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PODCAST · society

BANG!

by RNZ

Real people. Real lives. Real sex. Melody Thomas leads a frank, often enlightening, always entertaining exploration of sex, sexuality and relationships.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Apr 14, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Accentuate the Positive

    Sex positivity is the idea that all sex, provided it's healthy and explicitly consensual, is good. But what happens when a complicated theoretical idea like sex positivity gets packaged up for the mainstream? And which voices are missing from the conversation? Sex positivity is the idea that all...

  2. Kinky Boots

    What you think of as kinky and what I think of as kinky might be two different things, but it generally means behaviours and fantasies outside of the sexual 'norm'. In this episode, Melody talks with a bunch of kinky people about what gets them off and why, learns some great lessons about consent...

  3. Sex and Relationship Q&A on Nights

    It's a BANG! takeover! RNZ Nights host Bryan Crump is joined in the studio by Melody Thomas and father-daughter sex advice duo Nic and Lena Beets, to answer questions from the audience and talk about common difficulties faced by people in long term relationships. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz…

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  4. BANG! Live in Wellington

    Recorded at Bats Theatre in Wellington as part of the NZ Fringe Festival, this is BANG! Live. Featuring Tawa mum and sex toy expert Abby Lund, Morgana Watson on menstruation in Te Ao Maori prior to colonisation plus how to use your cycle to your advantage, and father-daughter sex and relationship...

  5. Pretty Poly

    Ethical non monogamy is nothing new - but an increasing number of people are giving it a go. Research from the US reports that 4-5% of people identify as polyamorous, and 20% have tried a version of ethical non monogamy at some point in their lives. Here in NZ, memberships in polyamory Facebook...

  6. The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality

    In Sex At Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality, co-authors Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha take what they call the "standard narrative" of human sexual evolution and re-examine it through a different lens: suggesting that sexual exclusivity was not a part of our ancestor's...

  7. Let's Stay Together

    We all know how it goes - two people meet, they fall in love, they decide to get married and live happily ever after. We've heard different versions of this story so many times, many of us never stop to ask if it's what we want for ourselves, or whether there are other options. In this episode,...

  8. Talk About It

    Research shows that putting a name to a feeling helps manage it. In this episode, three BANG! listeners talk about things they've struggled with and the steps they've taken to deal with them, plus father-daughter sex advice duo Nic and Lena Beets step in with practical advice. Today's topics:...

  9. All Bi Myself

    Didn't you know? It's 20-bi-teen! What better time to get schooled on the ins and outs of bisexuality. In this ep, a couple from season 2 return to talk about the difference between being bi and pansexual, and what it's like when everyone around them assumes they're straight. Plus queer author…

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  10. BANG! Live in Christchurch

    Live from the Bread and Circus Festival in Christchurch, Melody Thomas puts your sex and relationship questions to father-daughter sex advice duo Nic and Lena beets, plus Gemma Syme talks about coming out in her thirties, Tara from Peaches and Cream shares her better work stories and Audrey pops…

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  11. Coming soon! BANG! Season 3

    Hurrah! BANG! returns for Season 3 on Monday March 4th. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

  12. MeToo, masculinity and domestic violence

    A previous episode of BANG! left a few loose ends so Melody Thomas pulls together a panel for a discussion of tricky topics. This season's episode on masculinity left a few loose ends, so Melody Thomas pulls together a panel for a discussion of tricky topics including the MeToo movement, domestic...

  13. The LIVE Show

    In this very special episode of BANG! recorded in front of a live audience at The Basement Theatre, Melody Thomas and guests dispense advice, tell personal stories, recite erotic poems and have a few laughs along the way. For this very special episode of BANG!, recorded in front of a live…

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  14. Speaking Out

    We hear three stories from people who have worked through shame or embarrassment towards "really wonderful sunshine" on the other side. Content warning: In this episode of BANG! we hear the story of a survivor of sexual abuse. In this episode, three people open up about personal experiences that...

  15. Takātapui

    Scholars and activists Ngahuia Te Awekotuku and Elizabeth Kerekere speak with Melody Thomas about what sex, sexuality and gender looked like in Te Ao Maori prior to colonisation, plus Rosanna Raymond shares a Pacific perspective, and we meet non-binary Auckland teenager Kahi. Despite spending…

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  16. FAQs

    How do lesbians have sex? What's it like to be asexual? Or polyamorous? And how can a disability affect your sex life? Melody Thomas seeks answers from the people who know best. In this episode Melody Thomas seeks the answers to a few "Frequently Asked Questions" - some that have been emailed or...

  17. Man O' Man

    'Toxic masculinity' is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot these days but a lot of guys seem not to like it... Maybe it's the 'toxic' part? In this episode of BANG! Melody Thomas takes a trip to a Coromandel pub to hear about 'Man Cards', gets some great metaphors from comedian and teen mentor...

  18. All The Kids Are Going Bi

    In this episode, Melody speaks with a couple of people in heterosexual relationships whose attractions are nevertheless far from straightforward. "Alex" is straight but sometimes sleeps with men, Linda Jane and Eddie look like a straight couple but one of them identifies as queer, plus sex...

  19. Any Date With Me's a Blind Date

    In this episode, three people in their 30s and 40s talk about dating. In the second episode of season two, Melody speaks with three people in their 30s and 40s about dating - including BANG! illustrator Pinky Fang, who faces a unique set of challenges when it comes to meeting someone new. Pinky...

  20. BANG! x On The Rag

    Melody Thomas is joined by Alex Casey, Leonie Hayden and Michele A'Court from The Spinoff's On The Rag podcast for a boisterous chat about their "sexual awakenings". This episode contains frank discussion, the sexualisation of cartoon characters and a couple of swears. In this bonus episode…

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  21. Like A Virgin

    Using real stories told by real people, Melody Thomas leads a frank (but often entertaining) exploration of sex, sexuality and relationships. In the first episode of season 2, people talk about their "sexual awakenings" and first times, and we explore the idea of virginity as a social construct.…

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  22. Lust for Life

    In BANG! episode 7, Melody speaks to couples in their 60s and 70s about the different ways they choose to stay connected, Lesley Maskery discusses policy and practice regarding sexuality in rest homes, and we look to the future with Jenny Kleeman, on the ethics of sex robots. In episode 7, Melody...

  23. Fifty Shades of Grey

    In episode 6, Melody faces up to another awkward phone call, we learn about how intimacy is affected by life-threatening illness, visit an "adult entertainment store" and sex therapist Edit Horvath identifies some of the common issues faced by those in their 50s. In BANG! episode 6 sex therapist...

  24. Maybe, Baby

    In episode 5, we hear from parents about how kids affected their relationships, clinical psychologist and sex therapist Nic Beets highlights some of the most common issues experienced by new parents and a couple share an unorthodox conception story. In episode 5 of BANG! Melody Thomas explores…

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  25. Love & Marriage

    In episode 4, we hear from couples about the ways sex and intimacy has changed over their years together, and Sex Therapy NZ's Helen Mounsey shares tips for couples wishing to stay connected. In Episode 4 of sex and relationships podcast BANG! Melody Thomas speaks with couples about the ways...

  26. Netflix and Chill

    In episode 3 a group of 20-somethings tell us what dating and hooking up looks like for them, plus Eleanor Butterworth on 'ethical sex', Hera Lindsay Bird reads a new poem, and Laura Borrowdale reviews a website dedicated to female pleasure. In episode 3 of BANG! a group of 20-somethings share…

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  27. Sex and Sensibility

    In episode two, we explore how teens deal with sex ed, relationships and the influence of pornography. Plus famous Kiwis travel back in time to deliver sex advice to their teen selves. In episode two of RNZ's podcast about sex, we explore how teens deal with sex ed, relationships and the…

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  28. The Birds and The Bees

    Melody Thomas leads a frank and often-entertaining exploration into sex, sexuality and relationships - starting at the very beginning with 'The Birds and The Bees'. Featuring everyday kiwis reflecting on their experiences of 'the talk', young parents now on their struggles when it comes to...

  29. Bang! Coming soon!

    Featuring real stories from real people about sex, sexuality and relationships, Melody Thomas leads a frank and often-entertaining exploration over 7-parts, into topics too often shrouded in shame and secrecy. BANG! explores sex, sexuality and relationships over a lifetime, from parents…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Real people. Real lives. Real sex. Melody Thomas leads a frank, often enlightening, always entertaining exploration of sex, sexuality and relationships.

HOSTED BY

RNZ

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does BANG! have?

BANG! currently has 29 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is BANG! about?

Real people. Real lives. Real sex. Melody Thomas leads a frank, often enlightening, always entertaining exploration of sex, sexuality and relationships.

How often does BANG! release new episodes?

BANG! has 29 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to BANG!?

You can listen to BANG! on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts BANG!?

BANG! is created and hosted by RNZ.
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