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weekly dispatches by maude® on modern intimacy through the arts, culture, science, and relationships.

Sex After the Death of a Partner.
In Partnership with
Alma
Sex After the Death of a Partner.

Reconnecting with intimacy in the aftermath of loss.  

Communicating Sexual Boundaries in a Relationship.
In Partnership with
Alma
Communicating Sexual Boundaries in a Relationship.

Talking through intimacy with a therapist’s tips.

A Brief History Of Exchanging Flowers.
History
A Brief History Of Exchanging Flowers.

From “I love you” to “I’m sorry for your loss”.

How history turned the heart into an icon.
History
How history turned the heart into an icon.

Not your average pulmonary artery.

Is Lovebombing Real?
In Partnership with
Alma
Is Lovebombing Real?

A Therapist’s Guide to Navigating the Dating Pool.  

The Tragic Life of History’s Most Notorious Femme Fatale.
History
The Tragic Life of History’s Most Notorious Femme Fatale.

Was the world’s most famous courtesan a devious seductress or unwilling scapegoat? 

The Science Behind “Dirty Talk”.
Relationships
The Science Behind “Dirty Talk”.

Talk dirty to me.

The Psychology Behind Pet Names.
Relationships
The Psychology Behind Pet Names.

From “Darling” to “Daddy”.

The story of the 91-year-old dominatrix.
History
The story of the 91-year-old dominatrix.

Catherine Robbe-Grillet is in her tenth decade of life, lives in a beautiful French castle, and is fully committed to BDSM. The great science fiction author Robert Heinlein once wrote, “Every gener...

How to Communicate in an Open Relationship.
Alma
How to Communicate in an Open Relationship.

A therapist’s advice for exploring non-exclusivity.  

Intimacy and The Tarot Deck.
Culture
Intimacy and The Tarot Deck.

Tantric tarot readings, explained.

Why Sex Is Painful for Some Women.
health
Why Sex Is Painful for Some Women.

Pinning down the root cause is the first step to a solution.

craigslist missed connections.
History
craigslist missed connections.

How the OG online dating platform came to be—and why it continues on. 

Coping With a Fear of Intimacy.
In Partnership with
Alma
Coping With a Fear of Intimacy.

It’s a common experience, but it’s one you can work around.

How to Explore Intimacy While Staying Single.
In Partnership with
Alma
How to Explore Intimacy While Staying Single.

You don’t have to be in a long-term relationship to learn more about yourself. 

the art of sleeping in separate beds.
Relationships
the art of sleeping in separate beds.

Why compromise sleep if we don’t have to?

on being asexual.
sex education
on being asexual.

Contrary to what many people believe, asexuality isn't a choice or behavior.

How Masters & Johnson brought sex into the laboratory.
History
How Masters & Johnson brought sex into the laboratory.

The most famous sex researchers on merging the clinical and sensual.

How to Feel Secure in Your Relationships.
In Partnership with
Alma
How to Feel Secure in Your Relationships.

Stopping the anxiety spiral.

How Depression Affects Your Sex Life.
Alma
How Depression Affects Your Sex Life.

Navigating intimacy while prioritizing your mental health.

What to Do If You’re Questioning Your Sexuality.
In Partnership with
Alma
What to Do If You’re Questioning Your Sexuality.

How embracing your identity can benefit your mental health.

Breaking Down The “Half-Your-Age-Plus-Seven” Rule.
Culture
Breaking Down The “Half-Your-Age-Plus-Seven” Rule.

Should love be based on a formula?

A Beginner’s Guide To Pegging.
sex education
A Beginner’s Guide To Pegging.

Everything you need to know to get started.

The forgotten founder of sexology.
History
The forgotten founder of sexology.

How the science of sexuality got its name.

The unexpected history of the sex shop.
History
The unexpected history of the sex shop.

From the underground to the internet via some very dodgy backstreets.

how to mend a broken heart.
Relationships
how to mend a broken heart.

Ways to navigate thoughtfully.

The Soaring History of the Mile High Club.
History
The Soaring History of the Mile High Club.

Over 100 years of shenanigans at 35,000 feet.

The truth behind oysters’ aphrodisiac properties.
Food & Drink
The truth behind oysters’ aphrodisiac properties.

Casanova couldn’t get enough of them, but are these bivalves really libido-boosters?

The strange, unbreakable link between Ikea and sex.
Living
The strange, unbreakable link between Ikea and sex.

Why is flat-pack furniture so damned sexy?

Hollywood’s rules on sex.
Film
Hollywood’s rules on sex.

How does the movie industry regulate the sexy stuff?