Episode 221: Berlin’s Kinky Sexual History

Earlier this year, I taught a study abroad course on sex and culture in Berlin. As part of that trip, we took a three-hour guided tour on Berlin’s sexual history, and it was fascinating! I wanted to share what we learned with you, so I invited our wonderful tour guide onto the show to give us the highlight reel. In this episode, we’re going to chat about the roots of Berlin’s sexual liberation, which trace back more than a century. We’ll also discuss the history of sex research and therapy in Germany, which is equally fascinating.

My guest is Jeff Mannes, a social scientist, speaker, tour guide, sex educator, and freelance writer living in Berlin. Since 2018, he has been running his critically acclaimed guided tour “Berlin’s History of Sex” in Augmented Reality. This year, he launched additional guided tours on “The Story of Berlin’s Clubs” and “Berlin’s Queer & Trans History.”

Some of the topics we explore include:

• How can Berlin’s modern reputation for sex-positivity be traced back to the Roaring 20s?
• Who was Magnus Hirshfeld, and why is he a pivotal figure in the history of sex?
• How did the Nazis’ rise to power alter the sexual landscape in Germany?
• How did the post-WWII era shift towards sex-positivity in Berlin?
• Are attitudes towards sex in Berlin becoming more conservative today?

To learn more, check out Jeff’s Berlin Guide website for information on all of his tours.

Thank you to our sponsors!

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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.