Guest written by Missy Modell, a musical parody artist and activist focused on the intersection of social justice and pop culture. Missy is the founder of YES MAM Creative, a consultancy for mission-based brands. You can find Missy on Instagram at @missymodell.

I am no stranger to porn. If you walked in on my 13 year old self, you likely would’ve caught me mid-Skinemax show with a pillow between my legs. Even still, I sometimes find that porn can be difficult to connect to. Anyone else get caught up in a very disjointed storyline? After hearing about the renaissance of audio erotica, my attention peaked. Despite my proclivity for audio-based programming like podcasts, streaming music, or meditation apps, I hadn’t yet experienced the world of audio in this new and innovative way. 

QUICK LINKS:

1. What is Audio Erotica?
2. How is Audio Erotica Different from Traditional Porn?
3. My 7 Day Experience with Audio Porn
4. 4 Things I Learned from Listening to Audio Porn
5. The 6 Best Audio Erotica Platforms

What is Audio Erotica? 

Audio erotica is sexually explicit audio content, typically containing all the sounds and noises you hear in porn told through narrated stories. The approach is similar to using apps for exercise or meditation, but is instead focused on tapping into your sexuality in a way that empowers you and serves your wellness. 

“50% of the adult population in the U.S. now listen to podcasts. If you include talk radio, the numbers are much higher, and both keep climbing. It’s believed that consumers want to be set free from screens and so 50% of all content consumed will be audio by 2025.” - Forbes

How is Audio Erotica Different from Pornography?

Audio porn leaves more to the imagination than regular porn, but still provides a unique and detailed experience like erotic novels. To enjoy, all you need is a reliable set of headphones (and potentially some space to immerse yourself in the experience.) 

Going into it, the key difference is that focusing on the sounds, allowing your mind to fill in the blanks and enjoy an enhanced pleasure journey. It’s more about the entirety of the sensations that you feel, rather than looking for something to quickly get off to. 

Also, the storylines are more detailed, tasteful, and inclusive than traditional porn sites. Audio erotica tends to be crafted more towards the “female gaze,” and is produced with similar values as the ethical porn movement. 

I Listened To Audio Erotica for 7 Days Straight.

Day 1
To be honest, I didn’t set the mood. Kind of listened to it while organizing my closet, just as I would a podcast. It definitely peaked arousal but obviously did not set myself up for success here. No climax.

Day 2
Got into my bed this time and laid there listening with my eyes closed. I definitely felt myself getting into my head a bit and unable to really focus. No climax, too in my head!

Day 3 
Set more of a vibe. Candle, dim lights, phone on airplane, etc. Was still in my head a little bit but started to create cool visualizations. No climax but much more aroused.

Day 4
The first time I listened to an episode to completion (in both ways!) I was able to just exist and really start to tune into my body and the audio.

Day 5: Whatever distractions I felt before are nearly gone and I feel like this is my new normal! I definitely am preferring this to visual porn - who knew?

Day 6
I find myself listening to more than one episode at a time and making this more of a journey, vs. just a "one and done." Oddly, also feel really inspired creatively? Perhaps it was all the imagining. 

Day 7
I can say with certainty that I am sold. Today I spent a whole 30 minutes just relishing in the experience. I even repeated the stories from yesterday and had an entirely different experience and cast of visual characters. 

Weekly Recap
Once I allowed myself to try out this new experience, I felt more connected to my body and desires than visual porn ever did. Consider me a convert!

4 Things I Learned From Listening to Audio Porn

1. Diversity of Content
   There are SO many different voices, narratives, and specific storylines that truly can cater to anybody. In a world that is often so underrepresented, I felt that this space was much more intentional with equity.
   
   
2. Improved Focus
   Audio porn allowed me to tap into desires and fantasies I didn’t even know I had. There is something about being fully immersed in sound that allowed me to connect even more deeply with myself. There is a mindfulness to this practice and it made me feel comfortable in exploring without as much distraction or judgment.
   
   
3. It's Super Digestible
   With traditional porn, I find that the visuals can be jarring or even appear inauthentic (for more on this, read our blog post The Perfect Vagina Doesn’t Exist). With audio, it felt less invasive, and gave me more control of the situation. Simply put: the experience felt like I was listening to arousing podcasts who had hosts with extremely sexy voices.
   
   
4. It's a Refreshing Change of Pace.
   I really enjoyed it. Like, really. It invigorated me in a way that traditional porn doesn’t do and allowed me to explore my creativity and imagination in new and far reaching ways. I even found myself wanting to repeat stories to see where my mind would take me that day. 

The Top Five Audio Erotica Platforms

Dipsea
This was my personal favorite. Dipsea is a female-founded start-up that was created with the vision of providing erotic content that empowers women in their sexuality and offers a diverse library sensual stories and guided masturbation. Many of the voices and scenarios are relatable and inclusive, reflecting all sexual orientations,  gender identities, and personal interests, so everyone can enjoy a fantasy of their liking. 

Quinn
Quinn allows users to submit their own organic content, and offers a wide range of audio clips in which the creator speaks directly to you, providing a rewarding masturbation session or role-playing experience for one. There’s no subscription necessary, making it a great place to get introduced to erotic audio journeys.

AudioDesires
AudioDesires was founded by a couple looking for an erotic medium they both enjoyed. Their library includes sexy ASMR, masturbation guides, kink 101s, sexual education episodes, and an array of erotic stories featuring men, women, and non-binary characters.

Kampsite
The Kampsite platform is solely narrated by gay men, and is a great place to enjoy erotic audio if you identify as gay or bisexual and interested in hearing positive, authentic sexual encounters told in a first-person male perspective. A portion of all the subscription fees is donated to The Trevor Project, a leading organization in suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth.

Aural Honey
This free website caters to a kinkier pleasure journey. It includes office fantasies and BDSM content, as well as more unique material such as supernatural scenarios (vampires and more!).

Sssh
This platform is designed for women, by women, producing a variety of different audio stories designed to walk listeners through guided masturbation sessions. Some of their most popular guided audio stories instruct listeners on how to edge, have a nipple orgasm, or explore their exhibitionist fantasies!

Want more great sex tips?
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube: @LoversStores

Further Readings:

Why Audio Content is on the Rise: Forbes
Is Audio Erotica the Next Big Wellness Trend?: British Vouge
What is Audio Erotica: Pure Wow
 

WITH PLEASURE,

LOVERS