Heated Rivalry: Parasociality, Straight Women's Sexuality, and the Cultural Response with Lindsay Lee Wallace episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 12, 2026 · 52 MIN

Heated Rivalry: Parasociality, Straight Women's Sexuality, and the Cultural Response with Lindsay Lee Wallace

from Making It Awkward · host Jessica Wilson

Lindsay Lee Wallace returns to talk about why she thinks women who have sex with men are drawn to Heated Rivalry. She wrote in, Yearning and Submission in 'Heated Rivalry', "Women who yearn and submit are often main characters—but they are simultaneously seen as frivolous and typical. Their yearning and submission aren't treated as meaningful, or as specific to them and their relationships… So it can feel easier and freer to step back from the equation entirely. Watch two men yearn for one another, which maintains their masculinity."    Lindsay and Jessica talk about that article and explore additional topics including parasocial relationships, what makes Heated Rivalry simply good television, and the pop culture pundit panic in late 2023 when a UCLA survey found that Gen Z wanted less sex in media.    Intimacy coordination Dance parties Heated Rivalry made in Canada  Good things that happened because of Heated Rivalry Rachel Reid receiving Parkinson's treatment Rachel Reid   Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 12, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Heated Rivalry: Parasociality, Straight Women's Sexuality, and the Cultural Response with Lindsay Lee Wallace

0:00 52:32

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Making It Awkward?

This episode is 52 minutes long.

When was this Making It Awkward episode published?

This episode was published on February 12, 2026.

Can I download this Making It Awkward episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!