender dynamics are affecting sex and relationships, and why certain cultural conversations continue to spark fierce debate.
Along the way, we tackle questions about marriage, monogamy, cheating, affairs, sexual assault, the controversial CNN "Rape Academy" story, and the phrase "Not All Men." Plus, nearly a decade after our first conversation about heterosexual relationships and modern romance, we revisit the topic to ask: what's actually changed, and what does the latest research reveal about where we're headed?
It's a thoughtful, funny, provocative, and occasionally uncomfortable conversation about the state of women and men in 2026—and what the future might hold, for better and for worse.
Be sure to subscribe to Wednesday's Substack for more of her writing and research: http://drwednesdaymartin.substack.com.
Listen to her past episode on Shameless Sex #82: The Truth About Women, Lust and Adultery here
Come to our October 2026 Couple's retreats! Learn more and reserve your spot here: https://www.shamelesssex.com/retreat
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