By Jade Harveland, Wellness Expert at Enchantasys | Certified Sexologist | Sex Coach | Community Sexual Health Resource

Let’s be real: most of us didn’t get our best sex ed in health class. It came from TV, books, or the one friend who whispered “I heard…” in the back of the lunchroom. But lately, pop culture has gotten bolder, braver, and surprisingly accurate when it comes to sexuality, and it’s doing more to educate the masses than some school districts ever will.
Here are seven standout moments and media that have helped normalize pleasure, tackle taboo topics, and spark real conversations around bodies, consent, and identity.

1. Sex and the City (1998–2004): The Rabbit That Shook the Nation

Before sex-positivity had a hashtag, it had four women in Manhattan talking about orgasms over brunch. When Charlotte discovered the rabbit vibrator, it wasn’t just a plot point, it was a retail revolution. Sales of that toy skyrocketed, and suddenly vibrators weren’t just for “other people.” They were for everyone with a drawer and a dream.

Why it matters: It gave people permission to seek, talk about, and celebrate pleasure. It also made sex toys mainstream, no longer a shameful secret, but a self-care staple. (My quiz says I'm a Samantha.)

2. Big Mouth (Netflix): Puberty with a Side of Realness

What if your hormonal chaos was narrated by a wildly inappropriate hormone monster? That’s Big Mouth. Underneath the raunchy humor is a goldmine of accurate info about puberty, consent, menstruation, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Characters like Missy and Lola go through painfully relatable journeys, helping viewers of all ages understand that bodies are weird, sex is messy, and that’s okay. Also let's not gloss over how great the musical numbers are.

Why it matters: It teaches what schools often skip like the emotional side of sex or the spectrum of gender in a way that sticks. (I can do a perfect Rick impression)

3. Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski: Science, but Make It Sexy

Not a show, but too impactful to leave out. When this book hit the shelves people started seeing sex in a whole new light. Nagoski’s dual-control model, your “accelerators and brakes,” gave us a framework for understanding desire without shame or confusion.

Why it matters: It brought neuroscience and compassion into the bedroom and helped dismantle the myth that something’s “wrong” with you if you're not turned on all the time.(Also my ex-wife is credited in the sold separately work book, so proud)

4. Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) – “A Whole Other Hole”: Urethra Realness

In a blink and you’ll miss it moment, this show dropped some anatomical truth: not everyone knows the urethra is separate from the vagina. (Yes, there are three holes.) It was funny, it was awkward, and it was incredibly educational for anyone who missed that chapter in biology.

Why it matters: It turned an anatomy lesson into a viral moment and sparked real curiosity about body literacy.

5. TikTok & YouTube Sex Educators (2020–present): Rewriting the Curriculum

Sex education has gone digital, and thank goodness for that. Creators like @shanboody, @sexpositive_families, and @drjennygunter are giving accurate, shame-free info on everything from clitoral structure to STI testing. In 60 seconds or less, they debunk myths, teach anatomy, and drop knowledge you should’ve learned at 16 but didn’t.

Why it matters: These platforms meet people where they are on their phones and make sex ed accessible, inclusive, and actually fun. (Check out @dr.esme.louise, her kinky histories are simply the best!)

6. The Vagina Monologues: Theater That Talks Back

Eve Ensler’s iconic play wasn’t just art—it was activism. It gave a mic to vulva-owners of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. From menstruation to masturbation, birth to assault, it brought private stories into public spaces and made the audience sit with them, laugh with them, and learn from them.

Why it matters: It showed that sexual health isn’t just about biology—it’s about story, trauma, healing, and connection. (It's powerful, and as much as I want to my my usual jokes all i can say is it's not for everyone, but everyone should still watch it.)

7. Euphoria (HBO): Gen Z’s Messy, Beautiful Sexual Reality

Yes, it’s intense. Yes, it’s sometimes hard to watch. But Euphoria cracked open conversations about gender fluidity, porn literacy, emotional trauma, and digital consent in ways few shows ever dared. It doesn’t always get it perfect, but it gets people talking—and that’s the first step toward understanding.

Why it matters: It reflects the emotional complexity of modern sexuality and helps normalize identities, expressions, and conversations we need to be having.

8. How to Build a Sex Room (Netflix)

Breakthrough: Normalizing kink, luxury, and communication in everyday relationships
This delightful design meets sex ed. series follows interior designer Melanie Rose as she helps couples (and throuples!) create custom rooms for intimacy, exploration, and play. From bondage beds to romantic bathtubs, the show mixes humor, elegance, and heartfelt conversation to destigmatize kink and sexual curiosity.

Why it matters: By treating kink as something worthy of beauty, safety, and love, not shame, this show invites viewers to imagine pleasure as part of everyday life. Melanie’s warm, judgment-free approach helps normalize discussions around desire, consent, and fantasy, reminding us that sexual wellness is for everyone, not just the bold or wealthy. It turns what could have been a spectacle into an act of empowerment. (It's really just a reason for me to play Eye-Spy while pointing out products that I've sold before.)

Final Thoughts: Pop Culture Is the New Sex Ed.

These shows and creators didn’t just entertain us, they taught us. They picked up where formal sex ed. left off (or never started) and gave people the language, confidence, and curiosity to explore their own pleasure, boundaries, and identities.

Whether you’re giggling at Lola’s hormone monologues or re-watching that Sex and the City episode that changed your nightstand forever, remember: learning about sex can be messy, funny, but it’s also deeply human.