Episode 37: Sex Work, Shame, and Why People Are So Bad at Critical Thinking

Elle Stanger

With Elle Stanger

This episode goes everywhere — but somehow still lands exactly where it needs to.

I sat down with Elle Stanger, AASECT certified sex educator and longtime sex worker, to talk about the massive cultural confusion surrounding sex work, sex trafficking, criminalization, and morality.

What unfolds is a chaotic, honest, ADHD-style conversation about:

• why society constantly conflates sex work with trafficking

• how criminalization increases harm

• the role of religion, shame, and social narratives

• why people struggle to hold two truths at once

• ADHD brains, stimulation, and unconventional career paths

• how autonomy and variety can make certain environments more accessible for neurodivergent people

We also talk about masking, strip club economics, freelance life, trauma narratives, media portrayals, and why nuance is so hard for people to tolerate.

No script, no clean outline....Just a real conversation about sex, power, stigma, and ADHD brains trying to make sense of the world.

To find more on Elle:

Website

The Talk Sex Podcast

IG

Bio: 

Elle is an AASECT certified sexuality educator, adult industry professional, writer, and podcaster. Stanger uses her platform to amplify consensual sex workers and exploitation survivors globally, especially in her home state of Oregon. Elle is anti-carceral and holds a BA in Criminology. As a public educator, facilitator, and organizer she works with therapy groups and harm reduction providers such as counselors, EMTs, and other crisis responders around the impacts of whorephobia, sex negativity, and victim blaming. She facilitates monthly public meetings and is currently developing an STI/HIV course at OSWC. As Co-President she oversees media communications and general operations.

Live 3/10/26