126. Hookup Culture Uncovered with Dr. Lisa Wade

Coming up on this episode of Flirtations, we’re joined by Dr. Lisa Wade, a sociologist, assistant professor at Tulane University, and the author of the landmark book American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus.

Her groundbreaking research draws from the intimate, real voices of college students and reveals that hookup culture isn’t just about casual sex—it’s a social system with its own rules, hierarchies, and pressures.

We’ll explore how this culture took hold and the surprising ways it shapes how we all date and connect cuz we all know hookup culture isn’t limited to the college campus. We’ll also look at trends, like why Gen-Z is having less sex than previous generations, how gender and power dynamics still influence intimacy, and what might be replacing the hookup script.

So whether you’ve lived through hookup culture, opted out entirely, or are curious about how it’s evolving today—this is a conversation about desire, connection, and the cultural forces that shape both.

Let’s do this Flirties, and meet Dr. Wade!

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About our guest: Lisa Wade is an Associate Professor at Tulane University with appointments in Sociology and the Gender and Sexuality Studies Program. As a public-facing scholar, Lisa works to make her and others’ scholarship engaging to a public audience.

To this end, she is the author of American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus; an introduction to sociology titled Terrible Magnificent Sociology; a sociology of gender textbook, Gender: Ideas, Interactions, Institutions, with Myra Marx Ferree; and numerous research articles. Her newest book—a documentation of undergraduate social life during the pre-vaccine pandemic—will be published next year.

You can find her online at lisa-wade.com, on Instagram at @lisawadephd, and on Bluesky at @lisawade.bsky.social.

About your host: Benjamin is a flirt and dating coach sharing his love of flirting and BFE - big flirt energy - with the world! A lifelong introvert and socially anxious member of society, Benjamin now helps singles and daters alike flirt with more confidence, clarity, and fun!

As the flirt is all about connection, Benjamin helps the flirt community (the Flirties!) date from a place that allows the value of connection in all forms - platonic, romantic, and with the self - to take center stage.

Ultimately, this practice of connection helps flirters and daters alike create stronger relationships, transcend limiting beliefs, and develop an unwavering love for the self.

His work has been featured in Fortune, NBC News, The Huffington Post, Men's Health, and Yoga Journal.

You can connect with Benjamin on Instagram, TikTok, watch on YouTube, and stream the Flirtations Flirtcast everywhere you listen to podcasts (like right here!), and find out more about working together 1:1 here.