“How often should I masturbate?”
“What is ‘hookup culture’?”
No topics are off-limits on KOUG Radio’s Sex Positive radio show. The student run radio station features the sex education show once a week, offering a fun but informative take on all aspects of the sexual spectrum. “I’ve always wanted to have a platform for sex education,” said the show’s host, Alec Roselle. “It’s kind of my dream job [to be a sex educator].”
Roselle, a senior social sciences major, minoring in women’s studies, who is known on his show as “DJ Rose” brought the idea for Sex Positive radio to the KOUG Radio station manager early in the fall semester.
The show made its first radio appearance on Oct. 18, with the topic of consent, and has aired at 7 p.m. on Thursday nights since. The show adheres to KOUG Radio’s “after 6 p.m.” rule and has lighter restrictions than radio shows airing during the day. These restrictions, which are in place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., limit the words a radio host can use and the topics they can discuss.
“From my research, no other station has even brought that up,” said Lisa Walz, a social and cultural anthropology major and KOUG Radio station manager when asked about the after 6 p.m. rule.
For Roselle, the goal of Sex Positive radio is not only education on subjects such as sexually transmitted infections and how to practice safe sex, but also a discussion of “owning your own sexuality.”
Roselle explains how there are “Misconceptions that we’ve become accustomed to, social constructs that we’ve not really questioned ourselves on and the taboos surrounding sex,” adding that he wants to “just eliminate those.”
“A huge part of Sex Positive radio is comedy and light-heartedness,” Roselle said. “Talking about sex should be fun and silly. I don’t like talking so clinical about it.”
“A huge part of Sex Positive radio is comedy and light-heartedness.”
Sex Positive radio show host, Alec Roselle.
Roselle, who takes a “lead by example” approach to sex education, tries to persuade people to be “sex positive” in a fun and relatable way. His listeners, known on the show as ‘sexperts’ are invited to tweet him any questions during the show with the handle @Sex_PositiveXM for Roselle to answer on air.
“Keep the questions coming. Even if you think they’re stupid, they’re not,” Walz said. “Alec [Roselle] will answer it to the best of his ability.”
While fun and silly are incorporated into the show, Roselle researches heavily beforehand, double checking sources to present factual information to his listeners. One of Roselle’s favorite books to pull information from is “The Guide to Getting it On” by Paul Joannides, a psychoanalyst native to the Northwest.
“I try to look for the most academic and professional research sources,” Roselle said. “I don’t like getting books that aren’t super accredited. All of the books I have are by doctors and physicians and sexologists.”
Roselle said he plans to continue the show next semester with a focus on promotion, getting a soundboard (for sound effects) and playing more music on the show. Sex Positive will continue to air after 6 p.m. on either Wednesdays or Thursdays in the spring semester. Those interested in staying tuned for updates from Roselle can find him on Twitter at @Sex_PositiveXM. Editor’s note: the reporter and photographer of this story currently host shows on KOUG radio.