Taboo Science

About Taboo Science

AMBIE NOMINATED FOR BEST INDIE PODCAST 2026 | Taboo Science is a podcast that answers the questions you're not allowed to ask. It's hosted by Ashley Hamer Pritchard, a science writer and podcaster. Every episode dives into a different societal taboo to understand the science that makes it tick, the reasons we don't talk about it, and the impact that has on society at large. Why don't we eat people? Why are my swear words different than my parents'? And what makes porn, porn? It's science class if science class had one of those anonymous question boxes. It's Taboo Science.

Publisher

Ashley Hamer Pritchard

Category

history · science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Sept 2020

Latest episode

5 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

12 of 73 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   5 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Trans 101: How to Be an Ally Without Making It Weird

   Good intentions, it turns out, are not the same thing as good allyship — and sometimes they can actually make things worse. In this season finale, diversity consultant Davey Shlasko breaks down the unconscious assumptions that make pronouns harder than they should be, why trying harder often backfires, and what being a genuine ally actually looks like in practice. Woven through his advice, you'll hear from the community voices you've met all season talking about what it feels like to be on the receiving end. We cover the science of why you "miscategorize" trans people, how to recover from misgendering without making it about yourself, and how to show up for trans people even when there are no trans people in the room. Plus: a pronoun exercise that is genuinely kind of fun. If you've listened to this whole season, this episode is where it all lands. Resources from Davey Shlasko: Trans Allyship Workbook: https://bookshop.org/p/books/trans-allyship-workbook-building-skills-to-support-trans-people-in-our-lives-davey-shlasko/3f4e67304056522a (https://bookshop.org/p/books/trans-allyship-workbook-building-skills-to-support-trans-people-in-our-lives-davey-shlasko/3f4e67304056522a) Think Again Training: https://www.thinkagaintraining.com/ (https://www.thinkagaintraining.com/) Citations & transcript: https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-how-to-be-an-ally-without-making-it-weird/ (https://www.tabooscience.show/trans-101-how-to-be-an-ally-without-making-it-weird/) Connect with the show: Join the Patreon: https://patreon.com/tabooscience (https://patreon.com/tabooscience) Leave me a voice memo: https://podline.fm/tabooscience (https://podline.fm/tabooscience) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabooscience (https://www.instagram.com/tabooscience) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscienc (https://www.youtube.com/@tabooscience)e (https://www.youtube.com/tabooscience) Website: https://www.tabooscience.show/ (https://www.tabooscience.show/) Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taboo-science/id1533606473)

2. 

   19 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Trans 101: What Detransitioners Want You to Know

   Researcher Kinnon MacKinnon discusses a study on detransition experiences, highlighting the complexities and diverse reasons behind detransition, including both regret and barriers to accessing gender-affirming care, in this interview.

3. 

   5 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Trans 101: Trans Athletes & What the Science Actually Says

   Dr. Blair Hamilton and Chris Mosier discuss the limited research on trans athletes, exploring advantages gained and lost during transition, and the real threats to women's athletics in this interview episode.

Inside a recent episode

Trans 101: How to Be an Ally Without Making It Weird

Published 5 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] There are a lot of ways that well -intentioned cis people can accidentally cause harm. Do you know a lot of people who would absolutely think of themselves as allies, but who don't realize how much their sort of interpersonal behaviors are causing problems for trans folks? And that can look like mispronowning or misgendering, especially in front of other people, because that can put someone at risk, even without any ill intention. That's Davy Schlasko, a diversity and social justice consultant who works with all sorts of organizations to make their processes more inclusive and fair. Getting someone's pronouns right seems like such a small thing. […]

Who has been a guest on Taboo Science

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Maddie
• Eri
• Kinnon MacKinnon
• Blair Hamilton
• Chris Mosier

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

692,571

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

57 ratings

Spotify

4.4 / 5

96 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

28

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

99

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Questions about Taboo Science