Most people agree that rape is wrong. But far fewer understand what it actually is—and what it isn’t. In this episode, we confront the myths and misconceptions that continue to shape how we define rape, treat survivors, and pursue justice.

We explore the neuroscience behind trauma responses like freezing and fawning, and why these involuntary reactions are still so often misunderstood in courtrooms, conversations, and cultural narratives. From the impact of the #MeToo movement to the hardwired survival mechanisms of the brain, we examine what needs to change—and why it matters.

This is not an easy conversation. But it’s one we all need to have.

If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.

We'd love to hear from you.

REFERENCES

• Medicolegal Findings of Rape Victims: A Retrospective Study of 69 Cases at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Dhaka City
  Palash Kumar Bose, Mamtaz Ara, Md. Syedur Rahaman, Mohammad Jubaidul Kabir, Prodip Biswas

• Assault-Related Self-Blame and Its Association with PTSD in Sexually Assaulted Women: An MRI Inquiry
  Zohar Berman, Yaniv Assaf, Ricardo Tarrasch, Daphna Joel

• Rape Myth Scale: Factor Structure and Relationship with Gender Egalitarianism Among Japanese Professionals
  Masayo Uji, Masahiro Shono, Noriko Shikai, Toshinori Kitamura

• Neuroscience Evidence Counters a Rape Myth
  Ebani Dhawan, Patrick Haggard

• Neuropsychological and Electrophysiological Evaluation After Rape: A Case Study of a Teenage Girl
  Lucía Ester Rizo-Martínez, Miguel Ángel Guevara, Luis Francisco Cerdán, Francisco Abelardo Robles-Aguirre, Araceli Sanz-Martin, Marisela Hernández-González

This is a recording of Laine's live presentation - the third part in a multiple-part series on being functional in dysfunctional times.

For more informaiton on the Brain Blown Podcast, visit us at brainblownpodcast.com or email us at info@brainblownpodcast.cominformation

As a tribute to this month's episode, we wanted to give a quick shoutout to a local store Laine & I know and love: Smitten Kitten in Minneapolis.

Founded in 2003 by Jennifer 'JP' Pritchett, Smitten Kitten is a trans-owned business that has been a staple in the community for over two decades. JP and their team are passionate about creating a safe, inclusive space where folks can explore intimacy, sexuality, and self-expression in a fun and positive way.

Whether you're looking for high-quality toys, thoughtful resources, or expert advice, they've got you covered. Check them out online at smittenkittenonline.com and show them some love if you're interested.

We absolutely love supporting businesses that foster open, healthy conversations about sex, and we think you will too!

If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Learn more at brainblownpodcast.com and send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.

We'd love to hear from you.

REFERENCES

• School-Based Sex Education and Neuroscience: What We Know About Sex, Romance, Marriage, and Adolescent Brain Development – Ahna Ballonoff Suleiman, DrPH; Megan Johnson, PhD; Elizabeth A. Shirtcliff, PhD; Adriana Galván, PhD

• The Importance of Sexual and Romantic Development in Understanding the Developmental Neuroscience of Adolescence – Ahna Ballonoff Suleiman, K. Paige Harden

• Frequency of Penile–Vaginal Intercourse is Associated with Verbal Recognition Performance in Adult Women – Larah Maunder, Dorothée Schoemaker, Jens C. Pruessner

• Integrating Neural Circuits Controlling Female Sexual Behavior – Paul E. Micevych, Robert L. Meisel

• Neuropeptides and Behaviors: How Small Peptides Regulate Nervous System Function and Behavioral Outputs – Umer Saleem Bhat, Navneet Shahi, Siju Surendran, Kavita Babu

• The Neurobiology of Sexual Function – Cindy M. Meston, PhD; Penny F. Frohlich, MA

• Neuroanatomy and Neurochemistry of Sexual Desire, Pleasure, Love and Orgasm – H. Ümit Sayin, Carlos H. Schenck

• Oxytocin, Erectile Function and Sexual Behavior: Last Discoveries and Possible Advances – Maria Rosaria Melis, Antonio Argiolas

• Editorial: From Sex Differences in Neuroscience to a Neuroscience of Sex Differences: New Directions and Perspectives – Belinda Pletzer

• The Human Sexual Response Cycle: Brain Imaging Evidence Linking Sex to Other Pleasures – J.R. Georgiadis, M.L. Kringelbach

• The Affective Neuroscience of Sexuality: Development of a LUST Scale – Jürgen Fuchshuber, Emanuel Jauk, Michaela Hiebler-Ragger, Human Friedrich Unterrainer

• The Physiological Basis of Human Sexual Arousal: Neuroendocrine Sexual Asymmetry – Ion G. Motofei, David L. Rowland

• Neuroanatomy and Function of Human Sexual Behavior: A Neglected or Unknown Issue? – Rocco S. Calabrò, Alberto Cacciola, Daniele Bruschetta, Demetrio Milardi, Fabrizio Quattrini, Francesca Sciarrone, Gianluca La Rosa, Placido Bramanti, Giuseppe Anastasi

This is a recording of Laine's live presentation - the third part in a multiple-part series on being functional in dysfunctional times.

For more informaiton on the Brain Blown Podcast, visit us at brainblownpodcast.com or email us at info@brainblownpodcast.com

If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.

We'd love to hear from you.

REFERENCES

• "Appeasement: replacing Stockholm syndrome as a definition of a survival strategy" Rebecca Bailey, Jaycee Dugard, Stefanie F. Smith & Stephen W. Porges

• "Traumatic entrapment, appeasement and complex post-traumatic stress disorder: evolutionary perspectives of hostage reactions, domestic abuse and the Stockholm syndrome" Chris Cantor, John Price
• "Bonding after trauma: on the role of social support and the oxytocin system in traumatic stress," Miranda Olff
• "How Trauma Impacts Learning and How to Find Support" Nadia Albritton, MA
• "The Fawn Response in Complex PTSD" | Dr. Arielle Schwartz
• "Stockholm Syndrome Explained by the Stanford Prison Experiment"

This is a recording of Laine's live presentation -- the second of a 6-part series on taking care of ourselves.

For more information on The Brain Blown Podcast, visit us at brainblownpodcast.com or email us at info@brainblownpodcast.com!

This is a re-recording of Laine's live presentation -- the first of a 6-part series on taking care of ourselves.

For more information on The Brain Blown Podcast, visit us at brainblownpodcast.com or email at info@brainblownpodcast.com!

Have you ever been in or been around someone in the "honeymoon phase" of a relationship?

That crazy, passionate start where seeing their name pop up on your phone gives you butterflies and you can't help but think about them constantly to the point where it's almost obsessive?

Turns out there's some wild brain chemistry behind those crazy new-love jitters, how love seems to settle as the relationship continues, and what happens in your brain if that relationship ends.

In this episode, we explore:

• What scientific theories explain the different types of love
• The brain mapping behind passionate love, companion love, and a few more
• How your brain changes throughout different relationship phases
• What happens in your brain during breakups
• What we understand of marriage, monogamy, and human attachment

Whether you're currently falling in love, settled in a long-term relationship, or healing from heartbreak, this episode offers fascinating insights into what's happening in your brain through every stage of love.

If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.

We'd love to hear from you.

REFERENCES

• Social Neuroscience of Love -- Stephanie Cacioppo, Francesco Bianchi-Demicheli, Elaine Hatfield, Richard L. Rapson
• Love: Neuroscience Reveals All -- Larry J. Young
• The Power of Love on the Human Brain -- Francesco Bianchi-Demicheli, Scott T. Grafton & Stephanie Ortigue, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
• Demystifying the Neuroscience of Love -- Stephanie Cacioppo, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, USA, John T. Cacioppo
• Love is More than Just a Kiss: A Neurobiological Perspective on Love and Affection -- A Deboer, E. M. Vanbuelang, G. J. Terhorst
• The Neurobiology of Love -- Tobias Esch & George B. Stefano
• The Brain in Love: Has Neuroscience Stolen the Secret of Love? -- Sultan Tarlac